F.1 XD220 at the USS Intrepid museum, 2nd February 2005; Stephen Liddle	F.1 XD317 at Yeovilton, 9th June 2001; author

XD220, our first survivor, isn't even in the UK. Incredibly, she's located at the USS Intrepid museum in New York! This is because of a deal between the Fleet Air Arm museum and the Intrepid museum - in 1986 she was swapped for an F-4S Phantom which the FAAM initially painted in RN colours but which has since moved to East Fortune. Seems that the Intrepid boys got the better side of that particular deal... Scimitars being so rare and all! XD220's last flight was from Brawdy to Lee-on-Solent on July 22nd 1970 with Lt Cdr Peter Banfield at the controls. For a long time this was thought to have been the last Scimitar flight but it turned out there was one further flight; one went from Hurn to Southend around six months later. For several years XD220 was looking in a really poor state in its current home, but the last five years or so have seen a dramatic improvement in at least her external appearance, with a repaint and good cleaning having been carried out. Sadly there are no squadron markings of any kind applied though. Information current as of 02/02/2005.

Our next survivor is XD317, one the FAAM decided to keep! Delivered to Lossiemouth November 11th 1959, entered service with 807 NAS on February 23rd 1960. Spent some time in storage with the AHU and RNAY Fleetlands from June 1961 to February 12th 1962, when it re-entered service with 807 NAS. More time was spent with the AHU from June that year until re-entering service with 736 NAS on November 28th. Moving to 800 NAS on January 14th 1963 it gained the markings it is seen in here, and flew with them until February 1964 when it went back to storage. In January 1966 XD317 was back in service, this time with the Royal Aircraft Establishment where its role was research until November when it was transferred to the FRU at Hurn. It spent most of its flying career there, returning to the RAE in August 1969, and finally being retired and delivered to the museum in September 1969. Still in excellent condition and positioned opposite a Phantom on the deck of the museum's Carrier exhibition, the wings are folded to save space and she's in the colours of 800 NAS as she was in 1963 onboard HMS Ark Royal. Information current as of 09/06/2001.

F.1 XD332 at Southampton, 5th April 1999; author

In contrast, XD332 which served with 804 NAS from March 1960 to September 1961, then 807 NAS until May 1962 followed by time in 736 NAS (training squadron) until 1965 when it passed to 764B NAS (training Airwork's civilian pilots). Went into storage at RNAY Fleetlands and then moved onto the School of Aircraft Handling at RNAS Culdrose. Disposed to the Cornwall Aero Park at the end of its useful life and has been there many years and had been rather neglected of late. She had her wings unfolded and was out in the open air, though looked to be in generally good condition... however, the perspex of the canopy has crazed and the refuelling probe showed signs of corrosion. Happily though, she was recently acquired by the Southampton Hall of Aviation (now Solent Sky) as part of their policy of collecting Supermarine types, and is now sitting in their car park minus wings awaiting reassembly. The museum intends to carry out some restoration on the aircraft outside before making room for it indoors - and they would be delighted to hear from anybody wishing to help with the restoration. Information current as of 05/04/1999.

NOSE/COCKPIT/OTHER SECTIONS

Type 544 WT859 at Long Marston, 23rd March 2002; Barry Clay	F.1 at Horsham St. Faith, 12th October 2002; author

Hiding under these covers are the last remains of any of the Scimitar prototypes - the cockpit section of WT859. Having spent many a year on a fire dump, the fuselage was the only surviving part of the aircraft and was in the process of being scrapped when it was recognised for what it was and the nose section saved, though it is quite damaged. The Brooklands Museum acquired it and hoped to restore it to display condition - but it just sat there for several years, untouched and being battered by the weather. Now it's moved on to the JAPG at Long Marston hopefully it'll get a bit more TLC. Information current as of 23/03/2002.

Possibly part of a full Scimitar at one point, this cockpit procedures trainer is to be found at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum on the edge of Norwich Airport (which was, of course, once RAF Horsham St. Faith). The cockpit is fairly bare unfortunately and sadly there has been some damage caused to this nose in the last few years, but it is apparently scheduled for restoration as a 'hands-on' exhibit. Information current as of 01/10/2002.

F.1 XD235 at Ingatestone, June 2002; Stuart Gowans

Looking rather more complete is the nose section of XD235. After service with 803 NAS, XD235 was retired to second line duties with the FRU in 1964. By 1989 the aircraft had been dumped on the shooting ranges of Foulness and spent several years being shot at. Rescued by a collector in 1993, the nose was then acquired by the Southampton Hall of Aviation in 1994. Several instruments are missing from the cockpit (many removed because of the radioactive paint used on the dial faces) and of course there's some damage from weapons fire. Restoration has unfortunately been complicated by discovery of two radioactive hotspots - either because of damaged instruments or uranium-tipped shells being used against the aircraft. With the Hall of Aviation's acquisition of a complete Scimitar (XD332), XD235 moved onto a new owner, who then swapped her for Stuart's Buccaneer nose. Information current as of 06/2002.