From Airliner World, September 1999 :-
The North East Aircraft Museum is restoring SD330 G-OGIL, as Craig Blundred recounts : " Twenty-five years ago, on August 22, 1974, the first Shorts SD330 airliner left the runway at Sydenham Airfield, Northern Ireland. Since then over 140 SD330s have been delivered to airlines and military organizations around the world, making it one of Britain's more successful airliners. THe North East Aircraft Museum in Sunderland is currently undertaking the restoration of a Shorts 330, G-OGIL, and the aircraft is rapidly becoming an integral part of their future plans.
G-OGIL c/n SH3068, first flew on April 8, 1981 and was registered as G-BITV two days later. It was delivered to Inter-City Airlines on May 25. 1981 and served with them for two years before being leased to British Air Ferries. Following service with Air Ecosse and Connectair, G-BITV joined Newcastle-based operator Gill Air in 1989 where it was registered G-OGIL.
It continued to serve with Gill until 1992, when a taxying accident saw the aircraft written off, or stored pending disposal. An employee with links to the North East Aircraft Museum suggested that this was an ideal aircraft to be preserved. The management at Gill Air agreed and G-OGIL was donated to the museum, arriving in April 1993 minus its engines and any serviceable parts that could still be used on the remaining fleet. On Sunday, February 23. 1997, the mammoth task began of moving the aircraft the short distance from its outside location. A number of existing aircraft had to be moved to make way for the 330 and it took seven hours, 20 volunteers, a crane and a low loader before G-OGIL was placed within the main display building. Having made sure the aircraft was out of the harsh north-eastern weather, thought turned to restoration. During the accident, the nose cone was damaged and this needs to be replaced. This is being completed from scratch because of the difficulties faced by the museum in locating an original. A number of perspex windows are missing. as are some of the cockpit instruments. However, links with local operators have proved useful in finding contacts with spares. With the aircraft under cover, the main restoration program got under way. This involved stripping out the seats, panels and floors from the inside, and locating and treating any corrosion. Considering the aircraft had been outdoors for a number of years, there was little evidence of any major corrosion taking hold. Other than the nose section, the exterior panels are in excellent condition and require very little work before the new paint scheme is applied.
Once the aircraft is restored externally, the internal restoration will see it fitted out so that disabled visitors can enter. A section will be restored so that visitors will see it as it was when in service; the museum has access to a full complement of seats.
A number of items are still required in order to complete the restoration, the main ones being a pair of propellors which will complete the aircraft externally. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of a spare set, the museum would be glad to hear from them".
