I would like an A-7

Been reading the replys with interest, I have a few ideas and may be a few places to go, museum wise with a few questions to ask and wot they think, I guess anything from the U.S. for a mear mortal like me is near on impossible

another case where the replacement can’t match up with the original. A1 could carry a toilet and a kitchen sink, A-7 manages a flimsy wooden ladder !:diablo:

Ugly looking spud though, but in common with other US types, having one in the UK would be great.

Especially as it has a license built Rolls Royce engine which is why they managed to get a pair into the 1970 Farnborough Air Show in the days before they opened it up to all and sundry.

In the past 18 months or so, I’ve taken my son to Hendon, Yeoville, Coventry , Duxford (a few times), Cosford and the DH Museum at Hatfield, Newark is planned for the summer holidays – I’m looking forward to it.

Keep heading north there’s lots to see! 😉

Thanks for the pointer Twinotter – shame about the F-14 but in truth, I see the aurgument made very well there. Maybe another day…..:(

In the past 18 months or so, I’ve taken my son to Hendon, Yeoville, Coventry , Duxford (a few times), Cosford and the DH Museum at Hatfield, Newark is planned for the summer holidays – I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve never tried to import an aircraft so may not know what I’m talking about, but surely on “Older” types like the A-7 that are not in service anywhere now (IIRC just Greece and Portgual?) if they strip the avionics, break or damage the main spar in some way, its no longer a viable flyer or “Threat” then it maybe more possible ? I know that the US are chopping F-14’s into tiny pieces so no spares get to Iran (maybe we should try and import one from there :diablo:) but do the “difficulties” extend to all US military types ?

I was thinking more about whether the Greeks or Portuguese purchased the airframes outright or whether they were operated like the F100s, T33s and Mysteres across Europe; and therefore the disposal would be controlled via the USAF Museum in Dayton.

This thread elsewhere might have passed you by – I suspect ultimately the National Museum issue might have been invoked, but who knows!

TwinOtter is basically right, and I know it sounds defeatest but any group that is not a recognised national collection (Duxford for USAF in UK) trying to acquire an ex US military aircraft (be it ex European AF) will have very little chance.
This link (http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2187) takes you to one reason why, submitted by the Bentwaters Museum.
There are other reasons aswel though.

Being serious for a moment I’m not sure what arrangements the Greek and Portuguese A7s were originally acquired under and whether or not they might realistically be available to UK groups.

I’ve never tried to import an aircraft so may not know what I’m talking about, but surely on “Older” types like the A-7 that are not in service anywhere now (IIRC just Greece and Portgual?) if they strip the avionics, break or damage the main spar in some way, its no longer a viable flyer or “Threat” then it maybe more possible ? I know that the US are chopping F-14’s into tiny pieces so no spares get to Iran (maybe we should try and import one from there :diablo:) but do the “difficulties” extend to all US military types ?

another case where the replacement can’t match up with the original. A1 could carry a toilet and a kitchen sink, A-7 manages a flimsy wooden ladder !:diablo:

Credit where credit’s due – I’m almost certain it was aluminium! :dev2:

Being serious for a moment I’m not sure what arrangements the Greek and Portuguese A7s were originally acquired under and whether or not they might realistically be available to UK groups.

Skyraider could carry more !

another case where the replacement can’t match up with the original. A1 could carry a toilet and a kitchen sink, A-7 manages a flimsy wooden ladder !:diablo:

Ugly looking spud though, but in common with other US types, having one in the UK would be great.

I knew someone would step in and spot it! :diablo:

Surely that’s standard fit Twinotter:D

Nearly an A7D

A quick telephone call has confirmed that Newark tried unsuccessfully to secure an A7D shortly after the Iowa ANG deployed to Waddington in August 1979.

All that resulted was a set of ‘Herky’ markings for the then recently acquired F100, a type that had also been flown by the Iowa ANG.

Can you spot the RAF’s sense of humour in the attached picture?

Circa 1994 I was at Davis-Monthan on business and worked with the man whose job included giving away aircraft to groups. (The NMUSAF gave away planes to museums). He’d give planes away to schools and veterans’ organizations as gate guards.)

Not sure whether this is correct or not but I understood that the American government will now only consider ‘new loans’ to National Museums. :confused:

So no more trips to Sculthorpe!

There were two located at Glendale Airport in Glendale, Arizona that were for sale at one time, though I can’t remember where they were being offered. They have now moved on, I think to Buckeye airport (also in Arizona) but I’m not certain of that. A post over on the WIX board would probably get a bit more info. I was told the two aircraft were complete and restorable. I snapped these pics a couple of years ago.

Circa 1994 I was at Davis-Monthan on business and worked with the man whose job included giving away aircraft to groups. (The NMUSAF gave away planes to museums). He’d give planes away to schools and veterans’ organizations as gate guards.)

He had more A-7s than he knew what to do with. Back then, the rules were a lot more relaxed than I’m sure they are now, but he made it sound easy to get a non-flyable A-7. And with folded wings, they’re not that hard to transport.

Pity I didn’t have the land I have now…I’m sure I could have come up with a convincing story/organization to get one.

many years ago we took delivery of a Venom FB4 at Cosford from Kai Tak that was in very poor shape after three months as deck cargo, the cockpit was badly corroded and wood rotting after the canvas covering was damaged.
I started hunting for spares and eventually we swapped a new mothballed Bristol Herc radial engine for a flying example of the Venom from Switzerland, it was flown into Greenham Common for some reason before being roaded up to Cosford.
This is how Cosford ended up with a Swiss venom and because I had done most of the arranging ended up with a £4000 bill for flying it in, 4 grand was a hell of a lot of money in the early 80’s but the RAF agreed to pick up the bill.
If you can find something greece may want for one of its own museums they may be interested in bartering but get a decent internationally recognised museum on your side, the A7 i suppose would fit in just nice with the other cold war exhibits at Cosford so have a chat to them, it would look good alongside that MIG 21,

regards, Terry

Yorkie – going back to the initial post about acquiring an A-7.

If you are really keen I would suggest a course of action something along the lines of:

1.Enter into negotiations with a UK Museum who would be interested in adding an A-7 to their collection – on loan from you.
2.You would need a Museum that has some status – ie a Registered Museum and, perhaps, a Registered Charity and Limited Company. You are likely to have to deal with a foreign government at some stage and you ‘partner’ museum’s status will be important.
3. It would be useful if the museum has people around who have had actual experience of acquiring/importing an ex-military aircraft.
4. I guess you would like it to be a museum local to you but that may not be possible.
5. Identify what the museum is prepared to contribute to the project – more likely to be in the form of labour than financial but their possible contribution in phonecalling/negotiations could be important.
6. You would need to set a budget that the Museum agrees with (we’re talking a considerable sum probably).
7. Jointly agree ‘targets’ – ie identify sources of A-7s be they
a) still in military hands, b) with a foreign museum or c) in a foreign scrapyard.
8. Identify UK ex-military aircraft available for purchase – one likely method of actually acquiring an A-7 would be an offer of exchange with another museum. Portugal has been mentioned. A route may be a suggestion to a Portugese military museum that they get an A-7 transferred to them to exchange for something they want that’s available in the UK.
9. Carefully consider what you do – a bad action could foul up future prospects of acquisitions from abroad.

Roger Smith.

“Is there anything else on your wish list?…. Non American?!!!!!!”

Lightning F2a
Seafire FR47
He 219uhu
Bristol Beaufighter 1, IV, X
Phantom FG1/FGR2
FW 190D-9/13

I’m sure if I sold my Escort Mk2 RS2000 I could afford one of those:D

Would anyone swap me a Buccaneer for this;

XR754 mate, I dont have any pics at the moment i’m afraid. You can find it on the Thunder and Lightning website, theres a pic of it inside the aeroventure hangar but it dosent look like that now:(, I saw it a couple of months ago, no radome, canopy and many other bits missing, basicly open to the elements

If anyone wants a lightning cockpit theres one under a sheet that looks like its not be touched for a long time at aero venture South Yorks, an F6, nut sure wot their policy is with it but it just seems to be decaying at the moment.

This one?
http://www.aeroventure.org.uk/xs897.php