Seafury Info

Brave Bloke

Tell ‘yer something else – the bravery of John Beatty in choosing to bail out over the sea. Many who have who have parachuted into the ‘oggin (even when it’s calm) will testify to the drowning hazards when getting snagged in the parachute lines – and many have been. Take a look at the sea state on the DVD.

Good on you John, for getting to fly the Seafire. Most fitting compensation after your plain bad luck on RNHF.

Wasn’t me, but I’d love to buy one. Where can I get it from? :dev2: 😀

Best wishes
Steve P

Sorry, did I not say? 😀

RNHF Shop Page

Well, just checked and found two DVDs were ordered yesterday, so if those guys are looking here I hope you enjoy watching them – I’m sure you will! 🙂

Wasn’t me, but I’d love to buy one. Where can I get it from? :dev2: 😀

Best wishes
Steve P

I bought the video, not long after it first came out and have enjoyed watching it ever since. I must get the DVD when I get some spare cash. 🙁 If anyone ever expresses an intrest in old aircraft, I always lend them this, as I think it is one of the best to watch.Great variety of film, brilliant sound and interesting narration. I particularly like the walk round with the access panels removed. Something I would like to see on other programmes,STEVE………, any chance?:D

Alan.

Or stood on a cold Prestwick watching with trepidation as they tried to ‘bounce’ it, knowing that the clearance between the prop and runway wouldn’t be that great at full oleo compression……………..

Indeed – a fair bit of airmanship to do that.

Thanks again to those guys who bought the DVD over the weekend. Your orders should be with you shortly.:)

Unfortunately, in the past I have had correspondence with people that thought TF956 was just abandoned straight away.

Take off, oh dear the wheel doesn’t work.
What should I do?
Hmm, I can’t possibly land it so I’ll just dump it in the sea…

They obviously didn’t know about the two hours spent trying to get the Fury down safely 😡

Or stood on a cold Prestwick watching with trepidation as they tried to ‘bounce’ it, knowing that the clearance between the prop and runway wouldn’t be that great at full oleo compression……………..

Unfortunately, in the past I have had correspondence with people that thought TF956 was just abandoned straight away.

Take off, oh dear the wheel doesn’t work.
What should I do?
Hmm, I can’t possibly land it so I’ll just dump it in the sea…

They obviously didn’t know about the two hours spent trying to get the Fury down safely 😡

You can see the mortal remnants of TF956 in the video and DVD “Hawker Sea Fury – the Ultimate Piston-Engined Fighter”, available through the RNHF website (see link below). It also shows Lt Cdr John Beattie “po-going” down the runway – quite a feat of airmanship –

Having witnessed it in person, I can only agree, Somewhere I have some pictures taken that day, before she flew and taxi-ing out.

A chap got the engine and other bits when it was all dispersed. He knew my passion (disease, more like!!)

Must agree on the quality of the programme, one of the best if not the best ever produced!
The same applies to the Stringbag reborn video, detailing the restoration of W5856 (also available through the RNHF shop on its official site)

If a similar programme had been produced for VR930’s restoration, I’m sure that too would have been quality!

Yikes! 😮 Thanks for that. How did you get hold of the grip (and I don’t mean with your hand!! LOL).

Funnily enough I sat down and watched a big chunk of the vid yesterday afternoon. I got mine as soon as it came out back in either ’91 or ’92 (I was still an apprentice) and back then it was superb VFM and remains so today – arguably one of the best vids ever made on an aircraft. Mind you there are a few “secrets” I could tell about how the whole thing was made, but I can’t divulge them – besides, it would spoil your enjoyment! LOL.;) 😀

I have a photo of VZ345 upside down on the runway at Boscombe – the pilot was one lucky guy to get away with his life!

Well, just checked and found two DVDs were ordered yesterday, so if those guys are looking here I hope you enjoy watching them – I’m sure you will! 🙂

Lee I am sure they will enjoy it! I have owned my copy for years and finally watched it yesterday. The air display at Portland filmed from the cockpit and expertly narrated by John Beattie really made it for me. The sadness was the demise of that aircraft and several others in the background at the Fighter meet.
I joined Boscombe just in time to see our T20 upside down and hence missed flying in it (just like I just missed the T5 Lightning and the F4 XT597)

Here is the grip and what it should look like:-

Well, just checked and found two DVDs were ordered yesterday, so if those guys are looking here I hope you enjoy watching them – I’m sure you will! 🙂

Rocketeer – do you have a photo of it?

Lee

Does anybody know whether the RNHF Seafury TF956 was recovered from the sea off prestwick after it ditched there in 1989 after undercarriage failure is she being restored. Also what happened to the other RNHF Seafury a two seater which crashed in 1990, also is this aircraft being restored, any news would be much appreciated:)

Somewhere I have the ‘spade grip’, well 2 weeks in brine did not do it any good.

Lee,

I didn’t know that it had period(s) without the periscope when with the RNHF, I think all my photos of it were with the peri fitted – you live and learn.

Tim

Have a look at the video/DVD (have I plugged it enough yet??:p ). She’s seen here without the periscope fitted in pretty much all of the filming.

Lee,

I didn’t know that it had period(s) without the periscope when with the RNHF, I think all my photos of it were with the peri fitted – you live and learn. Personally I miss the old girl on the circuit as she represented an aspect that is under-represented – the hard worked conversion trainers. Wouldn’t it be great if an ex-Ethiopian Firefly trainer with the raised rear cockpit could on the circuit. If only one of those now (still?) in S.A. could be resurrected. Maybe one day as per the Spitfire trainers that benefit the “warbird” movement – something different but with practical benefits.

Tim

Lee,
Surely the most discernible difference in the rebuilt “WG655” is the lack of the instructor’s periscope and its gantry which was an original feature that distinguished 655 (when with the RNHF) from all other surviving T.20s?

Tim

Well not entirely – WG655 wasn’t always fitted with the instructor’s periscope when operated by RNHF for some reason.

As I said, the wheel hubs are the main giveaway when the rebuilt aircraft is on the ground – they look ‘orrible, though by all accounts work a lot better.

Anyway……the Sea Fury vid & DVD:;)
…available here: http://www.royalnavyhistoricflight.org.uk/shop.htm

………………. The wreckage of WG655, on the other hand, was sold and ended up in the US where substantial parts of her were rebuilt to form the new “WG655”. The only discernable external difference being the different wheels (disc brakes as opposed to bag brakes) and the retractable tailwheel (the T.20 having a fixed installation normally)…………….

Lee,
Surely the most discernible difference in the rebuilt “WG655” is the lack of the instructor’s periscope and its gantry which was an original feature that distinguished 655 (when with the RNHF) from all other surviving T.20s?

Tim

As Lee says above, the SF DVD is superb, I recommed you get it, I know ’cause I’ve got it! :p