Sea Fury Down
been pretty wet over there today................
Message from someone I know that lives in the village....was
"I was outside when it took off, by the time it was over my house the old girl was coming down fast.
She went in at Limington, took out a few telegraph poles etc."
Damn. Airframe is a loss by the looks of it. I feel sorry for what is left of the RNHF. Three Sea Furies, Sea Vixen, Hawk all out of action. Fortunately with no loss of life.
The venerable old Swordfish still going though. I think ?
The venerable old Swordfish still going though. I think ?
Only handed over to Navy Wings 2 days ago as a cost savings measure - that went well !
Charity Saves Historic Naval Aircraft on behalf of Nation (fleetairarmoa.org)
Charity Saves Historic Naval Aircraft on behalf of Nation (fleetairarmoa.org)
After the recent Avenger accident in the US one has to wonder if time shouldn't be called on these aircraft with incredibly complex 80yr old engines that no-one can afford (even if the expertise exists) to overhaul properly - and the Centaurus is far more complicated than most and seems suffers from it as we have seen several times in ecent years.
Terrible shame.
Terrible shame.
After the recent Avenger accident in the US one has to wonder if time shouldn't be called on these aircraft with incredibly complex 80yr old engines that no-one can afford (even if the expertise exists) to overhaul properly - and the Centaurus is far more complicated than most and seems suffers from it as we have seen several times in ecent years.
Terrible shame.
Terrible shame.
I thought I had bookmarked that article from years ago, but I can no longer find it.
Good news they survived. It looks like being built like a tank.
There seems to be another airworthy sister Sea Fury twin seater at Meier Motors. Likely privately owned.
T.Mk20 ES3613 FAA VX302.
https://www.meiermotors.com/index.php/projekte/hawker-seafury-d-cace/hawker-seafury-restaurierung?showall=1&limitstart=
https://www.meiermotors.com/index.php/aircraft/hawker-seafury-d-cace/hawker-sea-fury-d-cace
There seems to be another airworthy sister Sea Fury twin seater at Meier Motors. Likely privately owned.
T.Mk20 ES3613 FAA VX302.
https://www.meiermotors.com/index.php/projekte/hawker-seafury-d-cace/hawker-seafury-restaurierung?showall=1&limitstart=
https://www.meiermotors.com/index.php/aircraft/hawker-seafury-d-cace/hawker-sea-fury-d-cace
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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GeeRam, I've certainly heard that about the Centaurus and oil.
I don't doubt that the Sanders brothers will be able to restore the airframe in the US either for the present owners if money can be found, or for somebody who has it; I don't know if there is a shop in the UK with sufficient expertise, though Richard Grace is certainly busy with a Tempest or two. It's down but certainly not out but; while not good news for purists, for longevity a R3350 or R2800 would seem safer - though not guaranteed as WG655 proved last year.
Main thing is the crew are able to go home this evening.
I don't doubt that the Sanders brothers will be able to restore the airframe in the US either for the present owners if money can be found, or for somebody who has it; I don't know if there is a shop in the UK with sufficient expertise, though Richard Grace is certainly busy with a Tempest or two. It's down but certainly not out but; while not good news for purists, for longevity a R3350 or R2800 would seem safer - though not guaranteed as WG655 proved last year.
Main thing is the crew are able to go home this evening.
If what is coming out of that sorry saga is even half true, then cowboy operation is more apt than any inherent problem with keeping a 2600 in the air, which many others don't have a problem doing.
As understood it many years ago, the problem with the Centaurus is lack of the correct type of oil. I remember reading an interview with the last person at RR that was resonsible for the Centaurus, and him quoting that he informed all operators of the type (this must be 30 odd years ago) that Shell (I think it was) were no longer going to make the oil, and all operators should get together and order a large batch from Shell otherwise when what is left is gone, that will be it. Shell were the only ones with the formula for the correct grade as designed by Bristol, and the only ones who could make it, but he lamented the fact that the operators couldn't get together and sort this out. From memory, this must be 15+ years now since it all ran out, and why more and more operators have converted them to US radial power. Its been no coincidence that more and more engine problems are being encountered by the few remaining Centaurus engine Sea Fury/Fury, that are likely running on a close but not close enough engine oil spec, with reduced TBO's as a precaution.
I thought I had bookmarked that article from years ago, but I can no longer find it.
As understood it many years ago, the problem with the Centaurus is lack of the correct type of oil. I remember reading an interview with the last person at RR that was resonsible for the Centaurus, and him quoting that he informed all operators of the type (this must be 30 odd years ago) that Shell (I think it was) were no longer going to make the oil, and all operators should get together and order a large batch from Shell otherwise when what is left is gone, that will be it. Shell were the only ones with the formula for the correct grade as designed by Bristol, and the only ones who could make it, but he lamented the fact that the operators couldn't get together and sort this out. From memory, this must be 15+ years now since it all ran out, and why more and more operators have converted them to US radial power. Its been no coincidence that more and more engine problems are being encountered by the few remaining Centaurus engine Sea Fury/Fury, that are likely running on a close but not close enough engine oil spec, with reduced TBO's as a precaution.
I thought I had bookmarked that article from years ago, but I can no longer find it.
The airframe I am told had just came out of winter maintenance last Friday. Civil registered and on a permit to fly. I am told by a friend that used to work at the maintenance establishment the frame was maintained at that this was the second major incident this frame has had after it came out from that operation. Coincidence? Time will tell.
Sod it!
Beautiful aircraft.
As a lad in shorts I watched their cousins, the Tempests, over Sussex 1945 onwards. The prop fighter of my dreams [and a very pleasant Dinky Toy too!]
So sod it!
Beautiful aircraft.
As a lad in shorts I watched their cousins, the Tempests, over Sussex 1945 onwards. The prop fighter of my dreams [and a very pleasant Dinky Toy too!]
So sod it!