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  • Amarok

RAF Lyneham Comet update 2011

I read in the press that Newark Air Museum are now not seeking a Nimrod R1 from Waddington due to difficulties in removing and refitting the wing and that The museum also recently became aware that spares recovery of significant airframe parts from the nominally allocated Nimrod R1 airframe would be likely; thereby leading to an incomplete airframe being available for disposal.โ€

My suggestion was DH Comet C2 XK699 Saggitarius currently on gate guard duties at RAF Lyneham

‘Saggy’ in the 1980’s when she arrived from Henlow
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/Amarokuk/XK699onlorryLyneham16-10-86.jpg
and as she was when first on the gate
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/Amarokuk/XK699COMETC2cLynehamgate20-6-87.jpg
During an inspection in 2009 by the RAF Museum they removed the interior and recommended scrapping there and then.!I have had a look and externally she is pretty sound the interior could do with a clean up.
I understand the RAF Museum need to keep to a budget and to use the Comet 1X at Cosford as a Replica RAF Comet makes sense.
But Poor old ‘Saggy’ needs a new home
My first thought was alongside the RAF Brit at Kemble but the chaps there don’t have the space ๐Ÿ™
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/Amarokuk/xm4963.jpg

RAF Lyneham is in fact closing early, not in 2012 as stated but all flying will end in May 2011, with the C130J’s going to brize and the remaining K’s scrapped. At this present moment there is a civilian company on site dismantling the C130K’s and taking them up ‘north’ here we can see herc wings going through Wootton Bassett High Street
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/Amarokuk/1herc1jpgdisplay.jpg
So it might be an ideal time to call the RAF Museum, ask what their intentions are for ‘Saggy’ if it is surplus to requirements and if the dismantlers would do one more job/run ?

NAM very kindly commented that they had seen the report in 2009, it was very authoritative and comprehensive. They were also aware that it has been used by at least one other museum, when considering whether or not to try and save the airframe โ€“ sadly it doesnโ€™t make very good reading.

can someone please save ‘SAGGY’
Kind Regards
Mike

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By: springbok - 9th January 2011 at 21:10

So who owns the Comet/C-47 at Lyneham? What are the current plans? What will happen to Lyneham? Are there any contacts?

Hope you can help.

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By: hunterxf382 - 8th January 2011 at 15:20

There’s also the rather large delta winged bomber there….. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

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By: WB981 - 7th January 2011 at 20:09

There is indeed a C-47 at Lyneham. Its owned by the Air Despatch Association. One hopes it will go to Brize when 47 Air Despatch go there. But who knows. So far I have not heard anything.

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By: springbok - 7th January 2011 at 19:02

Hello,

What will happen to Lyneham after closure? Could one of the hangars be used for storage/museum display purpose?

Also isn’t there a C-47, where will that go?

Thanks,

Chris

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By: Amarok - 7th January 2011 at 13:35

Thanks for the update, in November it was quoted from RAF Lyneham that Mon 4th July was the last herc out of Lyneham, In December I then got an invite to the final flight /close ceremony Wed 25th May 2011 from the SWO !
so who knows what is going on
the main thing is we save SAGGY
Regards
Mike

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By: Canberra Geoff - 7th January 2011 at 12:54

All the Herc squadrons are moving to Brize in July,not May.The airfield will remain open for some time afterwards.A number of Ks (8?)will transfer to Brize until OSD of 2012.The 3 Hercs being scrapped at present have been out of use for a long time(217,220 and 305).Hope this is of help.

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