Seafire Rebuild
 

I don't think this has been posted before. Some nice airborne video also.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Tne...play=1%26rel=0

Thank you so much for posting this video. Not only a great tribute to the builders but it was also lovely to see John Beattie whom I served with in the FAA for many years. Anyone know his whereabouts now?

Fly3,

Up until recently John was the manager of the RN Historic Flight at Yeovilton. I believe he retired recently but you may be able to contact him via someone through the Historic Flights website?

Sorry it's not a full answer.

John is alive and well and still displaying all manner of historic aircraft. Contact via:

HOME

John retired as the civilian General Manager of Royal Navy Historic Flight in 2009.

He is still around and acts as a flying mentor to the RNHF pilots as he has wealth of Warbird and display knowledge to impart.

If you served with him and you are a member of the Fleet Air Officers Association you can get he contact details from the membership section of their website.

Hope/pray it lasts longer than most of the others on the RNHF.

Hangarshuffle, the Seafire in question belongs to Wes Stricker in the USA.
The other Seafire that John flies belongs to Kennet Aviation at North Weald.
RNHF sadly does not at present operate a Seafire.

The Kennet Aviation Seafire [which Mr. Beattie also flew] was accidentally landed wheels up at an Air Show in France a couple of years ago by a well-known lady driver. Does anyone know of it's current rebuild status?

JEM60, I think Kennet's Seafire 17 is close to flying again; hopefully it'll be around next year? I think they might have a late mark Seafire on their books as well - I'm sure I saw something about one of Peter Arnold's recoveries being well under way to flying again.

Talking of late model Seafires, there is this one, the ultimate Mk 47, which presently lives in Montana and is maintained in an airworthy condition.

Hopefully those contra-rotating props did not have the same effect on the pilot's eyeballs as they did on mine! :ooh: