There is a replica/mock-up at Cradle of Aviation that they built a few years ago. I believe that the Dutch museum which acquired the remains of three Buffaloes a few years ago from Chris Prevost has contracted the guys at Cradle of Aviation to reconstruct a Buffalo from these remains. The US Navy Museum is also working on the cosmetic restoration of their former Finnish Air Force buffalo. Other than that, there are no publicly acknowledged Buffalo projects going on at present.

Cheers,
Richard

When I was at Uni. in Leicester, back in ’87 I went out for a cycle ride with a friend… stopping at a pub now and then of course. We were cycling down a small hill on a country lane when a canberra flew so low and fast that it seemed almost below us at the time… it was a real shock, and a magnificent sight! Always wondered where the Canberra had come from… Wyton I guess, but Blackbushe was very close… can’t remember if that was still a BAe base at the time, or owned by Doug Arnold.

Cheers,
Richard

There’s a fellow in Ontario, Canada who has some substantial remains, mostly wing structure. If I remember correctly, he has a lot of other airframes, mostly 50’s jets, which are used as movie props. Cheers. Richard

Very cool!!! Does anyone know where the original parts came from? Are there any serial numbers associated with it either? How is the rest of it being refabricated (ie. accurate construction – vs. – slapped together to look externally corract)? Very keen to hear more.

Cheers,
Richard

There is also a Sandringham (Civilianized Sunderland) at Le Bourget, near Paris. Also, you can see walk arounds of all the surviving Short’s four engined flying boats at this website… pretty interesting!

Cheers,
Richard

http://www.creationtrek.com/AVIATION/still%20around.htm

Galdri… I agree with you to a point… could be any sleave-valve engined aircraft. However, I think you forget that some Beaufighter variants were also equipped as torpedo bombers as well, which very much puts it in the anti-shipping bomber-type.

Cheers,
Richard

I’ve been to Walt’s place a couple of times, and found him to be a very charming, if highly eccentric chap. He happily showed me around, and talked about the stories behind many of the aircraft.

Walt doesn’t like visitors much any more. They usually can only come when accompanied by one of his friends. He is very wary of people these days, as so many have tried to take advantage. His collection has been pilfered by quite a number of people over the years, stealing data plates, and other important items, which is a good reason to be so careful.

He has parted with several of his aircraft over the years, but he told me that after he sold the last (can’t remember if it was the F-82, or the F2G) he got into quite a bit of trouble with the local authorities, as his neighbours complained that he was operating a business, which the land was not certified for. The neighbours have gradually crowded in around his piece of land, and most regard it as an eyesore (it really does resemble an overgrown scrap yard, which is candy to us lot, but not to many outside our fraternity). Anyway, if he was operating a business then he’d have to do a great deal to improve the conditions of his property…. something he has neither the energy, nor where-withall to complete at his advanced age. I am sure there are ways around this, but he is a very private person (as he has every right to be) and probably does not want the intrusion that such a thing would likely bring.

Walt’s sons are well aware of the value of his collection, and I am sure that they will treat it properly upon his passing. Walt is probably the last of the great early collectors, certainly the eccentric ones. The only other chap still going strong who started so early collecting rare airframes is probably Ed Maloney.

Hope this helps… give the guy a break too, he deserves our thanks, and admiration.

Cheers,
Richard