WIX Archives
Re: MA793 and VP 441
Posted by david J burke on Sun Nov 04, 2001 04:43:34 AM
In reply top Re: MA793 and VP 441 posted by Joe Scheil on Sun Nov 04, 2001 02:28:37 AM
Joe - Can I just put the record straight on this one. The RN Historic Flight is funded by the Swordfish Trust. It is not directly funded by the MOD so it cannot as such write a cheque for an aircraft or indeed be in a position to 'disgard' an aircraft.
The loss of Sea Fury TF956 has been a subject for discussion for many the years. The actual facts are that one leg was locked up and one down. LCDR Beattie spent two hours carrying out a number of manouvers to try and get the erant leg to drop to no avail including aerobatics and from memory bouncing her down the runway at Prestwick to no avail. As a trained and serving RN pilot he was well aware of the landing characteristics of the Sea Fury and I believe he made the right decision. The Sea Fury uses a system of up locks for the main gear which are manually retracted - the undercarriage cannot be 'blown down'.
I am sure that he didn't take the decision lightly to adandon her but he pointed her out to sea so at least she wouldn't pose a risk to people on the ground. I have to say that the pilot is more important than the machine. From fairly recent events I think you are most likely aware of the Sea Fury and the risks involved in a turn over.
Regards value's of machines the Spitfire 16 might be available at 1.5 U.S dollars but I seem to remember that a Spitfire XIV changed hands for far less than that in the U.S with a far more interesting history.It's okay to hype the values of these machines but the simple facts are that a quality rebuild of something like a Hurricane can cost up ?1 million with a finished value of ?1.2 million. The smart money nowadays is on letting someone else rebuild it and buy it when it's finished.
My argument regards her being tough to master and complex is said by yourself . The comment 'I don't think she would last there either' doesn't exactly fill me with confidence to her future. Your estimatation of the condition of the Seafire F.46 is a long way off the ball - I should imagine that she is at least as good a rebuild as
VP441 having followed the rebuild for a number of years.
Lastly the reason she survived for so long was because she was an instructional airframe with the FAA and the ATC for many years. She was then restored at Culdrose and from then on had a few owners until heading to the U.S.