I’m looking forward to the news of test runs and first flight!

….official news will, of course, be via the RNHF official website which, incidentally, is where that pic came from (thanks for the credit! :rolleyes:). It was taken on her first flight in the UK since being imported, so as you can see her “first flight” was some time ago.

Tiger – hopefully see you sometime soon.

Don’t know where they got the impression Swordfish W5856 was going to attend! Unfortunately neither ‘5856 nor the more complete LS326 will be anywhere near Duxford this weekend, but LS326 will be on static at Yeovilton.

Speaking of which, the Seafire will be displaying at VL first and then departing to Dux along with the Skyraider.

G”day all. I am new to this site so, please excuse any errors.

Ten years prior to the above date I was stationed at RAF Thorney Island, on the Marine craft section. Sometime late in 1956 we had a crash call that a Sea vixen had gone into the drink, a few miles out from Selsy Bill. As we approached Selsy Bill a 22 Sqdn chopper over took us. About 10 minutes later we received an RTB call,with the 2 Rolls royce engines flat out, we returned to T.I to learn that a French trawler had recovered one airman & the chopper had picked up the other. That was the begining of the end for RAF Air Sea Rescue. I presume the Sea Vixen may have come from RNAS Ford in Sussex.
Webfoot

Not in 1956 it wouldn’t have been. The Sea Vixen didn’t enter service until 1959.

….and I have to ask how your back is now having had to lift it off the bookshelf? 😀

Glad you like it. Helicopter “companion” volume on its way. 😉

Slightly off topic but I have enjoyed watching Band of Brothers Marathon today and it showed the Dc3’s taking off from Upottery field..

Unfortunately, North Weald, masquerading as Upottery. If only they had used the real thing!

Firstly, it is RNHF, not FAAHF – no such unit! 😡

Swordfish III NF389 is indeed under long-term rebuild to airworthy condition at BAES Brough. They are making steady progress on it, but sadly building Swordfish doesn’t pay their bills these days; building Hawks does. The parts that have been rebuilt so far are absolutely superb, and one day she will look the bee’s knees.

As for colour schemes, that decision is still one to be finalised. Personally, although the black scheme of 819 NAS (similar to that worn by 119 Sqn RAF) has been suggested and would indeed make it look different to W5856 and LS326, on a typically dank British summer’s day airshow it wouldn’t look that great.

The photo of NF389 at Abbotsinch (probably 1960) shows her in the spurious dark sea grey scheme she wore (along with LS326) for the filming of “Sink the Bismarck!”.

Interesting to see the model and the colours. Have dug out a few of my snaps from 1989/1990. We did a bit of hasty sprucing up of the registration (which until that point had been covered over with the cocooning – horrible stuff to get off!) and some experimental polishing of the fuselage ahead of the cockpit door (now, sadly, obliterated by the silver paint applied to replicate G-ALVG for the Comet 50th anniversary). When finished the cabin looked quite presentable, there being only a limited amount we could do with money and resources available.

Those were the days!:)