| |  | | AFFILIATED TO THE RNSESA
The display season program is now in
Advertise & Exchange |
The Fly Navy Heritage Trust was formed in 1991 with the object of raising funds to ensure the
continued operation of the Royal Navy Historic Flight to enable it to display its historic naval
aircraft across the United Kingdom and advance awareness of the Fleet Air Arm’s Naval Aviation Heritage. Reflecting the initial urgency to preserve the iconic Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber, the Trust was formed originally as the Swordfish Heritage Trust but renamed in 2002 to better reflect and encapsulate what the Fleet Air Arm is and what it does. By striving to educate membersof the public and serving personnel in the history and traditions of the Fleet Air Arm, the Trust aims to raise the profile and the understanding of the Royal Navy’s flying arm. A history enriched with examples of courage and self sacrifice is an inspiration to young and old alike. Our lineage of gallant events, punctuated with high honours, is catalogued in the Fleet Air Arm Museum, while our Memorial Church of St Bartholomew with its moving Roll of Honour completesthe elements which make up our “shop window” at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, the busiest military airfield in Western Europe.
Trustees are drawn from Defence Aerospace leaders and Aviation enthusiasts who dedicate
themselves to our twin objectives of promoting, especially in the young, an interest in aviation
and its history and to raising the funds to allow us to continue to do so. They welcome both your
interest and support, and if you are in a position to give it, your more practical assistance in terms of financial support or support-in-kind.
The immediate future for our endeavours is underpinned by the 2009 Centenary of Naval Aviationand the rolling celebration of the formation of the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 and the Royal Naval Air Service itself in 1914. The build and launch of the new aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales will span these centenary dates.
The future is bright – the future is FLY NAVY – don’t miss the boat – you are welcome on board! |
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NEWS UPDATE - 24 JUNE 2010
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Left: Still proudly flying the flag, WV908
belches into life.
[©Lee Howard]
Below: Brig Sterns RM hands over the Sea
Fury propeller to Cdr Rick Fox at RNHF
[©HMS Heron]
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Having pulled Swordfish LS326 out of the hangar we have now, unfortunately, had to put her away again as she continues to fail her ground runs. We will continue to work on her but have decided that the aircraft should be grounded until further notice rather than letting down air shows at the last minute. As the matriarch of the RNHF, perhaps she just doesn’t want to play just yet! We will continue to tease her carefully back into life.
The restoration of the wings for Swordfish W5856, thanks to BAE Systems at Brough, is going well and, with a new Royal Navy Project Officer scoping rebuild of our second Pegasus, we continue to work on bringing W5856 back to life where she will hopefully join LS326.
The Sea Hawk has started her display season and continues to please those that see her. She has a healthy programme ahead and continues (as she did last year) to fly the White Ensign around the country. The Nene engine requires a major overhaul at the end of this year and preparations are underway, arranging the space and machinery required to conduct this at the end of this season. With starter cartridges in short supply our electrical engineers have been working on an electric starter to be schemed and hopefully fitted within the next 18 months. Our Chief Engineer was heard to say that the only other alternative is to bump start her…………………!
The Centaurus overhaul for Sea Fury VR930 continues in the USA and we remain hopeful that she will rejoin the air show circuit next year. The next stage check on the engine will be in the autumn for the ground runs prior to despatch back to the UK. The spare engine we had sourced has now become a donor engine for the original so we continue to search for a spare Centaurus.
Finally, the Sea Fury propeller found in Iraq last year was formally handed over to the RNHF in May and the RNAS Yeovilton Wardroom Mess President is actively looking at ways of mounting a very heavy piece of metal in or around his Mess!
The Fly Navy Heritage Trust continue to support the RNHF in various ways. The trailer provides a presence on the ground at a number of airshows around the country and local events in the Somerset area. It can next be seen at the Royal Navy Airshows at Yeovilton (10 July) and Culdrose (28 July). Do look out for the trailer and volunteers that run it - they will happily persuade you to become a RNHF Supporter, buy a raffle ticket, fly in a classic aircraft at a charity flying event, sell you some merchandise or just chat about the fabulous aircraft we seek to preserve for future generations. Details of the FNHT Raffle and Events are available via the FNHT link on this website.
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FLY NAVY
The View from a "Jungly" Cockpit 1958 - 2008
available via our online Shop
(click the image to go straight there) |
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 |  | | | THE NEW FLY NAVY LOGO | |
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