As much as I love WW2 Warbirds and most vintage aircraft my main interest lies with the string and fabric machines of the Great War.
The point I want to make is that over the last ten years or so we have lost such unique sites and sounds as an original airworthy Nieuport 28,once owned by HAC,an original airworthy Sopwith Camel,once owned by Skysport,original, ie more than Shuttleworth’s,airworthy Sopwith Pup and now we are losing the LVG CVI. The first two went to the States and are now grounded with the Pup grounded at Middle Wollop and the LVG’s grounding in Hendon imminent.Thankfully I have been lucky enough to see these aircraft flying. As well as originals we once had a healthy population of airworthy replicas i.e Fokker DVII,current status unknown, DH5 & Avro 504,both now down under, rotary engined Sopwith Camel grounded at Brooklands and Albatros DV grouded at Yeolvilton .Even PPS’s Morane N and Fokker EIII don’t seem to come out to play anymore,remember the WWI displays at Fighter Meet for example?
Now the priceless static examples are being strung up like worthless toys in a boy’s bedroom,with Hendon’s Camel and Fokker DVII already hung and now it seems the IWM intend to string up the RE8.This means that both our Camels are now hanging up as are both our original Fokkers,the other being the EIII in the Science Museum.If Hendon want to represent a WWI “Dogfight” couldn’t they have used the Pup as after all it is a replica and perhaps invested in a Fokker DRI replica? As for the RE8 this is one of only two survivors and the only one with it’s original engine.Surely this aircraft deserves a better fate than this?
OK there is light at the end of the tunnel with the Shuttleworth collection and their SE5A,Bristol fighter,Pup and Avro 504K as well as their Sopwith Triplane and Bristol MIC late production/replicas taking to the skies in the last ten years and a Sopwith Camel under construction at Northern Aeroplane Workshops as well as the Fighter Collection and HAC Bristol Fighters.But sadly these wonderfull aircraft will probably be restricted to displaying at their home bases only as it seems the airshow orginisers are not interested in WWI aircraft.You only have to look at last year’s Flying Legends,great show as it allways is,but there were no WWI aircraft taking part.
As I said before I love WW2 Warbirds but they and their pilots wouldn’t have been as succesfull if it wasn’t for the WWI pilots pioneering aerial combat.I think this important period in aviation should be given a wider audience and more respect.
Right I’ll get off me soapbox now.
By: SE5AFAN - 18th May 2003 at 10:25
Hi Mirrors
So Hendon do intend to rebuild a FE2b around the cockpit nacelle
they have had hidden away for years.Should be pretty impresive when finished if the BE2 in the bomber hall is anything to go by.
Keep up the good work with the Camel.I have been following progress through Shuttleworth and their Prop Swing mag.
Richard
By: Mirrors - 17th May 2003 at 06:19
I too was disapointed that the Camel has been strung up at Hendon, when it could have been part of the WW1 hangar display. I hope that in time the exhibits will be rotated. I am a huge fan of the RAF Museum, don’t forget that they are bringing back from the dead examples of a FE.2b and a Sopwith 5F1 Dolphin. Who wouldn’t want to see a five Sopwith’s in a row? (Pup, Triplane, Camel, Strutter, Dolphin.) The grounding of the LVG is a real shame. I was lucky enough to mind a wing tip on this aircraft recently, and the tingle of the engine through the airframe was memorable. The was some talk of engine runs at Hendon, as a feature of the CGW Hangar – so this may not be a total loss.
I am a member of Northern Aeroplane Workshops, and involved with the building of the Camel. We have a full set of drawings, and the only deviations will be to satisfy CAA and Safety requirements- essential if it is to fly. An original engine, machine guns and instrumentation will be fitted, along with other genuine parts so it should not look out of place in the collection. I will post some recent pictures, the fuselage and first wing can be viewed at the Skopos Motor Museum in Batley W. Yorks
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May 17, 2003 at 1:51 am