Starting last autumn after a visit to Hendon to photograph and measure their SE5, construction began "out the back"
Moving inside for the winter months, the frame was covered with fabric.
Once that was completed, it was reassembled and moved to the museum's Merston Hall for finishing.
One of the most frequent requests we get from visitors is "Can we sit in the cockpit?" so the SE5 was designed from the start with that in mind. As many of our visitors are no longer in the first flush of youth, though, a special system had to be devised and the front section of the cockpit slides forward to allow easy access via a set of steps.
Once the visitor is safely aboard, the front is slid back into place.
The cockpit interior is being finished to a high standard of realism.
The outside is now also nearing completion...
...complete with Vickers and Lewis guns and both the windscreen and "telescope" sight are genuine First World War artefacts.
Built entirely in-house by a 3 man team, everyone is delighted with the results and I think it will be a big hit with visitors. My very small contribution to this project is to provide the various sound effects which include engine start-up, idle and shut down (accompanied by a gentle breeze from a hidden fan!) and authentic sounds for the Vickers and Lewis guns which can be "fired" from the buttons in the cockpit.
Pete
EricT
