HERITAGE
Preserved Lee on Solent Aircraft around the World
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HMS DAEDALUS
HERITAGE Preserved Lee on Solent Aircraft around the World |
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Although the Air Station at HMS Daedalus closed in 1996 a number of aircraft which served in her long career from 1917-1996 survive to be preserved in various museums and in private collections in the UK and around the world.
The Daedalus Virtual Aviation Museum Collection includes the following aircraft which were known to have been stationed at Lee-on-Solent, 1917-1939. Many others must have served Lee-on-Solent and any information is welcome to augment this basic list.
Chippie former Fleet Air Arm Chipmunk of HMS Daedalus used today by the local flying club at Lee on Solent
CHIPMUNK, DHC
Royal Navy Historic FlightLee on Solent had for many years used Chipmunks for training. Many if not all the Royal Navy Chipmunks have served with the RNHF at some stage of their careers. After all Chippies were being put up for disposal the RNHF moved quickly to retain two examples, T.10's WB657 and WK608. At present WK608 is used regularly with WB657 in storage.CHIPMUNK T10, DHC
Fleetlands Air Museum [museum closed 2001]WP795/G-BVZZ originally stationed at Lee-on Solent. Location 2001?
Hunter WV382 of the Jet Aviation Preservation Group DEVON, DH
Loaned to the Redhill & Reigate Air CadetsA recovery operation has been hastily undertaken by members of the East Surrey Aviation Group (ESAG) to save a De Havilland Devon, serial number VP967 (G-DOVE) from potential scrapping. VP967 was used as an instructional airframe at the East Surrey College, Redhill, but has recently [2000] been under threat from developers constructing the new Art Centre at the college. Over a three day period, ESAG together with Roger Greenwood (a volunteer from the Mosquito Museum) dismantled the Devon and moved it away from the developers until a suitable home could be found. ESAG have loaned the aircraft to Redhill & Reigate Air Cadets. On 29th August, under police escort, 150 Recovery Company (TA) - which had volunteered to do the move - took VP967 by road to the Redhill TA & ATC Centre, where it now proudly stands. VP967 later transferred to RNAS Culdrose, 1978-1981, where it saw service in the Fisheries Patrol at Lee-on-Solent spotting Spanish fishing vessels intruding into British waters. It was retired from service in 1982.
DRAGONFLY HR5, Westland-Sikorsky WS51 WH991
Preserved Royal Navy Dragonfly
YORKSHIRE HELICOPTER PRESERVATION GROUP (Y.H.P.G)First flew on the 4th February 1953. It was known to be at HMS Daedalus (Lee-On-Solent shore base) from May 16th 1956 for a series of modification before being issued to the station flight at HMS Gannet (Eglington Northern Ireland) on the 14th June. It was subsequently converted to an HR5 and work completed by the 1st May 1958. The Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group is a Group of Enthusiasts dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Historic Helicopters. The group was born out of Ray “Mac” McElwain’s Dragonfly Restoration Project, started in 1994 and completed in 1998. Westland W.S.51 Dragonfly WH991 was rebuilt using parts from two other airframes,WP503 & WG718. See photo
Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Dragonfly HR.1 VX595
GOSPORT AVIATION SOCIETYSEA BALLIOL, BP
Also see the Helicopter Preservation Resource website
GANNET, Fairey T.5 XG883
MUSEUM OF BERKSHIRE AVIATION5/57 Maiden flight from Northolt to White Waltham, Berkshire. Fitting out and final preparations at White Waltham. 5/57-7/57 Stored, RNAS Anthorn, Cumbria. 7/57-1/60 Pre-delivery preparation work and storage, RNAS Abbotsinch, Strathclyde. 1/60-3/60 Radio installation work, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire.
Preserved Gannet XL500GANNET, Fairey XL500
Chatham Dockyard MuseumFairey Gannet AEW.3 XL500XL500 has had an unusually active retirement; first used by the School of Aircraft Handling at Culdrose, she then moved onto Lee-on-Solent for a period of storage and was then actually brought back to airworthy status. Dowty-Rotol Propellors operated the aircraft for a short period on noise trials and then XL500 was grounded once more, finally becoming the mascot of 849 NAS, back at Culdrose. She was put on display by the public viewing area at the airfield during the summer months (as pictured above) but in late March 2000 moved once more, having been donated to the Chatham Dockyard Museum.
GANNET, Fairey
Proposed for Australian Naval Aviation Museum (ANAM) at HMAS Albatross, AustraliaA T.2 trainer (XG888) was manufactured with the RN’s batch of T.5 production, and after service in Australia, was sold to the RN, sailing from Sydney in November 1966 aboard HMS Victorious, XG888 then returned to Hayes in 1967 to be refurbished, after upgrade to T.5 standard, XG888 was delivered to the RN station at Lee-on-Solent in August 1968. At the time of going to press the Australian Naval Aviation Museum (ANAM) at HMAS Albatross was hopeful that this aircraft would be returning to Australia for eventual display at Nowra. If the ANAM is successful in returning XG888 from England, this might allow the Navy to again display an airworthy Gannet. (Ref.)
HUNTER, Hawker "830/VL" = Hunter GA.11 WV382
Jet Aviation Preservation GroupThe aircraft was transferred onto FRADU's strength in 1969, becoming '830/VL'. The aircraft served on with the Unit for the next 16 years before being retired in late 1985. It was moved to RNAS Lee-On-Solent and used as an engineering and battle damage repair training aircraft before being de-mobbed in the early 1990's. The aircraft was purchased by a small band of enthusiasts based at Long Marston and the aircraft became part of the Jet Aviation Preservation Group. The aircraft remains in good condition apart from the rather faded paintwork.
RAF Museum Cosford
All pictures were taken at Cosford in 1996.
Sea Hawk WV903 of the Royal Navy Historic FlightSEA HAWK FGA.4, Hawker WV903
Royal Navy Historic Flight, YeoviltonAfter being disposed of the airframe moved to RNAS Lee-On-Solent and was used with the Aircraft Engineering School. Put into storage at Lee and then moving to Dunsfold with WV908 in 1996, she returned to Yeovilton in April 1997 and remains there in open storage.SEA HAWK, Hawker FGA.4 WV903Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 (FGA.4) WV908 (Under refurbishment away from site)SEA PRINCE, Hunting-Percival
Toronto Aerospace MuseumSEA VENOM, De Havilland FAW Mk22 ECM XG629
Toronto Aerospace Museum - only one in world that flies (second, similar aircraft, a Percival Pembroke is now flying at a museum in England)
Preserved StaffordshireThis example was in Lee on Solent in 1963 - 18.03.1963. N.A.R.I.U. Lee on Solent till 22.06.1964, whence serving with 893 Sqdn at RAF Watton. Below is a picture of XG629 being moved from long Marston airfield to a new home in Staffordshire to start its static restoration.
Sea Vixen XJ481 preserved at Fleetlands [museum closed
2001]
SEA VIXEN, De Havilland XJ481
Fleetlands Air Museum [museum closed 2001]
SEA VIXEN,
de Havilland FAW Mk 2 XJ490 (C U)
Queensland Air Museum, Australia
The actual Supermarine S6B which won the Air Speed Record
in 1931 at Lee on Solent,
preserved att the Science Museum
SUPERMARINE
S6B Seaplane S1595 (1931)
Science Museum London - History of Flight Aircraft
on Display
Swordfish NF389 of the RNHF former gate guardian Lee
on Solent
SWORDFISH, Fairey NF389
Royal Navy Historic Flight
TIGER
MOTH G-AMHF
Wavendon Social Housing Ltd. (UK)
TIGER MOTH,
D.H. NL879
Private ownership
WHIRLWIND, Sikorsky
Solway Aviation Society, Carlisle Airport
WHIRLWIND, Westland XM 660
RAF
Millom Museum
FLEET AIR ARM AND LOCAL NAVAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT COLLECTIONS
Fleetlands Air Museum [museum closed 2001]
Aircraft were on view at the Fleetlands 60th anniversary open day.
Apart from maintenance and rework, Fleetlands is also used for storage,
and accordingly a large number of stored airframes could be found in 'B'
shop hangar, such as AAC Gazelles, RN Sea Kings and Lynx, and RAF Wessex.
Over in 'F' shop, apart from the Sea Kings on rework, there is a selection
of apprentice training airframes comprising a Lynx, three Gazelles, and
four immaculate Wasps. The pristine gate guardian Wessex HU5 XT480, the
resident Fleetlands Museum had Sea Vixen FAW1 XJ481 on display, behind
'J' shop, Wessex HU5 XT466/XV, This ex-847 Squadron airframe had, surprisingly,
spent a number of years at Cosford as 8921M for ground instruction with
Nr 2 SoTT.In mid 1990s it had apparently also seen some use with the nearby
Air Engineering & Survival School at HMS Sultan, illustrating the continued
usefulness of an airframe long after retirement from flying duties. The
RNAY contained the following (current status of airframes after closure
of the Museum in 2001 ought be verified with Fleetlands):
Wasp
Fleet Air Air Museum at Yeovilton
Main Exhibits
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