70 | Pilot September 2017 http://www.pilotweb.aeroOld Timers | A round-up of historic aircraft display and restoration
PHOTO: PETER HODGKINSPHOTO: PETER HODGKINS
International Yeovilton... but
where was the Fleet Air Arm?
Seventy years ago on 6 September 1947
the first Air Day took place at RNAS
Yeovilton, Somerset, with a wide range of
predominantly naval aircraft in the flying
displays. At this year’s International Air
Day on 8 July there was a distinct lack of
RN presence in the air with just three
helicopters — two home-based Wildcat
HMA2s and a Merlin HM2 from Culdrose
taking part. A late addition was the RNHF’s
Chipmunk impressively flown by Chris
Gotke. The absence of the traditional
Commando finale, a highlight of Air Days
for many years, was disappointing. Luckily
the show was well supported by the RAF
with the Red Arrows, Typhoon FGR4 and
the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the
air. The latter featured Lancaster PA474
making its public debut following winter
overhaul and repainting, and Spitfire XIX
PS915. The Army Air Corps Attack
Helicopter Display Team Apache performed
its dramatic routine and Somerset-based
Whirlwind HAR10 XJ729 gave a much
appreciated SAR demonstration. Other
warbirds participating included Peter
Teichman’s ‘Red Tail’ Mustang Tall in the
Saddle and the Norwegian AF Historical
Flight’s immaculate Polish built MiG-15UTI.
It had been hoped that Naval Aviation Ltd’s
Sea Fury T20 VX281 would have been
airworthy to fly with the MiG in a Korean
War reprise, but it had yet to fly after its
long rebuild at North Weald.It was very much left to the visiting
foreign air arms to fill the flying display
void and provide the stars of the show.
These included the outstanding French
Navy Rafale M pair, one of which was
splendidly decorated in NATO Tiger Meet
markings; a specially painted Belgian Air
Component F-16AM and a rare and
powerful performance by a Royal Danish
Air Force F-16AM.
The Czech Air Force brought three
display aircraft to Yeovilton — a JAS-39C
Gripen and a pair of L-159A ALCAs. The
flying display concluded with the colourfulF-5E Tiger IIs of the Patrouille Suisse.
On the ground there was an extensive
static display with over seventy different
aircraft ranging from a USAF C-17
Globemaster III from Charleston, South
Carolina to a tiny privately owned Wolf
Boredom Fighter. Martin Baker sent both of
its airworthy Meteors (WA638 and WL419)
and the FAA Museum provided a Sea
Venom FAW21 and Wasp HAS1 alongside
the Phantom FG1 and Sea Harrier FA2
preserved at the airfield.
It was especially sad to see the line-up of
the RN Historic Flight’s/Navy Wings’
non-airworthy fleet — Swordfish W5856 and
LS326, Sea Fury FB11 VR930 and in
particular the engineless Sea Vixen that
could not hide the damage sustained in its
high-speed emergency landing at Yeovilton
on 27 May. After major hydraulic failure the
pilot, Cdr Simon Hargreaves was unable to
lower the flaps or the undercarriage,
necessitating a high speed, low angle run
on and the energy transferred itself
through the airframe. The Navy Wings
Charity is seeking a ‘white knight’ sponsor
to save the aircraft and restore this
nationally important naval heritage fighter
to full flying condition — a major task over
3-4 years and costing £2-3 million as
structural damage to the airframe is more
serious than first thought. This includes
cracks on both tail booms, warping of the
main bulkheads in the engine
compartment and major damage to the
gear box. Navy Wings has launched an
appeal to raise funds for the restoration.
http://www.navywings.org.ukThe home-based Wildcat HMA2 from 825 NAS in actionFrench Navy Rafale
pair climb away
after a simulated
carrier approach