… having seen how they are built, I consider the Stirling to be a much better designed vessel for the high seas! 😀

Great idea!

DH Hornet and Sea Hornet ~56-60% remaining in BAE archives.

…. and a large number of these much closer to home! 😉

Thank you Alan

Snug as a….

Can anyone recommend a good source for photos of these types of sight ?

I believe that the 4B was fitted in early marks of the Westland Wyvern and the 4E in the Mk 4. Is that correct ?

This is a MK4B GGS. They are very similar to the later MK4E, and I suspect that most of the “B’s” were converted to “E’s”, as the former are very hard to find now.

The only difference I can see is on the left side of the body, the lever mechanism is different, and there is an additional rotary selector is in the same place on the later “E” model.

The Mark 4B was fitted to the first Vampire mks 1&3, Hornet mks 1&3, and Meteor mks 3&4 to name but a few. Later marks of the same aircraft got the MK4E as an upgrade. Hope this helps.

Many thanks Rob

Yes, you are absolutely right. We are still not sure but could be the De Havilland Hornet and sea Hortnet.

My father is also eager to build the Hadrian and he is thinking about starting with the Waco CG-13As. Two of this were used at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment for trials in 1945.

Cheers
Santiago

Well if you do want to do these, you know where to ask for help! 😀

Thanks for that David. Never seen one with the racing number on show on top of the port wing before.

And totally agree about what an amazing spectacle and sound those races would of been.
To quote from the Sturgeon book i mentioned, “the event was won by Peter Lawrence in the Blackburn Firebrand. The Sturgeon recorded the average speed of 295 mph and at the end of the first lap it was in second place, smoking and noisy but doing well, but it was eventually overhauled by the Spitfire and (possibly) by the de havilland Hornet”. 😎

Rob

The de Havilland Aircraft Company were taking their entry very seriously I believe, as the F3 used was the specifically fitted with the uprated Merlin 134/5 engines, which were later used on the Sea Hornets.

Its a shame that there are’nt colour images around showing this particular race meet. I bet it was a colourful sight.

The Hornet entered into this race was PX368. It was in overall silver dope, with yellow and roundal blue bands on the rear fuselage. Race number 84 in black on a white circle. The only area of colour difficulty we have on this is the spinners – they look gloss black or red.

In support of Ian’s ‘lust’ for objects, I think I have to on this occasion at least, side with DC’s Hornet grip as possibly the, (in my opinion) most ‘holy grail’ of (British) grips? There must be one out there somewhere????

GYD

You will laugh… I have too! I only found out about the German auction house via this forum, about 1 year after it had happened. The Hornet grip was listed with a late 40’s RAF pilots flying helmet too, so possibly the personal effects of the original pilot?? If my memory serves me correctly, it sold for about EUR250.

The flying helmet was probably worth that alone! 🙁

Still, on the positive side that establishes a value for the grip!