Essentially English Electric

Glad you thought my help was useful.

For viewing park, it’s run by The Aviation Society. www.tasmanchester.com

The only other contact would be through the Trident preservation website who are currently re-assembling G-AWZK there, and a cracking job they’re doing. I think the chap concerned is a regular poster on here.

I think it’s WV838 (sea hawk cockpit owner) who is the man to contact ref: the liverpool option.

I sincerely hope you pull it off!

J man

Nice pics. Two of my favourite modern aircraft. By modern I mean blowlamp powered as I am predominantly an old fashioned piston engine fan.

Thanks to Jetstream man and Wildcat for their input …

Glad to report that i MAY have found a close in option ‘up’t north’ and will be investigating XM172 being a temporary resident of a storage compound at Greenodd, near Ulverston. I will be having a site recce tommorrow : 7th April. Its another small Cumbrian village not far from my final proposed destination so that sounds encouraging!

Meantime, my contacts in BAE at Barrow are on side with possible options within the yard, and inform me that i cant get a 14ft wide load thru Scales Village just on the outskirts of Walney Airfield …My Backup ….. If that option needs to be taken, then i guess its a wing off and some VERY careful loading on a trailer!!

As for temporarily parking her under Concorde’s wing at Manchester (only kidding)… i like that idea jetstream Man …. who do i need to contact to mull that option over with please?

So, thats the state of play today with the clock ticking, THANKS for the comeback … Fly Safe, Neil

The chap from the jetstream club has been willing for airframes to join their collection on here, is that not an option for a stopover? Manchester Viewing Park? Avro Association at Woodford under the Vulcans wing?

Has Jeremy ‘ im so proud of british heritage’ Clarkson been approached? Put it in his garden again 🙂

Good luck chief

J man

Neil,

Check your pm’s

Thanks Wildcat. By chance, im off to see the Warton Heritage sages soon, hopefully this thursday comming…. XM172 will be raised of course but im not expecting much from them as their ‘facilities’ are already bursting at the seams with heritage stuff and the airfield is fairly packed with trade …. it was when i last looked down on them 2 hrs ago!
Cheers, Neil

XM172

Neil,

Firstly well done for the efforts in helping to preserve a piece of our heritage up here in the North West.

Have you spoken to any of the lads at North West Heritage at Warton? they may be able to help or advise on short term storage.

Hello All,
Time for an update regarding Lightning XM172 at Booker.

You may be aware that im trying to saveguard this machine by moving it up’t north to my place in the Lake District. So far im getting good feedback and positive indications with regards to my planning application from the Lake District National Park Authority and would welcome any letters of support sent to the Chief Planning Officer, LDNPA, Murley Moss, Kendal, Cumbria. Im going along the line of XM172 being the FIRST F1a to enter service and being ONE of only 4 complete airframes remaining world wide…bit of a North West Heritage angle as well as being a piece of aviation history saved for posterity! You know where im comming from here! ….and its the TRUTH!

Ive been informed by The Director at Booker, that i need to have her off site by 16th April and therefore, im looking at a move within the next 12 days. I really DONT want to move her twice but i feel im being given no choice.

My planning permission will go one way or the other in 6 to 7 weeks time so im looking for a temporary home for her…. anyone out there got any ideas or sensible offers?

Obviously im looking to move northwards and into a secure environment. Should my planning permission in the Lakes fail and Walney Museum is still only on paper, i have to explore options. Is there any other museum/facility interested in being a surrogate mother for XM172 for a couple of days/months/years? If so, id be interested to hear from you …

My final option is to move her north and split her into bits for storage until Walney is up and able to receive her …. Thats it ladies and gentlemen, from the horses mouth, where i stand right now on 4th April.

As i have intimated previously, its not clear waters yet but im swimming hard.

Thanks to all those who have sent me emails of support,offers of help and advice..keep them comming please, it all helps.
Cheers all,
Fly Safe, Neil

I wil be talking to ‘bods’ at Salmesbury tomorrow (21st) and will get an update then. She is in a sorry state and is a need of perhaps more than TLC.

That’ll be PR.7 WT537. See here

Just heard that the Canberra outside Salmesbury gate is up for grabs … anyone interested or know any more on this ??? ……. it came to me via an BAE source…

Canberra PR.7 WH791 is currently displayed at Newark Air Museum. http://www.newarkairmuseum.co.uk/aircraftlist.cfm

It is reported that the airframe is currently undergoing restoration by members of 31 Squadron Association as part of their 90th Anniversary celebrations.

Hello all, yes it is XM172 there. Im in the process of going through ‘planning permission’ with a view to moving her from Booker to a new home up in the Lake District. She is presently under threat and in real danger of being scrapped by a ‘third party’ so Barry Parkhouse has sold her to me with a view to getting her away from Booker ASAP…. its by NO MEANS clear sailing or set in concrete just yet …. im working as fast as i can …

Ive gone public with this info on a different thread (XM172) along with notifying the Lightning Assn webmaster and other mainstream Lightning websites. Take a look and let me know what you think of my cunning plan!

Fly safe, Neil

Ref the B.15 WH984. The cockpit of this Canberra is now at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham owned by a Mr John Sheldrake. Potted history and pics here.

Glyn, the pic you show of it as a complete airframe is much better than the one I have of it on the line at Akrotiri. Any chance of using it on my site?

You are right Propstrike, the last one is XM172. I omitted that piece of information but I have inserted it now.

Glyn

I think that looks like XM172, one time Coltishall Gate Guardian, and part time garden ornament for Jezza Clarkson, now in some uncertain state of preservation at Booker.

Photo-Neil Airey