Found "184"

[Guinness]

He guys,

my brother in law found the Hunting Provost T53 with s/n 184 today on a scrapyard in Co. Leitrim.

The thing is in bare conditions but can be "restored".
We are checking it out what it'll cost to buy the thing.
The owner is willing to sell.

Would it be a start for the museum ?

Guinness

[Silver]

Hi Guinness,

That Provost is part of the Cavan and Letrim Preservaton Society collection. I saw it back in August and took some pics of it - check the picture database on this site.

They also have a Vampire and (?) Chipmunk in storage there.

Silver.

[Guinness]

Silver, great to see you again.

My brother in law was talking to the owner of the scrapyard and he was telling that the plane was for sale.

If I hear more info I'll put it on here.

Guinness  '>

[clan]

Amazing, how did a scrap yard get there hands on it, as Silver mentioned I was told the Leitrim and Cavan Railway society had it.

How much is it Guinness

[R.P.Y.]

I understood that 184 was on long term "loan" from Dept. of Defence. B.T.W anyone wanna buy a D.H. Dove, complete but NOT ex Air Corps?

[FiannaFail]

Tell us more, I loved the old D/H Doves. Great planes in their day.
FiannaFail '>

[clan]

Guinness, copy of an e-mail regarding "184":

Quote

Hello Alan Thank you for your E-mail which has been passed on to me, someone has their wires crossed somewhere, there are indeed 3 ex. Irish Air Corps aircraft at Dromod, but they are certainly not for sale. The 3 aircraft are part of the South East Aviation Enthusiasts Group collection previously displayed on a site at Waterford Airport, the aircraft were stored for a number of years after the group lost it's site at the Airport, until we were offered space to display them at the Cavan & Leitrim Railway site at Dromod, the Provost is now assembled outside and is on display, much work has been done on it, and it is part way through a full repaint, the Chipmunk and Vampire are stored under cover, and will go on display when our new display building is completed, possibly later this year, other aircraft and related items are on display at Dromod, including a Boeing 707 cockpit. The 3 Air Corps aircraft have been on permanent loan to SEAEG since the mid 1980s from the Minister for Defence, and a condition of the loan is that they can never be sold or passed on to a third party, so I want to kill the notion that they might be for sale stone dead, they are not for sale and never have been. The aircraft can be seen at Dromod if you visit the Preserved Steam Railway, we also have some military items, including a Humber Pig armoured car. Many Thanks, Philip Bedford (Secretary South East Aviation Enthusiasts Group)

So who is this scrap dealer then? I am dying to ind out

[FiannaFail]

Any information on the D/H Dove for sale? I loved flying them. Lovely cockpit.
FiannaFail :'>

[Guinness]

Clan,

I haven't heard yet but as I read your message there must be a misunderstanding going on.

It would be strange indeed if they would sell the 184.

I'll give my BIW a call to see what the status is.

Guinness

[John K]

Hey Guinness, sorry for being an anorak but they were Percival Provosts the IAC  had, the Hunting Provosts were jet powered!
Hey FF tell us more about flying the Dove, and while you're at it tell us what you talked about with Col. Fitzmaurice as you flew the Bremen on the first east-west crossing of the Atlantic, and what was Pontius like before he became a Pilot?

[Tony Kearns]

John,
Percival was the original name of the company who produced the Percival P56 Provost, the company was renamed Hunting and then again renamed BAC, its a bit like the DeHavilland DH125 becoming the Hawker Siddeley 125 and ending up as the BAe 125.
Best regards
Tony K

[John K]

Thanks Tony, I remember we used to run the Provost up as apprentices with Freddie Pa**s, what a feeling that was with the canopy open and the prop blast just over your head!
Do you remember there were some scrap airframes at the back of the Chapel that the fire crews used to use? How much would they be worth now? (If they hadn't been set on fire, that is!!)

[Tony Kearns]

John,
The area where the graveyard was is now built on,car park etc.When I saw the Provosts there 184 was in a bad way,but after George Harvey got his hands on it,it meant that at least it was not consigned to scrap. Your mention of "running up" the Provost, strange that you should mention it , the same Freddie P***s together with Jarlath(Jack) C.set me up in a Provost and ran up the engine. Something to remember. I had a tape recorder, what a roar ! I am also reminded of an incident told to me by a former Provost CFI when the late Malachy Higgins (Lt. Col) was over Flying Wing. He was in his office which was the old "Aer Lingus" office on the tarmac.Two Provosts were preparing for a formation exercise. My friend explained the starting procedure for the Provost and was waiting with his engine ticking over while his wingman (a young Lt.)tried to start his engine. You will remember the cartridge and the distinctive smell. He fired three times and was about to try another when Malachy Higgins sent an NCO out and told him that "if he stopped firing that he would come out with his hands up! I do believe it's true.
Tony K

[John K]

When I was posted 'up camp' from the Apprentice hostel I spent a month as orderly room runner for F/S Oa**s and his team in Flying Wing Orderly Room, which was that old office you spoke of. There was never a dull day! Tony, can you please put pen to paper and write a book about the 'Don?

[Bitch]

Up yours johnny, so did I do my stint in the Flying Wing betting shop, run by the horsey gang. I learned more about horse racing and betting than i did in a life time there, did you find it the same. Great times though, I would do it all again.
Bitch '>