This is fabulous! Although I do wonder how often It’ll be seen at airshows being a float plane, hopefully it can make some static appearances if it can be dismantled easily.
It can be configured with a wheeled undercarriage, as it has been for all of it's previous flights, before the recent historic water take-off.
Although I guess it would rather defeat the object of displaying a replica of Britain's first seaplane, if it turned up on wheels....
And as the smart ship grew, In stature, grace and hue, In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
Hangared at Yeovilton with Navy Wings for some time, the privately owned Phantom FG.1 is up for disposal. A shame as this does deserve a place in the FAAM, being a genuine ex Fleet Air Arm machine.
Mark 'We’re in the stickiest situation, since Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.'
Hangared at Yeovilton with Navy Wings for some time, the privately owned Phantom FG.1 is up for disposal. A shame as this does deserve a place in the FAAM, being a genuine ex Fleet Air Arm machine.
There's a concerning lack of mention of the fact that the aircraft is effectively a writeoff at this point!
Seems harsh. While unlikely to ever fly again, it can easily be brought up to excellent static presentation, write off? There's also mention of its wheels up landing and photos of airframe damage, so its not exactly, no its never been involved in an accident sir
Not quite sure what the FAW1 being a test bed is about though?
- Seafire F.XVII SX336 G-KASX, Chipmunk WK608 G-CLNI, Harvard G-NWHF, Wasp XT420 G-CBUI, Tiger Moth G-ALWS, and the N-registered Stinson Reliant all serviceable!
- Swordfish I W5856 G-BMGC awaiting a permit to test from the CAA.
- Swordfish II LS326 G-AJVH is having x-rays done and awaits its rebuilt engine.
- Swordfish III NF389 is in long-term store.
- Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 G-CLNJ is in long-term store. No concrete plans to either restore, re-engine or reject (or sell) at the moment.
- Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV908 G-CMFB is being rebuilt to fly again - projected completion is 2024/25 with two engineers employed full-time on the programme.
- Chipmunk WB657 is being restored in-house also but looks a slow burner.
- Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924 G-CVIX no longer housed with Navy Wings (they have just moved hangars) and is available for sale. Some interest overseas but disposal to a Museum is still a possibility.
- The two SHARs with identity crisis' ZH800 and ZH801 are in open store on the airfield and may be moving onto pastures new in the future.
Mark 'We’re in the stickiest situation, since Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.'
What is the story with VR930? Is it a funding thing or is there some sort of unresolved issue with the airframe or power train?
I had a brief chat with some of their volunteers at a show earlier in the year. It sounded like they were really worried about reliability with the Centaurus and reluctant to commit to the restoration until they'd made a decision about that.
What is the story with VR930? Is it a funding thing or is there some sort of unresolved issue with the airframe or power train?
I had a brief chat with some of their volunteers at a show earlier in the year. It sounded like they were really worried about reliability with the Centaurus and reluctant to commit to the restoration until they'd made a decision about that.
Seems fair enough, although, as we know, fitting a PW engine is no guarantee of reliability either...
Well I wasn't going to post this, but here goes...
Rumour mill.... G-CVIX to Canada.
Quote requested for shipping out of liverpool a few weeks back, but not heard anything since..
Are there any updates re the Sea Vixen? It would be a real shame to see this aircraft leave the country. It was a magnificent achievement by private individuals to bring this aircraft back to airworthiness and the air show scene for quite a long period. I don’t think though that the project got the attention it deserved in comparison to other high profile restorations. I do recognise that it would require very deep pockets to make the necessary repairs as things stands and without a new Red Bull deal or similar there is a certain inevitability to the way in which uk classics end up crossing the Atlantic.