February 2019 News

NEWS EDITOR: TONY HARMSWORTH E-MAIL TO: [email protected] TELEPHONE: +44 (0)7791 808044 DC-6 heading to WRITE TO: Aeroplane, Key Publishing Ltd, News PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1XQ, UK

The Aircraft Restoration Company’s Blenheim, Blenheim and ‘L6739’/G-BPIV, high over Lysander Cambridgeshire. GEORGE ROMAIN passenger rides planned One of the most significant propliners to have survived, Douglas DC-6A G-APSA is pictured at Coventry recently, wearing its glorious British Eagle livery, which it has now sported for a decade. hristmas came early for those wishing to get airborne in something a little bit different on 5 December, with an announcement from the recently formed, - he former British Eagle Cosford during the summer of FG1 XV582 ‘Black Mike’, Sold in in based Aerial Collective that it is planning to offer Douglas DC-6A 2015. GJD also owns VC10 K3 T7 XL573, and February 1964, G-APSA took Cpassenger rides in the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARC) Bristol G-APSA, which was ZA147, which made the last AEW3 XL500/ up its original registration Blenheim and . It is hoped that flights will be threatened with ever flight of the type from G‑KAEW, which is being again in early 1987 when it available in the course of 2019, with 10 passenger sorties Tscrapping at Coventry during Brize Norton to Bruntingthorpe restored to flying condition. was ferried back to the UK and expected in each aircraft during the season. 2018, has been acquired by on 25 September 2013. It is Gary continues, “There is put into service with Air Hannah Juggins from the Aerial Collective says, “We are aircraft relocation and hoped that this will also move plenty of land to accommodate Atlantique. Following use on currently working with the Civil Aviation Authority on the Safety restoration specialists GJD to St Athan, funding these aircraft at St Athan. We freight and pollution control Standards Acknowledgement and Consent approvals for these Services and is scheduled to permitting, along with would like this to develop into work, the machine was to premium flight experiences.” be moved by road to St Athan, Shackleton MR3 WR447, which a national museum sometime become a popular sight on the Display pilot and ARC boss John Romain adds, “The Blenheim south Wales, during the is owned by GJD and currently in the future.” airshow circuit, and in early and the ‘Lizzie’ are two aircraft that are extremely close to my heart summer. It will then become located at Bruntingthorpe. The GJD DC-6 was rolled 2008 was repainted in British and restoring them was a passion for me. I look forward to what one of the star exhibits in the The museum complex, at out at the Douglas plant at Eagle colours. During July of the future brings as they join Aerial Collective; it will be a great way South Wales the Picketston Santa Monica, California in that year, Harold Bamberg was to raise the profile of these two unsung heroes of World War Two.” Aviation Aerospace June 1958, and acquired by reunited with G-APSA at For availability notification on flights in these fabled, Bristol Museum, There is plenty of Business Park Eagle Airways in September of , the old Mercury-powered aircraft or to book flights in two-seat Spitfires which is being land to accommodate at the former that year. It went on to fly with Eagle Airways maintenance and P-51D Mustangs, either ’phone 01223 653830 or go set up by GJD RAF St Athan, Cunard Eagle Airways from base. Sadly, the ‘Big Doug’ to www.aerialcollective.co.uk in conjunction these aircraft at St will include 1960-63, before Eagle founder was grounded at the end of with Horizon, Athan. We would like to education and Harold Bamberg bought back the 2008 season after a Cardiff and develop this into a training control from Cunard in the corrosion was found in the tail, St Athan- national museum centres, the spring of 1963, forming British repairs proving too costly to based flight latter Eagle International Airlines. proceed with. training and providing an aircraft engineering company. opportunity for one-year GJD founder Gary Spoors post-GCSE and A-level says, “We have already been placements, and a to Coventry and started to conservation centre for aircraft prepare the DC-6 for the restoration. A visitor centre will move, taking out the floor and display the history of RAF St disconnecting all the engine Athan and aviation in Wales, controls. We will go back in and will incorporate a range of John Romain in Lysander April and start dismantling it interactive displays. V9312/G-CCOM. It flew for the move, which is Already at the Picketston site again on 28 August 2018, dependent on finding the are a wide range of post-war and is due to have bomb funding.” RAF and types, carrier winglets fitted to the Among the aircraft previously including de Havilland Sea undercarriage fairings soon. moved by GJD is the RAF Devon C20 XK895, Panavia GEORGE ROMAIN Tornado GR1P ZA326 and Phantom FG1 XV582 in one of the three Museum’s BAC VC10 C1K, Tornado GR1P ZA326, hangars currently occupied by GJD/Horizon at the Picketston XR808, from Bruntingthorpe to McDonnell Douglas Phantom Aerospace Business Park at St Athan.

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Following the fitting of engines and undercarriage, C-47A Skytrain Night NEWS IN BRIEF Fright was rolled out of Hangar 6 at Coventry for pictures on 12 December. ATAC HUNTER CRASHES CHARLIE WALKER Hawker Hunter F58 N323AX from the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) crashed into the sea off Honolulu on 12 December while supporting the ‘Sentry Aloha’ military exercise. The 47-year-old pilot ejected at low level, sustaining serious injuries. N323AX had been serial J-4101 with the . Jaguar GR1A XX741 being made ready for taxiing VAMPIRES DESTROYED AT at Bentwaters on 15 MELUN December. GRAHAM HAYNES Former Swiss Air Force FB6s F-AZIK and F-AZOO were written off in a hangar fire at Melun-Villaroche aerodrome, BENTWATERS JAGUAR FIRES UP France, on 8 December. The aircraft EPECAT Jaguar GR1A XX741 moved under its own with No 54 Squadron at Coltishall. After transfer to No 6 were operated by the Cercle de power for the first time in 24 years at the Bentwaters Squadron, it arrived at Thumrait, on 11 August 1990 as Chasse de Melun. Museum in Suffolk on 15 December, following part of the initial deployment for the Gulf War, although it was a nine-year restoration. During brakes-on ground runs soon to return to Coltishall and did not fly any missions during S MORE HUNTERS LEAVE both Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour 104 engines ran up to the conflict. It subsequently went back to the Lossiemouth- Combat C-47 forging ahead FOR maximum reheat, after which XX741 made a short run to prove based OCU in its No 16 (Reserve) Squadron guise, participating the aircraft’s braking and nosewheel steering systems. The next in the first International Airshow during September 1993. Hawker Hunter T7A WV318/ stage of the project will be to refit all panels and install pylons This proved to be something of a ‘last hurrah’ for the he project to get reached a major milestone in The team of 10 men at G-FFOX (below), previously and drop tanks. machine, as on 31 January 1994 it flew from Lossiemouth to D-Day veteran Hangar 6 at Coventry Airport, Heritage Air Services is led by registered to Swift Built at Warton, XX741 made its first flight on 4 October Shawbury where it went into storage with 4,260 hours on the Douglas C-47A Warwickshire, during early Ben Cox, who gained many Composites, was sold to a 1974 and was delivered to the RAF the following month. It clock. Sold to Everett Aero at Sproughton, Suffolk in Skytrain 42-100521/ December with the installation years of experience working on new owner in Canada during TN308SF Night Fright airworthy of the aircraft’s undercarriage, DC-3s with Air Atlantique at early December. The initially flew with No 226 Operational Conversion Unit at November 2005, it was acquired by the Bentwaters museum in Lossiemouth, and then moved to the operational Jaguar force October 2009. for the D-Day 75th anniversary and its two overhauled Pratt & Coventry. The aircraft is owned black-painted aircraft had commemorations in Normandy Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp by commercial pilot Charlie been at Västerås, , during June of this year engines. Walker. His family’s firm, Walker since 2014. The Västerås Logistics, owns Membury Flygmuseum’s T7A XL616/ airfield near Hungerford, SE-DXH will also soon leave Berkshire, from where Night its Swedish home for Canada. CWHM Avenger to fly soon EUROPEAN DC-3 OPERATOR Fright — then in service with the 79th Troop Carrier Nine years after it was acquired Eastern Aircraft Division during SYMPOSIUM HELD IN SWEDEN Squadron, part of the 9th Air by the Canadian Warplane 1945 and flew with the US Navy A European Douglas DC-3 symposium was held at Force’s 436th Troop Carrier Heritage Museum, Grumman until the early 1950s, when it Arlandastad, north of , during the weekend of Group — took off at 23.00hrs TBM-3E Avenger BuNo went into storage. After 23-25 November. Organised by the Swedish Flygande on 5 June 1944, heading for 53858/C-GCWG is due to fly conversion to sprayer Veteraner (Flying Veterans) society, operator of DC-3 Normandy. The machine is JOHN DUNNELL again from Hamilton, configuration it went into SE-CFP, the event attracted more than 50 participants, destined to be based at early in the new year. service with Hemet Valley Flying including representatives from DC-3 operators in , Membury, where a Troop The former fire- has Service at Hemet, California, in France, Germany, , Iceland, the , Carrier Museum will be WINGS TO COME OFF SWISS ‘CONNIE’? been restored as an Avenger 1963, as N3357G. During 1976 , Russia, Sweden and . Issues discussed established. AS3, one of 98 examples that it was bought by Forest included operational procedures, engine and airframe The historic C-47 was moved The Super Constellation Flyers were modified by the Eastern Protection of maintenance schedules as well as pilot training and the as surface transport from Shell Association’s Lockheed L-1049G Star of Passage, Nova Scotia-based and flown as C-GFPR before introduction of new avionics. The relationship with civilian Creek, Florida to Coventry Super Constellation, HB-RSC Fairey Aviation Company of being retired from fire-bombing during the summer of 2017. Switzerland, is facing the prospect TBM-3E Avenger BuNo 53858/C-GCWG has been restored to aviation authorities is another important aspect of future Canada for the Royal work in 1992. Eight years later it DC-3 operations. Charlie Walker says, “The of having its wings removed to represent a Royal Canadian Navy Avenger AS3, with the distinctive check for possible inter-granular Canadian Navy (RCN) for sloping rear canopy to aid visibility in the anti-submarine role. CWHM was sold to Didier Chable of the A new European DC-3 Society is also being formed, open wings that came with the anti-submarine duties with the Association des Mécaniciens to all the continent’s DC-3 operators and museums which aircraft had some corrosion, corrosion in the spars. The Swiss dorsal removed. Pilotes d’Aéronefs Anciens at have DC-3s/C-47s on display. There are currently 23 DC-3s and the paint on the inside was Federal Office of Civil Aviation has The type went into service Grumman Tracker having attractive two-tone scheme of Melun-Villaroche near Paris, and flying in , a number which, it is hoped, will rise to 25 very flaky, so the team has mandated additional checks on all with 880 and 881 Squadrons begun four years earlier. gloss dark grey for the upper gained the registration during 2019. fitted wings that Ben had in vintage aircraft operating in at Shearwater, Nova Scotia in The aircraft is a replacement third of the fuselage, upper F-WQON. However, it remained The plan is for as many as 40 examples to be present storage at Coventry to keep us Switzerland since corrosion was 1951, and operated from the for the organisation’s original wing surfaces and tailplane, parked at Fredericton, New over Normandy on 6 June for the 75th anniversary of the on target for June. The control found in the wreckage of Ju-Air’s aircraft carriers HMCS TBM-3, also registered with the remainder of the Brunswick until being acquired D-Day landings, dropping parachutes over the invasion surfaces are away being /3m HB-HOT, which Magnificent and HMCS C-GCWG, which was lost in the fuselage and under-surfaces in by the CWH, with the help of a beaches. Several aircraft are scheduled to be making the covered. The cockpit is crashed on 6 August, although Bonaventure. The last of the disastrous hangar fire at gloss sky blue. generous donor, in late 2009, trip from the USA for what will probably be the last big currently stripped out, and the corrosion was not a contributory RCN Avengers were retired in Hamilton in February 1993. It is The museum’s TBM-3E was and was moved to Hamilton by commemoration of Operation ‘Overlord’. avionics will start to go in factor in the accident. 1960, re-equipment with the due to be painted in the built by General Motors’ road that November. during January.”

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GREENWOOD ‘BANANA’ GOES ON SHOW Following a four-year restoration, Piasecki/Vertol H-44A RCAF 9592 went on display at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum in Nova Scotia during mid-November. One of six metal-bladed H-44A versions of the H-21 ‘Flying Banana’ series of to be acquired by the for duties, 9592 was originally delivered to 103 Rescue Unit at RCAF Base Greenwood on 8 May 1961, and was based there until being reassigned to RCAF Station Chatham, New Brunswick, in October 1964. While operating in northern Canada during the mid-1970s, the nose of 9592 was destroyed when it was hit by a snowplough. The remains of the Piasecki ended up in storage with the Reynolds Heritage Foundation in Wetaskiwin, , and were donated to the -121 N747GE taxies in at Davis-Monthan AFB on delivery for the Pima Air and Greenwood museum in 2012. The nose Space Museum on 15 November. section of a former US Army H-21C variant of the type was acquired to replace it, and has been converted to H-44 standard. Six H-21As and nine H-21Bs also served with the RCAF. Pima receives historic 747 he world’s last airworthy Boeing bankruptcy it was acquired by GE in 1992, 747-100 — the oldest flying re-registered and converted for its new example of the ‘Jumbo’ — was role, in which the company says the 747 retired to the Pima Air and Space “provided critical flight data on more than ADVERT PAGE MuseumT in Tucson, 11 distinct engine models Arizona on 15 November, and 39 engine builds.” making its final landing at In service with GE The aircraft’s final test Davis-Monthan Air Force flight with GE was Base and being towed the 747 ‘provided performed on 25 January H-44A RCAF 9592 is now exhibited at the from there to the adjacent critical flight data on 2017. It was then stored Greenwood Military Aviation Museum in museum site. at its Victorville, Nova Scotia. more than 11 distinct N747GE, constructor’s engine models and 39 California, base prior to number 19651, served engine builds’ the ferry flight to Davis- On 14 December, former RCAF Beech latterly with General Monthan, at which point C-45 Expeditor AF662 moved into the Electric/GE Aviation as an it had notched up 90,000 workshop recently vacated by the engine testbed, but the 747-121 model flying hours and 19,251 cycles. GE has Piasecki. The restoration of Bristol had made its on 3 March replaced the 747-100 with an ex- Bolingbroke IVT RCAF 9997 is also under 1970 and entered service with Pan Airlines 747-400 model, N747GF. way; once finished, it will represent a American as N744PA. Following ’s Ben Dunnell type that served at Greenwood training bomb aimers as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and flying as target tugs. Il-2 PROGRESSES AT PIMA Work to convert Lancaster KB839 from Restoration of an Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, post-war Mk10AR (arctic reconnaissance) recovered from Russia by Canadian Jeet configuration to original Mk10 standard Mahal in 1992, is progressing well at the continues, fabrication of a fairing for the Pima Air and Space Museum. The restoration mid-upper turret having been completed. team believes it has identified the airframe’s It has been painted as JB226 from No identity through a thorough forensic analysis 405 () Pathfinder Squadron, of numbers found on the components. It although it was actually operated by No appears that it was operated by a Soviet 419 Squadron from Middleton St unit in support of the Battle George, flying 26 combat operations. of Leningrad. The rear fuselage and wings The Pima Air and Space Museum’s Ilyushin Il-2 have been built from new wood to replace in early December. the rotted originals.

10 www.aeroplanemonthly.com AEROPLANE FEBRUARY 2019 AEROPLANE FEBRUARY 2019 www.aeroplanemonthly.com 11 News February 2019 SEA KING SLUNG FOR MOVE Building work gets under way at DHAM TO NORWAY ceremony was held at in the local community’. Ex- HC4 ZE427 was flown from the de Havilland Brenda Batten added, “This is Gosport to Marchwood Military Port, Southampton as an Aircraft Museum at the oldest aviation museum in underslung load beneath an No 18 Squadron Chinook on 17 Salisbury Hall on 28 Britain and is unique. It is a December, the first leg of a journey that will eventually see ANovember to mark the start of valuable asset to the the former Commando Force machine going on work on a new, £3.2-million community and will offer many display at Bardufoss air base in northern Norway. hangar project. Hertsmere more facilities to both the The Sea King will be exhibited there to commemorate the mayor Brenda Batten was community and educational 50th anniversary of the Exercise ‘Clockwork’ resupply mission welcomed to the event by establishments. Importantly, it from Bardufoss, which sees helicopters from Joint Helicopter museum chairman Alan will continue to ensure that the Command delivering supplies 18 miles into the mountains to Brackley, who said, “It had de Havilland heritage is further the Norwegian Trekking Association log cabin at the remote taken five enshrined in location of Lappjord. It would take Ski-Doo snowmobiles years to get the community seven days to resupply the cabin, and the missions present the new It will continue to where it the perfect opportunity for aircrews to prove vital skills hangar project ensure that the DH employed learned during their annual winter training detachment. from initial heritage is enshrined in many It was during the winter of 1968 that Flag Officer Naval planning to thousands of Flying Training ordered 846 Naval Air Squadron — then flying the community where it Hertsmere mayor Brenda Batten shakes hands with museum chairman the start of people and Alan Brackley as building work gets under way at the Salisbury Hall HU5s — to undertake training in an Arctic construction. led the world The Chinook/Sea King employed many site on 28 November. environment, the aim being to improve airborne combat combination transiting from The hangar is thousands in many support for the . The Sea King HC4 has now Gosport to Marchwood along important aviation been superseded on ‘Clockwork’ duties by the Southampton Water on 17 because it will techniques.” 2019. Despite the ongoing be accessible for visitors to get AgustaWestland Merlin HC3. December. IAN HARDING not only enable us to get more The new hangar, which was building work, Alan Brackley close to and into several of our of our historic aircraft under given the go-ahead following a stressed that the museum will and civil cover and protected from the £1.9-million grant from the continue to be open to visitors airliners”. The museum is weather but also enable us to Heritage Lottery Fund, is due during the 2019 season, currently closed for the winter, become much more involved to be completed by August saying, “All of our museum will and will reopen on 17 February. Welcome revival for Solent Sky SUMPAC At the Solent Sky museum in displays did little to inform Southampton, new displays visitors of the significance of are being constructed to the machine. That is now being Mirage double debut made at Toulouse better tell the story of the addressed by the SUMPAC Southampton University Man Legacy Project, which is being Over the weekend of 17-18 been completed just a couple in July. With two examples of May 1965 and served with Powered Aircraft, or SUMPAC, headed up by the last surviving November, Ailes Anciennes at of days earlier, the fighter the Mirage III already on Escadron de Bombardement which, on 9 November 1961 member of the original design Toulouse presented its latest having arrived at the museum display, the only Armée de 1/91 ‘Gascogne’ and later EB became the first human- team, Cdr Raymond Hale RN acquisitions, bomber and during October. Mirage IVP l’Air Mirage now not 2/91 ‘Bretagne’. Upgraded to powered aeroplane to make (retired). A man-powered fighter variants of the Dassault serial 26 had been moved from represented at Toulouse is the Mirage IVP standard in an officially authenticated aircraft simulator is being Mirage line, to the public for storage at Châteaudun, Mirage 2000. 1984-85, it was able to carry take-off and flight. constructed, and an interactive the first time. Assembly of south-west of Paris, by a team The Ailes Anciennes Mirage the ASMP air-launched nuclear Designed and built by a display unit is being set up on Mirage F1CT serial 261 had of Ailes Anciennes volunteers IV made its maiden flight on 7 missile. It was retired in 1996. team of postgraduate students the balcony at the museum, Mirage F1 261 first flew in from Southampton University immediately beneath the nose June 1981, originally as an with funding from the Royal of the SUMPAC. As well as F1C-200 variant. It later Aeronautical Society, the providing visitors with the became one of 55 airframes machine made its maiden flight opportunity to investigate the which were upgraded to F1CT at Lasham airfield, story in more detail, it will standard, this being a ground with the legendary glider pilot include guidance on how to attack version with upgraded Derek Piggott at the controls of design and build a human- Now almost 60 years old, the SUMPAC human-powered aircraft and the capability to the pedal-powered pusher. The powered aeroplane, and be a hanging from the ceiling at Solent Sky. Note the large pylon for the deliver a variety of weapons, first flight covered a distance of source of information on the pusher propeller. including rockets and laser- 70 yards at a maximum altitude work of the British Human guided bombs. The aircraft of 6ft. A total of 40 flights were Powered Flying Club. served with Escadron de made, the longest covering Raymond says, “The project HPA. This high-quality facility set up at the museum landing Chasse 2/30 ‘Normandie- 650 yards, during which aims to provide a high-quality will also be made available to for use by visitors or by trainee Niemen’ and was deployed to Piggott achieved an altitude of display to explain the help train pilots and athletes HPA pilots. They are also and . Retired in 15ft. Following damage to the achievement and the to fly a range of different HPA working on improving their July 2008, it too went into fragile structure in a crash subsequent development of in competition conditions. own HPA project at the storage at Châteaudun and is during 1963, the SUMPAC was human-powered flying as an “Students from the university and, I understand, in excellent condition. repaired, but a decision was international sport. The Southampton University hope to fly it in the ICARUS Ailes Anciennes now hopes soon made to retire it. simulator will be set up on the Human Powered Aircraft cup competition to be run by to increase its available hangar Although the SUMPAC went balcony using a SUMPAC Society (SUHPA) recently the British Human Powered Mirage F1CT 261 being assembled in the Ailes space in order to bring a on show, hanging from the pedal frame with power visited and tried it out. They Flight Club next year.” Anciennes hangar at Toulouse bigger part of its collection of ceiling at the Southampton Hall sensors. The aim is to let are constructing a transparent It is intended to complete the on 12 November. MAXIMILIAN MEIND primarily post-war French types of Aviation (now Solent Sky) in visitors try and pedal hard nosecone and cockpit cover for project and stage an opening under cover. 1984, the accompanying enough to take off and fly an the simulator before it can be event during early 2019.

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