Page 18 - Aviation News - September 2017

PRESERVATION Flamboyant Firebird

In an inspired piece of retro-thinking the The Lightning Preservation Group’s colourful spines and n ashes were gone.
Lightning Preservation Group in conjunction Lightning F.3 XR713 is now painted on the The new paintwork was officially unveiled
with a private sponsor, Steve Comber, has starboard side as F.3 XR718 of 56 Sqn (The on July 23 at Bruntingthorpe and was chosen
repainted its Lightning F.3 XR713 on the Firebirds). Richard Hall in honour of LPG pilot John Ward, who
starboard side as F.3 XR718 of 56 Sqn (The was looked upon by RAF officialdom as being undertakes regular fast taxy runs at the air eld
Firebirds). In the early to mid-1960s RAF somewhat over the top. Consequently, some and ew XR718 operationally. The F.3 retains
Lightnings were often adorned with amboyant senior RAF officers decreed that ghter aircraft the markings of 111 Sqn on the port side
squadron markings and with the introduction of should be decorated more conservatively and and is seen pictured along with the Group’s
the F.3 variant the trend continued. No.56 Sqn ordered that the markings be toned down. Lightning F.6 variants XS904 and XR728.
applied a lavish chequerboard scheme which Within a year the days of chequerboards, Richard Hall
New Markings for BBMF Lancaster

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Lancaster PA474 was recently repainted,
providing the opportunity to represent two
more Bomber Command units – 50 and 460
Squadrons.
There is a huge amount of work required
to ensure that the BBMF’s 72-year-old
bomber remains airworthy for many more
years, so at the end of the 2016 season,
PA474 was own to Duxford to begin a
scheduled ‘Major’ service by the Aircraft
Restoration Company, including being
repainted. The port side now wears the
squadron code letters and artwork of 460
Sqn’s W5005 ‘AR-L’, and features a kangaroo
playing the bagpipes while wearing ‘wellies’,
as the crew consisted of Australians,
Scot and a Welshman. Its new ‘identity’
commemorates the wide-ranging mix of men PA474 is now painted as 460 Sqn’s W5005 ‘AR-L’ on the port side and 50 Sqn’s ‘VN-T’ on the
and women from Australia, Britain and other starboard. The nose art re ects the crew’s mixed nationalities: the kangaroo for the Australians,
Commonwealth nations who maintained and the bagpipes for the Scot and the wellington boots for the Welshman. David Billinge
ew the Lancasters of Bomber Command, the code letters of 50 Sqn’s ‘VN-T’, as worn ‘Milli’ Millikin’s grandfather, Fg Off Douglas
and of 460 Sqn RAAF in particular. by Lancaster I LL922 in which the current Millikin DFC, ew 27 of his tour of 35 ops
The starboard side is now painted with Officer Commanding BBMF Sqn Ldr Andy with 50 Sqn between May and July 1944.

Californian Sea Fury Flies Again

After around ten years of work Hawker Sea Ken Dwelle. It was accompanied in the air by three successful ights Ken said “It’s been a
Fury T.20 WE820 (formerly known as Critical a second T.20, own by Dennis Sanders and long road. It’s exciting and very rewarding to
Mass) made its rst post-restoration ight on Ken’s brother Tom, to Ione airport, the home have reached this point. The Sea Fury is a
July 1 from Auburn, California, in the hands of of Fury specialists Sanders Aeronautics. After wonderful machine.” Stephen Chapis

18 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017

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