Hi folks,
I saw these pics of the RAFM’s Hart ‘J9941’ on Airliners.net and was amazed to see the aircraft actually flying.The pics were taken at RAF Wildenrath in the late 60’s.Can anyone fill me in on the history of this machine,as it appears that it was only ever flown on the civilian register as G-ABMR up until 1957,W&R making no mention of any military service.I am thinking that ‘J9941’ must therefore be an assumed I.D.
I presume the aircraft at the time of these pics was being flown as a historic aircraft by the RAF.Can anyone fill me in on the details?
By: Mirrors - 8th June 2003 at 19:57
I believe the Hart was displayed by Hawker Test Pilot Duncan Simpson, who test flew the “BAE” Hawk, amongst others. It’s a shame this one didn’t end up preserved in an airworthy state, am I correct in thinking that Aero Vintage are currently restoring one with a radial engine?
By: stringbag - 7th June 2003 at 22:54
Around 1971 Hawker-Siddeley presented the Royal Navy with a Sea Fury FB.11 – TF956 which originally was to form part of the company’s own Historic Flight.
Of course it went on to star for the Navy version after rebuild from 1972 for the next 17 years 🙂
The Harts looks a really nice aircraft.
M
By: Ant.H - 7th June 2003 at 19:56
Thanks David.Being as she is pictured here at an RAF display I presumed she must at some point have been handed over to the RAF.
Bah and humbug to ‘cost cutting measures’!:mad:
By: David Burke - 7th June 2003 at 19:43
She was in the ownership of Hawker’s throughout her flying career including the Kings Cup period. I guess they just chose to retire her when they became Hawker Siddeley group as a cost ‘cutting measure’.
By: Ant.H - 7th June 2003 at 19:32
Thanks for that David,much appreciated.Seems a shame they decided to ground her,it would surely have been possible to have kept her flying if the decision had been taken?Who was flying her when she won the King’s cup,was she owned by Hawker themselves or a private individual??
One thing that does strike me as odd is that she doesn’t appear to have adopted an official military serial,so what identity did the RAF fly her under at the time of these pictures?
Sounds to me like she would make an excellent candidate for the RAFM’s authentic colour scheme policy.Being the company demonstrator all her life means,IMHO,that she should be put back into this unique civvy identity rather than an assumed military one.
By: David Burke - 7th June 2003 at 16:20
She was built in 1931 as a demonstrator and was registered as G-ABMR. She was stored during the war and reflew in 1949 . She won the Kings Cup in 1952 . After a major rebuild in 1959 she was painted as J9933 (57 Squadron colours). In 1970 she was reserialled as J9941 . She finished flying in 1971 and was presented to the RAFM in 1972.
By: Ant.H - 7th June 2003 at 13:20
..and another pic of the aircraft in the static park at presumably the same show…
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June 7, 2003 at 1:15 pm