A rare opportunity to see The Shuttleworth Collection's Westland Lysander, partially disassembled for servicing inside the Shuttleworth engineering workshop, which was opened up for visitors between 18th and 20th February 2022. At the end of the film Iv'e included for reference, pictures of Shuttleworth's 'Operating Limitations Document', used by the aircraft pilots. Each page can be read by 'pausing' (II) the video for as long as required.
This Mark IIIa Westland Lysander ( V9367, G-AZWT) is one of only two Lysanders currently airworthy in the UK.
It was built originally for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as V9552 and went to Canada in 1942 as a target tug for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). After WW2 it was sold to a former RCAF flight instructor and then, in 1971, went to the Strathallan Collection in Scotland where it was restored to flying condition by late 1979. Grounded in 1986, it was stored, then went Duxford in 1997 for restoration. It was purchased by the Shuttleworth Veteran Aviation Society (SVAS) and joined the Shuttleworth Collection in 1998. It arrived painted in standard RAF camouflage with additional markings to represent 309 (Polish) Squadron, while operating from bases in Scotland between 1940 and 1942.
In the autumn of 1999, with the aid of a donation from the family of Peter Vaughan Fowler who had flown with 161 Squadron on Lysander operations during World War 2, it was repainted in black overall with the markings of his aircraft, bearing the serial V9367. A fixed ladder was installed to allow rapid access to the rear cockpit - as originally fitted to facilitate picking up agents. A dummy 150 gallon long range fuel tank was also attached below the fuselage. In this configuration the Lysander III S.D. (Special Duties) was employed by 161 RAF Squadron on clandestine night flying operations from RAF Tempsford and RAF Tangmere, between 1942 and 1945. During their RAF operational service Lysanders were known by aircrew as the 'Lizzie' and those used by Special Duties Squadrons for clandestine operations were nicknamed 'Tempsford Taxis' or 'Spy Taxis'.
After undercarriage repairs during 2015 the Lysander returned to airworthiness in April 2016.
Filmed during the Shuttleworth Engineering Open Day on 19th February 2022.
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27 авг 2024
