KP208 C-47 for Duxford

A couple of whispers on the Airborne Assault Museum. The originally proposed site impinged on the CAA regs for proximity to the approach and runway at the 24 (M11) end so had to be changed. Where to? The para drop zone was suggested as over Bassingbourn which is an Army Training Base about 6 miles West of Duxford where the LTMA base is at 4500 Feet. And “Learning Slowly” I think you will still be pushing Tiger Moths out of the blister hangar for a while, at least until Arco make up their minds about extending their site

Airborne Assault Duxford

Some good points raised here on the relocation of the Airborne Forces Museum. Yes, I too would love to see the Dak restored and displayed both statically and airborne, but realistically it comes down to the old problem of funding. They still have to raise the money to make the new building a reality let alone the huge expense of aircraft restoration. Geographical location is always going to be a problem, as people always want a good thing as near as possible to their own location. But one can’t please all the people all of the time. Thinking back a few years ago, I seem to remember some people having very negative comments about the building of the “American Hangar”, but what a fantastic addition to Duxford that has been.
I think the team at “Airborne Assault Duxford” need all the help they can get both finacially and in spirit too as I am convinced that it will add another jewel to Duxford’s crown that we will all be able to enjoy in years to come.
:diablo: The “Red Devils” future at Duxford could easily contain enough material for a whole new thread!! :diablo:

Airborne …. Sorry Mr. Moggy … 😮

J.V.

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

Moggy

Airborne …. Sorry Mr. Moggy … 😮

J.V.

It’s

AIRBORNE

Goddammit!

Can we get rid of the extraneous ‘U’ please :rolleyes:

Moggy

Ae there other aircraft exhibits at the Airbourne Forces museum which will move? Or is the Dakota their only aircraft on show?

J.V.

At Cranfield in the 80s, the jumpships were limited to fly up to the base of the controlled airspace above (about 7,500 IIRC) before it became necessary to contact Luton control to ask permission to go higher. They did not always get permission.

This is why I though it may be possible that the Red Devils would do their drops to the north of Duxford, where there is uncontrolled airspace up to 24,500. Perhaps there will be some changes to the airspace or a new ‘Danger Zone’ created for them.

If a para center is opened up at Duxford, I can see some faces being made in the cockpits of untold jets in the holding stack at nearby Stansted 😉

Having a parachutist whistling past you window while you are quietly minding you own buisness in the hold, is something I can do without!

Hasn’t there been some comment on the effects of having the Red Devils practising on the airfield, what with the amount of props spinning during the summer and traffic from Stansted directly above. 😮

Pilots have a duty to check their map to see if they are passing a drop zone. They should either avoid it or contact the relevant air traffic control to see if parachuting is in practice and whether it is safe to pass.

This works perfectly well all over the country, so long as you are dealing with responsible pilots. Aircraft/parachute collisions tend to happen on the ground. After the Thruxton accident in the 80s, I read that no propellers were allowed to be turning when a drop was in progress. However, I still managed to land my parachute beside an active helicopter at Cranfield some years later.

The Red Devils are the best and their canopies are highly stearable (not like my old rag), so I foresee no accidents, just some scary near misses.

Can anyone answer the following:

If Duxford is to be the home of the Red Devils, will they be using the airfield as the drop zone, or will the paras be taking off from there and landing elsewhere?

Approximately, how many lifts a day do the Paras do on a good day?

I think it is possible to mix aircraft and parachutes given good air traffic control, but the thought still scares me more than jumping out of an aircraft.

😉 I don’t believe anything Cambs council or other officials tell me,after all they want me to believe a mega expensive guided bus route alongside the A14 is a good idea and will be well used :rolleyes:
As i assume nothing regarding Marshalls has been decided one way or another i would’nt be surprised if they built it next to Madingly War memorial,or some other inappropriate place. 😉

Or that spending millions on a couple of ‘poncey’ bridges – one over the A14, the other over the river – is good value for many when you’re standed bridge could have been done for much, much less. Glad I pay Suffolk Council Tax know! 😀 – Sorry O/T.

Hasn’t there been some comment on the effects of having the Red Devils practising on the airfield, what with the amount of props spinning during the summer and traffic from Stansted directly above. 😮

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 Sorry, what you mean you actually believe that story!

😉 I don’t believe anything Cambs council or other officials tell me,after all they want me to believe a mega expensive guided bus route alongside the A14 is a good idea and will be well used :rolleyes:
As i assume nothing regarding Marshalls has been decided one way or another i would’nt be surprised if they built it next to Madingly War memorial,or some other inappropriate place. 😉

How would this fit in with any plans to move Marshalls from Cambridge,i know that it is only rumours at the moment but there is only a limited amount of room at Duxford.

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 Sorry, what you mean you actually believe that story!

How would this fit in with any plans to move Marshalls from Cambridge,i know that it is only rumours at the moment but there is only a limited amount of room at Duxford.

I’ve got to say that if this new building is by the M11 it will be the wrong end! The approach to the threshold of the runway surely be partly obscured during the curved approach of the warbirds. Also it will spoil the current ‘open sky’ effect for clear photos. If this is not considered important, ask the Shuttleworth photographers if the aerial mast spoilt the view.
I can see the new building next to the Land Warfare Hall. Access for the Paras drop aircraft would be passable. Most of the new style buildings would then be together and not engulfing the historic site.
I also think that ultimately the airfield (and perhaps the runway) will have to be extended into the field at the western end.
mmitch.

I had hoped that the dak would at least come in from 35 years in the cold. I just hope that it is at least given a repaint and has some work done so it is around in another 35 years.

Wonder whether…..

I am afraid that Airborne Assault Duxford will always be a poor relative to whatever Ray Conningham and the guys at Shawbury are achieving.Hopefully when they gain a site in the Midlands we will have the vista of a Horsa,Hadrian and Dakota ready for action . Can AAD really compete with that!

both would consider throwing their hats into the same ring…… :rolleyes:

perhaps then we might get a new-build Hotspur and Hamilcar (using the Tank Museum example as a starting point) to complete the set.

A Morris CS8 Bofors shouldn’t be a problem to recreate and there’s probably a Tetrach waiting to be found in some Russian bog – after all there are still three MkV* from WW1/Russian Civil War sitting in a scrapyard over there crying out to be recovered……

I am afraid that Airborne Assault Duxford will always be a poor relative to whatever Ray Conningham and the guys at Shawbury are achieving.Hopefully when they gain a site in the Midlands we will have the vista of a Horsa,Hadrian and Dakota ready for action . Can AAD really compete with that!

The Dakota will forever be associated with Airborne Forces, because of their huge contribution to the D-Day landings and the Battle of Arnhem, surely the turning point in WW2. I think it will look fantastic guarding the new building at Duxford. See website… www.airborneassault-duxford.com

I took a look at the website and I think the proposed new building and the interactive nature of the display will be a great addition to the site.

But couldn’t they find just another million to extend the roof forward on pillars and create a Dakota-Port to keep the poor old bird out of the worst of the weather?

Moggy

I’ve not heard much in recent months about this, it seems to be dragging on with no firm plans as yet. I’ll let you know what I hear at the next staff meeting.