Sywell Aviation Museum’s Handley Page Jetstream 200 G-RAVL has recently passed a couple of milestones since its arrival at the Northamptonshire aerodrome in 2021

Most of the work has been internal and includes replacement of missing cockpit instruments (with special thanks to the Trenchard Museum at Halton) to the point where it is complete and a new set of passenger windows fitted. In addition the control runs have been worked through and the repainted and refurbished tailplane and elevators reinstalled on the airframe.

Further work will involve aileron and flap controls before the surfaces can be installed then attention will turn to the passenger cabin before a complete external repaint. One side will see aircraft in fresh new paint, retaining the Cranfield College of Aeronautics scheme currently worn, while the other side will receive the colours of the machine’s former RACAL Decca livery and G-AWVK registration.

All the work has been funded by donations as the museum does not charge an entry fee. Much of this was raised at the Sywell attraction’s popular book and model sale held in March. In order to progress the restoration further, Sywell Aviation Museum is appealing for the donation of aviation books, and especially model kits and accessories, diecast models etc to enable another of its special sale events to take place in 2024.

If you can donate any such items please contact sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com – collection can be arranged in many circumstances. With thanks to Ben Brown