Avro twin rebuild gathering pace after COVID-19 delays

At the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre work on Avro Anson C19 TX226, which arrived in April 2018, is now progressing well following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The machine had previously been acquired by Glenn James as part of an extensive spares package when he purchased the airworthy Anson T21, WD413/G-VROE, from Coventry-based Air Atlantique in March 2017.

Project leader Steve Regulski says, “The first job was to strip down the aircraft so we could assess the condition of the steel structure, which we found needed a number of repairs, before we could start the job of restoring it back to its former glory. Progress is now being made to build up the basic internal framing and work on restoring the cockpit is under way. We are using as many of the original components as possible, but where necessary we have been remaking some parts as they are too damaged to reuse.

“We now have a good team of volunteers working on this project and this is helping us move things along. Hopes are to have the fuselage fully restored in the next five years. Work on the wings and engines will commence once we have a suitable space to display the completed airframe.”

Ansons of Coastal Command were based at Montrose from 1939 and remained there throughout the Second World War, operating with No 269 Squadron. Flying from Montrose, Flt Sgt Tony Reen was on 269 when war broke out. On 23 February 1940 he successfully attacked and sank an enemy submarine off Cape Wrath.