When the Vampire belonging to the Wings of Flight Air Museum crash landed last summer, I believe that made the IWM’s F-86 Sabre the oldest flying jet. The Vampire was built in 1947 and the Duxford Sabre was built in 1948 I believe. Does anyone have any current details on the Bell YP-59A Airacobra that has been undergoing restoration at Chino? It seems as though I’ve been hearing about the restoration for nearly two decades, and I saw it at Chino about 15 years ago but I can’t find any details more recent than 2007 or so. Just wondering if this now 67 year old bird will return to the skies this year. Thanks.
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th March 2010 at 17:21
I thought it was the oldest flying jet aircraft, not the oldest flying type?
Is there not a few vampires flying are they older than the Sabre? although that is a A model but not sure when she was built?
curlyboy
By: Nashio966 - 14th March 2010 at 14:51
first flight of the sabre 1947
By: Tin Triangle - 14th March 2010 at 14:49
The Vampire was built in 1947 and the Duxford Sabre was built in 1948 I believe.
Is the Sabre really that vintage? I though they didn’t appear until about 1950-51, only being just in time for the Korean War.
Or is that just me imagining things?
By: Nashio966 - 14th March 2010 at 14:33
im pretty sure the vulcan has live bang seats too, part of the reason no one is allowed in the cockpit?
By: Bruce - 14th March 2010 at 14:26
Yes! The last I heard was that It WAS under restoration in Norfolk with JME for Paul Allen, but that company’s owner is selling up (or something) and where it is now, I have no idea. Mind you, it might be considered too rare for it to actually fly
It has returned to its owner.
Bruce
By: Roobarb - 14th March 2010 at 13:47
Think you’ll find that swept wing aircraft are deemed as requiring bang seats and straight wings don’t as a basic rule. Swept wings generally make the aircraft more inherently unstable which makes for better performance as a fighter. All UK Hunters have to have live bang seats as does the GA Sabre.
By: Oxcart - 14th March 2010 at 12:52
Isn’t there a 262 being restored to flight somewhere ?
Yes! The last I heard was that It WAS under restoration in Norfolk with JME for Paul Allen, but that company’s owner is selling up (or something) and where it is now, I have no idea. Mind you, it might be considered too rare for it to actually fly
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th March 2010 at 12:16
I had the impression that this aeroplane had been sold in the USA. Am I right?
Regards
I think there was talk of this before they lost the T33.
does that mean that all the private Hunters etc all have deactivated seats, this would also include the Vulcan??
curlyboy
By: Orion - 14th March 2010 at 11:07
Its Golden Apple’s Sabre not IWM
I had the impression that this aeroplane had been sold in the USA. Am I right?
Regards
By: XH668 - 14th March 2010 at 10:49
. I also believe that the NW based Vampire T11 has de-activated seats as well.
That i can confirm.
By: Sealand Tower - 14th March 2010 at 10:48
Isn’t there a 262 being restored to flight somewhere ?
By: Wyvernfan - 14th March 2010 at 09:47
But not across the board. I think the F86 has a live bang seat, but the GA T33 that was lost a few years ago had seats that were not live. I also believe that the NW based Vampire T11 has de-activated seats as well.
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th March 2010 at 09:16
Sounds good i saw the P-59 a few years back at Chino, although the comment about the no ejection seat rules in the States concern me as even we have civvie ejection seats!!!
curlyboy
By: DC Page - 14th March 2010 at 03:10
Thank you both.
By: AdlerTag - 14th March 2010 at 02:37
The Airacomet project at Chino is still ongoing, update from Feb 2009 on link below.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 14th March 2010 at 01:34
Its Golden Apple’s Sabre not IWM
Sign In
March 14, 2010 at 1:23 am