Staff and volunteers at the Newark Air Museum are currently very busy in the southern corner of Hangar 1, where several interesting light aircraft rebuild projects are ongoing.

Perhaps the most illustrious project currently underway is the General Aircraft Monospar VH-UTH, which is now having major components refitted to the fuselage framework. Most recently this has seen the additional long-range fuel tank that was installed for its epic flight from Australia in 1962, refitted into the rear cockpit area.

Work is progressing nicely on Museum, Clutton FRED [Flying Runabout Experimental Design] Series 2 G-BJAD. Since its reassembly in the autumn, work has progressed at a steady pace and the glass-fibre engine cowling has recently been cut and fitted.

Work is also nearly complete on the assembly and rigging of the unusual Maxair Hummer G-MJCF single seat microlight, which is going to be displayed in an elevated position at the rear of the display space in Hangar 1. How the volunteers currently working on the project wish that the manufacturers “estimated set-up time of 10-20 minutes” could be achieved in the confines of Hangar 1