Wyvern
Always nice when mainwheels come in pairs, and this pair were found barely ten miles from RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. Re-discovered by the previous owner underneath an old coach where they had been left many years ago, they are thought to of come straight from Westlands with the original intention of fitting them to a trailer. At first sight they appear to be identical to Gloster Meteor mains and are indeed the same size. But apart from having a different Dunlop AH number they also have completely different centres to accomodate the Wyvern’s stub axle type.
Totally agree. Great to see these Hunters flying, and will be just as great to see and hear a Canberra in UK skies once again.
Rob
Lovely photos of what looked like a good day out. That Overstrand cockpit is impressive and a very imposing sight.
Rob
Can’t help with an answer to that one as thats down to the appropriate seller / buyer to make public, but i will own up to taking a look at the time at the Sea Venom with a view to buying her and attempting to get her to a ground running / taxiable condition. I didnt see the potential purchase price as a major stumbling block, but the fact that it has a large amount of wood in its construction would of probably necessitated a covered storage / working area, not to mention somewhere big enough to let her stretch her legs on, and that doesn’t come cheap around here. Hence why in the end my head ruled my heart and i got cold feet 😮 (not that my offer would of been seriously considered anyway).
A nice size aircraft and always a fascinating 1950’s naval type for me and obviously a shipmate to the Wyvern (including Suez) during their Royal Navy service days, i wish the new buyer well whoever they maybe, and hope she has many more years of secure preservation.
Rob
Complete with all contra-props she’s a beautiful sight to see again. Well done all.
Rob
Wyvern
This motley collection of twisted and corroded brake shoes and cylinders are infact the remains of a Python engine propeller brake. Fitted only to the later Python 3, it was designed to reduce engine running down time and to prevent ‘windmilling’ after shutdown.
This one came from the crash-site of VZ795 that came down just on the outskirts of Littlehampton in West Sussex in 1957, after a collision with another Wyvern. Many years later members of the then aviation museum based at Tangmere, together with assistance from staff from HMP Ford carried out a dig on this aircraft, and successfully managed to retrieve many parts and components.
Rob
Wyvern
Its not just the main airframe parts that turn up. This is a Gyro Angling Power Unit thats reputed to of come from VW883, a Wyvern ordered as a TF.2 but completed as a production S.4. The GAPU’s intended use has its roots going back to when the Wyvern was originally conceived as a torpedo / fighter, which necessitated the carriage of a single 18″ 2,500lb torpedo for anti shipping duties.
The unit was originally located on the bottom of the fuselage almost inline with the trailing edge of the wing, as this photo of the unfortunate VZ785 demonstrates (photo Andy Davey – Air Britain).
Rob
David – I admire your optimism 😀
Blue_2 – Thanks for your appreciation 🙂
Rob
Looking good John 🙂
Rob
Wyvern
I’ve been lucky enough to acquire not one but two Wyvern windscreens.. original production S.4 on the left, pre-production TF.2 on the right.
Incidentally there was a gap of nineteen years between me first finding a canopy and then a matching windscreen. Just goes to prove, never give up.
Rob
To restore any aircraft to a point where it can move under its own power must be a fantastic feeling and sense of achievement. Well done all.
Rob
Yes to some pics please. She’s one of my favourite aircraft on the airshow circuit.
Rob
Cheers John 🙂
Rob
dcollins103 – Thanks for the offer of help David. Like the thought of a themed museum too. Probably the most unique museum in existence 😎
TwinOtter23 and CeBro – thanks for the encouraging comments 🙂
Rob