A pair of Hispano Buchons have arrived at new homes recently
The Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta took delivery of former Spanish Air Force Hispano HA.1112-M1L Buchón C.4K-114/471-39 on October 31.
Previously in storage at Ottawa’s Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, the airframe is now on display in dismantled form. Built in the mid-1950s, it was allocated to 71 Escuadrón at Tablada near Seville – it served until 1965 when the type was replaced by North American F-86 Sabres. After a period in storage, it was among those acquired by Gp Capt Hamish Mahaddie for use in 1969 film Battle of Britain.
The Buchón then went to the Canadian War Museum in October 1976 – it was restored and displayed there between 1986 and 1999, before again entering storage after the museum acquired a Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4. It’s currently the sole example of its type on show in Canada.
Meanwhile, in the UK Buchón C4K-105 (G-AWHH) has joined the collection at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. Following a superb restoration by Richard Grace and his company Air Leasing, it made a successful return to the air on June 28, 2018. Its new keepers hope to use it for mock aerial combat experiences alongside passengers flying in its two-seat Spitfires.
