Hi
Dont mean to butt in on the thread, I was talking to one of the aircrew of the PR9’s at Waddington 2006 and he said that there wouldnt be a problem keeping then flying in civvie hands even though they had reached their pressure cycles for RAF use, the RAF limits on the aircrat for operational use were much tougther than on the civil register, is it not the nose section only that the pressure cycles run? I think the airframes them selves were still good

Yes, it wouldn’t be a problem for civvie display flying only, as per the Vulcan, which is limited to VFR and less than FL15, hence no neeed for pressurisation.

But, as I said, can the UK display circuit sustain 2 x airworthy civvie operated Cranberries as much as a PR.9 would be awesome to have on the scene….??

I assume the lack of pressurisation cycles, and the unavailablity of zero time canopies and/or seals or just the shear cost of the work to up the pressurisation cycles is what put paid to any mod contract work for them….??