Westland Wapiti airframe in UK

As far as I understand these were remains from  the Nhill range. All long term stuff. 

powerandpassion – 18th October 2021 at 10:25 

There is a Wapiti project in Australia.

Thats interesting Ed, is this the fuselage sections recovered from the Nhill bombing range?, what is the progress and long term objective of the project?

There is a Wapiti project in Australia. Stumbled over plenty of props in Museums and private collections, generally unrecognised until somebody tries to walk through a door carrying one and stops dead like a dog carrying a big stick. Apart from that the giveaway is the 10 hole Bristol hub pattern. A reasonably plain looking aircraft is the kindest thing to be said, with an outsize influence on the wild frontiers of Empire. Original timber winged variants make a pathway to a flying restoration possible, also simple dH9 wing design. 

This one? https://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=717 ?

BTW have you had a chance to look for the Jetstream panels yet Bunsen? 🙂

ATB

TT

There was a Wallace fuselage up for disposal at Cardington when the RAF  museum cleared out, what happened to that?

Has there been any confirmation it was the Spitfire and Wapiti aboard?

Well if it’s going to be a flyer, I think that is great.

It is great that the Indian Air Force Wapiti is to be restored, but disappointing that this sole survivor of the type will be then operated as a flying exhibit?

It has languished for many years in a very poor state and can only benefit from a restoration by skilled and experienced practitioners in the UK, hopefully the restoration can be well documented and that someone with the relevant resources might try to take the opportunity to have some static and flying reproductions considered as other possible outcomes.

I assume currently the airframe was largely a shell with very little internal fitout?

Slightly into  hearsay territory , but an Indian Airforce C-17 was supposedly due into Brize  yesterday evening with the Wapiti and a Spit, brought here for restoration to airworthy condition.

Mike Edwards MBE was previously involved in this Indian Historic Flight endeavour, and may well still be steering this process.

The fuselage frames and wing sections for the Hendon Wallace were originally saved by the founders of Newark Air Museum from woods near RAF Cranwell in the early 1960s.

However Newark has no involvement with any new Westland items!

There is already a Wallace fuselage in the UK at Hendon – K6035- there is also a replica Wallace fuselage at OW which was built by Skysport for a film project that was never completed about 20 years ago.

I imagine the new Wapiti airframe must be the Indian AF Museum example which by repute is to be rebuilt to flying condition for the IAF Historic Flight.

TT

I remember seeing a Westland fuselage many years ago at The Shuttleworth Collection I believe it was. If memory serves that was a Wapiti or Wallace.