XA699-A.W. Javelin project……..

Fairey Dan, Many Thanks for this, would be interested to see the new shots when you manage them. Thanks again Fly.Buy

Fairey Dan, Do you have a picture of the rear cockpit by any chance?
Thanks
Fly.Buy

Here is and old shot showing the ASI and Altimeter, since these were taken the Navigators position was cleaned up a tad. It does look rather odd in its current state as all the black boxes and the prominent radar screen is missing, so it just looks like a giant desk with 4 dials above and rocket propelled seating at the moment!. :p. When I am working on it next I will take a newer picture with more of a view.

Nice to see the shot of her indoors at Cosford Albert. I see also the missile pylons were still in place.

Roger Smith.

Your camera certainly got around Albert. Thanks for the piccy’s.

Interesting, I always wondered where the tail pipe on XA699 went to? Here is my earliest shot of her at Cosford on 23rd August 1971 when used as a training airframe by No.2 STT. The tail pipe was intact then, so I guess it got removed during the ‘training’. Interesting to note that the nose cone was bare fibreglass colour? The second shot is the first time I saw her at MAM on 31st March 1989, devoid of tail pipe!

Fairey Dan, Do you have a picture of the rear cockpit by any chance?
Thanks
Fly.Buy

From pictures I’ve seen that were taken at Cosford, summer 1981 [Control Column magazine] both the MAM Javelin Mk.5 and the FAW.8 that went to Newark Air Museum both had sections of their rear fuselages missing.

Although the FAW.8 at Newark is now inside the reheat section on this airframe still seems to be missing. At least MAM have managed to secure a replacement ‘nib’.

Judging by the MAM pictures they seem to be having a lot of work to do on the wing air brake sections [think that’s what they are], I saw similar work under way at Newark earlier this year.

It was ‘missing’ from XA699 when we acquired the aircraft from Cosford so she was many years an incomplete example… …rear end, it still exists but I cannot divulge where on an open forum….I’ll get shot.

It’s no great secret is it? – it was removed (as you say before the Museum acquired it) to help make another incomplete example complete.

Have a photo somewhere of the fuselage on a lorry going under the railway bridge at Cosford – the canopy was real close to the underside of the bridge.

Roger Smith.

Excellent news, but could I please point out that it is spelt Javelin.

She does have a few rough areas but she will soon be looking much better as she is in good hands!

it still exists but I cannot divulge where on an open forum….I’ll get shot.

Fair enough mate…….case closed 😉

It was ‘missing’ from XA699 when we acquired the aircraft from Cosford so she was many years an incomplete example. The bush telegraph confirmed the demise of XA801 at Stafford – one swift call later to the scrappy concerned and the rear was ours.
As to XA699’s original rear end, it still exists undercover on another airframe.

Ah, but Rob, do you know the story as to why it was missing in the first place…… 😉

I don’t actually Mark, no. I knew it was a part we aquired after we got 699 and knew about it being off XA801. I just presumed the original was damaged beyond repair. Killer word that, presume!!

Ah, but Rob, do you know the story as to why it was missing in the first place…… 😉

Its worth noting that the detachable pen nib section at the rear is not from the same airframe. That came off XA801

I wasn’t actually going to mention that bit Mark but heh ho 😀

Its worth noting that the detachable pen nib section at the rear is not from the same airframe. That came off XA801, formerly on RAF Stafford gate prior to it being done to death by the scrapman. Hence its been outside a lot longer than the rest of the aircraft.
That said XA699 has still been at the museum 25 years + 😮 it seems only yesterday I was sitting on the wing drilling out thousands of rivets so we could seperate the inner and outer wing sections for transport……

We have got a good base to work on but I’m more concearned with the corroding sections of the airframe that need a lot of attention before I even think about painting her, but we’ll get there 😉

Hi Damien

Mark did a great job of painting the aircraft but unfortunately due to some naff paints and exposure some of it has come undone in large area’s and large patchworks of paint would look a bit odd, so a total repaint done in one fell swoop is probably the best idea!.

(More pictures can be found at Mark Howards site on XA699 here )

A little mention from me

Evening all, Just as an aside here is a picture of 699’s cockpit, which is regulary opened up to visitors on open days. Since joining MAM I have been spending time slowly getting it to a better standard aswell as doing odd bits on the airframe with anouther volunteer. I should also be helping Rob here and there on the overall reconditioning of the flat iron in the coming mounths!.

some more…….