Sopwith Pup. Two reproductions, with
modern wing sections and VW
engines have been built using modern materials by Canadian Museum of
flight volunteers in Langley, British Columbia. The Pups visited Europe
to fly over the Vimy Ridge memorial on the centenary of the WW1 battle
in April, and will return home for a trans-Canada aerial tour,
demonstrating at Ottawa on the 150th anniversary of Canadian
independence.
Sopwith Camel replica, D1851/G-BZSC flew for the first time at Old Warden in May. A Northern Aeroplane Workshops and Shuttleworth project, construction, using original Sopwith drawings, started at Batley, West Yorkshire in 1995 and continued at Old Warden in 2013 to completion. It is powered by a 140 hp Clerget rotary engine.
Hurricane I P2902/G-ROBT will be the first Hurricane to fly from Hawker Restorations’ new base with a purpose-built hangar and a 2950 ft runway at Elmsett near Wattisham.
Hurricane I V7497/G-HRLI has also been moved to Elmsett for completion.
Hurricane I P3717/G-HITT made its first post-restoration flight ar Turweston in March.
Hurricane I L1639 is being restored to taxiable condition at Little Gransden, St Neots, by the Cambridge Bomber and Fighter Society. It is one of only two surviving Hurricanes with fabric covered wings.
Fury G-CBEL of North Weald Heritage Aviation painted to represent the Fury prototype SR 661, has been moved to Duxford.
Sea Fury T.20, WG655/G-CHFP, operated by The Fighter Collection, is having its Bristol Centaurus replaced by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 at Duxford. This is a common engine swap in US based Sea Furies.
Sea Fury T.20 WE820/D-COTE/ES-8504/N85SF has flown in the US after restoration to ‘standard’, except for the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine, from clipped wing unlimited class air racer configuration, ‘Critical Mass’. The paint scheme will be as it was when the aircraft served with RN 738 Squadron at Lossiemouth.
Gnat TMk1 XR977 is under restoration at Cosford in its Red Arrows livery prior to moving to the RAF Museum, Hendon.
Sea Harrier FA2 ZD610 has been moved to the Bristol Aero Collection Trust’s Grade II Listed hangar, part of the new Aerospace Bristol museum at Filton.
Editor’s Note. Thanks to Max Fendt and
Peter Amos for contributions to the above.