Cosford – The Future?

Looking at these photos I do wonder about Cosford sometimes.

A few years ago I donated a new set of external covers beloning to an aircraft on display outside. Returned a few months later and they hadn’t been fitted. 😡

Got to sit in the TSR 2 though:)

I guess that is a common problem with alot of static airframes. I know that the Canada Aviation Museum had to replace alot of tires before they moved their outdoor exhibits recently.

Would it stressful to move the aircraft periodically?

Vulcan ….

I wonder if Cosford will have trouble releasing the brakes on the vulcan like Solway are? They have to remove the brakes so that they can tow it closer to the museum..

Glad to hear that the Cosford Cover is go ahead. And yes the Vulcan does look alittle rough but once they get them all in a stable environment, I am sure that they will be able to clean them up.

Look what Trenton have done with their Halifax (it was very rough) so nothing is impossible right!

Will it be a challenge to move those airframes which have been on the grassy part of the museum..I can see the Britannia sinking in pretty deep!

Vulcan and victor

Great pics!
I place the vulcan about two points up abive the blackpool vulcan in condition.. She looks awful although like Ant said.. maybe the missing panels are a sign of work underway to stop her corroding into a mass of bits.
The victor looks in good nick although with the flaps down and the intakes left wide open (matching most preservationsists mouths no doubt)to let the birds in Surely she should have covers placed over these intakes before nesting birds get in and corrode her from the inside out!
Cmon cosford.. it wouldnt take that much time money and effort!!!!

Looks like at least they’re trying.
Those patches at the base of the Vulcan fin were big holes in October.
Both the Vulcan and the Victor have got bristles stuck over various edges to stop birds perching on them. If they can think of that, what stopped them covering holes up?

Thanks for the pics Kev.Poor old Vulcan,here’s hoping that the missing panels etc are a sign of work in progress rather than one of neglect.
I can’t help feeling that they could’ve taken better care of the Victor.It seems ridiculous to leave all those intakes open,the intakes for the ram air turbines only need a titchy little bit of canvas over them,and hey presto,the weather (and the birds!) stays out.This is actually something you see on service Victors,so surely the RAF could’ve donated a pair of ’em when they handed the aircraft over?I’m puzzled as to why a museum like this seemingly want to make restoration work for themselves,keeping the intakes ‘bunged’ is one of the most elementry aspects of maintaining an outdoor airframe.
By the way,the bird is a Jackdaw.They’re quite well known for thier intelligence,and this one certainly seems to have some taste when it comes to choosing a home. 🙂

And finally….

At least three of the intakes/vents are providing homes for different species of bird.

Regards,

kev35

Victor. Appears to me to be in much better overall condition

And again

Vulcan

First of all, I visited Cosford last Saturday. I spoke to a couple of the volunteers and as far as they knew this project to cover the area between the hangars is going to go ahead. Here’s a poor pic but does give some idea of the size of the area to be covered over.

For Peter, here’s a couple of pics of the Vulcan and Victor to follow. The Vulcan is currently roped off and does appear to be in a bit of a state.

Regards,

kev35

BBC report on it:

Found this link on the BBC site for the story. Suggests that planning permission has been granted, though seems funding is not complete.

Cosford Story

How much you believe it all depends on how you read paragraph two that calls the V-Bomber trio fighters!

Ive got some pics of them taken last month if your interested Peter but I dont know how to post them .or I could send them to you by email.

The Valiant, coming out of the Bomber Hall? Good grief! God knows what they’ll have to do to poor old ‘Sugar’ this time to get the Valiant out of there…who’s daft idea was it to entomb all those aircraft in a huge building with a little door at the back, anyway?!!!

Not sure I can see the Valiant moving somehow, though I would welcome it-the Bomber Hall could do with some re-jigging, particularly at that end; although interesting for example, the Barnes Wallis office display takes up loads of space, space that could be better used for more airframes, such as the eventually restored Hampden. And maybe even a chunk of Stirling, too!

I think the BoB Hall has had more than it’s fair share of new displays/’experiences’ etc over the years, to the neglect of the Bomber Hall which seems to have remained fairly samey for a very long time. Even then, the exhibits within are less than ideally displayed in my opinion; the B-17 should look like one of ours if it’s going to be in there, and you all know my opinions on that poor Lancaster having it’s tail in the air like some glorified Airfix kit!

The current audio/visual presentation in the BoB Hall is excellent-some really good thinking now could present something similar in the much-neglected Bomber Hall.

Peter,

I’ll see what I can do for you.

Regards,

kev35

kev………

can you take some snaps of the vulcan?? and victor??

Damien.

“Can’t see it happening – that’s a huge area of land to cover, and it’s also uneven – the ground slopes down considerably as you go from the two main hangars towards the Trident and the other hangar.”

Yes, I know. I realised just how steep that slope is when I tried to Push myself up it in my wheelchair the other week! Haven’t worked that hard for a while.

“The RAF would also need a new way into the airfield half of the station.”

Hadn’t thought of that. I’m popping over tomorrow so I’ll have a good look at the Vulcan. I’ll see if there’s anyone there I can ask about the plans as well.

regards,

kev35

Damien.

Isn’t their intention to cover the entire area between the hangars? If that’s right, I’m sure I read it somwhere, that is going to be a massive structure which would encompass the entire row where the Vulcan and Victor stand, the Trident, the Britannia, the Gnat, Hunter and the Bloodhound battery with room to spare! Huge expanse of land which would accommodate a hell of a lot more too. I suppose transferring the Valiant up would complete the trio. So surely the Vulcan and Victor would be cared for inside?

Regards,

kev35

neat idea

Wow this would be a great display especially if they could do it as a diorama and repaint the victor and vulcan in anti flash white paint and have the trade mark blue servicing equipment..