Canada Ping!
Posted on 10/11/2012 7:36:43 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
Surviving war and time, a Canadian flyer that's roamed the skies for 70 years -- losing some heritage along the way -- is about to find a new home.
But it would take top dollar to get the veteran back to the place it first protected.
A rare Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft that flew along Canada's East Coast during the Second World War -- possibly helping to protect convoys from German U-boats -- is going up for auction and bids could reach a lofty $2.6 million.
Sholto Gilbertson, with the London, England-based Bonhams auctioneers, which is selling off the Hurricane Mk XIIa 5711 -- fully equipped with 12 Browning .303 machine guns -- said little is known of how the now fully restored fighter spent the war.
Built in 1942, it could have been used as a trainer for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots in Nova Scotia, or may have seen action during patrols over the Atlantic coast.
But what is known is the iconic monoplane Hurricanes, which protected London during the Battle of Britain, are disappearing.
"They are very rare with only a handful flying worldwide," Gilbertson said.
Back in 1947, after its service with the RCAF, a Canadian syndicate out of Saskatchewan bought it. Then in 1989, it was restored for flight, before being bought by a British vintage aircraft agency in 2002.
In 2005, it became the first Hurricane to return to the Mediterranean island of Malta since the Second World War and flew in Russia this year for President Vladimir Putin.
But time has robbed the Canadian flyer of some of its citizenship.
Gone is the original Canadian paint scheme, replaced by Battle of Britain colours, and much of its auction legend is of how Hurricanes secured U.K. skies.
The warbird now waits for the December auction at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England.
Among those who would like to see it back home is David Rohrer, CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, near Hamilton, Ont.
In 1993, the museum lost its own Hurricane in a fire.
There's only one other known version, located in Quebec, that's still flying in Canada.
"There aren't many of them left with a Canadian history," said Rohrer, who's looking at putting together a possible consortium bid.
"It would be a tremendous aircraft to have back in Canada."
If that happens, our lost Hurricane would likely stay here. Designated as cultural property, it would be restricted from being lost again.
Canada Ping!
So would I. Good luck ......................................... FRegards
Please ping me to aviation and aerospace articles. Thank you.
If you want added to or removed from this ping list, please contact EveningStar or Paleo Conservative.
That would be nice.I am all for whoever can afford the planes to be able to buy them and take them back to their country and fly them however I hope that someone in Canada can come up with the dough to keep her there and flying.
Does that mean "static display" as in "non flying"?
Depends on who buys it. It is in flying condition now, and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Society restores and flies vintage aircraft. Their Lancaster is flown regularly at their base and appears at several airshows throughout the year.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.