Supermarine 510, VV106. First flown by Mike Lithgow in December 1948, it was - in 1950 - the first swept-wing aircraft to land on a carrier.
Unfortunately inaccessible was Hawker P1052, VX272, one of only 2 built of this type.
Almost as inaccessible was NA39, XK488, the third development aircraft. Long ago as it was, I can still remember rushing to my local Woolies (they always got Airfix new releases first) clutching my 4/6 to ask if the new model of the Blackburn NA39 had been released only to be bitterly disappointed by the reply, "Blackbird what, dear? No, I don't think we sell that sort of thing."
There was also a chance to see how the Barracuda restoration was progressing. Still a way to go and another £60,000 needed apparently!
The saddest thing for us to see, though, was Harrier GR9 ZD433 in No 1 Squadron (one of Tangmere's most famous squadrons) markings. It's ended up in a museum well before its time!
It was good to see a Phantom in the colours of No 43 Squadron (another of Tangmere's finest) parked on the airfield.
Inside the main museum there were two new (to me - I haven't been there for a couple of years) exhibits:
The newly-restored Martlet in the colours it was delivered by Grumman in 1940 - the wing and tail plane are believed to have the original 1940 paint...
...and a Wyvern TF1, VR137 which, if I read the blurb correctly, has never flown. I think it may have been on display in the museum some time ago in an operational colour scheme but it's now back in bare metal.
All-in-all, a good day out.
Pete
EricT
