Warbird Information Exchange

The Firefly mk 1 PP462 which has been under restoration for the last 15 years, is almost ready to fly. The engine has run a number of times and still requires a number of adjustment before it can be flown. There are also a number of paperwork issues to be sorted out with the DOT before she is flown.The plan is still to fly it just a couple of time , before it is put on display at the Shearwater Aviation Museum
PP462 was on display this past weekend at the Nova Scotia International Airshow, which was held at CFB Shearwater, PP462's original home before it was sold to Ethiopia in the Fifties. It and a sister aircraft DK545 were recovered from Ethiopia in 1993.
It will be the first Firefly Mk 1 to fly since the Fleet Air Arm Museum aircraft Z2033 flew into Staverton on May 5th 1964. (It was kept in running condition and was run down the runway but to my knowledge not flown, before its transfer to Duxford and then on to Yeovilton).

mrp

Awesome looking plane! Glad to hear she'll be flying soon! But sad to hear her flying career will be short. Wouldn't she do so much more if she was kept in flying condition? Giving rides and bringing money into the museum?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

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Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Doesn't that museum also have a Swordfish that was restored, flown a few times with a carb borrowed from the RNHF? (...and their crews as well?)

When it is flown I would hope they would document it well with pics and video.

Great news! I've ben looking forward to this since I saw the machine in 2003.

You are correct, the UK's CAA wouldn't let it fly, according to refs I have that the Swedish ball bearings in the engine were an issue.

That was when the Firefly was in the hands of the Skyfame Museum at Staverton, responsible for getting it back to the UK, and aiming to keep a number of their machines airworthy. One of the great, often forgoten but important collections.

I have a shot of Z2033 taxiing at Staverton, and I've seen shots 'tail up'.

The museum can't afford to keep it flying, the flights - assuming the deal was the same as the Swordfish - was that as they were 'restoring to airworthy standard' a couple of flights proved they'd done it.

If you were going to offer rides, I don't think the economics would stack up. The Firefly is a thirsty, complex two-seater including the pilot, and there's never been a Firefly certified for rides. If you were going to do it, the Swordfish with two-three passenger positions and a lower power / fuel use engine and fewer systems would be the way to go.

Yes. I covered the story for Warbirds Worldwide as recounted by John Beattie, carb-ferry-carrier and pilot. It's an interesting 'how many are airworthy' item, as that carb came of LS326, meaning that the Swordfish with the carb was 'airworthy' and the one without... wasn't. I also did a Swordfish roundup for one of the early Warbird Digests.

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

It's great news. But can't help feeling a little 'down' to put it on static.

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It's a static restoration that gets to be flown a couple of times. How full's your glass?

Anyone feels real strongly about getting a Mk.I Firefly airworthy, it 'just' needs money.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

That's really great news.

And on the note of restoring it to airworthy, but not flying it and only keeping it as a static display. I think that is the best situation for a lot of airplanes.

It means A LOT to me to know an airplane on display at a museum is "practically" in flying condition, and wouldn't take much to get back flying again. It makes me far more happy to know that, than to know it was only restored to be presentable.

I like knowing that planes like the Lysander at the National Aerospace Museum in Ottawa was flown into the museum, and if situations changed, could fly with farily minimal work.

I love the old Firefly too. I think it would be a terrific plane to see at an airshow.

Peace,

David M

That's just awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the air.


Then what would you call CWH's Firefly?
http://www.warplane.com/pages/membership.html

I'm pretty sure their Lysander is in the same price range, too.

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I'd call it 'the Firefly certified for rides I missed'!

Thanks for the correction.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com