 [Click to open LS326 gallery] |
In 1960 Westland, who had taken over the interests of Fairey Aviation presented the Royal Navy with Swordfish LS326. A small band of enthusiasts of Heron Flight at RNAS Yeovilton scoured the world for spares and equipment to keep her flying. |
 [Click to open TF956 gallery] |
In 1971 Hawkers donated Sea Fury FB.11 TF956 to the Royal Navy, Another team was formed from Heron Flight to complete a rebuild of the aircraft and in January 1972 the Sea Fury again became part of the Royal Navy. |
 [Click to open WB271 gallery] |
In February 1972 Fairey Firefly WB271 that had been bought by officers from HMS Victorious in Australia became the next project. The Firefly project flourished under the skill of enthusiasts and the aircraft made her first flight in September 1972 to become another flying reminder of Naval Aviation history. |
| About this time the Swordfish, which was still being operated independently was integrated with the newly formed 'tin-duo' and the term Historic Flight was first coined. By 1973 the Historic Flight had become a major attraction at Air Shows around Britain. | |
 [Click to open WG655 gallery] |
To help with the training of pilots for high-powered propeller aircraft a two seat Sea Fury T.20 WG655 was kindly donated to the Flight by the Federal German Navy in 1976. |
 [Click to open WV908 gallery] |
Also in 1976 work began to return Hawker Sea Hawk WV908 to an airworthy condition, this became the first jet in the Historic Flight and took to the air again in 1984, after joining the Flight in 1982. |
 [Click to open W5856 gallery] |
The oldest surviving Swordfish W5856 was purchased in 1990, and was restored by British Aerospace at Brough it was presented to the Flight in 1993. |
 [Click to open the final gallery] |
The Historic Flight also kept Tiger Moth T8191 on their strength during the 1970's, 1980's and early 90's. It was decided that this aircraft was to be put into storage in early 1994 and it was subsequently sold to a private buyer from Welshpool later that year. |
| In April 1995 the maintenance team became civilianised and financing the Flight now rests with the Swordfish Heritage Trust. It is their task to raise money by public subscription to keep these wonderful aircraft in a flying state for all to see. It can only be hoped that the Historic Flight will continue to flourish into the future as part of our nation's aviation heritage. Also as a memorial to the brave men who operated those machines in the defence of our country. Although good news was heard in January 1997, when it was announced that the money needed to keep the Flight in the air is being provided by the MoD. So it seemed that the Historic Flight would be around for a long while yet. | |
 [Click to open VR930 gallery] |
In May 1997 a Sea Fury FB.11 was added to the Flight's inventory of aircraft. This aircraft, VR930 had just completed a thorough two and a half year restoration programme carried out by British Aerospace at Brough, East Yorkshire. |
| However the future is still uncertain, but with the determination of the Swordfish Heritage Trust it is possible that another Sea Fury, Seafire and/or a third Swordfish may be added to the Flight in the years to come. | |