Supermarine Scimitar - Survivor XD332
F.1 XD332 - Solent Sky (stored), Timsbury, Hampshire
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Scimitar F.1 XD332 at Timsbury, 2nd May 2021; Damien Burke
XD332 served with 804 NAS from March 1960 to September 1961, then 807 NAS until May 1962 followed by time in 736 NAS (training squadron) until 1965 when it passed to 764B NAS (training Airwork's civilian pilots). She then went into storage at RNAY Fleetlands and later moved onto the School of Aircraft Handling at RNAS Culdrose.
She was disposed of to the Cornwall Aero Park at the end of her useful life and was there on display for many years and ended up rather neglected. She had her wings unfolded and was out in the open air, though looked to be in generally good condition... however, the perspex of the canopy has crazed and the refuelling probe showed signs of corrosion. With the gradual draw-down of the Aero Park as it was absorbed by Flambards (itself now gone), she was acquired by the Southampton Hall of Aviation (now Solent Sky) as part of their policy of collecting Supermarine types and was restored to good cosmetic condition to take part in the '100 years of flight' exhibition put on at RIAT 2003.
After that she was put into open storage near Timsbury Manor because the museum doesn't yet have the room to display her; the storage location is on private property however, not part of the Manor itself, i.e. not open to the public. The good news as of February 2021 is that the museum has applied for planning permission for an extension in which the Scimitar (and some other airframes currently in storage) can be - finally - housed indoors. You can help with supporting comments - and of course by direct financial support.
She was disposed of to the Cornwall Aero Park at the end of her useful life and was there on display for many years and ended up rather neglected. She had her wings unfolded and was out in the open air, though looked to be in generally good condition... however, the perspex of the canopy has crazed and the refuelling probe showed signs of corrosion. With the gradual draw-down of the Aero Park as it was absorbed by Flambards (itself now gone), she was acquired by the Southampton Hall of Aviation (now Solent Sky) as part of their policy of collecting Supermarine types and was restored to good cosmetic condition to take part in the '100 years of flight' exhibition put on at RIAT 2003.
After that she was put into open storage near Timsbury Manor because the museum doesn't yet have the room to display her; the storage location is on private property however, not part of the Manor itself, i.e. not open to the public. The good news as of February 2021 is that the museum has applied for planning permission for an extension in which the Scimitar (and some other airframes currently in storage) can be - finally - housed indoors. You can help with supporting comments - and of course by direct financial support.
Information on this page current as of 03/05/2021, last updated by Damien |
Find other photos of XD332 on the following sites:
Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net