Sea Fury VX281

Hi Guys, whats the latest on VX281…can we expect to see her on the circuit this season?

i should certainly hope so. I think Lee Howard will be best to let us all know.

Now over to Lee…….

I was at yeovilton yesterday(20 Sept)and as I was leaving two aircraft took of,although some distance away the first seemed to be a Sea Fury followed by a reddish coloured small jet(JP?),can anyone confirm?

A Beverley Centaurus?! So was it with that combination that they were ‘talking’ about attempting to break the world speed record for piston engined aircraft at the time? Rob

Darren I apologise I think it was you and not Old Fart who flew in WJ288.
I had forgotten that BAR were using an ex-Beverley Centaurus for the proposed air speed record attempt and I think that was what was installed when I last saw her at Duxford. I don’t know about the condition of the ex- Beverley engine but the original Centaurus that was fitted when she was at Southend was well and truly seized and as far as I am aware none of the cowlings ever came off during her time at the Southend museum. I know they even remained in place when she was resprayed for the museum opening as I helped rub down and mask her and was given the job of spraying under the wings as the sprayer reckoned I was younger and fitter then him and if I messed it up it wouldn’t show too much.

The dead Centaurus in Memphis (whatever it’s provenance!) can be seen behind the Harley in this picture….

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=189446977479&set=a.189435122479.127066.781832479&type=3

A Beverley Centaurus?! So was it with that combination that they were ‘talking’ about attempting to break the world speed record for piston engined aircraft at the time?

Rob

Forum member Old Fart has flown in her recently and said that they had the original Centaurus engine in the hangar. The Centaurus was already seized solid when HAM acquired her so the chances of a successful engine rebuild would have been minimal.

This is not “the original Centaurus engine”, as the aircraft was bodged to have a transport Centaurus (from a Beverley IIRC) fitted whilst with BAR at Lympne. The conversion was never completed.

My pictures of her are here…l

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.189435122479.127066.781832479&type=3

I still can’t believe this actually happened 🙂

G-SALY/WJ288 was an FB11. It was the first acquisition by the British Historic Aircraft Museum when founded by Tony Osborne at Biggin Hill and was subsequently moved to Southend by road. After BHAM folded she was acquired by Historic Aircraft Museum Southend and was displayed in the museum hangar.
She was sold at the museum auction to British Air Reserve at Lympne who registered her as G-SALY. I last saw her at Duxford in the early 80’s with no prop and possibly no engine under the cowling either.
She is now in the USA with the Commerative Air Force (nearly got that one wrong!) and flies with a Wright up front and an extended canopy with a jump seat.
Forum member Old Fart has flown in her recently and said that they had the original Centaurus engine in the hangar. The Centaurus was already seized solid when HAM acquired her so the chances of a successful engine rebuild would have been minimal.

The sea Fury FB.11 under Restoration with TFC is G-BUCM.

Okay, thanks. I mention it as I remember seeing G-SALY in the TFC hanger many years ago.

The sea Fury FB.11 under Restoration with TFC is G-BUCM.

What happened to G-SALY. Is this the Sea Fury being rebuilt by TFC?

Saw her display at Cosford yesterday. Very nice display too!

Blimey she’s busy already!

Saw her display at Cosford yesterday. Very nice display too!

I was at North Weald market on Saturday when I went over to the flight line and was told by an ‘insider’ that she would fly out at 2pm.

Fly out she did!

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Fury at North Weald by Whipper_snapper, on Flickr

She sounded beautiful.

I am also informed that there is a damaged Seafire at North Weald undergoing repair following an accident.

…any info Lee?

The FNHT will make an announcement in due course, I’m sure.

Hi all,VX281 looks complete in that last pic,are the engine woes sorted,would be great to see it online with RNHF,any info Lee? Cheers,Pete

I’d be surprised if it was flying from Elstree down to Somerset on a regular basis, definitely based at Yeovilton, the pilot at the time would have lived just outside Ilminster which is near Merryfield

Ok, would have been TF956 out of Yeovilton then.

Albert
www.warbirdsim.com

This would have been while in Spencer Flack’s ownership, flying from Elstree.

I’d be surprised if it was flying from Elstree down to Somerset on a regular basis, definitely based at Yeovilton, the pilot at the time would have lived just outside Ilminster which is near Merryfield

Talking about flying skill, during an extremely wet and overcast Shoreham Airshow in 1980 or 81 Spencer Flack gave a dazzling display in G-FURY complete with flashing strobe lights in the gun ports. I’ve never seen anything like it before or since. Stefan’s display in the Hunter was also a corker.