Evening,
Got chatting today with a ‘quite mature’ gentleman (his words!) who expressed an interest in aviation who, when talking about the aircraft of yesteryear which were magnificent to watch fly, mentioned that he had seen a Hornet in Canada a few years ago. (No, not a Hornet Moth, nor that non DH, grey painted, loud noise making F16 imitator!)
I, like an all knowing fool, told him he just had to be mistaken – the last one was scrapped in the Chichester area in the late 60s (Sea Hornet NF21 VW949 – used for firefighting practise at Westhampnett and scrapped 1968) and others were just bits on the dump at St Davids (VX250 – parts with the Mosquito Museum – and VZ694) by 1970 – information from Air Britain’s The Hornet File.
No, he said, he had seen a wing at a farm whilst travelling in western Canada. Nothing special; he had been chatting to someone at an airfield who had just casually mentioned that if he happened to go down so-and-so road then he might want to stop off and see the last mortal remains of the Hornet.
My informant said he has family out there and tries to go every other year, but he couldn’t remember what year he saw it – which means it could be anything up to 18 years ago. He expressed surprise when I asked if he had taken any pictures of it: of course not, it was just a pile of wreckage! Who would be interested in that? Arggh!!!
A quick investigation of The Hornet File shows Sea Hornet F20 TT193 was sent out to Canada for winterisation trials in Edmonton, starting in December 1948. On completion the airframe was sold off, to save the cost of transporting it back, to Spartan Air Services as CF-GUO in July 1950, then exchanged for a P38 Lightning with Field Photographic Surveys before crashing after an engine fire at Terrace, British Columbia, 11/7/52. The Hornet File says that it was rumoured that parts were used for instruction purposes at a local high school.
I had always assumed that the remains of NF21 VX250 (part of the rear fuselage, I think) at the Mosquito Museum were the last of the breed – although looking into that they are supposed to have ‘substantial remains’ of an F3 too.
Has the only civil registered DH103 survived? Has anyone else heard of this, or was it just a case of misidentification (as I am slightly more inclined to believe) of some Mosquito wreckage? And what is the history of the Hornet F3s substantial remains?
Flood.
By: DH82EH - 4th August 2018 at 00:47
Thanks for posting that fantastic period shot.
I’d bet dollars to doughnuts, that the folks embarking on this project, have done their homework in regards what they need to bring this to fruition.
I look forward to learning of any progress.
Andy
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd August 2018 at 22:51
Fantastic news, if there’s a chance this could come to fruition. A simple and beautiful aircraft.
However, components could be a problem; I wish them luck in finding a pair of serviceable SBAC-50 spline four-blade prop hubs and, even rarer, serviceable blades in both LH and RH tractor.
I suppose, if they get that far that the blades can be made from composite in Germany like the rest of the rare stuff. Hubs will be a problem though – unless someone knows where there are at least a couple stashed away?
Anon.
By: Wyvernfan - 3rd August 2018 at 21:29
That’s a fantastic period shot, Duggy.
Rob
By: Duggy - 3rd August 2018 at 21:15
I came across this today.
Wrongly filed as a Mosquito.
Hornet and Lightning aircraft of Spartan Air Services Ltd. Ottawa.
By: Bungee - 29th April 2018 at 12:56
[ATTACH=CONFIG]260218[/ATTACH]
Ta’Qali sometime in the 1950s.
By: scotavia - 14th April 2018 at 23:34
As mark 12 noted, some fine views of the Hornet in this wix thread near the end including alow level banked pass..http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=66417&sid=a845358364c114296125d234d16c730d
By: J Boyle - 14th April 2018 at 22:39
Nice to see a North Star in the background.
By: brewerjerry - 14th April 2018 at 11:24
and
flying here
http://www.canmilair.com/quiz/Q001.jpg
cheers
jerry
By: Mark12 - 13th April 2018 at 21:09
All credit to Mark Allen on the WIX Forum for locating this delightful image of the Sea Hornet project during cold weather trials in Canada
Mark
By: ErrolC - 3rd December 2017 at 03:36
During a presentation to a Wings Over NZ forum meet Pioneer Aero’s Paul McSweeny confirmed that they have a full set of factory drawings. The project is in storage while they acquire further parts. So currently the below are the only evidence in the Pioneer hangar.
Die-cast Hornets at Pioneer Aero by Errol Cavit, on Flickr
By: Oxcart - 6th October 2017 at 15:52
Can i ask David Collins how long have u known about this?
By: Mustang51 - 5th October 2017 at 19:26
It’s because, unless you are a single celled organism, it is exciting news……..
By: Flying_Pencil - 4th October 2017 at 22:51
The frothing at mouth we do over bits of aircraft. 😎
By: 1batfastard - 2nd October 2017 at 19:58
Hi All,
Just thought I would post this article 02/10 by Warbird News that contains a couple more images and other interesting links to the thread subject:- http://www.warbirdsnews.com/aircraft-restoration/de-havilland-sea-hornet-airworthy-restoration-project.html
Geoff.
By: Zac Yates - 18th September 2017 at 05:14
Pioneer Aero has posted an update which answers a couple of questions: http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/2017/09/18/sea-hornet-tt193/
The announcement in Classic Wings Downunder has caused quite a stir it seems there are a lot of people out there who are as excited as us about this. We have already had a lot of questions asked about all manner of details so hopefully my bullet points below will answer most of these.
The project is currently owned by Pioneer Aero.
It is located at our hangar at Ardmore, Auckland New Zealand and at this point is not available for public viewing.
Yes the intention is to return it to flight.
It is a DH 103 Sea Hornet, it is not a Mosquito
There is still a lot of detail to be worked through so we have no firm idea of time frames at this stage.
Yes we are a little crazy.
It is appropriate at this stage to acknowledge and thank the following people.
Corin McCrae , Aerowood.
Mr Reg Field.
David Collins, Project Hornet. U.K.
Hugh Jones U.K.
By: oz rb fan - 18th September 2017 at 01:28
this is one i seriously didnt see coming…….but awesome news indeed.
By: D1566 - 16th September 2017 at 11:08
Excellent news.
By: ErrolC - 16th September 2017 at 09:58
Pioneer Aero give short updates of their projects most months.
http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/news/
By: Oxcart - 16th September 2017 at 09:51
Fantastic news! Such a beautiful machine. Best of ĺuck to all involved (and I hope they don’t forget about regular updates. I love reading about restorations!)
By: J Boyle - 16th September 2017 at 04:54
Being near Seattle would allow a formation with the recently completed Mosquito.
Now that would be worth seeing.
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