Following an 800 mile round trip last year i returned home with this Sturgeon windscreen section. Firstly credit has to go to its former owner Wallace Shackleton for saving it from Forres scrapyard back in the mid 80’s.
Research is still continuing to try and find out a bit more about it, but i’m slowly narrowing it down as to what the serial was of the aircraft it was cut from. What i do know is that it is from a TT.3, as confirmed by the single de-icing fluid jet located at the front just ahead of the centre screen (earlier TT.2’s had two fluid jets, one either side). There is also what could be a date stamp of 22-10-57, which if correct could point to the time the airframe was converted from TT.2 to TT.3 spec. In that case then it almost certainly belongs to TS480, quite possibly the last of the type to be converted. But as i said, this is still pure guess work at the moment.

Rob

DragonRapide – Many thanks, and yes i will. There’s a long way to go still 🙂

Trumper – Let me know when you remember Gary, and i’ll bring a shovel :p

Rob

Jason – Cheers mate. Now if only Bottisham had a Fleet Air Arm connection 😉

Mike E – Thanks once again for your considerable help and co-operation Mike. My back has nearly recovered now 😀

Rob

Sturgeon project

Another relatively forgotten type is the Short Sturgeon. This is a much more recent project for me and has only been going for twelve months or so.

Similar to the Wyvern in its goal of collecting, conserving and displaying as much original material as possible, it has already started to surprise me just what there is still about. And thats even more surprising when you consider that only twenty eight complete Sturgeons were ever built. A very small number for any production type.

First up are my most recent two finds, these genuine Sturgeon propeller blades. They are both Rotol RA10274RT – Sturgeon – front airscrew, and were found in Malta in the early 1970’s by Ken T who at the time was a serving RAF technician. Having taken a liking to them he had them flown home by “Vulcan Air” (as in Avro :)). He then spent the next twenty to thirty years researching the Sturgeon, having become quite fond of the type. With the blades was a large file of documents, letters and photos.. and this was also acquired by me.

Rob

Lancaster? fuel tank

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Avro-Lancaster-Port-Outboard-fuel-tank-WW2-RAF-Relic-Suit-Museum-Piece-Merlin-/150900150161?pt=UK_CPV_Aviation_SM&hash=item2322598f91

Boeing 737 instrument panel project

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boeing-737-200-Cockpit-Main-Instrument-Panel-/221124435251?pt=UK_CPV_Aviation_SM&hash=item337c0b1d33

Rob