10 FLYPAST February 2018
briefi ngs
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Morayvia to restore
George Medal Whirlwind
Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ
arrived at the Morayvia museum in
Kinloss, Scotland recently. Previously
in storage, the helicopter will now be
refurbished to static display condition.
Flt Sgt John Reeson fl ew the 202
Squadron machine from Leconfi eld
in Yorkshire on December 27, 1965 to
rescue the crew of the Sea Gem oil
rig. Two of the structure’s legs had
collapsed, causing it to capsize into arough and very cold North Sea.
In adverse weather conditions,
John helped to rescue the majority
of the crew, although a further 13
lost their lives. His actions that day
led to him receiving the George
Medal. The helicopter will be
restored as a tribute to John, who
died in November 2014.
http://www.morayvia.org.uk
WITH THANKS TO JIM SIMPSON
The main fuselage of Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ723 shortly after arriving at Kinloss. COURTESY
JIM SIMPSON-MORAYVIAClassic jets completed at US museum
Staff at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes have recently refurbished a pair of Polish-built Cold War jets for static display. The attraction
has unveiled Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F (actually a licence-built Lim-5 carrying the serial number 1C1906) and a PZL TS-11 Iskra trainer.
http://www.indymilitary.com PHOTO-TONY SACKETOSTwo Dornier Do 27 utility aircraft were
unveiled to the public recently by the
German Quax-Flieger organisation at
Paderborn.
A large group has restored Do 27
57+03 to airworthy condition over
several years. The machine, now
registered D-EQXG, is painted as LC+
in its original Bundeswehr colours, and
will be operated by the club during the
2018 ‘season’.
The second aircraft, D-EKFG, fl ew
as 57+40 with the military, and now
belongs to a Quax-Flieger club member.
It illustrates another important paint
scheme worn by the type, representing
U.9-51, one of 50 CASA 127s built for the
Spanish Air Force.
The Do 27 was the fi rst post-war
German aircraft to be built in large
numbers. Between 1955 and 1965
more than 600 were built – they
served in around 20 European and
African countries. They were gradually
withdrawn in the 1970s and 1980s,
and acquired by private owners and
fl ying clubs, but relatively few remain
airworthy today. STEFAN SCHMOLL
Dornier pair
rolled out in
Germany
Dornier Do 27 ‘U.9-51’ (left) with Do 27
LC+155 at Paderborn recently. STEFAN SCHMOLLFMA IA-58 Pucará A-566 has recently been
installed as a ‘gate guardian’ outside the
entrance of the Argentine Air Force’s Ninth Air
Brigade at Comodoro Rivadavia. The aircraft
fi rst fl ew on May 7, 1982, but was withdrawn
from service several years ago. The air force
continues to operate small numbers of
Pucarás. J PADIA VIA JUAN CARLOS CICALESIThe Weston Park International Model Air Show
will take place on June 15-17, at Weston-under-
Lizard, near Shifnal, Shropshire. Organised by
the Wrekin Model Flying Club, it will feature
numerous displays, plus aerobatics from the
(full size!) Trigg Aerobatic Team and Glider FX
Display Team, including a night show.
http://www.westonparkmodelairshow.co.uk