22 FLYPAST May 2018
FROM THE WORKSHOP AIR LEASING
is C4K-99/G-AWHM, which is
expected to fly by late April this
year. Coded ‘Yellow 7’ it was being
equipped with its overhauled
cockpit components during
our visit and had already been
painted in its Battle of Britain
film colours. On a nearby bench,
the fighter’s canopy was being
refurbished, a process that has
involved removing the very heavy
sheet of armour plate from behind
the pilot’s head, making the
component easier to move.
Next in line was C4K-152/G-
AWHR, which remains in its basic,
unrestored condition. Stripping
the airframe has begun in earnest,
though it was still wearing its
‘temporary’ film camouflage.
Interestingly, this Buchón is the
only one that ‘Connie’ Edwards
flew after its delivery to the
United States. Its allocated US
civil registration N4109G remains
stencilled on the side, alongside
the legend ‘Experimental’ to
denote its unorthodox status in
the eyes of the Federal Aviation
Authority.
“We think this last flew around
1980,” says Richard, “and it’s in
slightly better condition than the
others. When we were dismantling
the airframe, we also found traces
of the original paint, which is
a unique shade and we’ve kept
samples in case anyone wants
to repaint a Buchón back to its
Spanish colours.”
Buchóns were originally painted
in an attractive mid-blue, a
scheme which may appeal to
potential owners of the type.
The final aircraft at the end of
the row is C4K-105/G-AWHH – also
known as ‘White 9’ – which is the
odd one out in that it has been
painted in an authentic wartime
scheme, and not film colours.
The aircraft, which will retain a
standard Buchón cockpit, is being
restored by Air Leasing before it
finds a new home.A new string
to the bow
As we walk round, Richard mentions
that Air Leasing is keen to improve
its warbird brokering portfolio. Of
the Buchóns we’ve
seen today, two
are on the
market.
‘Red 11’ is
availablethrough Platinum Fighter sales,
while ‘White 9’ has a private owner,
and is being offered on the Air
Leasing website. The company is
also selling Westland-built Spitfire
Vc EE602 which is airworthy.
The brokering aspect of the
business means that Air Leasing
can now effectively offer a ‘one stop
shop’ service, from maintaining
and restoring historic aircraft,
to operating them, and finally
to selling them on the lucrative
warbird market.
“It’s an area we’ve been moving
into for some time,” says Richard,
“and the Buchóns are the latest
step in this. If anyone is interested
in owning one, then get in touch
through our website.”
It’s abundantly clear from even
the briefest visit to the Spitfire
Blister, that the future is bright
for Air Leasing. Having been set
up in 1984 by Nick and Carolyn
Grace, the company is now run
by Carolyn, her son Richard, and
his wife Daisy, and has become
a key player in the historic
aviation market – no easy
task in today’s very
competitive warbird
community.As well as the Spitfire Tr.9,
Hurricane and Seafire, Air
Leasing also looks after Yakovlev
Yak-3s G-OLEG and G-CGXG,
Hawker Fury FB.11 G-CBEL, North
American TF-51 Mustang G-TFSI,
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV
G-SPIT, plus various other vintage
aircraft. And, of course there’s
the ever-popular ‘Fly In A Warbird’
experience, using ML407, the
Mustang and the two-seat Buchón
at Sywell. A flight can be booked
through Air Leasing’s operations
website: http://www.ultimatewarbirds.
com.
Once the Buchóns are completed
there are other projects to take
their place, although client
confidentiality means Richard
must remain tight lipped at the
moment. Sywell and the people
who work there are certainly
ensuring that the welcoming
Northamptonshire aerodrome
remains a great place to visit and
is increasingly becoming known
for its magnificent warbird
restorations.FlyPast thanks Air Leasing for
its help. Further details can be
found at http://www.airleasing.co.uk