Page 22 - Aviation News (February 2020)

PRESERVATION Combat Veteran Comet Comes Indoors

Spitfire to Fly

Again in UK

Sywell, Northamptonshire-based
Air Leasing took delivery of
Supermarine Spitfi re Mk.IX PL344
on November 15, and will operate
it on behalf of its new owner. The
1943-built fi ghter served with three
units during World War Two and
towards the end of the confl ict was
the mount of Sqn Ldr Bill Klersy The de Havilland Aircraft Museum’s Comet, F-BGNX, has
DSO DFC* who used it to score 7½ moved indoors for the fi rst time since the 1980s. Garry Lakin
‘kills’. It was written o following a
landing accident in December 1946, After 34 years on display outside the been stripped of all fi xtures and fi ttings in
but was eventually restored to fl y de Havilland Aircraft Museum, Comet preparation for water pressure tank testing
in 1991. Sold to Tom Blair in 2001 it 1A, F-BGNX, has been transferred to at Farnborough in 1954 following the
was shipped to the US where it fl ew a new building at the London Colney, catastrophic loss of two of the jet airliners.
as N644TB and was given the codes Hertfordshire attraction. In more recent times it has been the subject
‘TL-B’, its owner’s initials. ‘November-X-Ray’ was recently lifted of an extensive restoration programme.
The Spitfi re returned to the UK in by crane from its previous position and “Our volunteers have managed to
January 2007 and was extensively towed to the £2m, National Heritage source almost the entire fl ight deck
overhauled by Duxford’s Aircraft Lottery-backed Sir Geo rey de Havilland equipment and seating for the passenger
Restoration Company. It fl ew as Hangar. “The Comet has been on cabin,” said Nevin. “What they can’t get they
G-IXCC on the UK circuit for a while display outside ever since it arrived at are fabricating on site.”
before returning to the States. The Air the museum in 1985 and it is absolutely More aircraft and exhibits will be
Leasing team fl ew to the US in 2019 essential that we get it under cover,” said added to the new hangar over the winter.
to crate the Spitfi re for its new owner. marketing director Mike Nevin. The museum re-opens to the public on
www.airleasing.co.uk The Comet is one of three sold by February 16, 2020.
de Havilland to Air France in 1952. It had www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk
Jumbo-Sized Roof for Qantas Collection

Rapid progress is being made at Australia’s Qantas Founders Museum piece of the steel frame has been lifted into place and the temporary
to build a roof over its air park. The installation will protect the supports removed. The roof, which now stands on its own permanent
Queensland attraction’s larger exhibits from the weather. The last footings, is 85ft (26m) high and 354ft (108m) wide. www.qfom.com.au

Photoshoot Diary 2020

Use our aviation photoshoot calendar to keep up to date with forthcoming photographic events. If you’d like
to see your shoot listed here, just send the details to editor Dino Carrara at dino.carrara@keypublishing.com

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

23: RAF Cosford Hangar 22: Afternoon and Evening Jet 07: Gatwick Aviation Museum
Nightshoot Photoshoot Nightshoot II
RAF Cosford, Shropshire Bruntingthorpe Airfi eld, Leicestershire Charlwood, Surrey
www.threshold.aero www.timelineevents.org www.threshold.aero
£25 £60 £30
31-2 FEB: Ukraine Museum 29: Afternoon and Evening 19: Night Photoshoot XXVII
Nightshoot Shoot with AAC Apache, Phantom RAF Northolt, Middlesex
Ukraine Air Force Museum, Kiev XT914 and Hunter XG194 www.northoltnightshoots.com
www.centreofaviationphotography.com Wattisham Airfi eld, Su olk £25 + £2-10 aircrew accommodation
£TBA www.timelineevents.org surcharge (the latter amount TBC)
£65
21: Afternoon, Sunset and
Evening Photoshoot with
Readers are strongly urged to seek confi rmation that photoshoots are defi nitely taking
place before travelling – photography events can move location, date or be cancelled, Vulcan XL426
and this listing should only be used as an outline. For more information, check out Southend Airport, Essex
individual websites, all of which are listed here where possible. www.timelineevents.org
£65

20 AVIATION NEWS FEBRUARY 2020

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