Boulton Paul Defiant returns to Hendon

What a pity that the truly stunning (internal) work done by MAPS cannot be fully appreciated. Hopefully a photo-archive of some sort will be available?

Also, I gather that a German bullet was recovered from inside the fuselage near a battle damage repair patch. Is this now exhibited, perchance?

A pity the 109 is no longer going to MAPS as had been planned.

Why have the code letters on the Defiant changed colour? Were they wrong before restoration?

True, I guess I’ve always wondered what the Defiant fighter would have been like. I wonder how they got round the fuel tank issues with that one – or did the prototype never have any weapons fitted?

Always wondered why the Defiant was never given wing armaments to compliment the turret. She’d still have been far too heavy, but might have had a slightly smaller disadvantage.

Or a much bigger disadvantage since the space in the wings where the guns would have been put was occupied by fuel tanks. This would have made the aircraft not only heavier, but slower, less manoeuvrable and with terrible endurance. As Moggy stated, Defiants were designed for attacking formations of unescorted bombers having flown from Germany using their turrets to concentrate fire at the bombers’ weakest points, usually in their bellies. They weren’t designed for fighter vs fighter combat, but the Daffy sqns (only two used as day fighters) found themselves engaged in standing patrols, convoy escort and other single-seat fighter duties during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.

As I have posted separately, MAPS are currently restoring a Bae Phoenix UAV.
mmitch.

Yes, for the sake of a roll of masking tape it could have looked a lot better.

With tyres rotting off the rims, a Varsity (I think) prop and spinner and that missing radiator which really needs to come back from Freeman Field (see elsewhere in forum) this UNIQUE survivor surely deserves better!

I hate the cammo paint on the exhaust stubs.

Moggy

Hopefully the Tiffie will be next in the queue -bearing in mind 109’s are ten a penny in comparison!

With tyres rotting off the rims, a Varsity (I think) prop and spinner and that missing radiator which really needs to come back from Freeman Field (see elsewhere in forum) this UNIQUE survivor surely deserves better!

TT

You can add some hangar rash on the port wing tip to the list of Typhoon ailments.

Here’s a before shot of the Defiant for comparison.

Boulton-Paul Defiant 1 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

And a link to a larger version http://www.flickr.com/photos/shuttleworthpix/3227248654/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Quite so.

With the added weight of some wing guns and ammo it would almost certainly be unable to catch any bombers, let alone mix it with the 109s.

Don’t forget the aircraft was developed as a bomber destroyer at a time when it was ‘known’ that the UK would always be beyond the range of 109s operating from their bases in Germany.

Moggy

Hopefully the Tiffie will be next in the queue -bearing in mind 109’s are ten a penny in comparison!

With tyres rotting off the rims, a Varsity (I think) prop and spinner and that missing radiator which really needs to come back from Freeman Field (see elsewhere in forum) this UNIQUE survivor surely deserves better!

TT

Lovely aircraft. Will have to visit again some time soon.

Always wondered why the Defiant was never given wing armaments to compliment the turret. She’d still have been far too heavy, but might have had a slightly smaller disadvantage.

That is for the RAF Museum and MAPS to reveal, not me, I am purely making sure the 109 rumour was clarified.

This is no longer the case.

So are we allowed to know what MAPS are working on now?

Is the cockpit complete now?

Difficult to tell, but I would say not.

Moggy

This is no longer the case.

I thought the Emil would have been removed during the reorganisation as that was MAPS next project, or have RAFM plans changed?

Biggest difference for me with the Defiant is the nice clear canopy glass!

I doubt it would fit into the MAPS shed 😀

That edged into another snap I took

Moggy

I wonder if they will be restoring the Heinkle? It’s always looked a little ropey to me.

It certainly did, but it is sad that most of the hard work that has gone into it cannot be seen by we casual visitors.

Had a great day at Hendon, probably the first time I have returned for about five years, but always something interesting / new to see.

Moggy