Many of you will know that the 6th P.1127 (the ‘prototype’ Kestrel) has been at the Brooklands Museum for some time.
However, for several years it has been fitted with a triangular wing ex XP980 because its own swept, Kestrel type, wing was severely damaged in an accident and the Kestrel wing on loan from the RAF Museum was reclaimed for their Kestrel.
XP984 was fitted with a Harrier wing for aerodynamic development flight trials before the first Harrier flew so, in the absence of a Kestrel wing, and on the advice of the Editor, the Brooklands Museum has bought a Harrier wing and it has been fitted to the aircraft as part of a major refurbishment by volunteers led by Dave Cotton and his deputy, David Collingridge.
Your Committee discussed this project and decided that it would be appropriate to support it financially so the Association has donated £500 to the Brooklands Museum specifically for the refurbishment of XP984. The Museum Director expressed his gratitude for the gift.
The refurbishment will continue to require more funding so it was also decided to launch an appeal to Hawker Association Members for donations to this good cause. If each member gave £5 then some £2000 would be raised, £10, £4000!
So, please help to restore XP984 by sending your cheques, payable to the Hawker Association, to Chris Farara at 24 Guildown Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4EN. Thank you.