Source Jets de Havillands for sale

Source Classic Jet Flight

I am advised by the operator of these aircraft that they have been maintained under a care and maintenance programme, pending renewal of the permit to fly.

This being the case, my comments regarding value and cost to get them back in the air are clearly wholly innaccurate, and I have modified my initial statements accordingly.

Bruce

was this the one which gravitated to North Weald….we had two ex-MS.733 Potez engines for sale for ages with paperwork – couldnt get rid of them for love nor money! Eventually went for silly cheap money last year…

TT

Did Sandy’s Alcyon ever turn up?

Ritch – talk to Ade and Phil about Sandy’s machines, thats how they got started at Bruntingthorpe working on the Vamps and the T-33 which was later exported….indeed G-BKRN was ex- Vintage Aircraft Team….! 🙂

ATB

TT

Indeed,

Sandy operated Venom J-1790/WR410, along with Vampire T-11 WZ507 from Cranfield, and briefly, Bruntingthorpe.

WZ507 now flies from North Weald. J-1790 is time expired and is with us at London Colney.

Sandy also had a number of other spares ships and projects. Included were T-11 XH328, which is mine, and Venom FB50(R) J-1632 which is also at the museum.

Bruce

Were these anything to do with the collection which were at Bruntingthorpe in the early-mid 90s?

Dont think so Rich. I think the aircraft you mention were the aircraft of Sandy Topen. Def remember seeing his Suez striped Venom at Brunty.

Were these anything to do with the collection which were at Bruntingthorpe in the early-mid 90s?

I remember this bunch when they used to be based at Mawgan, fabulous sight and sound when they were in the circuit.
Im glad the people there had the foresight to bring these aircraft together and fly them. It seems to be the way of things in the UK, in the end the money and appeal runs out and aircraft either end up being left or going to the States (where the money is).
I was amazed how quickly the Moffat Gannet fell from grace when it stopped flying, one moment it was a immaculate prized airshow performer, the next dumped outside and deterioating. I really hope the Sea Vixen dosent go the same way.

These have been up for sale for the last 5 years , always been in flyer /loop magazine adverts.

I did hear it was cheaper to rebuild one from scratch than to take those over. The owner wanted far to much for them even 5 years ago.

Sorry to see them the state they are but I always thought it was greed myself.

£

I remember reading an article about this collection of aircraft in Flypast 5-7 years ago and being amazed that this number of jets could find enough airshow business to ‘stay in business’. Mind you, I’ve thought the same about the Hunters at Kemble and they seem to doing ok.

Is it all helped by having owners or consortia wealthy enough to afford the running costs?

last time I looked they definitly were showing their age, and x number of years in the open has done them no favours at all. The best of the bunch have already been picked off, G-DHZZ (Vampire T55)to Norway and G-DHTT (Venom FB.50) to BAM as a static. The remainder may or may not ever fly again pending a detailled examination of the hulls but certainly it would cost alot more than they are worth to bring them up to airworthy trim (I believe a decent vampire currently retails at around 25-30K). It’s a crying shame they’ve been left as long as they have, certainly the Admirals Barge T55 was an absolute beauty.

No, as I say, it is £60K less whatever it costs to get it back in the air, less a bit for good measure!

On the plus side, they are at least complete, and spares are plentiful!

Graham, 5 years outdoors will do them no favours. If the fuselage covering was good to start with, and relatively recent, then they are in with a chance. Once a crack starts in the fabric, the trouble really starts! I dont know if they wore covers of any description, or if they have had any servicing in that time.

Edit – I am advised that they have been serviced in this time, so one has to hope that my fears are unfounded!

There was a Venom outside at North Weald, which was getting seriously corroded – wings and fittings were really bad, but it had been there for over 20 years!

I still hope someone will see a value in them – as I said before, it would be great to see more Vampires in the air!

Bruce

surely an aircraft that has spent 5 years outside, is not worth £60,000 and is definitely not “on the button” i would have thought its going to take a lot of work to put them back in the air again, no?

Its a tricky question!

I dont know how many hours the aircraft being sold have remaining, but that should influence matters.

I dont believe an airworthy Vampire/Venom is worth more than about £60K stg, possibly less. So the equation becomes one of:

Approx £60K – Cost to put the aircraft through a permit renewal = True value.

I dont think its high – that said, I would love to see more Vampires and Venoms back in the air, so lets hope the right buyer is out there!

Bruce

60K – permit renewal about 3K then LOL 🙂 I think there might be a bargain, how many people have the cash to keep one flying and if they do there are more desirable aircraft to spend your money on.
Bruce what effect does 5 years outdoors have on a wooden Vampire if its not maintained? There used to one at Dunkerswell Devon in quite good nick but outside, after 5 years it was a wreck, looked ok but was rotten.

In their defence they did offer them to Museums on long term loan a while ago as long as they were kept indoors but I dont think there were many takers sadly….

TT

Seconded

Apathy!

what happened?

Why did this collection fail/fall into disrepair?

I taxied past these aircraft at Bournemouth a few months ago and they looked a sorry sight. As Bruce says, they have been stored outside for a long time, and as the nacelle is made of wood, I suspect they are not in tip top condition…

Still, somebody with money burning a hole in their pocket will almost certainly buy them and find out the true value:eek:

Thanks Bruce. That’s actually more than I expected. The garden’s big enough but the wallet isn’t, maybe next time. 🙁