I have vague memories of the Spitfire that was there also. This was before the Javelin of course. I was 10 at the time so maybe the Spit was removed the year previously for its appearance in 'The Battle of Britain' film (1969).

If I remember correctly,the engine from the Spit,which was the more powerful Griffon,ended up in one of the BBMF flight. That particular Spitfire is now hanging from the ceiling in a Glasgow museum. Although it was called the 'Worcester Spitfire' it really wasn't. See here LINK

The Javelin I remember very well. It was outside the local ATC (Air Training Corps) where my mum served as a warrant officer.

That is now on display in Yorkshire at Elvington. It was Javelin XH767.

Solway Aviation Museum has just taken delivery of their latest acquisition a Fairey Gannet for restoration and display.

This is the same tyoe of aircraft I mentioned above that the Fire Service at Wick Airport used for fire training.

I love the Gannet. Then again I love a lot of British stuff from that era.

I got to stand next to one in the early 80's (XG831 ) at Flambards Theme Park. It is massive! Much bigger than I expected.

It now resides at RAF Davidstow Moor although I don't know what condition it's in.

It's a shame that wonderful aircraft get relegated to such duties Alicatt. Now I believe there is only 1 flying example.

ITV was along to film the arrival of the Gannet for the Borders News:

https://twitter.com/ITVborder/statu...wIqHBH43nzPloiz31FEjbDUES9vNpjJ6Q_vlcN8I

Very beautiful airplanes. American, British, Russian, they all make some really great aircraft that are also quite beautiful. I've never seen the Fairey Gannet before so thank you for posting that. What a neat looking plane. I love all those planes that some call ugly. I think they're quite gorgeous like the A-7.

Trooper, I would love to have seen all those great airplanes back when you did. Cold War era planes seemed to produce some unique cool designs.

Yes Coot, and there wasn't the same kind of restrictions to military aircraft flying then as there is today... and if there was, then pilot's were paying lip service to it.
I remember seeing these aircraft at pretty low heights as well, plus, hearing a sonic boom was often heard when the Lightnings were about!

I used to live in an area that was a designated low flying zone between two live fire ranges in the north of Scotland, Tain at the South East and Cape Wrath at the North West and our local Wick Airport was a diversionary field. We got a lot of visitors practicing their touch n goes as part of their training, we even had a USAF F-15 Eagle accidently release a missile into the forest about 20 miles out of the town and set it on fire, it burned down quite a few hectares and closed the main road into the county.
If you look at 57°50'17.25"N 3°57'48.28"W on Google Earth you will see the impact craters from the ordinance dropped on the range.

Driving through the Glens many a time I was at greater altitude than the jets that went blowing past me lower down in the bottom of the valley, or the Jaguars pulling up slightly to get over the walls on the road. Another time a pair of A10s, as it looked to me, banked and slid down the face of the cliff on the north side of Wick bay, they were literally at wave top height going round the north head, awesome to see.

You could hear the Hueys and Chinooks coming long before they got over the horizon line, the two blade rotor on the Huey was particularly bad in beating the air into submission, closer up they did get quieter but when they were about 5 to 10 miles out they were really noisy.

Hopefully it seems that our very own Mr Johnny Vegas may rescue this old bird. Seems he has stated that he will take it. Great news.

I appreciate those of you across the pond may well have to google him.

Why does it have 2 propellers?

Because it has two engines
.
.
.
.
.
It is two Armstrong Siddeley Mamba engines called a "Double Mamba" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Siddeley_Double_Mamba In flight they can shut one engine down to save on fuel to extend their loiter time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Gannet



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfz_4D7gLsQ

Neato!