• Êàòàëîã /
• Êàðòèíêè /
• Alan Wilson /
• Vickers Varsity...

Îïèñàíèå: c/n unknown Built in 1953 for the Royal Air Force with the serial WJ945. Served in the radar calibration role with 527, 115 and 116 Squadrons at RAF Watton before changing to a training role with the Central Flying School (CFS) at RAF Tangmere and RAF Little Rissington. She then moved to the Air Engineers and Air Electronic Operators School (AE&AEOS) at RAF Topcliffe, No.5 Flying Training School (5FTS) at RAF Oakington and finally to the Central Flying School (CFS) at RAF Cranwell. Retired in October 1974, she was sold to the Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) and civil registered as G-BEDV in July 1976. The ‘DV’ stood for Duxford Varsity, whilst Euroworld’s Duxford based B-17 Flying Fortress “Sally B” was registered as G-BEDF (you can work out the ‘DF’ for yourselves!), but I digress. Nicknamed “Piglet”, ‘DV’ was a regular and popular performer on the UK Airshow scene and occasionally gave rides to DAS members. She was repainted by British Aerospace at Hatfield on at least one occasion, and I recall that this was done for free as they used her as a ‘guinea pig’ for a new painting technique, (or should that be Guinea ‘Piglet’??). Her flying career sadly ended in October 1987 when the costs and difficulties of keeping her flying became too great, but she remained on display within the museum at Duxford until early 2013 when she was acquired by the Classic Air Force and moved to Newquay. Repainted in her original silver colours, the only Varsity now so painted, she was initially displayed indoors, but is now exposed to the elements. Catching up with her again brought back many happy memories for me and I hope she is soon back under cover again. Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre Newquay Airport, Cornwall, UK. 27th July 2022 Note: - Sadly the museum was forced to close in October 2022 and the collection dispersed. Thankfully WJ945 was saved and has apparently now moved to the South Wales Aviation Museum at St Athan.

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