Another Uk Swordfish

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18 years 4 months

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Swordfish_Mk2_(C-GEVS).jpg
registratin pending says CAA GINFO

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Profile picture for user DH82EH

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11 years 2 months

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Former Vintage wings of Canada machine.
Sorry to see her go.
I tried to start her with the inertia starter once for her rebuilder Bob Spence. No joy.
Bob is a super guy! Terrific family as well.

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18 years 4 months

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do you think the buyer will change the lettering font? Or did the RCN have a different style ? Fuselage serial.

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20 years

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I am amazed that this thread gets such a 'Ho hum' response, as though an airworthy ( engine issue aside ) Swordfish coming to the UK is just a footnote. The Spitfire thread ( RN201) has raised a flurry of chatter, yet we already have 34 in the UK, and probably another couple emerging any time soon.

This link gives a good insight into the background of the Swordfish sale. Disregard all the references to the PT-6 engine, which was an April Fool's joke ( a good one too ! ) . It obviously grew out of a huge frustration that they never really got much use/enjoyment out of the old Stringbag. The Vintech references are not related to the company based at Little Gransden.

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/609/Fairey-Vintech-Swordfish-Turbine-Conversion.aspx

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10 years 1 month

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I'd buy this tomorrow if I had the money. Apart from anything else - it reminds me of how a stone (flown by very brave pilots) brought down a Goliath.
According to Wikipedia - by the end of the war, the Swordfish held the distinction of having caused the destruction of a greater tonnage of Axis shipping than any other Allied aircraft.

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8 years 7 months

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I'm more than happy the chances of getting a Swordfish at an airshow are about to go up! Although I do prefer the look of Navy Wings example it's still more than welcome to have two available in the near future!

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18 years 4 months

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the survival of this one shares a connection with W5856, they both used to reside in the Ernie Simmons collection in Canada. ( read about this incredible character here http://www.spitcrazy.com/Simmons-2.htm )
I doubt any war surplus ones ever did serve as crop sprayers?
Yes its brill this is coming over the pond.

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24 years 2 months

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That's Navy Wings examples - plural.

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18 years 4 months

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Andrew Panton (sp?) was asking for Pegasus engine spares a month or so back, so up with Just Jane I presume?

Steve

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11 years 4 months

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Andrew Panton (sp?) was asking for Pegasus engine spares a month or so back, so up with Just Jane I presume?

Steve

Don't they have a Hampden at East Kirby?

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8 years 7 months

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Yes they do but I dont think its progressed much for a while!

The swordfish out of ek would be a bit of an odd choice as they arent exactly over run with space are they

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20 years 1 month

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I am pretty sure that the Pegasus engine parts are for another ex-Simmons Swordfish.
If you happen to have a spare Pegasus cylinder or two, I am sure that they would be very interested..

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20 years 7 months

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What a wonderful sight it would be over here :)

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20 years

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I wonder if the RAFM has finally relinquished theirs from Stafford- they are having a collections review and are focusing on engines at the moment according to the Museums Association website

TT

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18 years 3 months

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Didn't the RNHF have to scour other UK museums for Pegasus parts just to keep LS326 flying, since then they gained W5856 so spares must have come from somewhere.
Fantastic news about the Vintage wings one coming here, I read somewhere that when the UK pilot, sorry I forget his name, went to Canada to fly it post restoration he had to take a carburettor with him as the only one they had was unusable.

Richard

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That’’ was John Beattie IIRC.

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There is a real emphasis on early types at the moment, with early Hurricanes and Spitfires, The Blenheim, Lysander and now this one. Hopefully one day a Battle will take to the air.

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11 years 2 months

Posts: 580

Quote
" I read somewhere that when the UK pilot, sorry I forget his name, went to Canada to fly it post restoration he had to take a carburettor with him as the only one they had was unusable.

Richard
"
You are confusing your Swordfish Richard.
The borrowed carb was used for the Swordfish that flew from Shearwater Nova Scotia.I also remember a comment to the effect of "if they change the settings then don't bother coming back!"
This machine was rebuilt and flown by Bob Spence from Muirkirk Ontario.

Andy