ANT wrote “As I understand it,the Finnish Gauntlet hasn’t flown for quite a while so i’m not sure it could still be considered ‘airworthy’.Although a beatiful piece of work,various changes had to be made to it during it’s rebuild/resoration,not least of which was the substitution of the Alvis Leonides for the original Bristol Mercury engine”
I had the pleasure of seeing this aircraft fly several years ago, if I remember the sight of it on the ground joy, although once in the air the rasp of the Leonides total spoilt the event it seemed to me to be a fake.
However if as you say the aircraft is now grounded due to engine problems could it not be re-engined and returned to nearer original condition? Indeed who owns the aircraft and where is it located? During a refurbishment could the aircraft be used as ‘pattern’ for a new build example.
I know that I should not play games with other peoples toys but what if in exchange for returning the Gauntlet to the sky a UK group could make a static replica which could then be added to the collectional at Hendon. Surely a win win situtation. The current owner gets a better than before, more original aircraft for not more than a normal annual service and the RAF museum gets a valuable ‘gap filler’. I can think of no better why to spend £2.5M of Lottery cash.
DOUGHNUT
By: David Burke - 12th December 2003 at 23:10
Doughnut – there are the skills available in the U.K to carry out such a project straight away. What is lacking is the desire and commitment to put money into it. There are still a number of gaps in the RAFM collection which I cannot see a desire to fill i.e Lockheed Lodestar so I am not optomistic about a Gauntlet project being commissioned.
By: Eddie - 12th December 2003 at 14:01
I believe the Finnish Blenheims are the only real Blenheims in existence (barring wreckage)
By: DOUGHNUT - 12th December 2003 at 13:18
Thanks to a quick goolge search.
Gauntlet GT-400, ex K5271, OH-XGT, was rebuilt from the remains of two aircraft and flown in 1982, it was still flying in June 2002. Its onwer is ‘Lentoteknikan Kilta’ and it is based at Halli.
The Finn’s also have such gems as a dismantled Blackburn Rippon, a complete but stored Bristol Bulldog and the parts of several Gloster Gamecocks, not to mention more than one or two Blehiems, both mkI and IV.
DOUGHNUT
By: Ant.H - 12th December 2003 at 12:53
Doh!Thanks Mike,my last post has been edited accordingly.I’m off for a quiet lie down in a darkened room…
By: Ant.H - 12th December 2003 at 12:47
Hi Doughnut,
Although my memory tells me that the aircraft hasn’t flown for a while,I don’t know why it hasn’t,and I didn’t say that it was to do with engine trouble.Sorry,just thought I’d better point that out.
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December 12, 2003 at 12:36 pm