NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
6 FLYPAST August 2018
SAAB Viggen fl ies again in Sweden
The Swedish Air Force Historic
Flight has successfully fl own
its SAAB SK 37 Viggen 37809
SE-DXO after 11 years of
restoration work carried out by
dedicated enthusiasts.
Stellan Andersson was at the
controls for the jet’s fi rst fl ight on
May 15 with Håkan Andersson in the
back seat. The aircraft made its last
operational fl ight on June 26, 2007
to mark its manufacturer’s 70thanniversary. It had served with
the Swedish Air Force’s F 7 Såtenäs,
F 15 Söderhamn, F 4 Frösön and F 21
Luleå wings before being transferred
to the Swedish Defence Materiel
Administration as the Viggen began
to be phased out in 2005. A two-
seater, 37809 had mostly been used
for training before being modifi ed for
electronic countermeasures duties.
Now on the civil register, it is
painted in the colours it wore withF 15, and is operated
by the Historic Flight on
behalf of owner Saab. Its airframe is
reckoned to have around 300 fl ying
hours remaining, enough to perform
at airshows in Sweden and further
afi eld for many years to come.
LENNART BERNSStellan Andersson fl ying SAAB SK 37 Viggen SE-DXO on May 15. ULF NYLÖF-SWEDISH AIR FORCE HISTORIC FLIGHTAnson arrives at
Montrose for restoration
Avro Anson C.19 TX226 has recently
arrived at the Montrose Air Station
Heritage Centre in Scotland. The
aircraft was purchased along with
several other original parts from Glenn
James in Coventry, Warwickshire.
The centre’s chairman, Ron Morris,
said: “We acquired the aircraft and
original parts from Glenn who also
has an airworthy Anson which he still
fl ies. It’s a very exciting project and
we are looking forward to starting the
restoration. We estimate it will take
around fi ve to six years to complete.”
Dr Dan Paton, the museum’s curator,
added: “Our ethos is to focus on theexperience of those who served at
Montrose, and seek to collect aircraft
which have an historical connection
to the base. Ansons served here so
they fi t our collections policy. We will
be looking for a personal story to
attach to the new arrival when it
is restored.”
Anson TX226 was among a batch
ordered by the RAF in January 1945.
The type was operated from Montrose
with RAF Coastal Command’s 269
Squadron, usually on anti-submarine
patrols over the North Sea.
http://www.rafmontrose.org.uk
WITH THANKS TO NEIL WERNINCKAvro Anson C.19 TX226 arriving at Montrose
Air Station Heritage Centre recently.
KEVAN DICKEN-MASHCSycamore helicopter visits
‘birth’ place
The world’s last fl ying Bristol 171
Sycamore returned ‘home’ to Weston-
super-Mare last month when it fl ew to
the Helicopter Museum; 60 years after
it was built.
Sycamore XG545 (OE-XSY) landedthere on June 11 and was scheduled
to be based at its Duke of Edinburgh
Hangar until the 24th. The distinctive
helicopter also appeared at the RAF
Cosford Air Show on June 10.
The Sycamore is now the onlyairworthy example in the world and
made its fi rst fl ight from Weston on
February 3, 1958 before being delivered
to the West German Navy in VIP
confi guration and later transferring to
the German Air Force. After retirement,
it entered private ownership and was
moved to Switzerland where in 1988 it
was repainted in RAF colours. It is now
operated by Austria-based Flying Bulls.
The Helicopter Museum is home
to the world’s largest collection of
rotorcraft, including two other Bristol
Sycamores, one of which (XL829) was
the last to be delivered to the RAF.
http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.ukThe Flying Bulls’ Bristol Sycamore OE-XSY
arriving at Weston. HELICOPTER MUSEUM