Typhoon Cockpit Restoration @ Innsworth

Thanks to all who have enlightened me. So I may get to see another complete (if composite and partly-replica) Tiffie yet. The Hendon one looked rather tired the last time I saw it. Is it due for a repaint?

Thanks for clearing that up, although it’s innacurate i much prefer it being a car door Tiffie, i like the look of them like that.

The Caen Tiffie is a (fibreglass or similar) replica. It carries the markings of JP656 of 184 Sqn which was one of three aircraft lost in an attack on Mezidon marshalling yards on 7 June 44. The wreck had been excavated and parts recovered (inc Sabre). On RAF Museum advice it was built with the ‘car-door canopy’ which JP656 had when first built. Unfortunately they missed the significance of a visit to Cunliffe-Owen on its record card – for canopy and RP mods. ie. the replica should have had a ‘bubble’ canopy (confirmed by the rounded head armour recovered at the wreck site).

The D-Day Museum cockpit section went to the memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Bayeux. I don’t know if it is on display yet.
Cranswick

Cees knows I will always post something if the subject of Typhoons comes up 🙂

There is lots more out there than you think including about a dozen cockpit projects, a couple of dozen Sabre engines (from sea recoveries to ones that look as though they could run if you hooked a battery up to it!!), rear fuselage, tail planes, rudders etc. In fact there is enough out there if put together to get a complete centre section of a Typhoon together (tail to spinner that is). The wings are relatively straight forward (compared to other types that is) and could be reconstructed if the effort were put in, if the rumoured pair of wings surviving on continental Europe and another pair somewhere in the UK turned out just to be another rumour of course!!!

Dave

Ta Charley – cant be the same aircraft then – wonder where it is now-

Wasnt there a post of someone building a Tiffie replica with a lot of original parts a while back at RIAT or something?

TT

Yes, that is Roger Marley’s project. He has a full fuselage and seems to have acquired a Sabre as well. Dave R knows more I have a feeling.

Cheers

Cees

Ta Charley – cant be the same aircraft then – wonder where it is now-

Wasnt there a post of someone building a Tiffie replica with a lot of original parts a while back at RIAT or something?

TT

I had the impression that the Caen Typhoon was a replica. I can’t be sure though and have not yet seen it. If it is a replica, it is sad that the former D-Day museum remains seem to be “MIA”. Especially when it was sold for such a (relatively) small amount. So how much Typhoon is left in the world? The Hendon one, a couple of cockpit sections and assorted bits in other museums or private hands. Is that it?

Not sure Rob – i think it was a later mark -they made a nice job of it – it was in broadly the same configuration as the one at Duxford ie no side skinning, but it could have gone to Caen – basically assembled from crash remains restored over about 20 years was very sad when they had to close up – still we found some T-6 skis there!

TT

Is that the same Tiffie that’s hung from the roof in the Peace Museum, Caen? Fine looking replica, love the look of the early car-door Typhoons.

Must be with the Cotswold Group Boys who are doing the Monospar for Newark? Went there about four years ago, really nice bunch of people, had several rare gun turrets under restoration and the work on the Monospar, though not up to airworthy, was fantastic –

I’m not sure how much longer they have at Innsworth though – didnt i read the RAF were closing it?

I was always amazed that the composite Tiffie from the D-Day Museum didnt stay in this country – i think it had a (crash recovered) Sabre with it and ‘only’ went for about £4000 to France i think – given the rarity of the aeroplane I thought it may go for more…

Talking of such things, Gerry Cooper and Tempest Two – anyone know how the Tempest(s) and Sturmovik are coming along – looking forward to seeing the latter in the RAFM

Cheers

TT

as an aside…I have managed to learn a little about Hawker Drawings in general. The letter at the end of the drawing (F in this case) gives you a quick idea of the size and type. F is one of the biggest therefore they are usually a 1/1 scale of a smaller piece or a general arrangement of a sub assembly. From memory (I don’t have my notes with me) 101500 is a general arrangement of the main spar sub assembly (I know its sad when you can recognise individual drawing numbers!!!)

This could be the guys that used to be at the jet age musuem…theirs has been in store since the museum lost it premises and is one of 2 car door type cockpits that I know to exist. They do not know the serial number of the aircraft and I believe it came from the flowers scrap yard.

Dave