Buyer still sought for restored warplane

This World War 2 Hawker Hurricane fighter plane belonging to Sir Tim Wallis (pictured) failed to...
This World War 2 Hawker Hurricane fighter plane belonging to Sir Tim Wallis (pictured) failed to sell at a Melbourne auction. Photo from ODT files.
A buyer is still being sought for Sir Tim Wallis' World War 2 Hawker Hurricane fighter plane, after it was last offered for sale at a Melbourne auction in September.

Alpine Deer chief executive Graeme Ramshaw said, when contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, the plane remained on the market.

He declined to comment on whether there was much interest from buyers or any anticipated sale price.

The Hurricane has been for sale for about 18 months, he said.

The warbirds market was a "funny one" and buyers and sellers involved in the niche trade did not need much promotion, Mr Renshaw said.

The ODT reported in September that Sir Tim's Hawker Hurricane was passed in at $A2.4 million ($NZ3.1 million) at the Melbourne auction by London-based auctioneers Bonhams and Goodman.

It was hoped the 1940 model Mk IIa plane would fetch up to $4.9 million at the sale. It was the first time in 20 years a Hawker Hurricane had been put up for auction.

Sir Tim, the founder of Warbirds Over Wanaka, bought the Hawker Hurricane in 1992 and repaired and restored the aircraft during an eight-year period.

The single-seater fighter plane was recovered from Russia in 1991. It took part in four wartime campaigns, including the Battle of Britain, before it was shot down in 1943.

The plane is one of 11 airworthy Hurricanes left in the world.

 

 

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