Progress at Newark Air Museum - Press Release
Since Newark Air Museum’s Vickers Varsity T.1 WF369 was moved under cover in autumn 2004, restoration work has progressed steadily on this mighty twin-engined navigation trainer. This particular Varsity airframe has Significant status [next to top listing possible] on the National Aviation Heritage Register and it is the only example of the type displayed under cover in the UK.
WF369 is the centrepiece of Newark’s Display Hangar 2, which was funded with a grant of £453,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is not only the airframe that has been receiving attention from the museum volunteers, the massive Bristol Hercules 264 radial engines have also been restored. To allow this work to be viewed one of the engines is now displayed with the complex set of hinged engine covers in the open position.
Elsewhere in Display Hangar 2 the BAe Sea Harrier FRS.1 / FA.2 ZA176, which joined the collection in the summer of 2004 is now externally complete and the original operational paintwork has recently been polished back up to display standard. Whilst the first significant airframe sections from the Saab Viggen AJSH 37, 373 918 - ‘57’ have also started to appear in the eastern end of the hangar, alongside the Swift. It is anticipated that the remainder of the aircraft will be moved from RAF Cranwell during the coming weeks.
