South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
Restorations
We have performed many restoration projects on our exhibits over the years from complete nut and bolt rebuilds to cosmetic overhauls and everything in between! Here is a selection of the projects we have completed and those that are in progress on site.
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While some of the ongoing projects are visible to the public, most are worked on inside the Workshop which isn't publicly accessible. If you'd like to see behind the scenes and see what goes on in the workshop and museum storage areas, Check out our 'Events' Page for details about our 'Backlot Tours'.
Vulcan XL388
Avro Vulcan B.2 XL388 restored over an 18 month period into its 1963 scheme worn for a flypast over Boston, Lincs to celebrate RAF Coningsby being awarded the freedom of the town. XL388 then flew on to Boston, Massachusetts, USA and was named the 'Mayflower III'. Work is ongoing to restore electrical power to some of the cockpit systems.
Lightning XP706
One of our current restoration projects is English Electric Lightning F.3 XP706. Withdrawn from RAF Service in 1985, 706 arrived at SYAM in 2002 and has been awaiting restoration since. The project is one of the largest the museum has undertaken, with the fuselage and cockpit to be split in order to replace the wings for a complete set.
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Varsity WJ903
One of our most recently completed restorations, work on Vickers Varsity WJ903 has seen all cockpit glazings replaced, and a full repaint into the paint scheme used during the aircrafts time at RAF Finningley an extensive internal restoration has seen power restored to the cockpit and lighting systems returned to operational status.
Meteor WA662
Meteor T.7 WA662 has been one of our long-term projects and is now nearing completion. Having been stored and subsequently restored in sections over the years, WA662 is just waiting for its starboard outer wing to be finished before all major works have been completed. The aircraft is now on display in the main hangar.
Auster G-AHHP
Auster J1N G-AHHP is one of our ongoing restoration projects and has seen it go from a bare frame to a nearly complete aircraft. G-AHHP has an interesting backstory, having been stolen from Sywell airfield in November 1950 and flown to France at night by Bryn Fussell, a borstal escapee with limited flying experience!
Scout XV139
Scout AH.1 XV139 is currently undergoing a major restoration in the workshop in readiness for it to join the museum's Falklands Display. XV139 took part in the falklands campaign at the hands of 656 Squadron AAC and while on tasking at Port Harriet House on 9/6/82, was fired at by an Argentine Blowpipe missile, which missed by less than 25 yards!
Dove G-ARUM
De Havilland DH.104 Dove G-ARUM is a particularly important aircraft for us here at the museum. Formerly owned and operated by the National Coal Board, G-ARUM regularly flew into and out of Doncaster Airport, our Current site! G-ARUM is currently undergoing full restoration back into it's Coal Board period, including luxury executive interior!
DC3 N4565L
Douglas DC-3 N4565L is one of the largest projects that the museum have undertaken. Currently stored awaiting restoration, our DC-3 will be restored to represent the aircraft that actor Leslie Howard (Gone with the Wind) lost his life in when it was shot down by a JU88 Night Fighter in June 1943. Flying from Lisbon to Bristol, G-AGBB was flying as BOAC Flight 777 and was intercepted by JU88's over the Bay of Biscay and was shot down. G-AGBB was owned by Dutch airline KLM and was flown to Britain before the outbreak of war. Before the war, KLM Operated DC-2's and DC-3's flew to the original Doncaster airport (Now Lakeside and the museums home) regularly as commercial services.