Burmese Hawker Sea Furies

From here and I quote.

http://www.eagle.ca/~harry/aircraft/fury/reno.htm

Mark

Frank Sanders had obtained the fairly complete airframe of Burmese Air Force T Mk.20 VZ368 (serialed UB-451 in Burmese service) and had the aircraft stored in its wooden shipping crate at the family’s Chino, California, hangar during 1979. The two-seater was an ideal candidate for Sanders’ project, so the Centaurus engine was removed, the airframe thoroughly cleaned and stripped, and a search begun for missing components while Sanders began tackling the engineering needed for the conversion. There was no doubt that the big Sea Fury could handle the R-4360, but problems such as a new cowling, motor mount, propeller, and new internal systems all had to be solved. By the end of its development life, the R-4360 was developing well over 4,000 horsepower, and in the early 1980s complete engines were available, along with a strong parts supply. With the help of sons Dennis and Brian and wife Ruth, work on the new racing aircraft began to proceed rapidly. Sanders also subcontracted some of the work to the vast aviation talent pool at Chino.

Sanders put lots of detail work into his new racer, some of which is not readily visible at first glance. For example, the rather clunky two-seat canopy arrangement was subtly refined to produce a unit that created much less drag than the normal canopies. As usual, the British air-brake system was dispensed with in favor of much more efficient American equipment, including brakes from an F-102. The completed aircraft made its first flight from Chino on 6 August 1983, and few problems were encountered. However, it soon became apparent that a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder were needed to handle the increased power and larger propeller, so the vertical surfaces were suitably enlarged. The two-seat, dual-control configuration was retained (unique for an all-out Unlimited, but Sanders wanted the aircraft to be useful as a possible high-speed test bed). Dreadnought created a sensation when it arrived on the ramp at Reno 1983. Finished in a sparkling Royal Air Force scheme of silver and red, Dreadnought was one of 32 Unlimited aircraft set to qualify that year. In the cockpit was General Dynamics executive Neil Anderson, an ex-Marine Corps fighter pilot and test pilot for the F-l 6. However, Anderson was regarded as a rookie because he had never raced in an Unlimited event. Anderson took Dreadnought out on the 9.187-mile course and hit 446.39 miles per hour, making him the fastest qualifier. Anderson did not hold back in Sunday’s Cold race and went on to win at 425.24 miles per hour. Over the years, Dreadnought has been a regular Unlimited participant and has enjoyed its share of success, but the big Sea Fury has been partially eclipsed by Rare Bear and the new generation of highly modified Mustangs. At Reno 1995, Dennis Sanders qualified the racer at 434.667 miles per hour, which put the plane in fifth place (giving some idea how Unlimited speeds had increased since Dreadnought’s first Reno outing). Immediately after winning the Gold heat race on 14 September (at 426.122 miles per hour), Sanders declared a Mayday and safely put the racer down on the runway-after years of faithful performance, the big R-4360 had finally come apart, and Dreadnought

Mark,

Thanks. I was not aware of Frank Sanders´ Sea Fury. Do you have an i/d for her?

Regards,

Jan

Jan

The Seafury diorama at Yangon does have a Spitfire IX rear fuselage section painted as UB466. Adjacent to it are press cuttings behind glass showing the pre crash image of UB466 and also shots of the crash site showing the rear fuselage. My shots are so poor of the press cuttings in ultra low light without flash that I cannot read the serial but I would suggest that with this information to hand they would have got it right.

I see you do not appear to mention the Burmese Seafury that Frank Sanders had at Chino. It had been paint stripped when I photographed it.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=49591

Mark

Martin,

Thanks. Yes, everything regarding the UBAF/Tamdaw lay is of interest!

I’ll drop you a line off-board.

Regards,

Jan

need any input on the Pilatus aircraft (PC-6, PC-7 & PC-9) ?

from the ACIG site: