http://www.fl ypast.com
May 2018 FLYPAST 7Comet racer replica
taking shape in Derby
Ken Fern is continuing to make
progress on his de Havilland DH.
Comet reproduction G-RCSR in Derby.
The fuselage has been completed
and the canopy is now ready for
glazing. Most of the aircraft’s
internal controls and fi ttings are
already in place. The instrument
panel is based on de Havilland’s
original version with modifi cations
suggested by display pilot ‘Dodge’
Bailey who fl ies the Shuttleworth
Collection’s example, G-ACSS.
“Work on the wings is going well
with the undersides fi nished, and
the engine and undercarriage
support frames are now in place,”
Ken told FlyPast. “Almost all the
metal fi ttings have been made,
including the undercarriage legs
and engine bearers. If all goes
to plan I hope to have the main
airframe fi nished by the end of
this year ready for the fi tting of
engines.”
Ken is hoping to acquire more
Gipsy Queen II engines (for spares
or to be rebuilt) and propellers. If
you can help, contact:
[email protected]The fuselage of DH.88 Comet reproduction G-RCSR in Derby. COURTESY KEN FERN
Super Constellation changes hands in the US
Lockheed C-121G Super Constellation N105CF has been acquired by Bridgewater, Virginia-based Dynamic Aviation which is using it as a source of
spares for its restoration of VC-121 48-0610 ‘Columbine II’. It was formerly owned by the Swiss Super Constellation Flyers Association and was later
in storage in Arizona. ROGER SOUPARTWork carried out on
Scimitar in New York
Supermarine Scimitar F.1 XD220 is
currently receiving some maintenance
at the Empire State Aerosciences
Museum (ESAM) in New York. Some
minor damage has been repaired and
when the weather improves attention
will turn to the cockpit.
The rare British jet was previously
on display at the city’s Intrepid Sea,
Air & Space Museum under a loan
arrangement from Yeovilton’s Fleet
Air Arm Museum. With the approval ofthe Somerset attraction, the Scimitar
was moved across the city to ESAM
in 2012 to make room for the Space
Shuttle Enterprise at Intrepid.
XD220 can now be seen alongside
Douglas F3D Skyknight BuNo 127074
and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 ‘624’,
both of which were also moved from
Intrepid. The Skyknight is on loan
from the National Naval Aviation
Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
http://www.esam.orgScimitar F.1 XD220 on display in New York, with the F 3D visible behind. TONY SACKETOS