AW Siskin parts

[Ant Harrington]

Hi folks,
Does anyone know how many bits and pieces of Armstrong Whitworth Siskin there are still extant? I've heard that the Midland Air Museum have a complete wing in storage,and perhaps some other parts too. I've also heard rumours that there may be some components stored in a couple of Canadian museums (the Siskin was the RCAF's first fighter),does anyone know whether this is true and if so how much stuff there is?
I'd also be interested to know how much survives in terms of technical drawings and manuals etc.
I can't let on as to why I'm asking which is a bit unfair I know,but any leads would be much appreciated.

[anneorac]

I believe the wing on show at Coventry is on loan from the RAFM who I think have a set of mainplanes in store somewhere. There are a few props about but I don’t know how many AW Jaguars there are around to hang them off of.

Anne

[paulmcmillan]

Originally Posted by anneorac

I believe the wing on show at Coventry is on loan from the RAFM who I think have a set of mainplanes in store somewhere. There are a few props about but I don’t know how many AW Jaguars there are around to hang them off of.

Anne

I was about to say 'don't the RAF Museum have parts of a AW Siskin... but

a: I don't know what they have
b: I was doing it from memory, so could have been at fault, but I think it was reported that they were also looking for parts a few years back..
c: I was beaten to it!

[Whitley_Project]

Hi Ant

I think that Skysport were selling a prop a little while back? it was on barnstormers....

Good luck

Originally Posted by Ant Harrington

Hi folks,
Does anyone know how many bits and pieces of Armstrong Whitworth Siskin there are still extant? I've heard that the Midland Air Museum have a complete wing in storage,and perhaps some other parts too. I've also heard rumours that there may be some components stored in a couple of Canadian museums (the Siskin was the RCAF's first fighter),does anyone know whether this is true and if so how much stuff there is?
I'd also be interested to know how much survives in terms of technical drawings and manuals etc.
I can't let on as to why I'm asking which is a bit unfair I know,but any leads would be much appreciated.

[MRP]

The largest pieces of Siskin that I have seen to date in Canada, is a complete engine and propeller in a small museum in Carlingford Ont. The engine and propeller are in good shape.
I am not sure if the Canada Aviation Museum has any pieces, but they may have some. I can check or provide a contact that will know.

MRP

[Ant Harrington]

Thanks for the info guys,all much appreciated. It gives me some leads to work with atleast,I'll follow them up and see where they go. Sorry I can't say more...
MRP,I'd be very grateful if you could pass on the info on or from your Canadian contacts.Feel free to PM or email me.

[HP57]

Mmm a Siskin,

Another gap to be filled at the RAF Museum. Would make a very nice project for Skysport Engineering.

Cees

[Steve T]

Hi all--

Interesting thread. Were Skysport (or anyone else) to have a go at resurrecting the Siskin, they ought to do more than one, and market an airframe in the Ottawa area...I bet they'd have at least one and maybe two interested parties...

As to surviving airframe parts, there's just the RAFM wing panel that I've ever heard about. As late as the 40s there was a decrepit Siskin airframe in Kingston, Ontario (in the Armoury there, iirc) but that is of course long gone; it was probably the sole extant Siskin at that point. But the mention of an engine and prop in a museum in "Carlingford" is a great surprise. By "Carlingford", might "Campbellford" be meant? That's where the Carlaw family's military/aviation collection is; near Trenton (where some of the Siskins would have ended up after retirement). The Carlaws have a fascinating assemblage of stuff including a Mk.2 CF-100 and most of a Canso, but this is the first I've heard of a Siskin engine. Or is this actually another museum I've not heard of at all?

S.

[Box Brownie]

A Siskin rudder and manuals reside in a house in Warwickshire

[David Burke]

I seem to remember back in the early eighties a Canadian gentleman advertising a pair of Jaguar engines so I wouldn't discount one or two being around out there.

[Ant Harrington]

Thanks for your replies guys,some very interesting leads to follow up. As for the idea of building multiple examples,it's a possibility but more research needs to be done to see if even one can be built. The Siskin was the RAF's first fighter with an all-metal structure (the contemporary Gamecock was the last with a primarily wooden structure) and replication of a metal airframe is more complex than doing the same in wood.

[Arm Waver]

Wasn't their some talk of someone wanting to build a flyable one a year or two back but was scuppered as the CAA said no IIRC - something to do with mixed materials as wooden wings and metal fuselage or something...
I'd love to see one or two and especially a flying one but who knows eh?

[paulmcmillan]

Originally Posted by David Burke

I seem to remember back in the early eighties a Canadian gentleman advertising a pair of Jaguar engines so I wouldn't discount one or two being around out there.

Probably Wes Agnew.. According to an article in this months A******* M***** on a 1980 trip to recover a Bolingbroke and Lysander (now aircraft both sadly departed forever)

"all the spare parts just lying around", "a dilapidated Armstrong Siddley Jaguar"