I finally made my first visit to the Gatwick Aviation today despite living less than 20 miles away!
The condition of the exhibits does vary enormously but without hangarage the aircraft have take there chances with the weather, although certain airframes are in the process of being repainted.
The collection is open tomorrow and is well worth a visit, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Vallance for his hospitality and for opening up both Shackletons. 🙂
Septic.
By: mjr - 16th April 2006 at 22:01
Dave T,
Im not sure what the long term plan is for it, we have suggested one or two uses for it, such as 1) use for a crash scene or 2) some of us have offered to run the Lightning in full reheat directly infront of it, hopefully that will finish off the jags BDR/fire training duties! 😀
Id be surprised if anyone in their right minds would want to buy it anyway.
MJR
By: Dave T - 16th April 2006 at 21:40
… The jag will never get any attention what so ever 😮 , that much is certain, its a lost cause, and theres no point since a good jag is in storage just around the corner, and will arrive at some point. MJR
MJR,
Would they consider offering it for sale then ? I sincerely hope they would consider it instead of throwing it in the nearest skip…. 😮
.
By: mjr - 16th April 2006 at 19:19
😀 yes, and it all just adds to the general weirdness of the bucc.
MJR
http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/lightning/mainsite.htm
By: Papa Lima - 16th April 2006 at 19:15
Buccaneer nose
Sorry, I haven’t looked so closely at a Buccaneer nose before, as I now see from the picture I took of the one at East Midlands, it is “grafted” on and some “padding” had to be added to make it fit properly!
By: mjr - 16th April 2006 at 18:53
Hello all,
Plazz hit the nail on the head, the bucc nose has been paint striped to be re painted in the summer, re the bucc nose not being straight? I think its just the lack of paint and and optical illusion, the nose is as straight as a straight thing. 😀 The jag will never get any attention what so ever 😮 , that much is certain, its a lost cause, and theres no point since a good jag is in storage just around the corner, and will arrive at some point. Most of the collection is looking pretty nasty after the winter period since all the aircraft are covered in winter preservative, wax oil and nasty moss, infact removing wax oil and washing started today, no sooner than we got all the kit out, it started raining 😡 grrrr.
MJR
http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/lightning/mainsite.htm
By: Papa Lima - 16th April 2006 at 13:44
My point (excuse the pun!) about the Buccaneer nose is that it’s not straight!
By: Plazz - 16th April 2006 at 13:31
I’m sure MJR will clear this up, but my understanding is that the Bucc nose has been rubbed down ready for a new lick of paint when time and weather permit.
As for the Jag, its a complete wreck. You’ll notice from the photos that there is a mirror hanging off its starboard side, this apparently makes it in to one of the most effective bird scaring devices that you can get 😮
Plazz
By: Dave T - 16th April 2006 at 07:11
Dave, another veiw of the Jag plus the resident Harrier.
Septic.
Ooh thanks for that. Hopefully the Jaguar will get some TLC (and parts) as they’ll be a glut any day now 😉
By: 92fis - 16th April 2006 at 00:01
Nice pic’s septic.
By: Septic - 16th April 2006 at 00:00
Dave, another veiw of the Jag plus the resident Harrier.
Papa Lima, another shot of the odd nose, perhaps one of our Bucc experts can tell us more.
Septic.
By: Papa Lima - 15th April 2006 at 22:00
The Buccaneer appears to have a broken nose – has it been in a fight?
By: Dave T - 15th April 2006 at 21:33
Gary, cracking photo’s.
Any more of that poor poor ol’ Jaguar ?
.
By: Septic - 15th April 2006 at 21:22
Second set with interior veiw of the Shack.
Tail end charlie to bomb aimer.
Septic.
Sign In
April 15, 2006 at 9:12 pm