Fleet Air Arm Museum Skyraider AEW.1s

WT121 and WV106 both taken on the Cobham Hall open day 1st April 2005

Robs Lamplough had a pair of ex-FAA, ex-Swedish examples that lurked at North Weald for a while in the mid-80s. I believe they found their way to the US eventually, although I’m not sure what happened to them after that.

I remember seeing these Skyraiders stored at F10 Ängelholm on 1.9.85. Later the same month both were dismanteled and shiped to the UK. This in a deal that brought a Grumman Goose to the Swedish Air Force museum.

From November 1985 to about September 1990 SE-EBK/M were stored at North Weald. The Skyraiders were then shipped to Pacific Fighters at Chino for possible restoration for Erickson Air Crane.

SE-EBK (7850), ex Bu.126867, WV181. Was reg G-BMFC and later became N4277N. This has been restored to flying condition, painted as Bu.126867 “Marines/RM-24”.

SE-EBM (7964) ex Bu.127949, WT951. Was reg G-BMFB and later N4277L. Not yet restored to flying condition. It was offered for sale a few years ago: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3901/is_200205/ai_n9031078

And here is a another one – a pic of SE-EBL (7937) ex Bu.127922, WT987, taken earlier this year: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1025292/M/
No signs of its current reg N5469Y…

I picked an excellent book up on the Fleet Air arm Skyraiders. It even shows the disposal of them after service. sad really.

Unfortunately SE-EBI is not on public display, listed as stored.
Perhaps when the Gothenburg Aeroseum is officially opened next year (by which time I hope to be a voluntary guide there) we can persuade the powers that be to move it to the Aeroseum for restoration. I will at least propose this at our next meeting.

Fun to see the pic of Skyraider WT947. Merged together with WV185 this became in 1963 SE-EBI. This aircraft is now preserved at the Swedish Air Force museum at Malmen.

Talking of Fleet Air Arm Skyraiders, here are some in service.

Skyraider

Skyraider at the recent Oceana air show.

Very much so Pete. the Fleet Air Arm needed an urgent stop gap AEW aircraft before a British designed and built aircraft could step into the breech.

The Skyraider filled that need. Some were new build examples others were second hand from the US military. Interestingly afte rthey were retired from Fleet Air Arm service many become Target Tugs in Sweden painted in a rather bright overall yellow colour scheme.

I didn’t realise, despite several visits to Yeovil, that they had two Skyraiders. I love this a/c, it’s so butch, my memories of it are of three flying together at Legends once, the Airfix examples that went with the Victorious kit ( that I painted up as Gannets) and the out of time examples that flew over the fleet in the making of ‘The Longest Day’.
Did the RN take on this a/c as a stop-gap before the Gannet was ready for service.

Opening times are 1000 to 1600 – entry is £4 for adults

Couldn’t find any fots sadly. What is the Opening Times for the 26th October?

couple of pics in my faa museum set here…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimincov/240887155/in/set-72157594279979665/

The reason I ask is that if you wish to see them the last Cobham Hall Open Day for 2006 is on Thursday 26th October

PV2, whats the reason for the question?

WV106 is stored outside dismantled, whilst WT121 is in store inside Cobham Hall complete.

I have fots of them somewhere, will try and dig them out…