Replica project? I deny all knowledge.

Lets just set with the facts for now… I’m an aircraft engineer, not far from otaining an EASA B1 licence, ex-RAF and involved with old aircraft since I was 15… I do have plans to form my own engineering company in the future with a sideline in restoration / reproductions. For me, people like John Romain are completely inspiring. As I see it, with finacial backing and the facilities to match, anything is possible. Whirlwinds interest me greatly, and so far I have had promising results in my quest for information in addition to what you see here. Do not jump the gun and quote this as a replica project, or even any kind of project to resurect a Whirly to any condition, static or otherwise. I am merely gathering information with a view to consider the feasiblility of one sometime in the future. I know certain people on here will have something to say (negative) about shouting about building an extinct flying type… but sod them! Who knows, 20 years down the line there will no doubt be some new and previously extinct airframes gracing our museums and skies. All I have to say is DH Hornet, Boulton Paul projects (several of…), I have a dream, just no way of implimenting it yet…. but with your (all of you!) help, who knows!

Keep it coming!

Just an idea I’ve toyed with during quiet moments.

Take a fairly basic extinct airframe but one that would arouse some interest (and yes, I know, not a good starting point)…oh, and a complete set of drawings (highly unlikely I know).

What does it actually consist of? Tens of thousands of reasonably simple light alloy (or wooden) components, several thousand more complex components, and thousands of rivets, nuts, bolts, washers and other standard parts.

Now given a large (infinite) number of aircraft enthusiasts and a couple of decades…

…anybody see where I’m going with this?

WooHoo! You have seen the light! Someone somewhere will read the many posts on this topic, and store them in their grey matter. sometime down the line we may have the Whirlwind / TSR2 / HP42, etc….. I wish.

As for the whirlwind… does anything actually exist any more? one engine and some photos is not a good starting point. That said, the words ‘Vickers Vimy’ spring to mind. Can you imagine 40 years ago, if someone came to you and said ‘ I’m going to build an extinct aircraft from scatch, fly it across the atlantic, to australia, and to south africa…. oh, and its made from wood…..’

pipe dream time again… how about an empire class flying boat? Could rake in the cash doing carribbean ‘cruises’…

Back to near reality… why have none of the new build FW190’s or Me262’s had much of an impact yet? Is red tape getting in the way again?