It’s more of a wish list idea tbh PS, but having previously operated a Sea Vixen I would of thought a Gannet to be well within their remit.
Perhaps a chat with the lads at Horizon Aviation at St Athan about AEW.3 XL500 and it’s potential for flight might be worth the cost of a phone call. And on a personal level – Navy Wings operating a US type as their flagship doesn’t really float my boat, much in the same way that they didn’t decide on operating a Sea Fury with an American donk.
It’s interesting to note that, despite having different engines although they are both radials, both Sea Fury ‘Invincible’ last August and VX281 this April have both crashed soon after a long period of being dormant because of respective lockdowns!
Whatever happens and despite of this latest hammer blow I’m sure Navy Wings will continue in some form – if we all continue to support them in these testing times.
There is of course Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 waiting in the wings, and I’m sure a plentiful supply of spares for it once the engine is (again) repaired.
But just as a thought, how about resurrecting the Sea Hawk (I cant remember why I was initially grounded)? Together with the Swordfish this would still give a good balance of 1940’s / 50’s / 60’s Royal Navy history. Or if they are feeling really brave, using the afore-mentioned insurance money to help repair the Sea Vixen?
I probably have some manuals / Armstrong Siddeley ephemera somewhere on the Python but I’d need time to dig them out.
The picture you put up at the beginning of the thread is of the Python at the RAF Museum at Cosford. I photographed it when it was stored (or dumped) in the polypropylene tunnel that the Dornier remnants were housed in. May I ask have you acquired this particular AS Python?
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