Hi folks,
I spent the last week sunning myself on the south coast and took the time to visit the museum at Tangmere.I forget how many times I’ve visited the place in the last 10 years or so,but I never tire of going there.The atmosphere is always friendly and the displays are changed or updated regularly,so there always seems to be plenty of new stuff to see.Thier outdoor exhibits are in very good nick aswell,with restoration work currently underway on the T33.A number of indoor exhibits have been recieving attention aswell,including a beatiful RR Griffon 57 and an amazingly tidy Junkers Jumo that was dragged out of the channel by a trawler only a couple of years ago.
This museum has come a long way in a fairly short space of time,so if you haven’t visited for a while it would be well worth going there again.If you’ve never been,I can only say that you’ve been missing out and that you oughta get yourself down there asap!
Took a few digi pics while I was there and thought I’d share them with you.Here’s the recently arrived Lightning…
By: Ant.H - 28th July 2003 at 21:50
Too true Eddy old son 🙂
By: Eddie - 28th July 2003 at 20:22
Originally posted by Ant Harrington
..so consequently there were alot of stepladders…in the way…
Isn’t that always the case? 😀
By: scott c - 28th July 2003 at 06:23
Lightning dose look good shame its an F.53 and not a uk lightning. Ant you want to have a go at dismantaling a lightning properly its great fun (not).
Scott c
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 23:29
I can’t remember the serial,but it’s on loan to the museum from the local ATC squadron.After serving with the RAF,the aircraft was converted by Hawker to a two-seater for a foreign air force,and the original nose was discarded.Someone was saying that the rest of the aircradt is still in existance in it’s twin-stick form.If only I could remember it’s ID!
By: MarkG - 27th July 2003 at 23:20
Cracking photos, thanks for posting.
Does anyone know the identity of the Hunter cockpit section to the left of the Swift in the 8th photo?
Mark
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 23:16
Thanks for the correction David,I’d be interested to hear more about her history.Excuse me if I sound ignorant,but I thought that only the RAF painted thier rescue helo’s yellow??I seem to remember she was in a rather worn RAF scheme when she arrived at the museum,so at least she’s been repainted in the colours of the service she actually flew with.
By: David Burke - 27th July 2003 at 22:00
Ant – the yellow scheme on the Whirlwind HAS.7 was the correct one for the machine from her days with 848 Squadron. I forget what conflict it was actually used in – it will come to me!
By: A330Crazy - 27th July 2003 at 19:53
Excellent! A nice collection of photos Ant. Well done. That Sea Vixen is looking luverly! 😉
Cheers for posting.
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 19:03
“Wow that lightning looks like it could taxi out and liftoff!”
Erm…you could have a go Peter,but the wings would probably come off!Unfortunately,she’s one of those Lightnings that’s had it’s wing tips cut through to make dismantling and transport easier.The tailfin also gets the same treatment on some examples,this one included.
The problem with the Lightning is that it’s an absolute pig to dismantle properly-you have to take the fuselage to bits to get at the wing joint and by the time you’ve finished you’ve got a merry jigsaw puzzle of bits that take some thought to transport.The easier (and cheaper) option for small musuems and organisations is to cut the wing tips off and stick the almost complete aircraft on the back of a lorry,then bolt or weld the missing bits back on when you get to where you wanna go.
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 18:04
…and finally,a view of the display hall over the Swift’s wingtip.
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 18:01
..the tail section with removed nose cone and various other bits n’ pieces laid out on the floor…
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:59
Unfortunately,I didn’t have equal success photographing the aircraft in the Merston Hall.There is currently work being carried out on both the Mk.3 Hunter and the Swift FR.5,so consequently there were alot of stepladders,workbenches etc in the way of the exhibits.A number of other exhibits such as engines have also had to be moved around to accomodate the restoration projects,so it wasn’t the easiest place to take piccies.In the end the only half decent ones I took were of the Swift.A number of panels are off and the tailcone has been removed amongst other things.Is this just a general inspection and assessment of her condition or is she being prepared for a move to pastures new??
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:52
I’m not usually an eggbeater fan,but there’s something endearing about the Whirlwind.This one was repainted two or three years ago back into her RN colours,having been previously displayed in a rather manky yellow RAF Rescue scheme.The titling across the nose reads ‘The Iron Chicken’! 😀
By: Peter - 27th July 2003 at 17:51
great pics!!
Wow that lightning looks like it could taxi out and liftoff!
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:49
..the Meteor F.8.Strangely,this is thought to be the only Meteor in the world displayed with an IFR probe fitted…
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:46
..I can’t resisit another of the ‘Vixen.Anyone know what the Greek lettering on the side of the nose is about??
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:44
…the pristine SeaVixen( the sun came out at just the right moment! :))…
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:41
The newly repainted SeaVixen with the Lightning as a backdrop…
By: Ant.H - 27th July 2003 at 17:39
This Lightning is in such beautiful nick I can’t resist posting another of her.I would say she’s possibly the best static Lightning anywhere,she’s utterly free of grime or corrosion inside and out and looks like she was built last week.Mouthwatering…
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July 27, 2003 at 5:35 pm