A recently started project of mine, former RAN Sea Venom WZ-897 currently held by the Thomas aircraft collection (formerly known as the Camden air museum) at Harrington park NSW.
It was retired from service in 1966 and partially scrapped, the fuselage pod was saved though gutted.
For starters I'm concentrating on cleaning out decades of assorted muck, treating a lot of corrosion and finding all the workings. The woodwork is in fantastic condition with
no visible delamination. The fabric covering is original and intact though the paint is flaking in several areas. The cockpit is very bare with the entire starboard console removed, all the instruments and avionics are gone but what's there is intact and repairable. I've scrounged about 80% of the missing parts for the office.
I spent last weekend sorting through a rats nest of wiring in the gun bay, after several hours of untangling and profanity it looks like I dont have to rewire as much as originally thought.
I have a complete and runnable engine and if I am able to locate the wings, booms and tail of one of the many wrecks around the country the goal of the project would be a complete taxyable aircraft.
This is my fifth Sea Venom resto since 1981.