Mystery biplane spars, struts and wires built into a roof

Reading the article , it said:

The wings were collected from the back of the building on Dock Road earlier this month, after being discovered in the roof in September.

This thread started in September. :rolleyes:

And how quickly the owner gave permission to take down the building to retrieve the spars when someone else was offering to do that for a while.

If indeed it was though this board the RAFM was alerted, then a proper thank you is in order.

But it is good those parts where rescued.

UPDATE:
Looked at the RAFM site, said

The RAF Museum was first alerted to the existence of the wings in April this year when an email was received suggesting that the roof of a building

So they knew earlier.
So, what took them so long! 😉

My informant then went on to say that the spars were to be “placed in water for four years” as part of the process to recover them (I think there is some confusion with a certain Dornier project here). They will then be used to rebuild a H.P. 0/400.

One would have thought they would need to dry them out, perhaps they could pack them in a freight container and ship them out to somewhere hot and dry like Egypt, after all they have a storage facility there :p

Glad to see a good result and they have been saved 🙂

Was also mentioned on the BBC Radio news tonight

That is good news. Congrats to all involved in the rescue of these parts.

Some news from the RAFM posted today, no mention of a replica but great to see these parts in safe hands.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/WW1_Bomber_Wings_Found_in_Garage/

See bottom of page 2- how else would it migrate to Old Warden then – or would it be swapped for some other more attractive airframes currently based at OW?

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?126601-Mew-Gull-Heading-Back-To-Old-Warden/page2

There are no companies involved in the U.K that I can think of . The only way I perceive it could be done is with a influx of cash from a WWI enthusiast . There has never been an indication of a Vimy sale .

Surprised there has been little comment about this – if it is true and there is now an RAFM project underway to recreate/reproduce/rebuild/restore/replicate (use whichever R-word you prefer) an O/400 – the first British strategic bomber? – then this fills a significant gap in the RAFM collection – and no I don’t think the Vimy will be sold to pay for it either!

It is of course serendipitous that the recovery of the wing elements accords with the known interests of the Director and the forthcoming WWI anniversaries – could it be completed by 2018?

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/127736/disappointment-as-great-war-wings-in-connah-s-quay-move-away.aspx

PM sent

[ATTACH=CONFIG]222294[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]222295[/ATTACH]Today, I went to have a peer through the gate to see if anything had been happening regarding the building and its roof supported by the wing spars. I was, at first, appalled when I saw that the building has been demolished and what was left of the roof timbers had been stacked nearby.

However, from a distance of about 50ft I could see no sign of any of the spars amongst the pile of wood and on making enquiries at the shop next door I was told that the building had been demolished around two weeks ago but the spars have been saved.

Apparently, an RAF team came up from Stafford and took took the building apart to rescue the parts. They have now been taken back there.

My informant then went on to say that the spars were to be “placed in water for four years” as part of the process to recover them (I think there is some confusion with a certain Dornier project here). They will then be used to rebuild a H.P. 0/400.

He seemed to think there were four wings/spar sets recovered but I certainly counted six sets when I was in the building earlier this year, though I could see no sign of them amongst the rubble.

It is excellent news that the parts have been saved but is anyone able to shed any further light on the matter? Presumably the RAFM have got something to do with it?

Pics: First – the area the building occupied. Second – the remains of the wooden roof structure.

Anon.

Maybe the guys that are local to the parts -have expressed an interest and undoubtedly want to preserve the parts as local history might well be the ideal home for them!

Might Peter Jackson be interested?

I’d have thought that the RAF Museum would have jumped at the chance of some major wing components. Haven’t they shown any interest then?

It is well known that the RAFM work in mysterious ways!!

sorry should have mentioned it was at Shuttleworth.

if I remember right from my last visit, its the wing main spar from a Vimy,

I think folk may be getting a little ahead of themselves here. The roof is in a parlous state an there is no direct contact from the owners who have all my details.

I think the time may have arrived to get a bit more proactive in rescuing these spars. I’ll try and get some response from the owners, even if it means offering to take the shed down for them.

Thanks for the details, gents, of the 0/400. It does sound the most likely and those fittings are near identical, as I can remember.

Anon.

I’d have thought that the RAF Museum would have jumped at the chance of some major wing components. Haven’t they shown any interest then?

Shuttleworth have a large spar hanging from the wall of one of their hangars – 0/400?

Roger Smith.

Folks if more confirmation were needed years ago when I was a child and this structure was a garage facility a mechanic asked me if I could see ‘The Bomber’ ? I said no so he just pointed at the roof !

Motorhead once had a ‘bomber’ hanging from a roof as well…