I’ve been thinking of a book on the Firefly (with the Sea Fury perhaps) for many years, and it’s a possibility. As Ashley’s declared an interest in Z2033, I thought I’d start a thread with pics of some of the world’s surviving Fireflies and other interesting pics. All contributions greatfully recieved, both here, and if you are interested in the book idea, offers of help!
First off here’s Ken Hyde and Herbie Church, who were the main guys who worked on conserving and restoring Z2033 which thanks to them became Evelyn. Teriffic job. Does anyone know where they are? One was ex FAA, the other ex-Faireys, and I know they then went onto restore the Percival Proctor (less height to climb up!)
(Edited to correct serial – d’oh.)
By: JDK - 19th February 2004 at 12:05
And here’s a Danish TT Firefly.
By: JDK - 19th February 2004 at 11:58
There are / were several Fireflies in Aus, a couple airworthy – last one I can recall was the Royal Australian Navy Historic Flight’s machine, but I believe that’s been grounded for a while for reasons of economy. Anyone got more reliable info?
Cheers
By: stringbag - 18th February 2004 at 23:45
I stand corrected, David 🙂
Do Australia have an airworthy ‘Fly, or one under rebuild somewhere?
M
By: David Burke - 18th February 2004 at 23:29
Stringbag – when you say rebuilt with components of a GR.3 what actually happened was the cockpit was removed from the GR.3 and the Sea Harrier cockpit put in its place!
So we have historic cockpit ‘yes’ historic aircraft ‘no’ !
By: Moggy C - 18th February 2004 at 12:55
Re: Message for ‘Pru Freda’
Originally posted by Mark12
Or should that be ‘Fireflys’ when when referring to the plural of a named aircraft? 😉The US Navy think so.
They also think that ‘Harbour’ has only six letters and ‘grey’ is spelt with an ‘a’
I wouldn’t rely on the US Navy as arbiters of spelling were I you. 😉
Moggy
By: JDK - 18th February 2004 at 12:46
The CWH’s Firefly at Hamilton last year.
By: JDK - 18th February 2004 at 12:36
Walrii
By: Mark12 - 18th February 2004 at 11:04
Message for ‘Pru Freda’
Or should that be ‘Fireflys’ when when referring to the plural of a named aircraft? 😉
The US Navy think so.
Mark 🙂
By: JDK - 18th February 2004 at 10:48
That Bible’s title is a version of the much more ‘pithy’ Aussie phrase referring to the Wombat. The Wombat “Eats, roots, shoots and leaves”. The point here is that ‘Root’ is Strine for the act of procreation which I won’t outline in more detail on a family forum. However, it’s a much funnier phrase…
Now, can we return to Fireflies please?
Cheers
By: Chipmunk Carol - 18th February 2004 at 10:01
Originally posted by david brown
‘Sea Harrier Over the Falklands’ by Cdr. Nigel ‘Sharky’ Ward who was CO of 899 Sqn. at the time. Highly recommended!
I’ll second that.
‘Eats, shoots and leaves’ is the bible.
Mark 12: If you thought the apostrophe was exciting, you just wait until you start measuring the pause after the semi-colon and colon. Emotional stuff!
By: Firebird - 17th February 2004 at 15:46
Aahhhh…..almost on the right track:D
See, I knew someone with better knowledge would be along sooner or later…. 🙂
By: stringbag - 17th February 2004 at 15:39
The SHAR in the museum, XZ493 was the only FRS.1 left, albeit it was only a fuselage after an accident in the Adriatic during 1994/5 when serving with RN 800 NAS.
It was roaded to Dunsfold and rebuilt using components from GR.3 XV760, so strictly speaking it is a composite airframe.
By: Moggy C - 17th February 2004 at 14:56
Just a quick thanks for posting the pics with the veterans.
Moggy
By: david brown - 17th February 2004 at 13:50
I agree with Dees 01. The SHAR FRS 1 is indeed historic. For an account of what this aircraft achieved in the Falklands and when recently entered into service, a great read is ‘Sea Harrier Over the Falklands’ by Cdr. Nigel ‘Sharky’ Ward who was CO of 899 Sqn. at the time. Highly recommended!
By: Firebird - 17th February 2004 at 12:59
I seem to vaguely recall the reasons behind this FAAM SHAR bitsa was because somebody realised that all the Falklands Vet FRS.1’s had already been converted/upgraded and were still in service, and in fact there wasn’t any FRS.1’s left anywhere, so this converted GR.3 was what they came up with to represent the RN Harrier for the muesum….:confused: :confused:
By: stringbag - 17th February 2004 at 12:47
The FAAM SHAR went into Dunsfold with GR.3 XV760, obtained from the ETS at Yeovilton. The rejected components are now on the fire dump 🙂
HTH,
M
By: Mark12 - 17th February 2004 at 11:35
MOTF,
I am currently part way through the book.
It is the UK number one hard-back ‘best seller’ for some weeks now.
Mark 🙂
By: dees01 - 17th February 2004 at 11:34
——————————————————————————–
Morning all! I’m new to this so bear with me!
Originally posted by Robbo
The more I look at photos of Z2033 (and the real thing yesterday), the more I can’t believe it was swapped for a blinking Sea Harrier. Barmy.
Rob
Excellent swap! The SHAR is a lovely bit of kit! (and the FRS1 must be considered historic now)
MOTF
The Sea Jet at the FAA museum is a GR3 with a SHAR nose grafted on, and may just about count as the last Sea Harrier delivery from Dunsfold before the site closed. It was built mainly by the apprentices. (must confess, i don’t know where the GR3 bit came from, but the Sea Harrier bit was apparently puled out of the Adriatic after the jet crashed)
The AV-A8 as displayedin the IWM North was wholly built by Hawker Siddley (as was). the yanks only got involved in the development of the Harrier II (AV-8B)
Cheers
Dunc
By: Manonthefence - 17th February 2004 at 11:29
Mark
So I cant speel und dint cheque wot I rote so shoot me!! 😀 😀 😀
Ashley
Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. On yer bike down to sunny Somerset and visit your lost love 😉
By: Mark12 - 17th February 2004 at 11:21
Originally posted by Manonthefence
We really dont appreciate what we have sometimes.
Its it me??
MOTF 🙂
It’s ‘it me? – It has hit me – perhaps.
Is it me? – perhaps.
A panda wanders in to a restaurant, takes a meal, fires his gun and departs – ‘Eats, shoots and leaves’.
What is the staple diet of the panda? – ‘….well it eats shoots and leaves’
The power of the comma and apostrophe!
I am still struggling with the semi colon.
Mark (O level English language failed x3):o
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February 14, 2004 at 1:38 pm