I notice on page 16 of Flypast that a hanger at RAF Theal is under threat of demolition.
I’ve also always thought that the hanger destroyed at Duxford during the filming of Battle Of Britain should be replaced instead of leaving that big concrete gap.
Do you see where I’m going with this? Find a hanger of the right style and period, get the developer who wants to knock it down to help fund it’s move, and Duxford gets a whole new hanger for a fraction of the cost of the Superhanger or American Museum.
Ok, I know it’s not that simple, but it would be nice to save a vintage hanger from the bulldozers, restore Duxford more to it’s wartime look and get some of those exhibits stuck outside indoors.
Peter
By: David Burke - 14th October 2002 at 20:53
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
I didn’t say leaving them out in the weather does conserve them but neither does cutting holes in the airframes to allow them to be suspended help. For the record the three aircraft you mention as having been scrapped are not as straightforward as you mention.
The Varsity was scrapped because the were two on site and one was better than the other – simple as that. The Comet was viewed as a duplication (with the MK.4 inside) and the fuselage was returned to the RAF for training. The Convair was in quite good order but didn’t fit in with the scheme of things. The were two people who had a serious interest in her for preservation (elsewhere) but the authorities at Duxford didn’t manage to get the matter sorted out – hence she was scrapped.
The Shackleton has been mentioned on at least one occasion that they would like to reduce her to just a fuselage. So if you leave her outside long enough she will give in !
By: David Burke - 14th October 2002 at 17:09
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
Mike – hanging airframes from roofs does not conserve them . Take a look in the AAM at the B-25 Mitchell hanging up and the cutting that has been done to the airframe to allow it .The displays might be dramatic but they lend nothing to the long term preservation of the machine.
By: SADSACK - 14th October 2002 at 15:45
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
I agree with you mostly but am I alone in detesting airframes hung from the ceiling?
Probably because you cant sit in them.
Then again i’d rather they were shuffled round like at Duxford and Elvington.
By: Steve Bond - 14th October 2002 at 07:01
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
Excellent idea David – gets my vote for what it’s worth.
By: David Burke - 12th October 2002 at 18:06
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
Steve – I think the costs involved in building a Belfast to the original spec would be enourmous. I would however like to see a
variation on the theme i.e a new build Belfast. Using concrete
structure clad in brick and steel roof trusses you could create
a beautiful building. I would then make the roof glass for maximum
use of light – truely a 21 century ‘Belfast’.
By: SADSACK - 11th October 2002 at 10:12
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
It could go to any of the small musuems who try like hell to look after the airframes outdoors. I’d like to get the creatures who nicked Newarks T2 and bury them under it.
By: alexis_lambert - 10th October 2002 at 20:04
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
I remember talking to Mark Hanna many years ago about getting a hanger buit there and he told me that the IWM would not allow it. He told me of no real reason they just said no.
By: Steve Bond - 10th October 2002 at 11:05
RE: Hanger for Duxford?
This suggestion has been made many times over the last few years. The film makers actually did not have permission to destroy the hangar, but that’s another story.
A hangar of the appropriate type is the main issue. Belfast truss hangars are now very rare beasts indeed; there are others at Hooton Park, most of those at Filton and Bracebridge Heath were demolished just a few years ago, and of course the main aircraft gallery at the RAF Museum at Hendon is built around the same type.
The argument against replacing the missing one at Duxford has always been a combination of lack of funds and availability (and probably will?)
I agree it would be nice to see yet more long suffering aircraft put under cover, but anything other than a Belfast truss hangar in that gap would ruin what is a fantastic and very original line of buildings.
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October 10, 2002 at 10:46 am