A big thanks to the Wolverhampton Aviation Group who brought along FGA9 XE597 and manned it all weekend at quite short notice! Cheers guys.

Tom.

I’m glad to be back at work today for a rest !
Thought the weekend went very well, lots of interest in the Classic Flight and we managed go get our cockpit repaint fund underway through some kind donations from the general public looking in the cockpit.
Must admit it was a lot of fun to see the kids (of all ages) faces when they sat in it, all were very interested and hopefully learnt something along the way.
All being well we’ll bring the cockpit along to the next open day at Coventry.

The Hendon BE2b is a replica, albeit a very good one, according to W&R20, complete with a ‘BAPC’ number.

The F2B at Brussels we have as J8624, marked as ‘B4’

I saw the Snipe at Rockliffe last year, arranged in a similar flying pose, making close inspection difficult. Sadly my poor ‘mission planning’ before the trip meant I missed the other one in Ottawa at the Canadian War Museum, Doh!

I think that you will find that 2e G-BVGR is now in NZ with Peter Jackson.
And what about 2b at Hendon, although i know it is a composite so may be regarded as a replica.

As mentioned in a previous post, ww1 types is not an area I’m particularly clued up on. That said the Hendon one looks like a glaring omission from the list, need to investigate further.
Wasn’t sure of what the situation was with Peter Jacksons collection of WW1 types, so its quite probable the Milden ref to G-BVGR is out of date.
As an aside has he now taken delivery of Bristol Fighter D-8084 ?

Thanks for the input.

Here’s our list as we currently have it –

C1916 RAF SE.5 A Preserved Canberra, ACT, Australia.
F904 RAF SE.5 A G-EBIA, H Private Old Warden, Bedfordshire
F937 RAF SE.5 A G-EBIB, ‘F-939’ Museum South Kensington, London
F938 RAF SE.5 A G-EBIC Museum Hendon, Barnet

Would not presume its all that survive as our knowledge base on WW1 types is a little vague, any additions welcome !

This was the reply we had from HHA when we enqiured as the reasoning behind these two aircraft being allocated ‘new’ miltary serials.
When the serials were first published on our sister site ‘http://www.ukserials.co.uk‘ there was a high degree of scepticism within the spotter community as to the accuracy of our info, when an enquiry was made to clarify the situation, here’s the response we had:

Hawker Hunter Aviation is one of the largest operator of ex military
jets, certainly in Europe.Our main goal is to provide assets for
military contract to undertake many of the tasks that were
previously carried out in-house by our armed forces. Other income
streams are through corporate advertising, display jet sponsorship,
pilot training/conversion, film and tv work amongst other things.

HHA have been awarded AvP67 status to undertake this kind of work
on behalf of the MoD. The two aircraft now on the military register
are essentially miliatry aircraft, operating under COMA (Civil Owned
Military Aircraft). AvP67 is the publication under which aircraft on
COMA are regulated. This means that HHA as an operator and
maintenance facility are controlled, inspected and audited under
military regulations and in order to achieve the status the company
underwent some serious investigation and inspection. Aircraft on the
military register must be marked as military aircraft and have
military registrations, this is the law and not a badge of
convenience to get fuel at military airfields.

This has been a major achievement for HHA and is unique for a
company of this type and size to be awarded such status and is
testament indeed to the professionalism and high regard the company
is held in by the CAA and military regulators alike. Have a look at
the HHA website at http://www.hunterteam.com to gain an insight into this
fast growing and somewhat unique aviation company.

I hope this goes someway to allaying any speculation on this subject.

Essentially the operation is similar to that of Northern Lights in Canada, or any number of operators in the USA. The difference being whereas they can do it whilst still being on their respective National civil register, the rules in place at the CAA mean they have to be military registered.

HTH

See I told you civil airliners were not my thing…..
Must admit didn’t realise the 125 had ‘Rams Horn’ type column tops. Certainly makes for a different starting point of a cockpit restoration – most of the bits on the inside but without the aluminium wrapper.

All the best with this one Roy

Regards

Although Civil Airliners are not my thing, is it a ‘Grow Your own Trident’ kit ?:D