Posted by Frederick Galea on Facebook on the 29/06/2023.
During the summer of 1996 scuba-diver David Schembri, while underwater, came across an aircraft engine laying on the sea-bed fairly close to the island of Filfla, and at a distance from Dingli cliffs.
He informed our Foundation about the find, and within a short while, wheels were set in motion for its recovery. Not quite a simple task as the site was relatively distant from mainland Malta and all facilities. Therefore, it was suggested that David was to bring the engine to the sea surface and have it placed in a ‘net’.
The next move was for an AFM helicopter, all previously arranged, to lift both net and engine and fly them to the cliffs at Dingli, where our members were awaiting them. A few photos show the recovery taking place. The aircraft engine, a Napier Lion, belonged, most likely, to a 1920s/30s Fairey III F, which must have ditched in circumstances unknown to us. Today, the Napier Lion engine is on display at our museum at Ta’Qali.
Posted by Frederick Galea on Facebook on the 29/06/2023.
