Another "proper" Sea Fury airborne

Hi All, Guido Zuccoli imported 2 Baghdad Furies & 1 genuine Sea Fury into Aust, also arriving in the same shipment was another Fury for his friend Rob Poynton of Perth W.A.
Rob restored this Fury in Iraqi colours until its sale to FASTaero in Belgium, Guido’s favourite was restored as an FB11 308/K wearing the RAN colours from the Korean war, the Furies were restored as 253/K wearing Aussie colours but with a “no hook” tail section and fixed wings, and 115/NW which has recently been sold to France. 115 has the hook tail section but no folding wings as the folding equipment is difficult to acquire. It will be fantastic to see Frederic complete the Fury in Belgium & fly it in original colours,cheers,Pete

Zucolli brought 4 into Australia IIRC, including the ex-OFMC one that has recently been sold to a new owner in France

No, the War Eagles Fury is this one:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregistry/fury-iss23.html

The one I’m thinking of is this:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregistry/fury-vhhfg.html

It later went to this Janitell guy, and it looks as though he still has it:
http://pikespeakflyers.com/current_inventory/hawker_sea_fury_mk_11

T J

So if the registry is correct then Zuccoli owned both of those aircraft simultaneously for a couple of years. Must be nice! 🙂

No, the War Eagles Fury is this one:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregistry/fury-iss23.html

The one I’m thinking of is this:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregistry/fury-vhhfg.html

It later went to this Janitell guy, and it looks as though he still has it:
http://pikespeakflyers.com/current_inventory/hawker_sea_fury_mk_11

T J

Getch’s aeroplane is a genuine, ex-Australian Sea Fury. He hurt himself in an accident a few years back, and it remained parked at Hollister for a few years, but I believe he’s back flying it again now.

I believe that the Fury in Jerry Yagen’s collection still has a Centaurus too.

Thanks for the correction Mike in regards to Getch’s Sea Fury. I was not aware that Yagen had a Sea Fury.

Doesn’t the old Zuccoli Fury also retain its Centaurus? Went to a US based guy named Janitell or something…

T J

Is that the one that ended up in New Mexico with the War Eagles Air Museum? I know they have a Centaurus powered Sea Fury (named “Obsession” if memory serves) which, unfortunately, is no longer flown.

Doesn’t the old Zuccoli Fury also retain its Centaurus? Went to a US based guy named Janitell or something…

T J

The Sea Fury was one of the fastest prop planes in 1946 and enjoyed a good reputation elsewhere too through into the 60’s. Not surprising with a good speed of 460mph at 18000ft – considering the power of the big Centaurus. I now wonder how many are still flying with the Bristol engine? There was one in NZ 25 years ago…

Getch’s aeroplane is a genuine, ex-Australian Sea Fury. He hurt himself in an accident a few years back, and it remained parked at Hollister for a few years, but I believe he’s back flying it again now.

I believe that the Fury in Jerry Yagen’s collection still has a Centaurus too.

And Ellsworth Getchell still has a Centaurus in his California based Sea Fury as well, doesn’t he? Like Consul I really think very highly of those operators who choose to retain the original powerplant, and not go “American”. Look forward to see 924 in Reno next month. Been a long time since last…

The best sounding Sea Fury however was Jim Mott’s “Super Chief” which had a Centaurus from a Beverly driving a four bladed prop. Remember Jim doing a low level fly- by at Chino one smoggy day before breaking and turning downwind. That was just menacing…

T J

Yes, Getch still has a Centaurus in his bird but I think his is just a Fury rather than a Sea Fury. (Despite the paint job!) I have not seen Getch’s airplane since about 2005 or so but it looked spectacular as always. I do prefer the Yellow spinner to the red one it was sporting at the time! Regarding Mott’s Sea Fury, I wish I could concur with your statements. However, the only time I heard it was on Saturday at Reno ’92 where said ex-Beverly engine decided to quit cold just as Jim broke ground. He dinged all four tips of the prop getting it down and stopped on the remaining runway but got her stopped he did! Thus I never did get to hear it at “full song” on the race course.

That is one very fast fighter!

Hi All,
Chad Veich, Many thanks for the post and the lovely pictures Mauld many thanks for the Video just love that throaty rasp has to be one of my all time favourite aircraft one of the first aircraft I made a model of many moons ago :eagerness:

Geoff.:D

And Ellsworth Getchell still has a Centaurus in his California based Sea Fury as well, doesn’t he? Like Consul I really think very highly of those operators who choose to retain the original powerplant, and not go “American”. Look forward to see 924 in Reno next month. Been a long time since last…

The best sounding Sea Fury however was Jim Mott’s “Super Chief” which had a Centaurus from a Beverly driving a four bladed prop. Remember Jim doing a low level fly- by at Chino one smoggy day before breaking and turning downwind. That was just menacing…

T J

In answer to the questions about the scheme – it’s not accurate. In particular the “serial” that has been painted on the airframe is actually the c/n. This misunderstanding may originate in the fact that when in use as a target tug in a civilian red scheme, the Germans painted the c/n onto the airframe where the RN serial was once. With their massive knowledge of the type I’m sure the present owners know this but must like the scheme. That they’ve retained the original type of power plant is far more significant and I admire their skill in maintaining it – a wonderful sight, brings back fond memories of this machine at Blackbushe after it was retired as a tug.

Tim

I love the paint job, although the full gloss is not a preference for reality but it sure does look great – and easier to clean no doubt 😉
A strong looking airplane, and with a 53.6L engine, she has some real grunt as well!

Thanks for sharing!

Oh another lovely sounding engine was the other strong Hawker Tempest V plane with the high revving Napier!! Only heard on videos these days, sadly.

What a beautiful looking aeroplane that is.

And in my mind Bristol aero engines contributed to two of the best sounding engine notes ever, namely thr Sea Fury and Gladiator.

Rob

Sanders is probably the leading Sea Fury operator/restorer in the world. Frank was rebuilding them before most of you were born (I met him in Boise in 1978 when he taxied up in a Fury and I was working for an airline) and at a time when nobody in the UK seemed to care about them. It’s good to see one with its original engine….I’d like to get the inside story on its (the engine and why they continue to use it…they must have confidence in it) restoration.

Ol’ 924 finally got her clothes back. As noted in my post above I don’t have any idea how accurate this scheme is or isn’t but I find it very attractive. Of course, being the first Sea Fury I ever had the pleasure of seeing fly and having very fond memories of the aerobatic performances given by Frank Sanders may have much to do with it! A few more pics can be seen on the Sander’s web site: http://www.sandersaircraft.com/restoration_seafury-924.asp

I didn’t know they owned Dreadnought? Now that’s a cool Sea Fury!
Same goes for the Super Corsair 😉

And another one rising from her ashes like the legendary phoenix, but still a long way till maidenflight, I hope to see her live some day…..

http://www.sandersaircraft.com/restoration_seafury-meier.asp

Michael

P.S.: Sanders is rebuilding the fuselage, while MeierMotors is responsible for wings and completing, will be Centaurus powered as well.