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Ant,

Feel free to use the pictures, I had to shrink them to post them and the quality has suffered a bit so if you want the originals let me know and I’ll email them to you.

Regards Plazz

Cheers Plazz,not to worry mate.Just wanted to make sure my mail got through ok.
Would you mind if I used one or two of your piccies?I’m thinking of emailing an aviation mag or two about the plight of the swift,and it’d be good if I could send ’em a pic or two.I have written to Aeroplane about her in the past,but as I didn’t have any pics they didn’t show too much interest.
Thanks again Plazz,you’re a star.

Ant,

Sorry I haven’t got back to you, last weekend turned into a nightmare with unforeseen work commitments turning up and then my PC crashing big time resulting in me having to format and then reinstall everything.
I got your email ok and I will be heading up to see the Swift and hopefully its owner next Monday afternoon so check back here after then and I’ll try and put you in the picture.

Regards Plazz

Hi Plazz.Have there been any developments on this yet?Emailed you a few days ago,hope it got through ok.

Cheers Plazz,you’re a star mate.I’ll get something sent off to you shortly 🙂

Swift

Ant,

I live about two miles away from the Swift, its just off of the road I live on so I have very easy access to it. The store owner locks up around 5:30pm so I was lucky to catch him last night and he let me in for 15 minutes to let me take the photos and also have a quick chat.

The store owner gave me the impression that he couldn’t care less about the aircraft as it belongs to his father. I did ask him about the possibility of moving it but he seemed content in the knowledge it could be swept away with a broom in a few years time ! I’ve lived here for over fifteen years now and have visited the aircraft many times, but I’ve always suspected that the day will come when the aircraft is declared unsafe and is unceremoniously cut up on site, however, after reading you reply I feel inspired to track down the store owners Farther and see what the long term plans are. So feel free to email me a letter and I’ll take with me when I go which will be sometime over this coming weekend.

Regards Plazz

[email]entities@btopenworld.com[/email]

What about the victor all 5 are outside

Don’t tell me you don’t feel sorry for her… 🙁 😉

Plazz,this may come as something of a surprise to you,but I want your babies!! lol You’re a star!! The last time I saw ‘275 was about five years ago,and in previous visits I’ve never been able to get decent pics (camera packed up the last time round-boy was I mad!).
As far as I can tell,she’s one hell of a lot worse than when I last saw her.There was some damage to the wingtip,but it looks like somebody has hit her again,and the rate of corrosion is a real worry.If I remember right,you could actually see daylight through that hole in the fuselage out to the other side and an equally large hole on that side,so I dread to think what it’s like now.There were also no holes in the wings.She seems to have an awful lot of her internal equipment still intact,including the engine,and while this is good news for anyone thinking about restoring her,it’s bad news when you consider the amount of strain that’s being put on the corroded structure.
As for BAPC,I don’t think they have any legal clout.As it happens,one of the key players in BAPC actually lives in Leominster,5mins drive from this Swift.I wrote to him some time ago,and he replied that various museums and organisations had tried to negotiate a deal to purchase the Swift,but the asking price was either unrealistic or the proposed swap wasn’t followed through.She came close to being moved a few years ago when a Whirlwind was offered as a swap,but having agreed to it,the owners then went back on it and decided to keep the Swift.
Plazz,when you say ‘just down the road’,where exactly is that? Despite numerous efforts,I’ve never actually managed to contact the owners in person.The business doesn’t have an email address,and I live in London,so it’s quite a trek to get up there. If I emailed you a letter of some sort,would you be able to pass it on?
I’ve got my fangs deeply embedded in this one and I’m determined not to let it go.That Swift HAS to be saved,ASAP! Anyone have any ideas?? Perhaps Seafury could come along in his Chinook and heli lift it away while the rest of us form a diversion?? 😉
Seriously,does anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks again for the pics Plazz,even if tehy aint much to look at.:(

Much as I hate official interference in private/personal property, the Swift is an example of where it’s needed.
If it was a building or a tree, the council could list it, slap a preservation order or similar on it.
BAPC got any clout?

Damien,

Your more than welcome to use any of my photos on your web site. Here’s one more for you.

Regards plazz

Interesting pictures Plazz – looks like she has about five years remaining until corrosion makes that rear fuselage drop off.
What a complete and utter waste of a fine airframe -lets hope his son takes a reality check!

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Last one You’ll all be pleased to Know 🙂

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Please someone tell me how your supposed to do this picture thing ?:confused:

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More !:D

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Sorry, I havent worked out how to post them all on one thread !!!!

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Cont..

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Ant,

The Swift WK275 that you refer to is up the road from my house so I just trekked up the to take some photos for you ! As you can see she’s deteriorating quite a lot. I managed to catch the owners son just as he was locking up for the night and he told me that his Farther wanted to trade the Swift for a Harrier but he wasn’t keen on the idea himself and so there are now no plans to move or trade it, and as far as he’s concerned its staying put ! There is also a whirlwind HAR.10 XP360 on his property which he told me his Farther has sold and is waiting for it to be moved but he wasn’t sure as to where it was being relocated and that I’d have to pop back there and see his Farther for more details.

Regards Plazz

Re: Icon Outside

Originally posted by David Burke
Which one aircraft currently preserved outside either fills you with optomism for it’s future … ?

I think the general consensus of opinion on that part of the question is ‘none of them’. Certainly, I can’t think of any aircraft currently displayed outside which isn’t in danger of deterioration. The Newark Lightning (if we’re talking about the one in the old A1 Commercials yard) is probably the most extreme example of a once proud aircraft which is now at death’s door, but sadly I fear it’ll be followed by many more unless more private collectors and museums start thinking seriously about hangarage.

Much as I love Cosford, I’ve always been concerned by their tendency to obtain a recently retired type, scrap an older example, and then allow the later aquisition to rot away – eg Vulcans 1 & 2, Victors 1 & 2, Varsities, Canberras 8 (OK that one was sold) & 9 etc. It seems short sighted to dispose of an older (and probably rarer) variant, just because a later one becomes available. The Vulcan 2 is now very scruffy – far better have kept (and maintained) the last surviving Vulcan 1.