The Little World

Looks like 42547 will be sitting for a bit longer on the hardstand at RCAF WET DOG. The Russian ferry pilot has complained about the front landing gear strut – and we can’t say we disagree with him. It has been put on the service sheet for a rebuild.

The front gear leg does indeed attach within the well, but there may have been some mistake with the cementation – it looks to be about 3-4mm too short. The basic leg might not come off cleanly when the plane gets back into the shop, and it’ll be necessary to remove it piecemeal and fabricate another.

The rest of the ship looks good, and the pilot is very happy with the canopy hatch that lifts straight up. They may put Soviet machine guns into the rear when they get it to their own airfields but this will do for the ferry flight. In any case the front guns are loaded for any stragglers who try to defect. The whole convoy will have to wait until this Havoc is ready.