John Aitken lifted Swordfish HS554 off the runway quickly today it is reported she climbed so well the Beaver chase plane had difficulty formating for photo ops. A truly incredible achievement with only 1 other Swordfish flying in the world at the RNHF.
Expect to see photos posted on the Vintage Wings site shortly:
http://www.vintagewings.ca
By: swordfish - 28th July 2011 at 17:01
Hi Lee,
Many thanks for that.Had the pleasure of sitting in that aircraft 15 years ago when it visited blackpool.Im sure the RNHF have another swordfish in storage.I now money is an issue,but are there any plans for it?
Steve
By: Lee Howard - 27th July 2011 at 22:41
Steve
Yes, W5856. As my reply suggests, all being well she may return to the fold sometime next year. Keep checking the RNHF website for details.
In the meantime is there anyone on here with access to any preserved Pegasus engines who might be able to help me complete a form of census? I’m particularly interested in the two numbers to be found stamped onto the crankcase housing – one is a five-digit number (sometimes prefixed ‘P’) and the other is a six-digit number (sometimes prefixed ‘A’).
Anyone?
Rgds
Lee
By: DazDaMan - 27th July 2011 at 20:05
Excellent news. Well done to everyone involved! 🙂
By: swordfish - 27th July 2011 at 19:54
Hi Lee,
Are you refering to W5856? Hows the restoration going?
Steve
By: K225 - 27th July 2011 at 19:10
Sorry for going a bit off-topic….
Has there been any recent progress on the Whereatt Hurricane?
The Hurricane XII is back on her undercarriage, the centre section was rebuilt. Tail feathers are back on, and wings being reskinned. Fuel tanks were being fabricated to go into the weapons bay, and the engine mounts are back in place. Probably two years away from completion at this stage.
By: Lee Howard - 27th July 2011 at 17:45
Lovely! You can never have too many Flying Fish! A hearty congrats to all involved. Hopefully this time next year we might be talking about THREE Swordfish…….;-)
By: turretboy - 27th July 2011 at 16:09
Sorry for going a bit off-topic….
Has there been any recent progress on the Whereatt Hurricane?
By: BSG-75 - 27th July 2011 at 15:21
look at that….. lovely sight. well done to all involved.
By: K225 - 27th July 2011 at 14:33
I could have sworn I saw LS326 flying at Duxford recently.;)
Seriously though well done.
Stand corrected should be HS554, here is the link to Dave O’Malley article on the flight with pictures.
http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/310/language/en-CA/Stringbag–a-First-Flight.aspx
By: Peter - 27th July 2011 at 02:28
That is terrific to hear of her back in the air again! Well done!!
By: JDK - 27th July 2011 at 02:07
That engine has been a pig to put it mildly!
…
(hand cranking a Pegassus in 35C is not for the faint of heart!).
All agreed, Richard. But it is sad to note that one of the most important W.W.II era aero engines is now essentially an ‘exotic’ and we are close to having lost the knowledge of how to operate such engines (effectively the RNHF have been the only Bristol Pegasus engine operators for any length of time for the last half-century.)
See the extensive list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Pegasus#Applications
And I’d be up to crank it in 35 C – (for a ride, of course 😀 ). It was on the escort carriers at minus something, wind and snow in wartime that was the real tough deal.
Regards,
By: RMAllnutt - 27th July 2011 at 01:17
That’s awesome!
Congrats to all the Vintage Wings staff & volunteers!
It is great news, isn’t it?! I missed the grand moment by just a couple of days, as I had to leave Ottawa before she was quite done. That engine has been a pig to put it mildly! Many congratulations to the restoration teem for all of their hard work, and in that swealtering heat as well (hand cranking a Pegassus in 35C is not for the faint of heart!).
Chears,
Richard
By: JDK - 27th July 2011 at 01:03
Great news! But HS554, C-GEVS, surely?
By: 92fis - 27th July 2011 at 00:55
I could have sworn I saw LS326 flying at Duxford recently.;)
Seriously though well done.
By: turretboy - 27th July 2011 at 00:44
That’s awesome!
Congrats to all the Vintage Wings staff & volunteers!
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July 27, 2011 at 12:26 am