WW1 SE5a in Australia

[Kyt]

Rare fighter prepares for final landing ABC Australian Capital Territory

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is preparing to display a rare World War I fighter plane.

The SE5a (Scout Experimental) aircraft is one of only 10 left in the word and is in the most original condition.

Today staff had a dress rehearsal for fitting a custom-engineered support to display the plane in a dramatic flight position.

War Memorial spokeswoman Barbara Reeve says the fighter has a lot of history, being manufactured in England in 1918.

"We know that other aircraft in this particular batch of aircraft saw active service," she said.

"So for us it does help us tell the story of the First World War, especially the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Royal Australian Air Force."

The SE5a was one of the most successful British fighters of World War I.

The War Memorial's plane was gifted to Australia in 1921 to help equip the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force and in 1929, the RAAF donated it to the War Memorial.

Conservator Jamie Croker says the single seat fighter is in great condition.

"[It's a] very lightly constructed and fragile object," he said.

"We think that majority of the fabric on this aircraft is original and all the timber framework inside the aircraft is original."

Mr Croker says restoring planes is a dream job.

"Some days it isn't like a real job at all," he said.

"I enjoyed building model aircraft when I was a child so to be working here now on this aircraft is unbelievable."

Over the front

The fighter will be part of the new Over the Front exhibition opening at the War Memorial in late November to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Two other restored Allied planes - Avro 504K trainer and Airco DH9 - and two rare German warbirds - Albatros DVa and Pfalz DXII - will also be part of the exhibition.

"The heart of the exhibition is to tell the story of the beginning of the Royal Australian Air Force and end of the First World War," Ms Reeve said.

"[Also] the experience of flying in these very fragile, when you think about it balsa wood and fabric, aircraft."

[Nostalgair]

Thanks Kyt,

The SE5a is one of my favourites.

Here's a shot of the Shuttleworth Collection's SE5a at Old Warden.

SE5a.JPG

Cheers

Owen

[Pathfinder]

I guess I will have to go back to the AWM and see it when it's finished