Yes, a new cowling is in the process of being fitted.

Lovely shots, I’m kicking myself for not being there, just one question, are the ‘invasion’ stripes applied to the Sea Fury typical of FAA aircraft involved in the Korean conflict and did they apply to other a/c, naval or otherwise, involved in the air war, I know that the DX F-86 has stripes, but how many types did, from pictures I have seen, it didn’t appear to be the norm.

EEEK! These aren’t invasion marks, they are United Nations markings (so often confused with D-Day invasion markings). They were also applied to Seafire FR.47s, Fireflies FR.1s and AS.5s during the conflict.

That’s IT! I have kicked Biggin Hill into touch for Sunday and am diverting to OW!
Lee, Stringbag et all, how about a meet up?

Not entirely sure I’ll be able to make it yet. Perhaps PM me your mobile number in case I do make it?

Had to post this one – apologies for not being on topic, but not every day you get a welcome home like this! 😀

Btw, on the subject of the pilot, I understand Phil Shaw has been assigned as the lucky chap for this season.

Was that him flying the Seafire today?

No, it was originally going to be Phil Shaw but he has had to pull out. The man flying SX336 in my shots is the man who flew me to North Weald, and the same man who flew her again today – John Beattie. He will be flying the aircraft at Old Warden on Sunday……possibly with one OW resident and two others that may possibly be linked with him….. 😉

Not of Seafires, more’s the pity! 🙁

Must have used the “Canon Dream Plug-In for Photoshop” then! :p

What a day! A morning spent watching the newest Sea Hawk pilot getting his hands on his new mount (see http://www.royalnavyhistoricflight.org.uk) and then,following a quick phonecall from Easytiger to say that “the man from the CAA, he say YES!”, I was bundled in the back of Chipmunk G-BARS and headed out from Yeovilton bound for North Weald just before lunch. Just over an hour later and I was listening to the sound of a lovely Seafire F.17 as the world’s latest Seafire pilot got an excuse to have a big grin on his face!

Hope you enjoy the pics. Thanks to Easytiger (nice to meet you!), Seadog, Alan, Helen (my “wheels” at NW) and, of course, JB for taking me there and back.