FlyPast 03.2018

NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE

6 FLYPAST March 2018

Martin Willoughby’s Lancaster R5868 replica

arriving at Woodford on October 30.

AVRO HERITAGE MUSEUM

Green light given for Vulcan Heritage Hangar

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST)

has been awarded planning

permission from Doncaster

Metropolitan Borough Council for

its new Heritage Hangar and Visitor

Centre at Doncaster Sheffi eld

Airport.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust,

Dr Robert Pleming said: “This is a

fundamental milestone passed, with

the vital element of full funding for

the build now to achieve. We are

talking with a number of interested

potential investors with regard to

raising the total of £3million needed

to complete the project.”

He explained that VTST hopes to

conclude negotiations in the next few

months, enabling a potential spring

2019 opening date.

The new centre will house Avro

Vulcan B.2 XH558, the last aircraft

of its type to fl y, along with English

Electric Canberra WK163, the subject

of a restoration to fl ight. It will

showcase many other working

exhibits and activities, and aims

to inspire “youngsters of all ages”

to become involved with aviation,

engineering and technology.

“It’s the fi rst stage of an exciting

plan the Trust is developing for 2018

and over the next ten years,” said

Robert. “We will use the undoubted

attraction of XH558 for the benefi t

of all, and importantly future

generations, both in what we can

deliver now in terms of inspirational

experiences, and on what we can

promise through demonstrating,

preserving and utilising examples of

Britain’s valuable aeronautical and

engineering achievements.”

http://www.vulcantothesky.org

A second artist’s impression showing how the new centre might look. VIA VTST

The Swedish Air Force Museum, based

just outside Linköping, placed Saab

JAS 39B Gripen 39813 on public display

in its Cold War exhibition shortly

before Christmas.

One of 14 two-seat versions of the

jet delivered to the Swedish Air Force,

it arrived at F 7 Air Wing at Såtenäs in

2001. Saab did not originally plan to

build any two-seaters, as the Gripen

was considered relatively simple to fl y,

with all conversion training performed

on simulators.

However, the two-seater became a

necessity for the export market, and

although the 39B was slightly longer

than the ’A, it could fulfi l all of the

same roles. Gripen 39813 had 934

hours of fl ying time ‘on the clock’ prior

to retirement. LENNART BERNS

Gripen showcased at

Swedish museum

Saab JAS 39B Gripen 39813 is a recent addition to the Swedish Air Force Museum’s Cold War
exhibition. LENNART BERNS

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 45-49192 ‘No Guts, No Glory!’ was recently listed as for sale in the

US. The 1945-built fi ghter was based at Duxford for many years as part of the Fighter Collection.

Painted in the colours of Lt Col Ben Mayo, CO of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, it

is now registered N147PF and is based in New Jersey. PHOTO-DARREN HARBAR

New owner sought for

Thunderbolt

Danish Harvard to be

returned to the air

A group of volunteers is restoring North American Harvard IIB 324 to airworthy condition on

behalf of the Royal Danish Air Force Historic Collection. The trainer was operated by the Royal

Danish Air Force from 1948 to 1959 before entering storage. The project is currently based at

Karup, but will later be split into smaller groups and worked on in various locations around

Denmark. KRAEN HJORTLAND