New Restoration underway.

[gumbyk]

I've just heard that Tempest Mk II MW376 has been unpacked down here in NZ for restoration at Pioneer Aero.

I'll post pics if I manage to get hold of any, but I'm not likely to be up that way for a while now.

Here's alink to the photos on Facebook

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Good to hear.

I would love to help restore an old Warbird. The oldest aircraft I have ever worked on was a 41 year old Beechcraft King Air.

 

[gumbyk]

There are often jobs going down here with places that do restorations. That King Air wouldn't have been that much different to a warbird.

 

[vikingBerserker]

That is so cool!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Excellent news!

 

[A4K]

That's great news!

My only claim to fame in warbird restoration was drilling out the rivets in the (in situ) fuel tanks of MoTaT's Grumman TBF-1 Avenger. Likewise would like to be able to do alot more.

 

[GregP]

Hey Gumbyk,

Joe Yancey is the ONLY guy I know who can hone Bristol Centarus cylinders so they are round. If you guys need that down under, please contact via PM.

Best regards, - Greg

 

[nuuumannn]

Ooooh Goody! Will be awesome to see a Tempest fly, even if it doesn't have a Sabre under the hood.

 

[michaelmaltby]

A Tempest .... that's terrific. Great to see progress.

Thanks,

MM

 

[Edgar Brooks]

There's a Tempest V being restored to flyable condition about a mile from here, though the CAA won't let it fly. It's bound for Kermit Weekes; whether he'll ever fly it is an unanswered question.

 

[gumbyk]

Greg,
I'm not involved with this restoration, and I don't know what they are doing with regards to engines, etc. I think they'll be concentrating on the airframe first, but I'll keep that info in mind when I get up there and see this thing.
Thanks

Edgar, Yes, the UKCAA bureaucrats can be a bit anti-aviation at times. What reason are they giving for it? The last time I had anything to do with them, they were caliming that as the La-9 had more than 51% of its parts replaced, it was a new aircraft, and had to conform to new build specifications.

 

[Airframes]

That's great news, and interesting to hear about the UK Tempest V Edgar.

 

[rochie]

There's a Tempest V being restored to flyable condition about a mile from here, though the CAA won't let it fly. It's bound for Kermit Weekes; whether he'll ever fly it is an unanswered question.

is there a reason they wont let it fly ????
seems such a shame

 

[Edgar Brooks]

When this was first mooted, many years ago, the given reason was "unreliable engine," which didn't impress ex-Napier employees one bit.
Not for nothing are the CAA known as "Campaign Against Aircraft," or "Cancel All Aviation."

 

[evangilder]

I am hoping to see some pics of these soon. Sounds very cool!

 

[Gnomey]

Great to hear!

Looking forward to seeing some pics.

 

[Edgar Brooks]

One of the conditions of me being allowed to view it, was that I had to agree not to publish any of the photos; sorry.

 

[Wayne Little]

Sounds like a great project!