Old TimersCompiled by Peter R March and Paul Fiddian A round-up of historic aircraft display and restoration news Engineering laid bare PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN The ’s Annual Engineering Open Days at Old Warden on 28-29 December 2018 presented a rare opportunity for close public access to selected aircraft during their essential winter maintenance. The engineering workshops were packed with a fascinating cross-section of types, along with engineers, pilots and volunteers, all willing to discuss the skills required and challenges involved Scott Butler running up the rebuilt Le Rhône of the in keeping the collection’s historic Le Prieur rocket-fitted aircraft flying. Sopwith Pup ‘9917’/G-EBKY, fitted with inert, display-only WWI Le Prieur air-to-air rockets, Funding is needed to overhaul new steel cylinder liners and new the Lysander's (and Gladiator’s) aluminium pistons to replace Mercury engines its Le Rhône 9C rotary engine’s crack-prone steel ones, was displayed outside. On the first and in 2018 the Shuttleworth day, once Chief Engineer Jean- Veteran Aeroplane Society Michel Munn had supplied freshly (SVAS) launched its Mercury cleaned spark plugs, ‘trainee’ Engine Appeal Fund to ensure rotary engine pilot Scott Butler the Lysander and Gladiator’s started and ran the engine for Undercarriage retraction tests were demonstrated on Sea Hurricane continued operation. The three minutes before heat build Z7015, mounted on jacks and stripped of its main access panels SVAS has been funding the up required it to be shut down. cost of Collection aero-parts Outside the workshop-hangar, but, for several years now, Spitfire LF Vc AR501 had its with insufficient income from engine cowlings and spinner membership fees. The difference removed. Just after its last flight has been subsidised with of the season, oil had been seen money from reserves which are dribbling from the air intake. being depleted and now both Wear to the seals on the throttle the Lysander and Gladiator’s spindle can cause this fault, engines need which was being investigated. major overhauls. Drawing from The Spitfire’s stablemate, Sea the aero-parts budget could Hurricane 1b Z7015, was jack- take the pair ‘offline’ for up to mounted inside the workshop three display seasons. To avoid Skilled workmanship evident on the Parnall Elf's fuselage, to give regular undercarriage this, SVAS has set a £100,000 laid on its side to allow the cockpit structure to be viewed retraction and extension funding goal, and by the end of demonstrations. The aircraft was quality of the workmanship on December the appeal was half- also extensively de-panelled, its bare fuselage was apparent, way there (www.svasweb.org/ allowing close examination of its as was the care lavished on the keepthemflying). unique tubular construction and many painted components drying Shuttleworth’s 2019 air display rare Merlin III engine. At the back on a ‘washing line’ that ran the season begins on Sunday 5 May. of the workshop, sole-surviving workshop’s length. See www.shuttleworth.org/events Parnall Elf G-AAIN’s extensive Keeping these historic for the full calendar. restoration was underway. The aircraft airworthy is costly Report and photos: Andrew March

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Compton Abbas & North Coates New Year fly-ins PHOTO: HOWARD CURTIS Compton Abbas welcomed in 2019 with its first New Year’s Day Fly-In for several years. Breaking the recent trend, the weather was agreeable, enabling some ninety aircraft to visit. Notable attendees included Beech D18S G-BKGL from Duxford−which gave a spritely farewell flypast on departure− and Popham-based Staggerwing NC18028. Perhaps the most unusual was former AAC Alouette AH2 2-ALOU (ex-XR379), complete with human and canine passengers. On the following weekend, 5-6 January the popular Brass Monkey Fly-In was held at North Coates. With over 100 aircraft attending over the two days, it was a busy season-opener for the historic north-east Lincolnshire airfield. There were several interesting vintage types including Tony Brier’s superbly-restored ex-Egyptian AF Kader Gomhouria G-CGEV. The Real This former AAC Alouette II 2-ALOU was a welcome New Year’s Day visitor to Compton Abbas

Aeroplane Cub at Breighton, a great PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN supporter of local events, provided Max Holste Broussard G-CIGH carrying six club members. The presence of three vintage Miles types in the hangar−Stuart Blanchard’s Gemini 1A G-AKHP, recently- imported Mercury OY-ALW/G-AHAA (on overhaul), and Mark Hales’ Messenger 2A ‘RG333’/G-AIEK−was a noteworthy bonus. Reports: Howard Curtis and Heliopolis Gomhouria G-CGEV, a licence-built Another North Coates visitor, this immaculate Nigel Hitchman Bücker Bestmann, flew in to North Coates Broussard flew in from Breighton

Meteoric mover AW Meteor NF11 WM167/G-LOSM made its final flight on 5 January 2019 in the hands of Dan Griffith. The 1952-built former nightfighter, TT20 target tug and air display participant left its Coventry home for Bruntingthorpe to join the Classic British Jets Collection (CBJC), a new operation at the Leicestershire site. After making several missed approaches it landed on Runway 06 and taxied in to be welcomed by a sizeable crowd. The CBJC intends to keep the Meteor running in fast-taxiable condition, like the majority of Bruntingthorpe’s classic Meteor NF11 WM167 landing at Bruntingthorpe after its last flight from Coventry jets. Its growing fleet also includes Gnat T1 XP540, Hunter GA11 WT806, Jet modified T7 ejector-seat testbeds put up for sale. This follows former Provosts T3A XM365 and T5 XW290, WA638 and WL419. Elsewhere, Meteor owner the late Marty Tibbitts’ untimely Sea Vixen FAW2 XJ494 and Venom T7 WA591, which left Coventry in March death last July while flying a Venom FB50 WR470. Just two Meteors are 2018 to join the World Heritage Air to Oshkosh. now airworthy in the UK: Martin-Baker’s Museum in Michigan, has recently been Report and photo: Paul Fiddian

pilotweb.aero | Pilot March 2019 | 55 Old Timers

First flights for restored Twin Mustang prototype…

On the final day of 2018, radar operator was on the damaged in a runway accident the first North American right. First flown on 15 June on 25 February 1950. Prolific Twin Mustang flight in over 1945, the Twin Mustang was collector Walter Soplata thirty years took place. XP-82 too late for WWII service. acquired its left-hand fuselage prototype 44-83887 was being However, re-designated F-82, and other components in 1965, fast-taxied by pilot Ray Fowler it did perform frontline Korean placing them in long-term when, with the aircraft rapidly War sorties. F-82Es equipped storage at his Newbury, Ohio accelerating and limited runway Strategic Air Command while farm. Forty-three years later, remaining, an intended hop radar-fitted F-82Fs, Gs and Hs Tom Reilly bought them and had and touch-down became a more were later employed as all- them relocated to his hangar. sustained flight around Douglas weather day/night interceptors Obtaining additional parts from Municipal Airport, Georgia. by Air Defense Command across the US and beyond−in Following this impromptu until replaced by jet fighters, Mexico, for example, a rare left- flight, formal air-testing was primarily the F-94 Starfire. hand turning Allison engine was planned to start before the end Two-hundred and seventy- sourced−Reilly and his team of January 2019. three were built, making it the spent 207,000 hours over the The Twin Mustang was USAAF’s last mass-produced next decade returning the Twin conceived as a long-range B-29 piston fighter, although none Mustang to flying condition. Superfortress escort. North served beyond 1953. The world’s last airworthy American achieved the required Used exclusively for test Twin Mustang was the 2,400-mile range by lengthening work, XP-82 44-83887 was Confederate Air Force’s P-82B and linking together two flown by North American 44-65162 which, after being P-51H Mustang fuselages, Aircraft, the USAAF and NACA active for much of the 1980s, each mounting a 1,860hp (National Advisory Committee crash-landed at Harlingen Allison V-1650 engine, and for Aeronautics). In the during ‘Airsho 87’. Since augmenting the fuel capacity. latter’s hands, it performed restored, it is now on display at The pilot flew the aircraft from high-altitude and Marquardt the National Museum of the US the left-hand cockpit and the ramjet trials before being badly Air Force at Dayton, Ohio. TANG TANG S TORATION PROJECT TORATION S RE PHOTOs: TWIN MU TWIN PHOTOs:

The Twin Mustang wasn't supposed ... but, with its strong acceleration on the ... to become the first of its type airborne to fly on 31 December... runway surprising the pilot, took off... in over thirty years

… and New PHOTO: JOHN MOUNCE VIA ADRIAN BALCH intelligence-gathering missions over South America. It ended Zealand’s latest up at Whiteman Air Park and became increasingly derelict Mosquito rebuild in the 1960s. Next owner Jim Avspecs’ third restored Mosquito Merizan, who retained PZ474 lifted off from Auckland’s until 2013, had its remains Ardmore Airport on 13 January transported to his premises at 2019. Owned by Rod Lewis, Yorba Linda. Eventual return-to- FB VI PZ474/ZK-BCV was flight efforts began at Chino but airborne for nineteen minutes, Coastal Command-schemed PZ474 is the world's fourth airworthy Mosquito did not get far until a new owner orbiting the field then performing moved it to New Zealand. a low approach and go-around 1945-built PZ474 was transferred to the Now part of Lewis Air Legends before landing. In the cockpit operated by Nos 80 and 132 in the mid-1950s, where it had of San Antonio, Texas – where it was American pilot Steve OTUs before joining the Royal camera equipment fitted and will be based – PZ474 takes the Hinton, assisted by Avspecs’ New Zealand AF. Equipping became N9909F. world’s airworthy Mosquito count owner Warren Denholm. A No 75 Squadron, it carried the The Mosquito had various to four, with at least two more second more extensive flight serial NZ2384. Staying on in Californian owners from 1955 set to join them in coming years. was carried out later that day. New Zealand as ZK-BCV, it was to 1959 and reportedly flew CIA Report: Paul Fiddian

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Filton's WWI hangar 16M will become Aerospace Bristol's 'open-door' workshop Conservation in Action 2019 started well for Aerospace Bristol at when Biffa, a multi-million-pound fund which awards grants to community, environmental and partnership projects across the UK, announced that it has awarded £547,277 to the museum. This grant will allow Aerospace Bristol to transform the site’s 103-year-old Grade II listed hangar 16M into a ‘Conservation in Action’ workshop. The hangar was originally built as part of the ‘New’ engines fitted, Night-Fright's restoration is progressing well at Coventry WWI South West Aircraft Acceptance Park, then in RAF use for over fifty years until RAF Filton’s handover to British Aerospace. More recently Night-Fright gathers momentum it accommodated Police and Air Ambulance helicopters. The new facility will enable visitors to The Heritage Air Services hangar been ‘undone’ and an astrodome see volunteers restoring former Royal Canadian AF at Coventry is the scene of intense housing refitted. A huge number of Bolingbroke IV 9048, Freighter 31M NZ5911, various activity as Ben Cox and his components are being completely historic Bristol engines, missiles and other smaller engineering team continue the refurbished, and examples of items. Acquired by Graham Kilsby at Chino, CA for immense task of restoring C-47A original equipment−including radio the Bristol Aero Collection, the Bolingbroke arrived Skytrain Night-Fright to airworthy kit−are being sourced. As these at Filton in July 2006. Its restoration to static display condition in time for June’s ‘D-Day finds arrive, they are assessed and by BAC volunteers led by David Bradley has been 75’ events. This is challenging prepared for installation. ongoing, most recently in the Brabazon hangar, but it enough, but the goal is also to return The centre section has received has rarely been on public show. the Normandy veteran to its wartime considerable attention, as much When work preparing the conservation hangar configuration and look, including its corrosion was found here. This area is finished towards the end of 2019, Lloyd Burnell, former 79th Troop Carrier Squadron was mated again with the fuselage Executive Director of Aerospace Bristol, says: “The USAAF markings. before Christmas 2018−a crucial building will become an exciting new part of the The Walker family, which owns milestone in the project. This in experience, engaging visitors with engineering Membury Estate where the former turn enabled the fully overhauled marvels from our aerospace heritage, offering RAF Membury’s runway survives, undercarriage and brakes to be exciting hands-on learning opportunities and had sought to bring back an ex- reassembled and fitted. Two stories to inspire future generations. By bringing resident C-47 and make it a flying immaculate Pratt & Whitney Twin conservation into public view, visitors will not only memorial to the site’s past. DC-3 Wasp engines, obtained from the learn more about the Aerospace Bristol story, N308SF, then stored in an Arkansas USA, were also installed. but also how vital heritage skills are to saving the yard, proved to be just such a relic. As Much work still lies ahead. nation’s past.” C-47A 42-100521 Night-Fright with The flying controls are receiving Its inclusion in CNN’s up-dated ‘20 best aviation the 79th TCS, it had been in the thick attention and will be re-covered. A museums’ list (see later) brought Aerospace of USAAF operations from Membury, pair of wings already at Coventry Bristol international attention in January. CNN carrying airborne troops and towing is being prepared. Pipework Travel’s Global Editor, Barry Neild said: ‘That transport gliders into theatre. and cabling are in progress and brand-new aviation museum smell still mixes with ‘Rescued’, dismantled and furnishing the cockpit with a new the perfume of propeller grease… intoxicating transported by sea and land via instrument panel and any necessary visitors already in thrall to the fascinating story of Florida, it arrived at Coventry in modern equipment is also to be one of the UK’s original aircraft production sites.’ April 2017. Since then an incredible done. These are just some of the aerospacebristol.org Report: Peter R March amount of structural and cosmetic many tasks needing completion recovery work has been completed. before the propellers are attached, Rarely-seen The fuselage has been paint-stripped the aircraft repainted and Night- Bolingbroke and cleaned, corroded floor beams Fright can be rolled out and flight- rebuild will have been replaced and the entire tested. This remarkable project will be on full cargo door surround has undergone undoubtedly become a fine tribute public display substantial repair. The rear fuselage to the airborne troops and airmen later this and fin have been restored and who flew from Membury. year mated with the main body, while www.night-fright.com PHOTO: PETER post-war skin modifications have Report and photo: Tim Badham R MARCH

pilotweb.aero | Pilot March 2019 | 57 Old Timers PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN

Time is running out for the immense Soviet hardware line-up at Monino, the doomed Russian museum listed World’s best aviation museums? PHOTO: PETER R MARCH The travel department of US VA, and the Wings Over broadcaster CNN published its the Rockies Air and Space latest and very controversial Museum, Denver, CO. list of the ‘20 best aviation Canada’s sole entry is the museums around the world’ Aviation and Space Museum on 28 December 2018. in Ottawa, while from China, Featuring museums from Poland, Ukraine and Russia across the US, Europe, come four massive complexes: East Asia and one from the the China Aviation Museum southern Hemisphere− (Beijing); Polish Aviation ’s Royal Flying Museum (Krakow); Oleg Doctor Service Museum at Antonov State Aviation Museum Alice Springs−it is a truly (Kiev); and the Central Air intercontinental list but are Force Museum (Monino). The they really the world’s best? latter is a topical inclusion Unsurprisingly, US with the announcement of its aviation museums have closure, dispersal of smaller This Farman Goliath's fuselage is among Le Bourget's preserved treasures

the lion’s share. One is the transportable exhibits and PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN Carolinas Aviation Museum in scrapping of the rest. Charlotte, NC, whose exhibits European representation include the US Airways Airbus comprises the Museo del Aire A320 that landed on the at Madrid–Cuatro Vientos, River Hudson ten years ago Hangar-7 at Salzburg, this January. Also listed are: Austria, home to Red Bull’s the Delta Flight Museum in stunning fleet, and the Atlanta, GA; the EAA Museum incredible Musée de l’Air et at Oshkosh, WI; the Museum de l’Espace du Bourget north of Flight, Seattle, WA; of Paris, which celebrates National Museum of the US its centenary this year. IWM Air Force, Dayton, OH; Palm Duxford is one of just two UK Springs Air Museum, CA; museums featured: the other Pima Air & Space Museum, is Aerospace Bristol. Why are Tucson, AZ; Smithsonian RAF Museum Hendon and NASM, Washington, DC; and Cosford missing from this list? Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, www.cnn.com/travel/ From Golden Age racers to supersonic jets, a splendid Seattle MoF vista

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On the move PHOTO: NIGEL HITCHMAN On Mark Marketeer (converted A-26B Invader) N500MR, kept at Tanagra AB in since the mid-1990s, has been bought by Germany’s Tina Fly GmbH organisation and was awaiting relocation in mid- January. ‘Remanufactured’ by On Mark Engineering at Van Nuys, California in the 1950s, it was one of the 69 Invaders converted into executive transports. Recently inspected by MeierMotors and flown for the first time in some years, it is expected to be based at Bremgarten soon. Lynx HC28 QP31 is a new addition on loan to the . It arrived from storage at Fleetlands on 18 Greek-based On Mark Marketeer N500MR is heading for a new home in Germany PHOTO: CPL ROB TRAVIS RAF December 2018 to become the PHOTO: HOWARD HEALEY Nottinghamshire site’s third helicopter delivery of the year, following Puma HC1 XW208 and Chinook HC1 ZA717 in February. Owned by Andy Rawden, the rare Lynx was one of just three Mk 28 variants produced for the Qatar Police Force. It will be gradually restored as missing parts are tracked down and, it is hoped, thereafter be displayed Latest addition to Newark’s helicopter collection is Sea King HC4's journey to Norway began with in its original blue-and-white this ex-Qatari Lynx HC28 a Chinook lift Qatari markings. Sea King HC4 ZE427 left HMS Sultan, Gosport on 18 December RAF Chinook up Southampton anniversary of the annual joint to start a long journey to Water to the Marchwood Sea Exercise Clockwork series that Norway. The former Commando Mounting Centre. It was due to be CHF Sea Kings long-supported. Helicopter Force (CHF) machine ferried, then driven, to Bardufoss Following the event, ZE427 will was transported as an underslung AB for a 14 February 2019 become a gate guardian at this load beneath a No 18 Squadron ceremony marking the fiftieth Norwegian airbase. PHOTO: PETER R MARCH Stop Press! BBMF Hurricane IIc PZ865’s next colour scheme was announced in mid-January. Following its major service by the Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd, set to begin in late July 2019, the Hurricane will emerge representing an all-black night-fighter operated by No 247 Sqn. The BBMF’s last black-finished Hurricane was IIc LF363 which carried No 85 Sqn colours, with code VX-F, from 1983-1986. Full details next month. The BBMF's last all-black Hurricane was LF363, seen here at IAT ’83

If you have an Old Timers story contact Contributing Editor Peter R March [email protected] or Pilot Editor Philip Whiteman [email protected]

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