Hannants biggest model moves on.

[wonwinglo]

Hannants have sold their biggest model ever,a full sized Harrier GR.3 ZD668 this has been sold onto a new owner in Florida,the aircraft used to live in the rear of their warehouse in Lowestoft as an attraction.

There is no truth in the story that she was used as a large format paint match chart for customers.

She will be missed.

[Guest]

never heard of or saw this, dont surpose any one has a pic or link???

[wonwinglo]

Squiffy,they had two XZ995/3G Harrier GR.3,and ZD668/3A Harrier GR.3 which arrived during March 2004,they were stored at the rear of the huge warehouse inside,I too would like to see a picture of them,I wonder why they sold them off ? both have gone to Florida for a collector there.

Have you ever visited the warehouse in Lowestoft,never been myself but apparently it is an alladins cave of kits and paints,a multi million pound industry ? speaking to one of the directors he told me that the company started as an Haberdashery business over 100 years ago,now there is some history.

[Guest]

They must have a couple of pics somewhere, i wonder if they will appear in any of the journals this month?

I've never been to their warehouse, although i will pop in when im over that way this year, i also want to visit KH Norton as well although i dont think they are a touch on hannants from what ive gathered!

[wonwinglo]

I know someone who saw the Harriers last year,his words were they were at the very rear of the main building,this place is lke an aircraft hangar,surprisingly there does not appear to be any pictures online ? I think they purchased them as an investment and now need the space,how do they manage to keep track of so many items I wonder ?

K.H.Norton is more of a general dealer who happen to sell kits and diecasts,nowhere on the scale of Hannants,why not give they a ring Squiffy and find out if they have a photograph for us,they are quite approachable ? they also do a telephone directory sized list,that would be useful to you.

[Guest]

Ah well, another piece of our history exported across the pond.

Isn't it a shame that no-one in the UK has enough money to buy collections such as the Americans seem to be able to do.

[wonwinglo]

This has happened a lot Richard,the problem is we loose these aircraft and never see or hear of them again,many of the designs are made airworthy again on the FAA register whereby there are too many restrictions in the UK,would not surprise me if these Harriers are not flying again in a few months time.

Just imagine your very own private Harrier ? there was a chap called Barry Plover from Exeter who tried badly to get a Lightning Trainer flying privately in the UK,in the end the aircraft were exported to South Africa where they are now flying and earning their keep,together with a Buccaneer.

[Guest]

I remember seeing an article about that one on the TV not so long ago. What a great shame we cannot get our heads around doing what is necessary to keep them in this country and flying.

You have differrent regulations for different ages or motor vehicle and cheaper insurance based on expected annual mileage would it be impossible to think in the same way regarding old aircraft?

[wonwinglo]

Hopefully with the lottery grant given to the Avro Vulcan project at Bruntingthorpe,she will grace the airshow circuit,there is still a long way to go but they are working hard to get the job done.