The Making of the film:
The survivors - other airworthy examples
Seafire Mk.XVII SX336
Squadron: No squadron service.
Type: VS384
Engine: Griffon IV
Serial/Reg. SX336, G-BRMG, G-KASX
Sqdn-code: VL/105
History
The Supermarine Seafire Mk.XVII SX336 was built by Westland Aircraft Ltd. at Yeovil under contract No FNo AIR/3853 with the construction number FLWA/25488.and handed over to the FAA on May 3, 1946 and delivered to RNAS Bramcote (HMS Gamecock) and could possibly have served with 1833 Squadron (RNVR) until it was withdrawn from operational use and held as an instructional airframe as A2055 until June 1953. The aircraft was transferred to the Aircraft Maintenance yard at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap) where it was stored until 27th May 1955 when it was sold for scrap.
In 1973 the fuselage was recovered from the Joseph Brierley & Son scrap yard in Warrington, Lancashire, by Neville Franklin together with parts of SX300. The aircraft commenced restoration under the stewardship of Craig Charleston in his Hemel Hempstead workshop in 1978, utilising parts from SX300 and the wings from Seafire XV LA546. It wasn't until the scrapyard was cleared that the tail section turned up.
Rebuilt to airworthiness the aircraft
was registered as G-BRMG to Peter J. Wood of Twyford on September 19, 1989
where she remained until 2001.
In November 2001 she went to a new owner; Tim Manna, Cranfield for a long
term restoration. In the meantime her registration G-BRMG was cancelled in
2003 and changed to G-KASX (Kennet Aviation SX(336)). Her original Fleet Air
Arm colour scheme was applied at Turweston Airfield on February 6 2006
before she made her first flight on May 3, 2006 from North Weald.
SX336 is currently the only airworthy Seafire on the UK register and one of
two still flying worldwide.
With short Griffon nose, four-blade propeller, cut-down rear fuselage,
streamlined bubble canopy and normal-size fin, the Mk. XVII looked unlike
any other Spitfire/Seafire mark and was also arguably the best looking of
all the Seafires. 233 of this variant were produced.
Only when acquired by Tim J. Manna, in November 2001 did the long-term
restoration gain momentum. The aircraft made its first post-restoration
flight on 3 May 2006 in North Weald, almost exactly 60 years after its
maiden flight.
Current location North Weald – airworthy.
Other Aircraft