The Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group (HTPG) exists to raise the funds required to oversee the rebuild and return to flight of the sole surviving combat veteran Hawker Typhoon MkIb, RB396. The Typhoon; a powerful, potent ground attack aircraft that redressed the balance in mainland Europe during World War Two (WWII), has been lost from the collective memory of our national, industrial and engineering heritage. RB396 will symbolise this heritage, educate the public and become a permanent memorial to all the crews, of all nationalities, that made the ultimate sacrifice operating the Typhoon. It’s time to remind the world.
The HTPG team, all of whom are unpaid volunteers, has stepped up to the monumental task of putting this rare, unique and important aircraft back into the skies where she belongs for the crews that flew and operated the Typhoon. RB396 is a memorial to those who came and served before us, influencing the course of WWII and our future. The HTPG are not observing history, they are honouring and making history. The first flight is scheduled for 2024, the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The first part of the ‘jigsaw’ has commenced with the rear fuselage currently away for restoration with Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight.
‘The Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group would like to thank Pennells Carpets for their most generous, no cost, donation of industrial grade carpet tiles for our entrance foyer and corridor at our base on Ridgewood Industrial Estate Uckfield. The entrance area needed sprucing up as it was just in the basic form; the existing carpet was badly stained. Pennells’ fitter Steve did a superb job for us on 4th February and shortly after the entrance area was complete as you can see in the photos.’ As a registered charity run and operated by unpaid volunteers, the money saved will go directly to the restoration to fly of Hawker Typhoon RB396.’