Swordfish- ongoing restoration to flight, White Waltham.

Work continues on what could be a third airworthy Swordfish in the UK ( if you consider Navy Wings have two potential flyers ) .  The ex-Canadian operated HS554 was constructed as FBS/35270A under licence by the Blackburn Aircraft Co. in 1942. It served both the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy until being retired in 1946.

The aircraft was one of twelve Swordfishes collected by Ernie Simmons and stored in the open on his farm in Tillsonburg (Ont.). His collection was auctioned in 1970 and HS554 was acquired by Bob Spence of Muirkirk (Ont.). He restored the aircraft and it has reportedly not flown more than 148 hours since this restoration (first flight 1992).

It was sold to Vintage Wings of Canada in 2006 and after an overhaul of its Bristol Pegasus Model 30 engine made its first flight from Gatineau in 2013.  despite a triumphant trip to Oshkosh, engine issues have curtailed flying for some years,  a major  reason why the Canadians reluctantly  decided to part of their historic ‘Stringbag’.

Steel tubing has been receiving attention on the rear fuselage.