WL747 and WL757, AEW Mk2s from 8 Sqn. Flown in for planned museum, but the owner went bust about a year later, the aircraft were impounded and never claimed. The wheels have now sunk into the tarmac.
Those who inspected them say they are now only fit ro be refurbished for display, which is a pity. I wonder what the state of the Griffons are and if they could be refurbished and reused, I know there was lot of interest in the rest of the engines when the fleet disbanded.
The other aircraft is a
Dassault Flamant MD-312, F-AZEN, ex-FAF cn 250.
WL747 MR 2/AEW.2
First flown 5.2.53 and A/Cn 27.2.53. To 23MU 11.3.53 and prepared for issue to 269 Sqn 3.4.53. Uncoded. To 204 Sqn 11.8.54 and reportedly ended T-W. To 42 Sqn 11.6.58 and coded B. To Avro for Phase I modification 18.9.58. Completed 30.9.59 and issued to 210 Sqn, coded V. To Avro Langar 18.4.61 for Phase II update, completed 22.10.61. To 37 Sqn 4.11.61 and coded C. Allocated to HSA 29.10.61 for Phase III conversion, arriving Langar 8.5.64. On completion despatched to 210 Sqn 12.9.66 and coded X. To Ballykelly Wing 2.67 still as X. Cat.3 damage sustained 30.1.69, repaired by HSA CWP 6.2.69-30.3.69. Transferred to 204 Sqn 10.70, retaining X code. To 5MU 17.12.70 for major overhaul prior to ferry to HSA Bitteswell 2.2.71 for AEW.2 conversion. First flown as such 11.1.72 (first production conversion). Returned to 5MU 8.2.72 for repainting and delivered to Lossiemouth 16.3.72 for radar installation. Ferried to Kinloss 11.4.72 for 8 Sqn, receiving the name 'Florence'. Transferred to Lossiemouth 16.8.73 with unit. To HSA Bitteswell 20.9.78 for major refurbishing, returning to 8 Sqn 9.11.79. Current Paphos Airport, Cyprus.
WL757 MR 2/AEW.2
First flown 10.4.53 and A/Cn 30.4.53. To Hawarden 7.5.53, continuing to 23MU Aldergrove the next day. Allocated to MEAF 28.7.53 and delivered by the Overseas Ferry Unit, Benson. To 37 Sqn 5.8.53 and coded D. To CAPMF St Mawgan 19.2.53 for mods, returning to Luqa 3.3.53. To 137MU Safi 20.5.54 for Cat.3 repair, completed 3.6.54, and to Avro Langar 18.9.54 - 6.11.54 for a major servicing. A 'special fitment' installed 22.6.55 - 11.7.55 followed by further mods at Safi 9.1.56 23.2.56, the aircraft returning to 37 Sqn three days later still as D. On 8.7.57 WL757 went into temporary storage with 137MU until issued to 38 Sqn and probably coded U. To Avro 29.9.58 for Phase I modifications, completed 29.10.59. To 210 Sqn the following day and coded W. To DH Chester (Hawarden) 27.3.61 for Phase II update, completed 5.12.61. Issued to Z24 Sqn 15.12.61 and coded C, remaining until allocated to HSA Langar 30.3.66 for Phase III modifications. On completion allotted to FEAF and delivered to 205 Sqn 25.5.67. Coded K on arrival. Ferried back to the UK, arriving St Mawgan 12.12.70 for customs clearance before delivery to 5MU Kemble two days later. To HSA Bitteswell 26.8.71 for AEW.2 conversion, first flying in the revised configuration 6.72. To 5MU for repainting 3.7.72 and delivered to Lossiemouth 25.8.72 for radar installation. ToC 8 Sqn 29.8.72 and named 'Brian', moving over to Kinloss 6.9.72. To 60MU 2.5.73 for mods, returning to 8 Sqn and moved to Lossiemouth with the unit 17.8.73. Loaned to MoD (PE) 7.12.73 for service trials and CA clearance of SRIM 3825 (AMTI facility for AN/APS 20F radar) by 'B' Squadron, A&AEE Boscombe Down. Part of trial conducted at Lossiemouth 18 - 20.12.73 and aircraft returned to 8 Sqn I .3.74. To HSA Bitteswell 25.10.79 for re-sparring and major servicing, returning to 8 Sqn 1981. Current (13,932 hrs at 9.3.89) at Paphos Airport, Cyprus.