[QUOTE=’D-Day’;1238340]This of course, does not appertain to bona fide restoration companies who pay their own way in full.[/QUOTE]
I do hope you’re ready for the backlash from this sort of ill-informed comment!:mad:
I’d pop to have a look,
Please be advised that, as with the other outfits at North Weald, Kennet’s hangar isn’t normally open to the public.
…..and the serial number is……..[drumroll….]:D
The engine fell off ….
A Skua? Surely not! :p :p
I assume the ‘Americanisation’ of T20 VX281 does not include the replacement of the Centaurus engine.
Thankfully not.
By the way , I have all the Air britains apart from 1939-45 FAA
but they are sketchy at the best of times ,
its old research i am keen to find
They are reference books, compiled and condensed from years of “old research”. I’m sure that if you make an appointment at FAAM Yeovilton they will be only too happy to help you find more detailed information based on what our books contain. It is all there!
Bri
Two books you’ll be looking for. First is “Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945” by Ray Sturtivant and Mick Burrow, published by Air-Britain Historians Ltd but it’s been out of print for nearly 10 years now (albeit we’re working on a fully revised reprint). Second hand copies are rare and normally command a healthy price when they do surface.
Second is “Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946” by Ray Sturtivant, Mick Burrow and yours truly. It can be purchased direct from Air-Britain HERE.
All RN helicopter histories will hopefully be available this time next year.
Hope that helps.
Rgds
Lee
Alan
Thanks for that. Yes, entirely possible. Would be interested in the helicopter too – anything Fleet Air Arm!
Best rgds
Lee
Mind you anything i feel will be faster than their Seafire.
Ollie
That’s not actually a very fair assessment. The Sea Fury was essentially complete when she arrived, but several issues had to be addressed in order to put it back onto the G-register. Don’t forget, no Americanised T.20 has ever been on the British Civil register, and therefore all modifications embodied during her time in the US had to be rigourously checked. The Seafire, on the other hand, was a complete rebuild – in many respects from scratch. It not only involved Kennet but a number of previous owners too, and was unique at the time. Like a lot of other warbird operators, Kennet don’t employ a large workforce, so I think it’s credit all round for the job that they do on such a diverse fleet of aircraft.
Lee
Alan
This was TT187, a former trials F.20 aircraft that never actually saw active service with the RN. She was noted at Paradise School in 1956 and last seen in a Plymouth scrapyard in May 1959.
Great pic, by the way. Any chance of a high-res scan of it?
Best regards
Lee
Great News Lee! May I ask what scheme she’ll be adorned in?
Kurt
All will be revealed in due course.:rolleyes:
This leaves John Bradshaws aircraft as the sole currently airworthy representative.
….which isn’t a Sea Fury, it’s a Fury ISS.:rolleyes:
Currently no flying Sea Furies in the UK. But that will change shortly.;)
Paul
Can’t help on actual photos of the rear cockpit as VZ345 hasn’t got much left and VX281 was “Americanised”:mad: If you drop me a PM I can help with photos of the cockpit (front – obviously) of VR930 – the two being very similar. The only real difference between how she looks now and how she would have done in service is the removal of the reflector gunsight and replacement with a modern GPS.
Lee
Peter
Even better if your father would be happy to take his logbook along to FAAM and allow them to take a photocopy of the relevant pages for the Records & Research Department archives as they are always looking for either donations of original FAA-related logbooks or photocopies. One of my co-authors works as a volunteer there and I’m sure something could be arranged. Feel free to PM me.
Lee
Comet
Dove
DH125
Sea Vixen
Stampe
Jungmeister
Cub
Cornell
Tiger Moth
Sea Fury
Sea Hawk
Botha (throttle quadrant of – lol)
Wasp
Dragonfly
Lynx
Sea King
Gazelle
Scout
Piston Provost
Chipmunk
Seafire
…and probably a few others that have slipped my mind…