By Zac Yates
Two trainer projects are progressing well at the Newark Air Museum (NAM) in Nottinghamshire: the repainting of a former RAF aerobatic team Hawker Hunter and the restoration of a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) veteran Harvard.
As reported by Vintage Aviation News in March, Hunter XL605 has had its previous RAF grey-green camouflage scheme (and inaccurate serial number) replaced by the one it wore when part of 92 Squadron’s Blue Diamonds aerobatic team. After these photos were taken the Hunter’s underwing fuel tanks were reinstalled and final touches made to the markings.
Elsewhere on the museum site, the decision has been made to finish the NAM’s Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB in its original RCAF service color scheme. As we reported in January 2024, this aircraft arrived at the museum nearly 14 years ago and has required a lot of manpower to get to its current state. Much work was needed around replacing or fabricating part missing from the firewall-forward area.
There had been some discussion as to whether the aircraft should be painted in a scheme accurate to the airframe’s history or a representative RAF scheme. It turns out the former met both requirements, as museum trustee Howard Heeley told us: “The colour scheme is what FE930 operated in at Medicine Hat (in Alberta), but at the time of its service there the RCAF and RAF markings were no different — the maple leaf going into the roundel was after its service there finished!”
To learn more about these and other projects at the Newark Air Museum visit their website HERE.
![Avro Vulcan XM594 continues to receive attention for structural repairs and ongoing maintenance. [Photo by Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions]](https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/02.03.24-DTEP_Vulcan-XM594_7430-150x150.jpg "Restoration Outlook for 2024 at Newark Air Museum 13")
![The Newark Air Museum's Auster AOP.9 project now has its Blackburn Cirrus engine in place. [Photo by Howard Heeley - Down To Earth Promotions]](https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/Auster-AOP.9-Newar-Air-Museum-20240125-Howard-Heeley-DTEP-150x150.jpg "Newark Air Museum Auster Restoration Update 14")
![Recent work on the Harvard has focused on refitting the restored engine cowlings after museum volunteers backdated work done by a previous owner. [Photo by Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions]](https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/42-12417-Newark-Air-Museum-20240701-HH-DTEP-01-150x150.jpg "Harvard Restoration at Newark Air Museum Forging Ahead 15")
