I believe that Kennet Aviation at Cranfield tried to do just that a few years ago, they aquired at least two Sea Hawks from private collections with a view to restoring one to fly. The project came to nothing and both aircrfat were returned to Bruntingthorpe
I thing one is still here, did the other go the the German Museum at Hemerskil ? (I will check at home tonight)
I would like to think that a small team could return the Sea Hawk to ground running condition and be made to taxi and fold wing ect. With the ever rising cost of restoring and flying an aircraft, surely an more achiveable solution is to restore and taxi, at least we can see, hear and smell at live aeroplane.

On the subject of civil registed red Sea Hawk the aircraft with Peter Vallance at Gatwick came from Hurn were it was registered but never restored to fly.

DOUGHNUT

Originally posted by David Burke
Do we really need any insignificant Iraqi combat jets when we have problems keeping what we already have in good order.

I’m surprised at you David, if people had that attitude fifty years ago we would not have any WW2 German or Japanese aircraft today. I agree that more needs to be done to protect the aircraft we have today, but to ignor enermy aircraft from our more recent conflicts is very short sighted.

The IWM only has one example is a Russian ‘cold war’ aircraft, they should make every effort to obtain one or two Iraqi combat jets, the Mig-25 shown above would be good for starters. It always amazes me that apart from a few helicopters and the Mig-23/27 that arrived at Newark via a private importer, that the UK has not received any ‘cold war’ jets from the former Eastern block countries.

I would love to see a Su-22 used at Duxford as a centre piece about the Warsaw pack and the fall of the berlin wall. Instead they seem obsessed with chopping up historic British aircraft
(Concorde and Shackleton) and reproducing an artists impression by hangar aeroplanes from the roof.

DOUGHNUT

I agree with Bruce on this one the ‘rarity’ of the recovered Japanese types should be considered more important to preserve and display them rather then rebuild them to fly. If they were to be flown they would end up little more than modern reproductions, probably using America P+W engines and tyres from a Learjet. A carefull rebuild to static display is by far the best solution, the question remains by whom ? Japan would be a obvious choice however they seem to have little interest in their war time history.

DOUGHNUT

What next Willow ? Will you be selling your Earwig collection or maybe the loft insulation. What ever you do dont let ‘her ‘n ‘doors look in the garage, she might thing that you’ur got too many cars!!!!

Seriously, have you taked E-bay with your mag’s.

DOUGHNUT

Originally posted by Snapper
You can have candyfloss and ice cream, donuts and chips.

Sorry old boy no DOUGHNUT at the sea side today. Stuck in a small hot office in central London.

DOUGHNUT

Ok Vulcan 903 thanks for answering my questions, here is one more for you exactly, who owns what at Bruntingthorpe. I only ask because it is to easy to assume that they all belong to the Waltons. (which I know they do not!!)
Was it the local authority which turned down the planning permission? did they give a reason why the did not want to allow the aircraft to taxi, surely an undertaking NOT to have a flying museum would have been good enough. The ‘taxi days’ must have been a good money earner and certainly gave Bruntingthorpe a high profile event.

DOUGHNUT