Composite Albacore I airframe assembled from the tail unit of N4389 ex 828 Squadron FAA and the fuselage of N4172.

First time for me to see an Albacore so this was probably the hightlight from my visit to the FAA Museum's Reserve Collection at Cobham Hall. This is the only surviving example but is actually a beautifully restored composite of two aircraft that were wrecked in 1941, N4172 & N4389. The former crashed in 1941 at A'Mhoine, Whiten Head, Sutherland and the latter was shot down near Reinøya whilst taking part in the raid on Kirkenes

The Albacore torpedo-bomber. Note the handrail for a standing passenger in front of the cockpit - I wonder what this really is.

Of about 800 Albacores built, this is believed to be the only survivor. The type first flew in 1938 as a torpedo and dive-bomber, designed to replace the Swordfish though ultimately it was withdrawn before the aircraft it was designed to replace. It is seen in Cobham Hall, the Fleet Air Arm Museum Reserve Collection