Seahawk WV797

Thanks for that update Les. It’s coming along nicely and I first caught this machine in 1989, when MAM first repainted it and it looked magnificent then, so I’m sure it’ll be repeated again. Great stuff! 😉

Pleasant day at MAM today, not too cold, bit windy, no real sun but a good day out nonetheless. (And they still make the best tuna sandwich around the Midlands! 😀 )

The Sea Hawk (*) is still in the first preparation stage of what looks like being a long process – ‘long’ in real-time that is. Top surfaces seem pretty much ready for paint application (possibly this Thursday).

Considering this airframe has been standing outside for, what, about 20 years it’s in remarkably good shape. Screwheads etc rusted, yes, can’t expect much else, but the pipelines and general surface won’t need much more that a wire brushing. Most of the perceived ‘tattines’ in fact is just paint lifting around screw and bolt heads, etc. Demalination in the wheel bays is, again mostly lifted paint work. The cockpit is in good shape though. No ‘clocks’ missing, all ‘glass’ present and correct.

(*) Is that one word or two?

Anyway, it’s not a Canberra so I can’t judge further, but it is one curvy, sexy jet! 😉

Some pix . . .

YAY!! Another Sea Hawk!!

About time this beautiful aircraft got more limelight. Excellent news. AW certainly did build them well and I’m sure this will stand her in good stead now. I eagerly await more news & pictures.

If the horrible work thing didn’t keep getting in the way I’d be down to the MAM like a shot – with my overalls, naughty jokes and whatever boxes of sea hawk bits I have lying around.

Roy.

WV797 had also been fairly well looked-after and always kept under cover by Air Service Training at Perth and, after negotiating with them for almost two years, the aircraft left for Coventry on February 6th 1986.John

The bonus with the acquisition of WV797 was it’s “hidden” link with AST.

All but the 3 prototypes and first 38 production Seahawks were built by Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. at Baginton and, indeed, (like the NF Meteors) the type was marketed by Hawker Siddeley as the A.W. Seahawk.

Air Service Training was originally formed at Whitley in 1920 as the Flying School of Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft and was renamed Air Service Training Ltd early in 1931 shortly before moving to Hamble. AST built the giant A.W. ‘Ensign’ class of airliners allowing the Whitley and Baginton factories to concentrate on the A.W. Whitley.

Roger Smith.

John
Mailed privately.

Albert
I believe it will be re-done in the scheme it is currently showing, not a bad scheme for a Sea Hawk (is that one word or two?). The Suez scheme is/will be topical anyway as I think it’s the 50th anniv of the Suez affair later on this year.

Any pics of it? :rolleyes:

As for the Argosy, I believe that’s an on-going project . . . it’s a BIG airframe.

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Les,

Well done to the MAM guys. Do you know what markings it will be painted in, or will it still retain its Suez stripes? Would love to see the Argosy tackled next in either AWA or BEA colours?

Sea Hawk restoration number 2

Many thanks to Les for his pic of WV797 undergoing some much needed TLC. Given that one of the major objectives for the Museum was to develop as comprehensive a collection of surviving Coventry-built (and Coventry-powered) types, the Sea Hawk had been high on the acquisitions list since the early 1970s. If I remember right, there were at least eight other examples that I pursued before finally clinching what seemed to be the best one for the Museum. Because it was to be one of the core exhibits, I rejected several of the other possibilities which were only available as loans. WV797 had also been fairly well looked-after and always kept under cover by Air Service Training at Perth and, after negotiating with them for almost two years, the aircraft left for Coventry on February 6th 1986.

In those days, the Museum had an off-site restoration centre in Coventry with a dedicated team that worked wonders on a number of our aircraft, including WV797, which was moved into the workshops in November 1987. There it was taken down to bare metal and eventually delivered back to Baginton the following year looking as good as it would have done when it first rolled off the production line just a few hundred yards away from the Museum site. The Saab J-29 was another of their restorations and it is unfortunate that it has taken so long to provide the additional exhibition space that would have ensured that, like the J-29, the Sea Hawk was still as good as new. It was certainly never intended it should have to sit outside for 18 years and its great that work is now underway.

Looking forward to seeing lots of pics of the work in progress.

John

Does anyone know who MAM use of their preparation and finishing products?

At last, 300 posts in under three years, spending too much time on here 😀 😀 😀

Talking about good shape, it’s said the the airframe is in a remarkable state of repair, no corrosion holes apparent and just some surface mag corrosion. Looks like AW built them tough in those days.

Awww c’mon Les, you know thats only the way Hawkers showed ’em :diablo:

But seriously, congrat’s on commencement of the work. Look forward to more pic’s…! 😉

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