Starfighter fun in traffic

A good move but oh not for the want of trying:

1988 – Lightning T5 lift not feasible due to the onerous time constraints of the British Grand Prix

2006 – Viggen lift eventually declined due to request for drop clause

Just for information 1994 – request to consider Draken landing on A17 bypass declined!! 😀

We went for something a little less subtle when we moved our new T.7!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-22256219

I presume that you’re referring to the ‘Meteor NF12 route’, which was surveyed and found to be passable for the NF12 fuselage with the outer wings removed.

As stated in my OP, what stopped it was “lack of an independently functioning braking system on the aircraft” – somewhere in the NAM Archive are copies of my letters from the time.

It is embedded in my mind because it was the first NAM airframe that I was in charge of dismantling and moving – the logic I applied was that it’s got to be simpler just to take off the outer wings and tow it, as opposed to the complete strip down that was eventually required! :highly_amused: Naivety of youth!!

Pleased about the lack of weather issues for you guys and good luck with your Starfighter restoration Tom! 🙂

Twotter, you have a gift for understatement…

I hope that you haven’t been affected by the heavy rain that we’re hearing about in your part of Canada?

We are fine, 300km North on high ground away from any water.

Do feel sorry for our friends down South though

Tom

Glad that you were all above board!

I forgot to mention that in NAM’s case it wasn’t quite as straightforward as I may have intimated – the route from RAF Cranwell to Newark along the old A17 road included quite a tricky section through a Lincolnshire village called Leadenham and a rather steep hill to descend as you left the village. Still it was worthwhile asking the question.

I hope that you haven’t been affected by the heavy rain that we’re hearing about in your part of Canada?

Nice work there Tom – I once tried to get permission from the UK authorities to move a Meteor NF12 fuselage in a similar fashion!;)

Declined due to the lack of an independently functioning braking system on the aircraft!! 🙁

You asked permission? Might have to do that next time (lol)

All vehicles and systems involved were properly insured, registered and equipped for the job (tow vehicle commercially operated) and after checking the traffic act we did it. Within the bounds of our laws.

Tom

Nice work there Tom – I once tried to get permission from the UK authorities to move a Meteor NF12 fuselage in a similar fashion!;)

Declined due to the lack of an independently functioning braking system on the aircraft!! 🙁