WONZ 277 - Wings Over Britain: Navy Wings

[Dave Homewood]

I have finally found some time and WiFi enough to edit and release the second Wings Over Britain episode, WONZ 277 - Wings Over Britain: Navy Wings.

In this episode Dave Homewood talks with naval aviation historian Lee Howard and Navy Wings’ marketing manager Rob Jones during a walk around the Navy Wings hangar at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, in Somerset.

Aircraft in the hangar included two Fairey Swordfish (one of which was in deep restoration), a Hawker Sea Fury, a Supermarine Seafire XVII, two de Havilland Chipmunks, a North American Harvard, and a Hawker Sea Hawk project, plus the collection’s Westland Wasp was operating on the airfield. Other aircraft not belonging to the collection but seen in the hangar included a Tiger Moth, Stinson Reliant, a Westland Sea King helicopter and a Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

As this was recorded in a very busy operational hangar, there is a certain amount of unavoidable background noise, which hopefully adds to the ambience, rather than detracts. You get the bonus track of an abridged Wasp start up and departure too.

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2023/07/wonz-277-wings-over-britain-navy-wings/

[camtech]

I visited this museum way back in 1976, the weekend before the Concorde was to be open to the public - bugger. Some great stuff way back then - must dig out the slides.

[Dave Homewood]

This is not the museum, Les. This is Navy Wings, a completely separate entity with flying aircraft on the opposite side of Yeovilton. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum will featilure in a separate episode.

[camtech]

Didn't realise that, Dave.

[Deleted]

A terrific episode and great to hear from Lee, whose work I've admired for many years.

I loved the "audiobomb" by the Seafire!!

[skyhawkdon]

That was fascinating! What a great organisation they have.

[Dave Homewood]

Photos from my visit, starting with Rob and Lee. My camera tens to not like the sodium lights in hangars, unfortunately.

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

[Dave Homewood]

This is inside a Lynx, which does not belong to Navy Wings, but it was modified at the time of the Lynx's retirement to become a bar. There is a bar in the doorway, joysticks for keg pump handles, and a cut out in the floor so the barman can stand up. Genius!













And the sad sight of the Sea Vixen that no longer flies with Navy Wings after an accident, sitting forlorn on the edge of the airfield awaiting disposal.

[johnnyfalcon]

What a great collection! Is that the Sea Vixen that had a wheels-up landing, and/or was involved in Sir Kenneth Hayr's crash?

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, the one that had the wheels up. It is beyond economical repair for Navy Wings' budget, so it is awaiting its fate. It will probably become a museum static I guess.