Hawker Typhoon JP843 Restoration - Typhoon Legacy

[Dave Homewood]

The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 108 "Typhoon Legacy" is now online and ready to listen to or for you to download to your computer or mobile MP3 player.

In this episode I speak with Ian Slater, Bruce Slater and Graeme Sutherland, all of the Typhoon Legacy Co. Ltd. team who are working to rebuild WWII Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber JP843 back to flying condition.

The project is based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in Canada, but there are clear kiwi connections. Graeme is a kiwi, based in Tokoroa, New Zealand. Another team member is Graham Allan, who was unable to join us in the recording, but he too is a kiwi, now based in Canada. And the most special connection is with Pilot Officer Peter Price RNZAF, who was a young Auckland pilot that was killed on operations whilst flying this very aircraft.

Peter Price’s story is told in this episode,as well as the massive undertaking of research and engineering required by this passionate team to make this aircraft fly again. They are very determined and have the skills and knowledge to make it happen. Here's the show page link with the episode, photos and links to more information.

Here's the link to the show page:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WON ... on-legacy/

[Zac Yates]

I'm looking forward to listening to this tomorrow at my model bench. This is an incredible project and it's great the team took the time to talk to you. Thanks a lot for recording and sharing, Dave!

[Sopwith]

Is that photo reversed Dave ?, only asking as I always thought the steps were on the port side of the Typhoon.

[Dave Homewood]

I don't know sorry Sopwith, it is as it was supplied to me.

Zac said, "it's great the team took the time to talk to you". Yes it is, and perhaps for the listeners it's great that I took the time to talk with them?

[Sopwith]

Ok, thanks Dave, I dare say when they printed it the negative was the wrong way round although I stand to be corrected. Cheers.

[L2Driver]

Gents,
My grandfather flew these beasties in the war. He said they always mounted from the right side -- a hold-over from the earlier car-door versions (the door was on the right).

[Sopwith]

Thanks L2Driver, for clarifying , I hadn't realised that. Always good to learn new things, much appreciated.

[Mick F]

Love that pic. Good for the modellers (and restorers alike). Invasion stripe masking, pfft, what's masking??

Have the podcsat on the phone ready to listen later at my desk when it quietens down a bit. Sure it will be great as always Dave.

Last edited by Mick F on Mon Jul 25, 2016 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dave Homewood]

Thank you Mick.

[Dave Hadfield]

The much bigger question of course is do they have a Napier Sabre engine, and if so, who is overhauling it?

Operating the sleeves and other drives for 24 cylinders requires more bearings/bushings than can be easily counted -- all of which have to stay lubricated.

Dave

[PeterA]

Gents,
My grandfather flew these beasties in the war. He said they always mounted from the right side -- a hold-over from the earlier car-door versions (the door was on the right).

Nice shot. Looks to be posed.

My uncle, 'Jack' Frost, flew with 175 Squadron and I see in his log book he flew MN353 on the 23rd June 1944...an Armed Recce Argentan - Alencon.

MN353 was HH-J. Losses were heavy at this time and it will need more research to establish if these aircraft are one and the same.

PeterA





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[Chris Thomas]

Gents,
My grandfather flew these beasties in the war. He said they always mounted from the right side -- a hold-over from the earlier car-door versions (the door was on the right).

Nice shot. Looks to be posed.

My uncle, 'Jack' Frost, flew with 175 Squadron and I see in his log book he flew MN353 on the 23rd June 1944...an Armed Recce Argentan - Alencon.

MN353 was HH-J. Losses were heavy at this time and it will need more research to establish if these aircraft are one and the same.

PeterA

It certainly was posed Peter. I got the full story from your Uncle Jack who witnessed the event. It took place early in the last week of July 1944, at strip B.5 Le Fresne-Camilly, between Bayeux and Caen in Normandy. The pilot in the photo was Sgt John Henry who, a split second after the shutter was released, tripped over the telephone wire visible just in front of his left foot, and went flat on his face.

MN353 was indeed HH-J, but not the one in the photo. MN353 HH-J was Flt Vernon-Jarvis's Typhoon but early in July he commandeered a brand new one with a 4-blade prop, MN856, which became his new 'J' and is the one seen in the photo. MN353, with a stroke of the brush became HH-U.

Incidentally, I was privileged to visit this spot with Jack on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. I had a bunch of appropriate photos with me and the location is still very recognisable.

As for the entry into Typhoons, yes indeed it was always on the right, as it was for Tempests. Although the Typhoon originally had doors on both sides it only had retractable step and hand holds on the right. The door on the left is never seen in use as early in the Typhoon's career the door was sealed as part of the precautions taken to reduce CO seepage into the cockpit. Just why there were only steps on the right, despite Hurricane and later Sea Fury steps being on the left, remains obscure (to me anyway). Any suggestions?

Chris




.

[shrike]

As for the entry into Typhoons, yes indeed it was always on the right, as it was for Tempests. Although the Typhoon originally had doors on both sides it only had retractable step and hand holds on the right. The door on the left is never seen in use as early in the Typhoon's career the door was sealed as part of the precautions taken to reduce CO seepage into the cockpit. Just why there were only steps on the right, despite Hurricane and later Sea Fury steps being on the left, remains obscure (to me anyway). Any suggestions?

Chris

Easy enough. The Typhoon was produced only in RHD as a UK domestic product. Spits and Hurricanse were LHD as a sop to the colonials (Canadians)

[Dave Homewood]

Regarding the engine, Ian covers that in detail in the interview if you care to have a listen, and also you will see they have a Sabre in the photos on the show page.

[Dave Hadfield]

I'm away from bandwidth, so will have to get the interview later, thanks.

Dave H