September Fury

September Fury, given the race number 232, is a highly modified Hawker Sea Fury that is a regular racer at the Reno Air Races.[1]

September Fury
Type Hawker Sea Fury
Registration N232J
Fate Highly modified as an unlimited class racing aircraft

History

In 1962 two abandoned Sea Fury wrecks were recovered from a farmer's field in New Brunswick, Canada. Only one of the two wrecks survive a hangar fire and it went on to be restored to airworthiness as N232J. Then after a landing gear failure the wrecked aircraft was bought by the Sanders Family in November 1969. In September 1970 the aircraft was airworthy once again.[2][3]

Racing career

N232J was entered in the California 1000 race and finished in fourth place. Again it raced in the July 1971 United States Cup Race, with Sanders piloting it to second place. In November the aircraft flew again in the California 1000 race, ending with first place.

In 1975 the aircraft raced again at the California National Air Races and finished in 6th place.

The aircraft changed owners in 1978 and again in 1988. That September the aircraft was raced as "232" at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. In late 1989 the aircraft was sold and moved to the United Kingdom, not to return to the United States again until 1995.

Michael Brown bought the aircraft in 1996 and the aircraft was again registered as N232J and restored, then the Mk. 18 Bristol Centaurus engine removed and replaced with a more powerful Curtis Wright R-3350-93. With its first flight in 1998.

The new 232 under the name September Fury returned to the Reno Air Races in 2000, the first time since 1988. Though did not finish due to a blown engine. September Fury would have the engine replaced with a modified R-3350 and the aircraft modified further, ready to race in 2001. In 2002 September Fury was clocked going 468.266 mph, the fastest Sea Fury in the world. It would finish in second place at the Reno Air Races.

The 2003 Pylon Racing Seminar saw a repainted September Fury with a more wild scheme. September Fury however blew an engine at the Reno Air Races that year and did not get to compete.

In 2004 September Fury finished in 3rd place in the Unlimited Gold.

In 2006 September Fury took first place at the Reno Air Races, Unlimited Breitling Gold race.[4][5]

September Fury competed in the 2007 Reno Air Races however did not finish the Unlimited Breitling Gold race due to a blown engine.

The 2008 Reno Air Races, Unlimited Breitling Gold race concluded with September Fury in third position.

In 2009 September Fury changed owners and did not race again until 2011. Finishing in 4th place.[6]

In 2012 September Fury finished 2nd to Strega in the Unlimited Breitling Gold race.[7]

2013 saw a fast qualify time with September Fury placing 2nd on the roster.roster However mechanical failure left the aircraft unable to race.[8]

On April 29, 2019, it was reported by an aircraft dealer that September Fury was sold and would be back in the air soon. No indication was given whether it would remain its air racing configuration or be converted back to stock. [9]

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See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. "232". www.lewisairlegends.com. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. "The Saga of 232". warbirdaeropress.com. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. "September Fury". warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://reports.airrace.org/
  6. http://reports.airrace.org/2011/2011.Unlimited.Race.232.Report.html
  7. http://reports.airrace.org/2012/2012.Unlimited.Race.232.Report.html
  9. "Platinum Fighter Sales". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
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