Ashley's Tales From The Hangers

With regards to the Lanc, HP57 is correct regarding the luminous dials in the cockpit – the Museum is having to remove any radiactive material from aircraft that are on display, hence the closure of the Halifax. I believe work is almost completed if not done on the Halifax, so hopefully she will be reopening soon 🙂

Ant,

The only treatment I am aware of is replacing the luminous dials in the instrumentpanels. I was told by an IWM official.

Cheers

Freddy

Here’s the second…

What needs doing to the Lanc nose??She look fine as far as I can tell and she’s never opened up to the public,so why the fuss??
Found these pics on airliners.net,taken just a few days ago…

A bit late, I know but if anyone is interested in an update regarding the condition of the Halifax cockpit section at Lambeth here it is:

All glowing in the dark instruments have been removed and the faces have been replaced with photographic facsimiles of the original instrumentfaces, but the difference is hardly noticable. The entire cockpit has been repainted in a fresh interior green colour including the bombardiersection (not authentic if you ask me, but it does look less gloomy and visibility is enhanced for the visitor, sacrifices will have to be made). If all goes to plan she will be opened up for the public again and visitors can view the crewstations after about a year of blocking off which frustrated a certain afficianado of HP’s wonderful design, namely me. I understand that the same treatment is going to be done to the Lancaster cockpit section next to it.

And Lancman………, thanks for defending the Halifax. It is highly appreciated.

Cheers

Freddy

thanx,

yes, the skyraider was up on the 18th, went up at about 1300 and came back about 25 mins later. A few minutes spirited aerobatics….and then land!

I do like the skyraider…..very useful in its time.

coanda

Nice pics Coanda,thanks for those,just leaves me wishing I was the lucky so-n-so in the back seat of the Spit (or the front seat for that matter!:)).
Were the Skyraider pics taken on the 18th aswell??If so,it’s probably the first time she’s flown in about two years.Last I heard,TFC had allowed her paperwork to lapse and were hoping to sell her.I know alot of folks on this forum don’t think much of the Skyraider,but having seen solo displays from Paul Bonhomme and Stephen Grey over the years it’s become one my favourites. Just wish there were a few less of them at Legends,Skyraiders are best displayed solo!

heres some pics, including caroline graces spit, taken when I went n the 18th…

There are more at the link below.

Duxford Photo’s

coanda

Hi folks 🙂 I’m in a rush now, but I’ll answer questions tomorrow morning when I have more time.

Ashley

Thanks for the updates Ashley,always appreciated :).
The plan to turn the Shack into a walk-thru exhibit entails doing away with the wings and the undercarriage and bringing the fuselage down to floor level.Various bits of the ‘carcass’ would then be laid out around the aircraft as a kind of educational display,including a disected wing,engines etc.It would also entail cutting an exit door in the nose.I think somehow I’d prefer to see her stay in one piece!
As for the Halibag nose at Lambeth,she doesn’t seem to suffer too much.Alot of bits and pieces have been removed (or rather weren’t put back in when it was restored) to make the fuselage safer and more accessable,and a purpose built steel walkway has been put in,so the feet of the masses aren’t actually pounding on the original floor.Added to this,all the crew stations are protected by perspex screens,so the internal fittings are well protected.IMHO,any damage which is done is outweighed by the educational value of the display,which gives an excellent impression of what it was like to fly in these aircraft.I used to visit the IWM at Lambeth quite frequently as a kid,and the walk-through Halifax was always a hilight of the trip,and has always left a lasting impression on me.

Years ago I engaged in some lively correspondence with the curator of the Lambeth IWM, re. the apparent pounding their utterly priceless original Halifax nose section gets from Joe Public thumping through it all day every day, and I was more or less told to go and mind my own business…

…that’s the last time I stand up for a Halifax!!! 🙁

Whats the plan?

Hi

What does the walk-thro plan entail?

You can walk in the Shack at Newark with no obvious drawbacks, as far as i can tell…. not that i know alot.

How does the walkthrough effect the Shack??

Cheers in advance.

Great stuff Ashley,

do yu ahppen have to any email addresses for Duxford’s top brass. We could send a few emails voicing our concerns over the Shackleton. They probably wouldnt listen thoughbut its worth ago…or an address.

Anyone else want to join in?

best regards, steve hatton.

Hey thanks for the info

Nice to hear from the ‘floor’ before seeing it in print in a mag…gives you an ‘insider…privilaged’…sort of feeling.

As it looks like I’m moving back to the UK around October, I’m going to have to make a effort to come up and visit…never been to Duxford yet, though its only just over a 120 miles form home !

Once again thanks

Thanks for the update.

The paint scheme currently worn by OFMC’s Harvard is permanent. The aircraft had some additional markings for film work, but these have now been removed. The rest (dark green US colours) will stay.

Steve

Thanks Ashley,

Greatly appreciated

Mogs