The Shuttleworth Polikarpov Po2 at the Military Pageant 2017 in the hands of Bob Morcom. This aeroplane was built in 1944 in the Soviet Union and its operational history is unknown until it was included in a group of 30 given to Yugoslavia in 1946. It flew first at the Military Air Force Academy at Pancevo before being transferred, in 1952, to the Yugoslav Air Club where it was used for glider towing and parachute training.
On the 1st March 1958 the aircraft was registered YUCIJ and flew at the Federal Aircraft Centre at URSAC until April 1961, then being transferred to Murk Subota in Slovenia. Its working life ended in 1979 when it was donated to the Yugoslav National Museum who later sold it to Jim Pearce who brought it to the UK and registered it as GBSSY in July 1990. The aircraft was sold on to Pat Donovan in 1996 and shipped to Seattlewhere restoration was begun, but then it was taken to New Zealand in December 2000. Finally it was purchased for the Shuttleworth Collection in 2004 and following comprehensive restoration the aircraft flew for the first time with the Collection on 10th January 2011, piloted by 'Dodge' Bailey.
The fuel tank holds 200L but there are no fuel gauge nor fuel pump. The oil system no filter, just a mesh screen is turned on by a tap behind the starboard cowl panel, out of reach of the pilot.
Thanks go to Shuttleworth pilot Bob Morcom for organising the on board go pro footage.