Duxford Ambassador G-ALZO

Thanks Ant.

I’m sure I’ve no real idea of the amount of work to restore a big machine; I was a bit concerned it was a back burner project. Imperial War Museum / civil airliner…

Shame she’ll be Earth bound, but perhaps she’s safer that way. I never knowingly saw one fly – the nearest I can get are some clips from the British Pathe archive. You can get previews free (but you have to register and ‘buy’ them for £0) but quality downloads are £25+VAT each!. This link http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchfilm=bea+elizabethan.

Ignore the first and third as they are rough cuts of the last one. The second one is worth a laugh (Ambassador pilot flies to work (Denham to Heathrow) in a 20 year old vintage Moth)

The fourth seems to say its from 1961; read 1951. Colour film of Heathrow landings including Ambassador, Connie, Stratocruiser and Comet 1 (overshot? and then landing)

Edit – easier via ITN Archive search – try http://www.britishpathe.com/images//preview/00000000/00086000/00086327.WMV (media file)

Apologies for asking a potentially silly question – have they finished the York yet? If they haven’t, would the Ambassador become the next full time project?

Hi Ray,
The majority of the work on the exterior of the Ambassador has been done,save for the final tarting up and the adding of the outer wings.The interior is recieving alot of attention at the moment,which perhaps explains why there hasn’t been much obvious progress in the last year or so.The aircraft is being restored by a small but dedicated team to a very fine standard indeed,we should give them the credit they deserve and also be more patient.As for whether the aircraft will fly again,that’s a definate no.DAS and the IWM don’t fly their aircraft,they’re purely exhibits.Couple this with the shortage of Ambassador spares and you’ve got yourself one truly ground-bound machine.
To be honest,I’m just glad the machine is being restored at all,if it were anywhere else but Duxford it almost certainly wouldn’t be getting the treatment she’s getting now.The long term plan as I understand it,is to incorperate her into the AirSpace building/Superhangar once its renovation and extension is complete.You could argue that it’s a good thing restoration is taking so long-if it were complete already IWM might’ve been tempted to push it outside for the next few months!

😡 Duxford’s full of aircraft being restored to / kept in flying condtion. I’ve no idea who owns the Ambassador or why she’s in bits after 18 years there. That’s why I asked.

Will she fly again?

That old question…(shakes head sadly).
Surely that is not museum policy.

Flood.™