Restoring an Avro Hanson

[Fairblue]

Most of you know that I am lucky enough to work as a volunteer at the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, where my particular responsibility is to catalogue the largest private collection of Aviation books in Scotland. A job I love, although I confess I sometimes read more than I catalogue.
http://rafmontrose.org.uk/


We had managed to obtain an Avro Hanson to restore.

One of the iconic aircraft of the Second World War is returning to the site of the historic beginning of the RAF in Great Britain. Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, the first operational air station in Great Britain, has acquired an Avro Anson, a Mk. C19, serial number TX226 which was built at Yeadon between January and August 1946.
Ansons of Coastal Command were based at Montrose from 1939 and throughout the Second World War, operating with 269 Squadron flying reconnaissance patrols up the east coast. Flying from Montrose, Flt Sgt Tony Reen (later Flt Lt) was on 269 Squadron when war broke, flying Ansons on patrols in the North Sea. On February 23rd 1940 he successfully attacked and sunk an enemy submarine off Cape Wrath. Tony Reen DFM was a founder member at the MASHC, a display case at the centre features his uniform and medals, which include Norway’s highest gallantry award – the War Cross with Sword. On leaving the RAF after the war, Tony settled in Montrose with his wife Muriel, staying latterly in Southesk Court, Ferryden.
With 10,996 built, the Anson had an extremely long service life. The Anson entered RAF service in March 1936 and remained in use until 1968. Initially it was flown with a 3-man crew but later developments in its reconnaissance role required a 4th crew member. In addition to coastal patrol and training roles, Ansons also provided support for the Air Transport Auxiliary.
This will be the second major aircraft to arrive at the air centre this year. In March the heritage centre at Montrose took delivery of a Miles M.2H Hawk Major, one of only two examples of the type in Britain. The Hawk came from the RAF Museum Reserve Collection, its arrival marking a significant success for the centre in having impressed Britain’s largest aviation museum.
Currently TX226 is disassembled and stored near Coventry airport, and should arrive at Montrose early in the New Year when it will undergo a rebuild to Exhibition Standard by a team of the centre’s Volunteer engineers. Earlier this year a new workshop was constructed specifically for aircraft restoration, where currently a Sopwith Camel replica is undergoing the first restoration.
MASHC chairman Ron Morris said “The arrival of the Anson will make a significant contribution to our endeavours to show the aircraft that once flew from Montrose, Scotland’s contribution to the RAF, and our efforts to preserve the past for future generations.”
(Photo credit:Robin A Walker): Anson C19 TX226 photographed with Flying Training Command Communications Squadron at RAF White Waltham in 1962.

This is what the aircraft should look like.

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This is the aircraft we took delivery of.

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As you can see, we have our work cut out.
I hope to be able to publish pictures as the restoration progresses.

[StoneRoad]

Good Show ... !

Looking forward to watching the restoration, professional interest, you might say.
Although I don't "do" aircraft, pretty much anything else that'll fit into the workshop and is timber based* ...

{*one of the reasons for the "shavings" bit of my journal ...}

[kylie_koyote]

Wow! That looks like a great project!

[Kismet]

Are you tempted to get your hands mucky joining in the restoration, Fairblue?

[auster_aiglet]

Would that have belonged to Air Atlantique's Classic Flight, FB? I know they had a number of old aircraft and I think that included at least one Anson.

Myles

[266]

Hi FB, this is a great project. I spent 10 years helping to restore an Anson, which now flies in New Zealand. Will follow your restoration with interest.

For a bit of background, the Avro 652 started as a civilian aircraft, then a light bomber, then a reconnaissance aircraft, and finally - and overwhelmingly - as a trainer. Probably 90% of the 11,000 Ansons were trainers, and still being built as such into the 1950's. Imagine, Avro producing Ansons and Vulcans at the same time! A remarkable aircraft.

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[Fairblue]

Are you tempted to get your hands mucky joining in the restoration, Fairblue?

No, my fascination with them doesn’t stretch that far, I’m afraid.

[Tiffinata]

I shall look forward to seeing it one day.