Here you go Graham. Broxbourne 1949 with the Miles Mohawk G-AEKW for company!

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A Hurricane restorer told me of three he had seen recently in St Petersburg but the paperwork involved in getting export permits is now too costly and/or difficult to obtain through the correct channels that he gave up the idea of buying them.

You seem to have indeed located the cast-offs that were left over when Hawker Restorations did a ground-up rebuild on the Wright-Patterson Hurricane which was (and still is) marked up as “Z3174”.

This was one of five incomplete Hurricanes which were obtained by David Tallichet and Bob Schneider (RRS Aviation) from Jack Arnold during the mid-1980’s. Schneider built up two static display Hurricanes using welded steel fuselages, one for the National Museum of the US Air Force (the one we are discussing here) and the other for Tallichet’s Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC). The latter aircraft is said to be RCAF 5662 but that is very difficult to prove, indeed when I examined it almost exactly a year ago at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson I could find no evidence whatsoever of any i/d plates, although the airframe does include a lot of genuine Hurricane components.

The Dayton example was acquired in an exchange for a C-130 – not a bad deal for what was essentially a full-scale replica! It is said to be RCAF 5390 but that is impossible as that aircraft was lost at sea off Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, on 7 February 1944 and was not recovered. Another example of Jack Arnold’s “creativity” I’m afraid.

The Curator at W-P was always unhappy with the appearance (and construction) of the Hurricane and in January 2001 it was sent to Hawker Restorations at Earls Colne who rebuilt it to the correct configuration using non-airworthy components left over from other projects. This included a complete fuselage, new cowlings and a new fin & rudder. The aircraft was returned to W-P in August 2002 where it is currently on display.

When RRS Aviation of Hawkins, TX, finally shut up shop all of the left-overs were bought by Hawker Restorations and out of them appeared Peter Teichman’s “Pegs”, which is now known to be RCAF 1374 and not “5403” … Peter showed me the c/n plate in the cockpit from which I was able to confirm the correct RCAF serial. The paperwork was being adjusted to reflect this change of identity.

Yes – you can order through Amazon – or direct from Grub Street.

We launch the book and the first change of ownership comes through! David Maude has confirmed that he has bought Z2330 from Brian Davis. David has also confirmed that he does indeed have title to RCAF 5392 but that the crash site has never been found!

Hi Gordon,

Will I be able to buy one on the day if I haven’t pre-ordered?

Also, roughly what times will you be there please?

Absolutely David – we have piles to sell! I’ll be there from around 09:30 – 13:45 on both days – we have at least one Hurricane veteran in attendance on Saturday too!

I’ll be at The Aviation Bookshop stand at Duxford on Saturday and Sunday signing copies.

Typically I heard on Tuesday that Brian Davis has sold Z2330, I’ll announce the new owner when I have his permission – it is staying in Canada.

I have a Facebook page for the book where I will post updates and news.

http://www.facebook.com/hawkerhurricanesurvivors

Having read the thread I thought it was lacking some illustrations so …

LA607 seen at a Skyfame display at Staverton in the late 1960s (Ilford colour slide corrected as best I can!) … can you spot G-AIDN?

Firefly Z7033 at the same display

Mike Stow’s Sea Fury in camouflage (at Blackbushe … hot summer of 1976 … probably!)

and finally – the late lamented RNHF Firefly at Heathrow on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the first flight (I was airside and working for “Aviation News”)