The Connie will not move, let alone fly. Last year I was talking to a member of staff at Wroughton, and suggesting how great it would be to see it towed out into the sunshine for photography etc.

However, I was led to believe that the bottom of the fuselage has suffered from very extensive corrosion, ( a legacy of its cargo days) and the ubiquitous H&S regulations now preclude it from even turning a wheel, lest it should fold up into a heap of exfoliated aluminium!

Living very close to Wroughton, I was very lucky to photograph the entire collection outside during the mid-80s and knew the late John Bagley well, as I did his successor, Ross Sharp. Both being enthusiasts, they used to let me know when the aircraft were moved outside for any reason. I managed all the fleet except the Gugnunc and the RAE Folland Gnat. After Ross left, I asked if the Gnat could be moved outside for photography and the, then, curator quoted me £125.00 to have it moved about 10ft from one side of the hangar door outside! Excuses like, ‘we have to captialise on such things’ and we’ll have to pay extra staff to do that’, made ‘too difficult’ become the order of the day and the museum is so tight, they won’t do anything for nothing!
Incidently, the DC-3 flew in under its own steam from Ireland and has been the subject of tail-wheel mount corrosion, so it couldn’t be moved for a long time. Did you know this is the oldest surviving DC-3, one of United Airline’s first? Restore it in United Airlines colours….you’re joking? Even when offered free labour, they wouldn’t pay for the paint!

Anyway, here are four of the inmates making a very rare outside appearance for my camera:

N7777G L-749 Constellation
G-ALXT Dragon Rapide
G-APWY Piaggio P.166
EI-AYO DC-3

Enjoy!