Canberra WK128 /WH734

WH887 and Provosts at Wycombe today

Just made a quick visit to Wycombe Air Park this afternoon. The nose of the Canberra WH887 was outside on the back of a lorry. Also outside was the Provost from Sandtoft WW421(G-BZRE).

Inside the yard seen through the open door was the wings of the other Sandtoft Provost WV499 (G-BZRE). Couldn’t see the fuselage but couldn’t get a full view inside. It may have been in there though. Also on a more modern note were two black Hawk fuselages XX278 and XX339 inside.

The Lightning and Hunter are still by the main entrance.

Hello All,
The letters page in the current issue mentions that several Jindiviks and the Phantom will share the same fate as the Canberra’s.

Cheers

Tim

I’d heard it was to be spares recovered for the Martin Baker Meatboxes?

Dave-It seems bizarre that WK800 which whilst having a lot of flying hours and kept in immaculate condition(from what I remember) is to be used for spares salvage. Is there a demand for these spares?. In my opiniion it the aircraft should have been offered for sale as a static at least being the last example of this MK.

Thanks

Paul

I think the spares recovery is to empty it of the drone control bits and pieces, probably leaving it subsantially in one piece for anybody who might give it a good home. Personally, I would like to see it preserved as a drone with all the lumps and bumps (mostly as that is how I remember it flying- blimey, getting nostalgic about 2003 😀 ), but if somobody was to fly it as an F8, I certainly would not be complaining.

Whatever happens, they all deserve a good home- for a Meteor drone to survive into the 21st century is an amazing survival story, from having missiles chucked at it to droning aound doing circuits and bumps training jindivik pilots.

I was passing Llanbedr in November, I’m sure that I saw a pile of bits that looked like looked like meteor wings lying behicnd the hangars- the chap writing into flypast (an ex pilot of the wingless one- when it was an F8) is spot on- it ought to have a place in the Divided World hall at Cosford.

That said, a drone Meteor would fit in well with Cosford’s eclectic mix of Meteor versions- if as seems likely ‘800 does not have a future as a flying ‘warbird’ then would this not seem like a good plan?

The two Canberras were looking rather tidy (4th of Nov), I had’nt realised at the time that they were not long for this world! I guess they can’t all be saved 🙁

Also- yes there surely could be a little corner found in ‘AirSpace’ for a Jindivik, given its interesting ‘commonwealth’ heritage it would go well with their general theme? (If they are being sold off- anybody fancy a garage sized jet 😀 )

Hello All,

According to another mag the wingless Meteor at Llanbedr i mentioned (WH453) has been put up for tender, as have two of the RAF Jetstreams at Shawbury, and the ex QinetiQ example at Boscombe Down together with a couple of SHARS at Yeovilton, one of these is the ETS maintenance training example that only joined the GR.3 in 2003.

Cheers

Tim

WK800

Dave-It seems bizarre that WK800 which whilst having a lot of flying hours and kept in immaculate condition(from what I remember) is to be used for spares salvage. Is there a demand for these spares?. In my opiniion it the aircraft should have been offered for sale as a static at least being the last example of this MK.

Thanks

Paul

Mmitch – The Meteor D16 which flew to Boscombe Down was WK800 for spares recovery. The static Meteor mentioned above is reported as ‘sold’
and I can think of two U.K operators who have expressed an interest in F.8’s.
Flypast this month has an article on the operation of Meteor Drones which I recommend!

“2 UK operators” ?? – do you mean in airworthy condition, and if so why on earth did they let VZ467 go to Oz???

Mmitch – The Meteor D16 which flew to Boscombe Down was WK800 for spares recovery. The static Meteor mentioned above is reported as ‘sold’
and I can think of two U.K operators who have expressed an interest in F.8’s.
Flypast this month has an article on the operation of Meteor Drones which I recommend!

Morning all,

Apart from the Canberras which I might guess, could have been partly spares recovered for the RAF, can anyone say what has happened to the Meteor D.16, WH453, the Phantom and the whole of the remaining Jindivik fleet?

Sorry if I have missed any posts about the later aircraft, but the Jindivik deserves a place in a major museum.

I know of the Shelduck drone in the Super Hanger at Duxford, but cannot remember if there are any Jindiviks in Museums already.

Cheers

Tim

Last months Aeroplane reported that the Meteor D16 was flown to Boscombe Down on its last ever flight and a decision was still to be made on its future.
mmitch

We have been promised in ‘Jin’ at Boscombe Down – I believe there is one also at Maes Artro.

Taken from Wrecks and Relics:

A92-708 Jindivik ex Llandbedr. Bristol Aero Collection, Kemble
A92-755 Jindivik Displayed on the gate at Aberporth

Morning all,

Apart from the Canberras which I might guess, could have been partly spares recovered for the RAF, can anyone say what has happened to the Meteor D.16, WH453, the Phantom and the whole of the remaining Jindivik fleet?

Sorry if I have missed any posts about the later aircraft, but the Jindivik deserves a place in a major museum.

I know of the Shelduck drone in the Super Hanger at Duxford, but cannot remember if there are any Jindiviks in Museums already.

Cheers

Tim

Does anyone know if the cockpits of these two were salvaged when they were broken up at Llanbedr?

David, I heard that Crash ‘n’ Smash from St. Athan removed both cockpit sections a few months ago. I’ve got no info on where they went though I’m afraid.

Robelc – thats okay if it’s cut there! That’s just the fuel tank area and it allows you to dismantle her at the cockpit pressure bulkhead and leave it neat and tidy. It does take some cutting in that area so they aren’t always
that neat at first!

Yes saw its nose section in the yard at Booker last week, no sign of the rest of it, looked a pretty crude cut just forward of the wing root.

Can’t say that I’m surprised, but dissapointing nonetheless. Thanks Robbelc.
Hopefully it’ll be find a good home (if it’s going free, then…. 😀 ;))

Sorry to hijack your request, but does anyone know what happened to the Canberra on the dump – WH887?

Yes saw its nose section in the yard at Booker last week, no sign of the rest of it, looked a pretty crude cut just forward of the wing root.

Sorry to hijack your request, but does anyone know what happened to the Canberra on the dump – WH887?