I can't see this mentioned elsewhere on here - the remaining RAF C-130J fleet may be retired 13 years ahead of predicted osd and straight after the major (and expensive) wing box upgrade: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9305589/Death-Hercules-Entire-fleet-transporter-plane-favoured-SAS-gro...

Interesting to see that the 'faithful' are allocating airframes to everyone again! It's also interesting to note from twitter that the Boulton Paul Balliol T2 has been restored at Cosford by the Boulton Paul Association, and has headed off south. Where ... "She will now be displayed in the Cornwall...

The Merlin cleaning up, AR501 shot and the F-15s are all lovely - but otherwise an average bunch.

15 shots from my year out and about in between work commitments - 2020 seems to have whizzed by . January saw an unexpected capture of an Army Air Corps Wildcat doing Under-Slung Loading training.... https://www.fradu.info/2020/01-mrussell2020.jpg A shot of a grey Merlin under grey and wet February ...

As an aside, the Sea Fury FB.11 will probably need a full engine rebuild - I don't think it's been started in a long long time. so don't expect an immediate return to the air. The Swordfish I is the only one of the four RNHF 'frames gifted to Navy Wings to have had its engine run, let alone fly, sin...

WV908 has had many woes related to persistant cracks in the bifurcated jet pipe, as well as issues with its Nene 103, which is the last airworthy one left. The MAA didn't make life easy with persistant groundings of the aircraft, for hyd issues unrelated to the type, as well as putting the brakes o...

Mike wrote: ↑

Sun 16 Aug 2020, 5:00 pm

Resurrected - maybe. But it is still yet to see air beneath its wings.

Has gone a bit quiet admittedly... doesn't look that far off from running... but that's from the outside looking in.

I think Sanders built up a ‘windvane’ Sea Fury out of non-airworthy parts to mount outside their facility as a gate guard. It may well have been that that you saw. That was what we were told it was going to be, but wasn’t sure if they were winding us up! Edit: Found the photos showing the fuselage ...

I assume this is for the Fury just arrived at Sywell, 232's scheme has been done to death as has the 115 scheme, I know the owner can paint it as they like but would it not be worth considering the history of that flight and painting it as the real mig killer, would be a great change IMHO, best reg...

Hunters G-GAII, G-HPUX and G-CGHU are still stored outside as of this past week

What’s happening with the other Swordfish, LS326? To quote the parliamentary statement back in January.... "The future of a fifth aircraft, Swordfish (LS326), is currently under consideration" ...so I guess it's still officially a military-owned airframe at the moment, but that could chan...

Super dooper pooper scooper Outstanding!

Following the Ministerial Statement made in January, whereby the MoD intended to gift most of the RNHF airframes to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, three of the four airframes have now appeared on the CAA register.... Swordfish I W5856 reverts back to G-BMGC, whilst Chipmunk WK608 and Sea Fury FB.11 VR...

Mike wrote:Do Fly Navy (as they are now) still use Tim Manna's Harvard as a tailwheel trainer?

Yes I think it still has access to using it - Tim is on very good terms with the guys at Yeovilton.

Not saying anything should necessarily be sold, just that it's an interesting question. In theory I get the logic for using the two seat Sea Fury as a trainer, but it seems a bit of a luxury as a trainer when they also have the Chipmunk. And to extend your BBMF comparison... they don't have a 2 sea...

As an aside, if the question does get asked going forward about operating two Swordfish/Furies.... the same could be posed about BBMF needing all those Spitfires....

I think that's a really interesting question. Do they need multiple examples of the Sea Fury or Swordfish? What would the sale of one or more of their duplicates raise? And crucially, how would it stack up against the cost of getting the Sea Vixen back to airworthy status? Realistically if this hap...

Always remember him wearing the Arabic headscarf when piloting the OFMC ISS Fury in the 90s.... top display pilot.
RIP.

Once this flies, it'll increase the number of flying Hunters based in the UK by 50%, to 3.
That is pretty much it (Dutch-based F.6A G-KAXF not being considered) and is likely to remain like this, with the grounding of all Avon 100-series Hunters.

TFC will hopefully have its single seat Sea Fury back from restoration in the USA... it's already on the CAA register as G-SEAF and is the ex-OFMC red 'frame from Duxford in the 90s.

Domvickery wrote:And the airframes are.........?

Sorry, meant to add that in to the original post.

G-RNTB and G-RNFA.

...or "Royal Navy Tee Bird" and "Royal Navy Fighter Attack"

An interesting project - both airframes in good nick having been looked after well since their flying careers ended...
enthusiastic and wealthy owners....

It could happen...!

You dont appear to have any photos of Ipswich at the mighty Carrow Road. Especially last November when Super Grant Holt was putting 3 past you! Ah, the poor man's Rickie Lambert.... As a Saints fan, I went to a few grounds when they were in League One.... so much more character than those in the PL...

Southendnick wrote:He of the stupid manbun,

..tis allegedly an elaborate attempt to cover his baldness.... Lewis Hamilton has a similar issue.

Chinook Mk.21 RAF display demo.