Short Tucano T1 Training Aircraft Acquired by Newark Air Museum

PRESS RELEASE

After a short set of negotiations, the Newark Air Museum has completed the purchase of Short Tucano T1, ZF372 from Everett Aero of Sproughton, Suffolk. Funding for the acquisition was made possible thanks to a legacy from the Estate of John Dove, a former museum member and RAF Winthorpe veteran. On Wednesday 23^rd October, 2024 the airframe was delivered to the museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire, which is close to the border with Lincolnshire by a team from Everett Aero. As part of the purchase agreement the wings were refitted to the aircraft by the Everett Aero team, thereby assisting the museum volunteers to reposition it on its undercarriage.

The Tucano fills yet another important gap in the museum’s themed display of training aircraft. Whilst in service, Tucanos were a familiar sight in the sky above the museum; when they were retired from RAF service in October 2019 the museum was unsuccessful in an attempt to acquire an airframe for its collection. “By adding Short Tucano T1, ZF372 to its collection the museum has fulfilled the desire to add the type to its display,” commented museum trustee, Dave Hibbert. “Its addition is in line with one part of the museum’s stated Collecting Policy, of acquiring ‘aircraft used in a training role.’ We are extremely grateful to the Everett Aero team, who did an excellent job with the main reassembly work on the aircraft. Our volunteers will continue this work in the coming days.”

The airframe retains its last operational configuration, and ZF372 will be moved inside Hangar 2 at the museum. Museum staff and volunteers will complete its reassembly and start the long process of sourcing instrumentation to complete the cockpits. It will be displayed In Hangar 2 alongside several other training airframes, like the Jetstream, Dominie, Bulldog, Gnat, and Jet Provost. ZF372 is expected to retain its current training scheme markings. The Tucano T1, ZF372 was one of several airframes that had been in deep storage at RAF Shawbury Shropshire.

Emma Quedzuweit

Emma Quedzuweit is a historial researcher and graduate school student originally from California, but travels extensively for work and study. She is the former Assitant Editor at AOPA Pilot magazine and currently freelance writes along with personal projects invovled in the search for missing in action aviators from World War I and II. She is a Private Pilot with Single Engine Land and Sea ratings and tailwheel endorsement and is part-owner of a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub. Her favorite aviation experience was earning a checkout in a Fairchild PT-19.

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