Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects

Martin,

The IJsselmeer is mostly fresh water (the north there’s more salt as there is a sluice connection with the Waddenzee which is salt water). The water where the aircraft came down is very shallow. The wreck is recovered by the AF so only some scraps might be left. The general condition of the metal is rough to say the least because of the shallow depth of the water. Don’t waste your time on this one.
Cees

Thanks for that Cees,funny enough,the head armour which I got later possibly came from the same aircraft.Both items are in great condition,did they come from salt water or is it just they were submerged only for a short period.Do you think the site is worth diving again.I have friends in our local sub aqua club who`ve been pestering for me to find them new sites to dive.I`m doing some research at the moment on a local Halifax crash site.An old chap from the village took bits from it as a young boy,but I can`t find any record of it.The crash was at a place callled `Finger Farm` in Somerset..have you heard of this site ?..I will keep you posted hoping to get out there this summer,the chap is very old now,but still thinks he can pinpoint the site,the,who knows ?

Martin,

The Stirling was LK195. It was on a SOE-sortie when in thick fog it collided with the top of a dyke near Venhuizen (close to Hoorn), the aircaft flipped on its back into the IJsselmeer. Shortly after the war (1946 IIRC) the tailgunner was recovered, and parts taken from the wreck among which was this control column. It had been in the shed of one of our volunteers voor decades but he never told us about it until it suddely appeared in our museum. There it had been on display for a number of years until it equally suddenly vanished. It turned out that he needed some cash and sold it for 200 guilders. After a few years it turned up again and by request of Giuseppe I approached the new owner and asked if he could measure the item for the Stirling Project, he did that. Over the years I met the owner frequently and the column regularly was discussed but also that it would cost a large amount of money. I am glad that it has finally found a good home.

The Stirling wreck made great headlines over here during the early nineties when weapons (Stenguns) were confiscated by the police which were said to be originating from the cargo of this wreck. The Dutch AF recovered the wreck and deposited the wreckage on the Hoorn quay where we took some for our own display, also remains of one elevator (spar) had been outside the local police station lying among the weeds, that was taken as well.
We have the manual undercarriage gear box, part of the bombbay roof with shackle still inside, one tail undercarriage door, one carburetor intake, the entrance ladder, as well as the said elevator spar.
A diver told me they found one complete wing in the late eighties with one engine still attached and they recovered it using floatation bags and sold the lot to a scrap dealer.
Cheers

Cees

Do you have any details ie serial Number for this Venhuizen Stirling..it looks like it`s been unbolted from the main structure..was it raised by divers Cees ?

Hi Martin,

Yes i noticed it, so the Venhuizen Stirling has finally come home to the UK,
I know it was expensive (that’s an understatement) but in the end it’s original and will be used in a Stirling cockpit and not collecting dust in a private collection. That’s also the general direct my Halifax control column came from.

And now that the TU Delft control column has returned as well, The Netherlands has no original ones left;)

Cheers

Cees

So you got it then Martin,

Well done matey, it was very expensive:eek::eek:

John

Luckily I had something the owner really wanted so no money was parted with !!

So you got it then Martin,

Well done matey, it was very expensive:eek::eek:

John

Did you recognise the Right hand Column Cees…It`s the one from Holland..it cost me ALOT !!! but worth it as it`s the most complete and original one in the world.I`m going to keep it as original as possible,I may repair the hole in the chainguard but rest assured in the end it will be a part of a cockpit on display in a museum back in Ole Blighty !!

Thanks for the info Tony, I havn’t forgotten about your plaques but children keep breaking the machine. They spoil schools. All the best, Ian

cheers Ian….will have some bits for you!

Thanks for the info Tony, I havn’t forgotten about your plaques but children keep breaking the machine. They spoil schools. All the best, Ian

yep Ian, harpoon makes it a Mk3 or Mk8….the harpoon holds the aircraft to the deck of the ship after landing….it is amazingly scary relying on it with deck going +/- 10deg roll+ and +/- 8deg pitch!!!. The harpoon is basically a hook that grabs at the deck grd and then pulls the aircraft down against the shox…..will look out for stuff for you
incidentally you appear to have a copilot stick….and copilot collective…both removable items on the Navy Lx

Nice Cees,Really Really Nice !!!

Lynx Panel

Not terribly historic but a bit of a project i’d like to finish. I’m trying to fill this Lynx panel but can’t find a decent photo of what’s missing. The label says ‘harpoon engaged’ so I’m guessing it’s a navy one. The hovermeter(?) is pretty but wrong. The helicopter museum is close in a straight line from me but a long old drive over the bridge from Cardiff. Any help much appreciated, Thanks, Ian.

That is impressive Cees!

Fantastic Cees!

Hmmmmmmmmmm,sheetmetal…….Grllllllllllllllllldrooooooooooool 😀

Very impressive Cees!

Any thoughts about a temporary export to Nottinghamshire in June 2009? 😀

It is isn’t it.

Well done Cees, coming along nicely. 😀

.

That is very nice!!!

(-3):)

Cheers

Cees