European Heritage Open Days: Free aircraft exhibition will contain WWII biplane bomber and Ulster RAF chief Harv Smyth's old Harrier fighter jet
Some rare historic military aircraft are being newly placed on display for free – including one which was flown by the Ulsterman who now heads the RAF.
A Harrier jump jet which Lurgan-born Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth used to fly will be on show at the Ulster Aviation Society’s (UAS) European Heritage Open Days this Saturday and Sunday, along with one of the UK’s few Swordfish aircraft – a WWII naval bomber.
The UAS (which is based at the old Maze prison site outside Lisburn) got hold of both the craft in April, and this will be the first time they will have been on display at the annual open day event.
During WWII, around 100 Swordfish had been stationed in Londonderry, where they were used to defend Atlantic convoys.
Society chairman Ray Burrows MBE told the News Letter that a number of merchant ships were modified to carry the Swordfish biplane, which carried torpedoes that they would drop on Nazi submarines.
Also on display for the first time at a European Heritage Open Day gathering will be a Sea King HAS.6 helicopter, a de Havilland Chipmunk, and a Belfast-made Short SB.5 research jet.
The SB.5 was built during the 1950s as a kind of test prototype of the RAF’s later Lightning jet fighter, and is “unique – it was the only one built” said Mr Burrows and was “very important” for aircraft development.
Several Sea King helicopters had been based at RAF Aldergrove during Operation Banner where they were used to ferry troops around the Province.
The particular model on display was designed for an anti-submarine role, “and it is complete inside – nothing has been removed from the interior of the aircraft,” said Mr Burrows.
Meanwhile the Chipmunk is a single-engine propellor-powered RAF training aircraft.
This same type of plane used to train would-be pilots by Queen’s University Belfast, which used to have an RAF air squadron attached, and this particular model was one of two that had circumnavigated the entire world in 1996 to mark the type's golden jubilee.
“We now have a world-class exihibition of aircraft,” said Mr Burrows.
"We have people literally coming from all over the world.”
Last year, some 7,200-plus people came to visit the UAS during the European Heritage Open Days, and it said that this year’s programme is the biggest yet, with over 55 aircraft and vehicles, seven flight simulators, and six virtual-reality headsets.
The society is a volunteer-run charity, and Mr Burrows said: “European Heritage Open Days have become a remarkable success story for the society.
"The most satisfying thing is seeing families return, bringing children and grandparents together to discover and experience our aviation heritage.”
The Swing Dance Community NI and The Jenny Thomas Jammers Belfast will bring live music from noon to 2.30pm on both days, while Rock Choir NI will perform on Sunday afternoon.
Second World War re-enactors and Star Wars characters will attend on Saturday.
There will be burgers, crepes, tea and coffee, traybakes, and ice cream for sale.
Entry and parking is via Gate 3.