Fly Past

May 2018 FLYPAST 21

bladed propeller, which ‘Connie’

Edwards was adamant enhanced

all-round performance. Buchóns

used a combination of props in

service, and the film aircraft

featured three-bladed units to

recreate the look of an early

model Bf 109.

Hive of activity

Moving inside the Spitfire Blister,

which houses Air Leasing’s

headquarters and workshop, it’s

a hive of activity, with a whole

host of classic aircraft in different

stages of maintenance and

reconstruction. The operation

has recently expanded with

the acquisition of the spacious

adjacent hangar, freeing up more

workspace and leading to a less

cramped environment.

Looking round you can see the

famous Grace Spitfire Tr.9, ML407

receiving routine servicing, as are

Hurricane I P2902 and Seafire

LF.III PP972. At the back, sitting

in trestles are three further

Buchón fuselages, all undergoing

restoration to flying condition.

Most advanced of the three

To p

Two-seat Buchón ‘Red 11’ outside Air Leasing

at Sywell. ALL IMAGES BY DARREN HARBAR

Above

An overview of the Buchón fuselages in

various stages of completion.

Far left

The nearly completed cockpit of ‘Yellow 7’

awaiting its instrument panel and various

components.

Left

The rear seat of ‘Red 11’, showing the high-

level of restoration.

“Of great interest too was the ‘time capsule’ condition of the cockpits, with the

instrument panels even retaining their taped-on paper radio frequency lists for

the different airfi elds used during the fi lm sequences”