1/72 FAIREY SWORDFISH THE NAVY WINGS HERITAGE FLIGHT W5856/4A CITY OF LEEDS

The Swordfish is a biplane torpedo bomber, designed by the Fairey Aviation Company and principally operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. The design first flew in 1934 and was retired from frontline duties towards the end of World War II.

W5856 is the oldest surviving airworthy Fairey Swordfish in the world and is now part of the Navy Wings historic naval aircraft collection. W5856 first flew in 1941 and served with the Royal Navys Mediterranean Fleet for a year, then returned to Fairey's Stockport factory for refurbishment over the winter of 1942/43. Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1944 and used in a training role, this aircraft was then stored in reserve after the end of the war.

Sold off and passing into civilian ownership, W5856 was eventually purchased by Sir William Roberts and brought to Scotland to join his Strathallan Collection. In 1990, the aircraft was bought by British Aerospace and completely restored to flying condition. Following a successful test flight at Brough in May 1993, she was gifted to the Royal Navy Historic Flight. Three years later, the aircraft was adopted by the City of Leeds, in tribute to the local companies that built Swordfish components during World War II, and W5856 now wears the citys coat of arms and name on her port side just forward of the pilot's cockpit.

W5856 was grounded with corrosion in her wing spars in 2003, but BAE Systems generously stepped in and constructed a new set of wings, which were delivered in 2012. W5856 was saved by a major grant from the Peter Harrison Heritage Foundation. The aircraft re-joined the display circuit in 2015, carrying a new paint scheme which depicts Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron during the attack of the Bismarck in 1941.

Released as part of the lower-priced Inceptor series, this second Swordfish in the series (after AV72-FB-001, the other Swordfish in the Navy Wings collection) makes for another excellent value model. It comes complete with a display stand in a window presentation box.