Historic Aircraft Collection DH9 E-8894 close to first flight?

The Historic Aircraft Collection have just made an announcement regarding the DH9 E-8894 which they’re restoring to flight:-

https://www.facebook.com/Historic-Aircraft-Collection-281457865276755/

I realise not everyone has access to Facebook, so the for the benefit of the forum the statement they’ve posted is as follows:-

“Exciting times at HAC… Keep your eyes peeled for updates and a brand new Facebook page dedicated to the DH9.”

The 2013 ITV news clip (included at post #17 of this thread) is also included with the announcement.

Fingers crossed 2016 could be the year it returns to the sky. Exciting stuff.

And just for giggles, a slight spin on the forums running gag . . . . . will it be at Shuttleworth!?! 😉

Well I’m braced for disappointment but at the same time have my fingers firmly crossed. Whatever the outcome, I’m confident it will be a great Airshow (it’s the default setting at Shuttleworth!!!).

The publication date of the book has been pushed back for the last couple of years, in line with the first flight of the aircraft. Both will be ready when they’re ready, I’m sure. I wouldn’t hold my breath over seeing the DH-9 at Old Warden though, if I were you.

It’s now a little over two weeks until Shuttleworth’s WWI Commemoration Airshow and there’s been no news of a first post restoration flight for E8894, which I’m still assuming is the genuine DH9 listed as attending.

However, I have noticed that there’s due to be a book published detailing the recovery from India and restoration of both E8894 and D5649 (the static example now at Duxford). It’s due to be published on the 31-Oct-14. Should make for a good read I’d imagine.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1908117338/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=Dh9&qid=1406206777&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

That is academic really Matt, it is not an original aeroplane and it has been built to represent a BE2f. If it was original it would have been built as what it is and it’s history would have been know but it is a ‘late production’.

I think TVAL produced at least 5 B.E.2 repros, the two Es now in the UK, early and late Cs, and the F now in France.

I know the memorial flight in France like to call there BE2 an ‘F’ but its an ‘E’. a BE2F was actually a ‘C’ that was converted to ‘E’ status later on in the field or some times even at the end of the production line before leaving the factory. so how can you build a replica “F’ unless you build it as a ‘C’ first and then change it to an ‘E’ configuration.
If its built as is then its an ‘E’ !

I’d mentioned the first B.E.2c-1, as it flew fairly soon after the original B.E.2f, and the timing seemed a bit tight for use as a template. However, reviewing their website I remembered the B.E.2f was acquired as a project, and there are even photos of the repro B.E.2f under construction next to the stripped down original.

I think TVAL produced at least 5 B.E.2 repros, the two Es now in the UK, early and late Cs, and the F now in France.

Note the Memorial flight are restoring a LVG C.VI, and recently completed a repro example for TVAL, so that is one way of getting access to a template.
TVAL acquired a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter some time back, and it hasn’t been seen since – possibly serving as a template.
Note sure if the B.E.2f ZK-BFR (ex G-BVGR) was used as a template for the later B.E.2c repro ZK-TVA.

It would be a massively expensive way to get a template !!

Also available to view via the HAC website is the following ITV news report from 2013 which I’ve linked to directly via the following link:

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2013-09-02/rare-aircraft-set-to-fly-again/

Towards the end it indicates that once complete the DH9 will indeed be up for sale.

As such, once it becomes airworthy I intend to make the most of it and see it fly as often as possible before it potentially moves on.

I suspect it will be too big a draw for Sir Peter Jackson. However, I don’t feel it would be a bad thing if it went to New Zealand for the simple reason that there would be the distinct possibility that The Vintage Aviator Ltd could potential use it as template with which to produce one or more reproductions.

With respect, that’s quite a blinkered view..

Not blinkered at all.
The original post seemed to be lamenting the lack of WWI type aircraft on the display circuit. We weren’t discussing Canberras, Hunters or the Sea Vixen.
He seemed to imply that it was lack of money and many of the good planes went overseas as a result.
Nonsense…there is plenty of money for old aircraft in the UK (as well as the other items I mentioned).
They certainly have the time and money to regularly exchange WWII types with American dealers…every year brings fresh imports and exports.
It seems some WWII fighters have spent more time travelling in containers than under their own power. 🙂

There seems to be a lack of interest in that era among UK operators….whereas there seems to be a healthy appreciation of the era in the US*, Aus, and especially, tiny New Zealand.
If there are blinkers being worn, they’re in the UK.

Aside from Mr. Week’s well known collection there is also the little publicized “The Aeroplane Collection” of Javier Arango of Paso Robles, California. He has a large collection or period and replica WWI aircraft including an original Camel…and the world’s oldest flying aircraft, a 1911 Bleriot. I have a friend building a faithful reproduction Pup using the correct Le Rhone.
On the other end of the spectrum, and then there are many small scale look-likes flying. A decade ago at a WWI-themed fly-in, I met up with the group that travels with small scale Nieuports. They transport them on trailers because of the distances and weather. They’d probably be looked down by many here because of their aircraft, but they sure have fun and bring the sights of Great War aviation to more people in a year than many other organizations.

Perhaps we should all chip in and buy it ourselves:D

All of those aircraft have been in the hands of a very small number of collectors who have actively traded to other collectors and museums. I believe we are seeing a few new operators coming into the scene who will operate their aircraft somewhat differently.

Yes, but as we have seen in the past, ‘very much underway’ is a very different thing from actually being operated. How many organisations or individuals, other than The Shuttleworth Collection, have actually operated authentic WWI aircraft for any length of time in the last 30 years? I can think of very short-lived careers from 2 F2bs, a Camel, an S.E.5a and a Nieuport 28, all of which had brief flying lives before being parked and/or sold off.

There are three SE.5a’s that I would call very much underway in the U.K. All are not far from flight relatively speaking and having money spent on them. As to aircraft staying in this country -many collectors are also dealers -if the right deal is there they will take it whether its in the U.K or abroad.

Bruce

I’m not having a go, but how many WW1 & between wars military aircraft “repro or original” that are fitted with original engines & have a value over £275,000, are owned by private UK individuals & are flying in the UK ?. I can only think of those owned by the HAC, + Gladiator, the Demon, & the Nimrod.

There are several projects in the wings, but even a lot of those projects have stalled due to no one comming up with the funds to rebuild them.

Bob T.

With respect, that’s quite a blinkered view.

We do have individuals, and groups who own all sorts of aircraft (and cars!). The Canberra and Hunter duo is one of the more esoteric of recent years, and makes a wonderful change to the norm. Importantly, they are operating an aircraft whose intrinsic value is relatively low when compared to the Spitfire/Mustang, and are investing heavily in doing so. There are others – the Sea Vixen being another good example.

As ever though, if and when the DH9 is offered for sale (I saw it at an early stage, and it is lovely!), the guy with the deepest pockets will get it.

There are qualified individuals in the U.K who can both afford and keep it flying in this country.

Of course there are. That’s never been in doubt. Just look at the number of Spitfires out there. Better yet, take a look at Goodwood and the historic automobile world…to say nothing of historic racing (and turbine helicopters, private jets, art collections, horses, yachting, multi-million pound estates).

It’s not a case of selling national treasures to the rich, bad Americans…its just that the money class in the UK can’t seem to get beyond Spitfires and Mustangs when it comes to aircraft. At a party you’re bound to raise eyebrows if you say “Yes, I have a Spitfire” as opposed to saying a DH-9 and then have to explain what the thing is.

On top of that, World War one types have a fairly bad reputation even among aviation enthusiasts. Fragile airframes with unreliable engines and flying qualities that make flying a Spitfire look like driving a Mini to the shops.
I’m sure the rich have better ways to risk life and limb.

David

Your quite right there are people with the money & abillity to keep her here in the UK, unfortunately they have one thing missing out of the equasion, & thats the enthusiasm/interest for this type of aeroplane, hence why the 2 other airworthy F2b’s went abroad, the same goes for the last 2 airworthy mossie’s that we had, the Nieuport 28 etc, & it’s also why we don’t have any airworthy Wellingtons, Stirlings or hallifaxes.

It doesn’t matter how much money some one may have, unless they are interested in the type “or can make money from it” then they are not going to buy it.

There are plenty of enthusiasts in Britain who would love to own the repro DH9, but none of us have the funds to do so, which is a bloody shame, but thats life.

Bob T.