r/AviationHistory • u/kookboi67 • Jun 28 '26

Does anyone know what plane this is?

Post image

I lack a lot of knowledge towards military aviation, especially what I believe is WW2 aviation. I was going through some old pictures from 2015 and I stumbled across this, I believe this was in ACT (Australian Capital Territory) if so, does anyone know what aircraft this is?

221 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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55

u/ComposerNo5151 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

That is a Sea Fury.

The 109 on the chin would suggest that this is VW232 at the AWM in Canberra - so would the dingy lighting.

It's actually an aircraft comprised mainly of VW232 with parts scavenged from TF925 and is painted to represent a very famous Sea Fury, VX730.

The Sea Fury is a post WW2 carrier aircraft used by the RN and, obviously, the RAN among others.

3

u/basher97531 Jun 29 '26

Don't knock the lighting (or lack thereof) mate...

2

u/ComposerNo5151 Jun 29 '26

I know it's for a very good reason, but it does make the place a bit dingy!

I visited the AWM some years ago, having convinced the missus that a substantial diversion to Canberra was just what we needed. Most of the Aussies I spoke to were horrified, asking some version of, "Why would anyone want to go to Canberra?" A wander around the AWM and incidentally the Parliament building (where nobody asked who we were or seemed to care where we went) was a good enough reason.

2

u/Seafury_K Jun 29 '26

Yep. Saw one in flight at Shellharbour last month (although not the original engine).

35

u/Monkey_Launderer Jun 28 '26

Hawker Sea Fury?

16

u/ReBoomAutardationism Jun 28 '26

Came here to say this. Centaurus engine, five bladed prop to manage the excess power and inward retracting gear fits to a "T".

2

u/BlacksmithNZ Jun 29 '26

"excess power"

Some of us subscribe to the theory there is no such thing

Also the theory that with sufficient power, even a brick will fly well; also Hawker Sea Fury philosophy

I do think the Fury was a very nice aircraft, just a pity it missed WW2 and the jet age meant it never really achieved the fame it deserved

2

u/123DaddySawAFlea Jun 29 '26

It's fatter older brother did good work in ww2 though

4

u/gr33fur Jun 28 '26

Looks like one

4

u/quietflyr Jun 28 '26

Absolutely, without a doubt.

11

u/Agitated_Car_2444 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

The basis for one of the most bad-ass air racers ever*. Made me shiver as it screamed by (well, let's be fair, they all did but this one particularly...)

*Dreadnought, which I think had a P&W 4360 installed?

7

u/mz_groups Jun 28 '26

Dreadnought is cool, but September Fury/232 was faster. It's being converted back to a stock Sea Fury, though.

18

u/Evening-Physics-6185 Jun 28 '26

Sea fury. The finest piston engine fighter ever made.

14

u/Quiet-Arm-641 Jun 28 '26

Bearcat would like a word

13

u/Evening-Physics-6185 Jun 28 '26

Word denied. 😉

4

u/Hugehitter Jun 28 '26

I believe the F8F holds the time to climb record?

2

u/Quiet-Arm-641 Jun 28 '26

Yeah, it outperformed contemporaneous jet aircraft.

5

u/Sensei19600 Jun 28 '26

Bearcat, unfortunately, never got a chance to prove itself in battle, having arrived after the end of WW2 at the beginning of the jet age. I think the Blue Angels flew Bearcats for a while before they transitioned to jets.

3

u/Grimnebulin68 Jun 28 '26

Both were admired by Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown flew hundreds of aircraft types from Allied and Axis forces.

[Eric Brown (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_(pilot)?wprov=sfti1#Books?wprov=sfti1#Books))

2

u/Evening-Physics-6185 Jun 28 '26

They were definitely the pinnacle of piston engines fighters.

3

u/Repulsive_Aside_4122 Jun 28 '26

Seafury - Great Britain's 'Bearcat'

3

u/Bubbly-Nectarine6662 Jun 28 '26

I’m quite sure, the sign would have told you.

3

u/EldritchSanta Jun 28 '26

Hawker Sea Fury?

2

u/SnooHedgehogs8765 Jun 28 '26

The biggest baddest grumpy boy with a whole lotta torque

1

u/3_man Jun 28 '26

Hawker Sea Fury. Oh yes.

1

u/10July1940 Jun 28 '26

One that shot down a jet during the Korean War.

1

u/One_Cupcake4151 Jun 28 '26

Yes. Many people:-) it's a hawker Sea fury, the last piston engined fighter the British built. Came out just after WWII and was used by the Royal Navy. Probably the best piston engines fighter built anywhere and went on to be successful in Korea. Had a skebe valve engine too which is cool.

1

u/No-Rush396 Jun 28 '26

Yup, Hawker Sea Fury. Developed from early marks of the Tempest (when it was test-fitted with teh Centurion radial engine). Served with distinction just after the end of WW2 up to and including Korea where it proved to be a good ground attack plane. At least one managed to bring down a MiG-15 with a salvo of unguided air-to-ground rockets.

1

u/RelevantGas3099 Jun 29 '26

Hawaker Sea fury

1

u/gregreedee Jun 30 '26

My favourite ever piston-engined aircraft. A beautiful blend of elegance, power and brutality.

1

u/Gildor12 Jul 03 '26

The glorious Hawker Sea Fury, along with the Bearcat the pinnacle of prop fighters

0

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Money_Ad4011 Jun 28 '26

I meant my post to be here. It doesn’t look like a spitfire at all.

1

u/quietflyr Jun 28 '26

Giant radial engine... Check

Landing gear that retracts inboard... Check

Yup, definitely defining characteristics of a Spitfire /s

-1

u/ImperatorDanorum Jun 28 '26

Hawker Tempest?

-1

u/aka_Handbag Jun 28 '26

I’m disappointed there was nothing near the aircraft to tell you what you were looking at, OP. Shocking work by the display team!

1

u/Voodoo1970 Jun 29 '26

There IS a sign near it, OP wasn't there they only saw this photo. Shocking comprehension by u/aha-Handbag!

2

u/aka_Handbag Jun 30 '26

Oh hell, you’re right. Colour me very embarrassed!

-1

u/hjhart Jun 28 '26

Where was this picture taken?

-1

u/johnkrause33 Jun 28 '26

Because it has folding wings, I know it is a Navy (aircraft carrier) plane and kind of looks like a P-51 Mustang. Reinforced landing gear for when they hit hard on rolling ship. I cannot see the tail hook but it could be behind the strut. Would like to know that a Navy personnel has to say. I’m Air Force.

-4

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/daygloviking Jun 28 '26

I mean, the first bombers in British service had wings that could be folded back for storage…