FAA Museum reserve and carrier deck Oct 09

Finally i visited the FAA museum in the late 70’s early 80’s and thought the COD Gannet was painted black and kept outside with the NA39 or am i dreaming it or is it another Gannet? Great Post.

You’re quite right, the ‘black’ Gannet was COD.4 XA454/264-H and was sent to the fire burning ground in 1981.
The NA-39 is now in the reserve hall.
Interesting about the Wyvern TF.1, as an unflown aircraft I would assume the natural metal to be correct, and that the FAA scheme it did wear was wrong.
IMO that is one aircraft that would look dramatic hung from the ceiling in flight mode – I will get my coat!:o

This particular Wyvern is thought to have never flown. It was completed by Westlands but not used, so never carried any markings as such. It fact it is debateable whether or not the engine has ever been run. But it does in its present form respresent possibly the epitome of piston engine fighters/aircraft, with an enormous engine/propeller system trying to extract the very maximum performance from such a huge airframe.

silver Wyvern

Is there an explanation as to why the wyvern is stripped of paint?
The Phantom XT596 was flown in by a friend of mine John Goddard who at the time was a test pilot at Boscombe, the FG1 was then based at scampton, it only flew on the odd occasion and i cant recall why BAe used it i have a thought it was at one point used for outer wing strengthening mods. Finally i visited the FAA museum in the late 70’s early 80’s and thought the COD Gannet was painted black and kept outside with the NA39 or am i dreaming it or is it another Gannet? Great Post.

That stalky undercart gives it some purpose and presence.. i personally prefer it to the earlier short legs… and in that colour she justs looks amazing.

Yes, I think it is the first time that another company has been able to improve a Fairey in the looks department!
The thing that amazes me about it, is that it dosen’t look like a research prototype, ie nicely finished, everything fits properly, and looks like it could have been a production fighter. The only patrts bin stuff I’m aware of is the Lightning main gears and the Gannet AEW based nose gear.

Both ends of the Concorde delta wing research here, high speed and Ogee wing

And low speed with HP115 XP841

Thanks Bravo, the only Gazelle I noticed was in the reserve collection and it is HT.2 XW864/54-CU.

Fascinating pictures.
Can anyone supply the reg of the Gazelles in the main museum and reserve collection?

I really do like the BAC.221 even more dramatic in that lovely blue paint, I fall to my knees and thank god above that I’m British everytime I see that machine!

Yes i have to agree with your sentiments there. Both baz and i commented on what a beautiful aeroplane it is, especially when you remember how long ago she flew. That stalky undercart gives it some purpose and presence.. i personally prefer it to the earlier short legs… and in that colour she justs looks amazing.

Well done James, damn fine pics. I see what you mean about the COD.4 Gannet… that cockpit looks like she was flown in yesterday.

Love the first Walrus pic as well.. but not sure about the two dodgy geezers on the ramp behind though… i’m sure i saw one of them trying to get the Wyvern in the boot of his Saxo. ;):D

Ha ha, I was going to do a forum quiz, along the lines of spot the forum members!

Thanks for the kind comments, I really was chuffed at what I managed this time, especially in the carrier deck part, a shutter speed of 4-5 seconds helped!

DC, Rob tried that with Wyvern spares, you might be better arranging that privately on a non public day, something the FAAM allows for a fee. Could be ultimately fruitless though, give them a ring first.

I really do like the BAC.221 even more dramatic in that lovely blue paint, I fall to my knees and thank god above that I’m British everytime I see that machine!

Great photo’s.

Note to self: Must get down there and request a rummage over their shelves to look for DH Sea Hornet parts! 😀

Indeed… and to me when you get up close and personal it is surprisingly big.! Lets hope the ex Southampton G-RNLI makes it into the air at some stage as a fitting tribute.

Agreed…lovely old a/c…in ‘Fly and Deliver’ Hugh Bergel said that landing a walrus on its wheels sounded like a tin bath falling down the stairs 😀

Indeed… and to me when you get up close and personal it is surprisingly big.! Lets hope the ex Southampton G-RNLI makes it into the air at some stage as a fitting tribute.

The Supermarine Walrus, not the prettiest plane but must have been the most beautiful sight for many a downed airman.

Yes nice pics James…hope you didnt leave any ‘bodily fluids’ on/in the gannet :D…you were quite exited about going back to it later ISTR.
I can only see 1 dodgy geezer behind the Walrus…and it aint me LOL 😀

Well done James, damn fine pics. I see what you mean about the COD.4 Gannet… that cockpit looks like she was flown in yesterday.

Love the first Walrus pic as well.. but not sure about the two dodgy geezers on the ramp behind though… i’m sure i saw one of them trying to get the Wyvern in the boot of his Saxo. ;):D

Nice selection, thanks. Good to see the Turbo-Mentor there and still in original paints

Classic FAA jets,

Meteor T.7 WS103/709-VL

Supermarine Attacker F.1 WA472/102-J

Supermarine Scimitar F.1 XD317/112-R

Buccaneer S.1 XN597 and S.2 XV333/234-H

The lovely Supermarine Walrus I LS301

Dangerous looking Wyvern TF.1 VR137

Harrier forerunner, Hawker P.1127 XP980

And the beautiful BAC.221, converted from record breaking FD.1 WG774

Wow ! James ! Every one’s a winner !!! Thank you for these supurb photos, so nice to have your ‘inside info’ included, which adds some small detail to that which us mere visitors cannot normaly get !

Keith.

Hands up who likes helicopters? Well I’m going to post them up anyway!

A very early FAA helicopter trainer is this Hiller HTE.2 XB480/537

Whirlwind HAR.1 XA864 & HAR.3 XG574/752-PO

and HAS.7 XG594/517

The natural successer was the Wessex, firstly HAS.3 XP142 ‘Humphry’ of Falklands fame

And XS508 the classic SAR HU.5

One of the two SARO P.531s in the collection, this the first one XN332/759, it was the forerunner of the Wasp

Talking of which, here is Wasp HAS.1 XS527