LOOP News

13 MAR 08: THE REBIRTH OF A LEGEND

THERE are restorations and there are restorations. Take a look at the pile of bits that were unearthed in a Kabul scrapyard, and ask yourself if you fancy the challenge of turning them back into an airworthy plane.

That is what’s in store for Hawker Hind expert Patrick Chriswick, who hopes to be able to turn the remnant airframes of six of the pre-WW2 two-seat trainer/bombers into at least one working example.

The parts were first discovered nearly a decade ago in 1999, and identified as ex-RAF Hinds, which had served in the region under the Afghan flag. After deciding to try to recover the parts,
Chriswick spent two years negotiating with the Afghan authorities to win approval to bring the airframes to the UK.

They have been identified as planes K5409, K5462, K6618, K6833 and L7191, with additional damaged airframes and parts which can be used for spares. And despite their ‘tired’ appearance, the lack of humidity in Kabul means the metal condition is actually remarkably good.

Chriswick has turned to specialists in vintage restoration to help with the project. He said, “With many of the technological problems solved, such as the spars, wheels and tyres by companies such as Aero Vintage Ltd, together with the almost corrosion-free nature of the aircraft, restoration to flight is a very real possibility.”

The Afghan airforce bought 28 in the late ‘30s, which served until retirement in 1957. British forces used them through the ‘30s, nearly all being converted to trainers before the outbreak of WW2 – though some did fly combat missions under foreign flags in the war.

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LOOP News

13 MAR 08: THE REBIRTH OF A LEGEND