Ian Harvey in FeaturedMEDIA

Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group now a charity

The team behind the return to flight of Hawker Typhoon RB396 is pleased to announce the formation of the charity “Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group”. The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has been established by the Charity Commission in May 2016 after many months of hard work by the team.

The charity’s core purpose is to preserve and protect a Napier Sabre powered Hawker Typhoon Mk1b aircraft and return her to full working order for the benefit of the public.

RB396 Hawker Typhoon 1B

Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group also aims to share with the public the history and significance of this important aircraft and to raise awareness among the public of the Hawker Typhoon aircraft and their crews for the benefit of British heritage, remembrance and historical knowledge.

Hawker Typhoon RB396 is to be rebuilt to airworthy standard and will be powered by a Napier Sabre H24 engine. The formation of the charity further solidifies the team’s dedication to the rebuild of this iconic aircraft for the benefit of the public.

A side of RB396

Project founder Dave Robinson began researching the Typhoon in 1999, when he discovered he lived near a former RAF Maintenance Unit (MU) where Typhoons were stored and prepared for squadron service (RB396 was one of these). Since then the project aims have grown from establishing a database of parts to re-building an airworthy aircraft. A significant milestone was achieved in 2012 with the acquisition of the rear fuselage section that gives RB396 its identity. Worldwide interest developed in 2015 when the project gained exposure on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. One year later the charity has been formed with the three founding trustees Dave Robinson, Sam Worthington-Leese and Jonathan Edwards.

The founding of the charitable organisation gives further credibility to an already trustworthy project with a worldwide following and firmly establishes it on the ‘Warbird’ scene. It will also be hugely beneficial for the purposes of fundraising, and it is hoped that, in the future, methods of fundraising such as Lottery Funding will now be attainable.

A Hawker Typhoon Mk IB (wikipedia)

Dave Robinson, project founder, said: “We would like to thank all of our supporters and contributors thus far and we welcome all those who the project continues to reach on a day to day basis.

“We look forward to your continued support as we continue to develop the project and fulfil our goals.”

A supporters club will be up and running later this year and merchandise is already available to purchase via the website and social media to show your support for this unsung aircraft and its crews.

For more information on Hawker Typhoon RB396 and the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group visit www.hawkertyphoon.com You can also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hawkertyphoonRB396 and Twitter @project_typhoon.