I have today laid before Parliament a departmental minute describing a gift which the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to make to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust Ltd.
Since 1960, the Royal Navy operated a collection of MOD-owned historically important naval heritage aircraft with the Royal Navy Historic Flight. Five military-registered aircraft formed part of the Royal Navy Historic Flight, all of which had been maintained at some expense on the military register by the MOD. In January 2018, it was determined that, to allow greater freedoms in operation at reduced cost to the MOD, the Royal Navy Historic Flight should be disbanded, with its aircraft transferred to a civilian owner-operator. On 1 January 2020, four former Royal Navy Historic Flight aircraft were gifted to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, with one, a Fairey Swordfish Mk II (LS326), retained while its original conditions of transfer to the Royal Navy were clarified.
The gift comprises a Fairey Swordfish Mk II (LS326) torpedo bomber aircraft, famous for the battle of Taranto and operations throughout world war two, in flying condition.
The total value of this gift is in the region of £495,000. The transfer of ownership is expected to be undertaken over the coming weeks.
The Fly Navy Heritage Trust Ltd, a charity operating under the umbrella of “Navy Wings”, has promoted the culture and heritage conservation of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm since the formation of the trust in the early ’90s. The trust has provided significant financial support to the renovation, repair and maintenance of heritage aircraft, operating them in direct support of naval service engagement aims.
The gifting of this final former Royal Navy Historic Flight aircraft to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust will allow this historically important aircraft to continue to be used in support of commemorative and educational aims in support of the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm for many years to come.
[HCWS389]