Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, May 2024.
Jun 30, 2024 16:42:05 GMT 1
northbynorthwest, ian531, and 4 more like this
Post by viscount on Jun 30, 2024 16:42:05 GMT 1
FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM, Yeovilton.
I love the displays and atmosphere inside FAAM - the Carrier deck exhibit is inspired. An Aviation Museum that I never tire of revisiting, although likely around 10-12 years since I was last there. There was a major re-shuffle, mainly affecting the flight deck in 2022 and, although I may be wrong, overall there appears to be fewer aircraft on show throughout the museum now. Why no imposing Fairey Gannet AEW.3 on the Carrier deck? Indeed no Sea Hawk or Sea Venom either, all in my mind essential representatives of the '50s into '70s era of Carrier operations. Not quite sure how the Sopwith Pup in the corner of the Deck fits in the Carrier Deck theme. True the Sopwith had a major role in the very first deck landings but surely this requires its own setting either in Hall one, or the empty balcony in Hall Two (the one with the Swordfish tail section at the far end).
Not a single Westland Wasp or Westland Whirlwind on display? But lots of Wessex, indeed 3 of the same mark!
The single reconstruction job (the Barracuda) on departing Hall Four was interesting even though early days yet, but why not others in that corner too? The Fairey III frame and the Sea Gladiator remains being candidates I am aware of. Work in progress, or that yet to be undertaken, is often more fascinating than the completed 'factory fresh' article, so make more of what is otherwise hidden away from public gaze.
Minor 'rant' over, don't let it distract you from visiting an excellent aviation collection though.
FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM, RNAS YEOVILTON, Bank Holiday Monday morning, 27th May.
Main Halls 1 & 2:
Short S.27 Replica
(8359) Short 184 Forward fuselage
L2301 Supermarine Walrus 1 (at one time G-AIZG)
L2940 Blackburn Skua II laid out as undersea diorama
N1854 Fairey Fulmar II
N-2078 Sopwith Baby Floatplane "The Jabberwock"
"P4139"/ - Fairey Swordfish II (really HS618)
AL246 Grumman Martlet I
EX976 NA Harvard III silver/yellow T-bands
KD431/E2:M Vought Corsair IV 768 Sqdn colours
KE209 Grumman Hellcat II
LZ551/G DH.100 Vampire I
VX595 WS-51 Dragonfly HR.5 all silver
WJ231/115:O Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 Korean War
WN493/ - WS-51 Dragonfly HR.5 blue
XA127 DH.115 Sea Vampire T.22 Cockpit section only
XB446 G. Avenger ECM.6
XP142/ - WS-58 Wessex HAS.3 HMS Antrim badge, dark blue "Humphrey"
XT765/J WS-58 Wessex HU.5 green, in Hall 1.
XT769 WS-58 Wessex HU.5 visitors depart Hall 2 through this Wessex to reach the Flight Deck.
XV663/18 WS-61 Sea King HAS.6 RN 771 Sqn port/RAF ASR yellow starboard
XZ699 W. Lynx HAS.3
(1100545) FA.330A Bachsteigze
(1420) Mikoyan Mig-15bis Fagot Polish built, in Korean markings
The Dummy Flight Deck:
"N6452" Sopwith Pup Replica, once G-AIAU
SX137 V-S. Seafire F.17
VR137 W. Wyvern TF.1 all silver
WA473/102:J V-S. Attacker F.1
XN957/630 B. Buccaneer S.1
XS590/131:E DH.110 Sea Vixen FAW.1
XT482/Z:M WS-58 Wessex HU.5 visitors arrive onto the 'flight deck' through this Wessex
XT596 McD YF-4K Phantom FG.1
XZ499/003 HS. Sea Harrier F/A.2 light grey
(DP872) F. Barracuda II framework and small sections, basis of a long-term restoration
Hall 4:
G-BSST BAC/Sud Concorde 002 2nd Prototype
"N5419" Bristol Scout D Replica, skeletal frame
WG774 BAC-221 pale blue overall
XP980 Hawker P.1127 Kestral silver
XZ493/001:N HS. Sea Harrier FRS.1 gloss grey/white
XZ720/410 W. Lynx HAS.3GMS HMS Gloucester
ZA298/Y WS-61 Sea King HC.4
ZD433/45A BAe/McDD Harrier GR.9A pale grey
Outside, on airfield:
ZZ522/ - AW.159 Wildcat HMA.2 Royal Navy. Parked outside, being washed by hand
ZZ529/ - AW.159 Wildcat HMA.2 Royal Navy. Parked outside
Not noted (although listed in W&R 29, 2024 as on display) and don't appear on any of my images:
XS508 WS-58 Wessex HU.5 Not noted, stated to be Hall 1 or 2.
XP841 HP.115 Not noted, stated to be Hall 4.
WV856/163 H. Sea Hawk FGA.6 Not noted, stated to be on the Dummy Flight Deck.
HALL ONE
A view from a balcony of the First Hall, looking over the Sopwith Baby floatplane to some of the helicopters in the same gallery.
Sopwith Baby on floats
The incredible looking, magnificent restoration of the Supermarine Walrus.
All silver Westland Dragonfly HR.5, VX595.
With a superb paint job, this 'split-personality' Sea King HAS.6 was hidden away in tight space, permitting only close access, but no stand-back and admire each side opportunity.
HALL TWO
The Vought Corsair and exhibits across the far end of the Hall taking the story of Naval aviation into the '50s and the Korean War.
Want to fit an exhibit into a tight space? Well make into a 'maintenance/repair' scene, taking one wing off and storing it under the aircraft on display and make part of telling the story of training naval aviators.
Grumman Martlet
Mig-15, a Polish built example, in North Korean markings alongside the Hawker Sea Fury.
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WJ231/115:O with Korean War identification stripes.
Grumman Hellcat & Grumman Avenger
Vickers Supermarine Seafire F.17 SX137.
The aggressive looking Westland Wyvern. A type that suffered development problems at a time when the jet engine development was rapidly being proven to develop the power and reliability required for Carrier operations. This is the sole remaining complete Wyvern.
HALL THREE: DUMMY CARRIER
Vickers-Supermarine Attacker F.1 WA473/102:J along with a number of other aircraft on the dummy deck. Another sole survivor of type.
XS590/131:E Sea Vixen FAW.2
XN957/630:LM Buccaneer S.1
XT596 F-4K Phantom FG.1, dramatically positioned with nose oleo extended
HALL FOUR:
Overview of Gallery Hall Four of FAAM, Yeovilton.
While not Naval aviation, BAC-221 WG774 deserves a place in recognition of its role in the development of the Concorde design.
Another non-Naval aircraft, Hawker P.1127 Kestral XP980 also deserves it place in the development of VSOL design leading to the very effective Harrier aircraft.
XZ499/003/- HS Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ493/001:N, positioned on deck ramp that evolved to launch fully laden aircraft off British carriers.
Also serving at sea was Harrier GR.9A ZD433/45A
Westland Lynx HAS.3GMS ZD720/410 served on HMS Gloucester.
Concorde G-BSST dominates Hall Four. Unlike the Concordes at Manchester and Brooklands, visitors have unrestricted access to the 'sharp end' cockpit, although all control panels and the cockpit area are protected by screens.
OUTSIDE ON THE AIRFIELD
I saw little point in visiting the room that has an overview of the main operational apron at Yeovilton. However, popped by head around the door and on Bank Holiday Monday discovered two Wildcat's outside being washed by hand!
Wildcat HMA.2s XZ522, along with ZZ529, on the main main apron.