In this months Aeroplane (July 2004)

[paulmcmillan]

There is an article about the FHC Zero. Apparently it is being converted to a 2 seat version at Fighter Rebuilders Chino. This is one of the ones rebuilt ex Russia

Now baring in mind the normal policy of FHC seems to be originality right down to the last washer.. Can anyone understand why they would be doing this? Unless Mr Allen wants a ride in his own air force!

[bdk]

There is an article about the FHC Zero. Apparently it is being converted to a 2 seat version at Fighter Rebuilders Chino. This is one of the ones rebuilt ex Russia

Now baring in mind the normal policy of FHC seems to be originality right down to the last washer.. Can anyone understand why they would be doing this? Unless Mr Allen wants a ride in his own air force!

As for originality, you might also question why it is getting a P&W 1830... No doubt availability is the answer.

I think that only the aircraft that FHC contracts to have restored from the ground up are restored to the last washer level. The FHC Thunderbolt was obtained partially restored, and they aren't undoing any of the previous work in the current restoration. They are just building up from that point using the FHC standard.

Sounds somewhat sensible actually.