Blackburn Buccaneer - Survivor XX897
S.2B XX897 - Atlantic Air Adventures, Shannon, Clare, Eire
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Buccaneer S.2B XX897 at Shannon, 24th September 2017; Jake Wallace
-20070413123715-tn200.jpg "Buccaneer S.2B XX897 at Bournemouth, 13th April 2007; Francis Wallace")
The unusual nose on this reclusive Buccaneer was fitted because it was used to trial the Foxhunter radar used on the Tornado ADV. Sold on retirement in 1993 to the Source Classic Jet Flight at Bournemouth Airport (Hurn), she next changed hands in 1998 to Nigel McKnight's Quicksilver outfit whose primary interest was in her engines, to use them in a waterborne craft in an attempt on the world water speed record. To this end she was kept in running condition as an engine testbed, with the aid of European Aviation who provided hangarage, fuel and technical support (and the paint job - the tail being in European Aviation colours).
To date, however, it appears that nothing of consequence has come of Quicksilver's plans to build a boat and in 2005 title of XX897 passed to a Quicksilver shareholder. She was then sold on to Christie Keane in 2008, ending Quicksilver's interest in the airframe. She remained in taxiable condition for a while but then moved to a new home in Shannon, Eire - as the first static exhibit in a new museum.
Happily, Atlantic Air Adventures have been keen to keep a bit of life in the old girl and to that end contracted The Buccaneer Aviation Group to pop across and rejuvenate her hydraulic systems etc. in return for being able to remove her Speys to use in TBAG's own taxiable Buccaneers. This proved a little bit of a challenge as XX897's systems differ from most Buccs, but they succeeded and got the wing fold, bomb bay, airbrakes etc. all working again. If you're visiting Eire, the Shannon Aviation Museum is well worth a visit!
To date, however, it appears that nothing of consequence has come of Quicksilver's plans to build a boat and in 2005 title of XX897 passed to a Quicksilver shareholder. She was then sold on to Christie Keane in 2008, ending Quicksilver's interest in the airframe. She remained in taxiable condition for a while but then moved to a new home in Shannon, Eire - as the first static exhibit in a new museum.
Happily, Atlantic Air Adventures have been keen to keep a bit of life in the old girl and to that end contracted The Buccaneer Aviation Group to pop across and rejuvenate her hydraulic systems etc. in return for being able to remove her Speys to use in TBAG's own taxiable Buccaneers. This proved a little bit of a challenge as XX897's systems differ from most Buccs, but they succeeded and got the wing fold, bomb bay, airbrakes etc. all working again. If you're visiting Eire, the Shannon Aviation Museum is well worth a visit!
Information on this page current as of 11/03/2021, last updated by Damien |
Find other photos of XX897 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net