I just have to share.

After three and a half years, I tonight test fitted the instrument panels to my sea hawk cockpit for the very first time. What a difference it makes to see all the goodies in their proper place!

The cross-rail on which the main panel and gunsight are mounted is badly damaged and I thought I would have major problems mounting the panels. Instead, they just popped right into place.

Boy am I stoked!! Will post some piccies in the next few days.

Roy.

YAY!! Another Sea Hawk!!

About time this beautiful aircraft got more limelight. Excellent news. AW certainly did build them well and I’m sure this will stand her in good stead now. I eagerly await more news & pictures.

If the horrible work thing didn’t keep getting in the way I’d be down to the MAM like a shot – with my overalls, naughty jokes and whatever boxes of sea hawk bits I have lying around.

Roy.

I suspect the reasons are financial. The BA aircraft will draw more (paying) people than the Miles will. Keeping aircraft outdoors is a nightmare and I just pray they have the people to keep on top of the cleaning and preservation that will be required.

If they really have taken on four of the BA aircraft – they are either plain dumb or know something we don’t.

I think it would be far better if they kept the Miles and dropped off the BA 1-11 here at Liverpool.

For what it’s worth… I’ve spent about 3.5 years collecting parts and repairing my sea hawk cockpit. I don’t get to spend very much time on this so it could have been done a lot quicker. The end is in sight for me now, I expect to apply the final paint in the next few weeks.

Space in which to work is a major consideration. The sea hawk was a great choice because with the short nose it will fit in a regular garage – although you can only work on one side at a time! The further your cockpit is from home, the less you’ll work on it and suitable storage space can be very very hard to find.

Skills – you will develop them all. Patience is a major requirement, restoration can take a while but it does become an obsession.

Collecting parts is an ongoing task. I check the ICC and Ebay as often as I can – you never know when that elusive part will apear. The cost of accumulating all these parts can be high too and you will not get your money back should you ever decide to sell up. (50 quid for a G-Meter!!)

One cost I hadn’t thought about was the cost of a suitable trailer. I was lucky and only paid 480 quid for a small double-axled car transporter and luckily I can weld so am able to modify this to suit.

I can give you a long list of reasons to avoid cockpit ownership but the joy of taking a lump of crud and turning it into a shiny example of aviation magic discounts them all by a long way.

All I need now is to find her a home. No point having a cockpit in your garage, the whole idea is to make it available to all. Any offers??

Roy.

Very true but this is the only way I get to fly Javelins, Gannets, Lightnings and other splendid toys.

I think the sea hawk cockpit is close to a ton in weight and although it won’t blow away in the wind, I’m a little wary of lateral forces when towing. I’ll have a think and a sketch for some sort of cradle. Mounting her so she’s level (ooer missus!) will throw even more weight to the back. I did pester Stuart for pics of his mountings but he’s horrible and mean and wouldn’t share 😉

A UH-1 when aged about 10. All I can remember is being sh*t-scared and shaken to bits. Favourite has to be a Schweitzer 300 when the pilot said “you have control” and I replied “you think??”.