Long Marston Museum Collection

Nashio , I understand that you are frustrated at the situation. Just try and spend some time speaking to the volunteers at the local aviation museums. I have met some wonderful people this way,you will learn a lot and be given the chance to help with preservation . Its much more pleasant than hitting your head on a brick wall.

Sorry to hear that Nashio

I wouldnt let it get you down though . Like was mentioned, take a look around your area and see where you can help out with other groups?

id love to do that. I apologise to you david is anything i have said has uspet you in the slightest, but understandibly would you not be frustrated having watched these aircraft for a number of years having thought how wonderful it would be to work on them, and at least look after them, only to have any hopes or aspirations fly away with the wind. I suppose i get easily upset about silly things! its just a shame that they are the way they are 🙁

Nashio – I am not advocating giving up – what I am saying is sometimes you have to be patient . I cannot think of a single airframe at Long Marsden which is irreplaceable. Their time will come. However if you look around there are other aircraft in similar states with museums which do require help. It’s your judgement to make as to whether your efforts at whatever group you choose will make a difference. There are a finite number of volunteers within preservation and the numbers are not getting greater – spend your time wisely.

I agree with Bex and say that I would hope if I had an airframe under my care and I coudlnt maintain it I would let the said aircraft go to a new home.

One that I deemed to be right and secure. But saying that you cant force someone to give up their property and it is their aircraft to do as they see fit no matter what we say.

In many ways we just seem to be going round and round on this one. Another three months and another Long Marston thread? 😀

You seem to have some enthusiasm Nashio as David says why not put it elsewhere to an organisation that would accept it and be grateful for it. If your local to Long Marston Im guessing you would be relatively near to Wellesbourne Aviation Museum.

I was chatting to their guys late last year and they have four (I think) people at their museum and sounded as though they would love some more volunteers.

Maybe worth having a chat with them. Cracking guys as well.

does it not break your heart to see this happen to such wonderful things? what am i to say? I realise david that obviously these people are your friends or at least people who you know and respect. in the same instance, considering that ive just made small enquires here, how do you expect people of my generation to get interested in such aircraft, when they are left behind a fence unloved. i might as well just say why bother when all you get for trying is negative feedback! in addition to the idea of them bringing attention to marston market/ carboot do you not think that if the museum was open or at least people could go round, would maybe draw more people to it?

Nashio – None of the aircraft are important parts of our heritage. They are duplicated in a number of collections around the country and a few of some of the types fly. It’s not possible to save everything – I know the owner of the majority of the airframes and understand the current position. I also know the landowner – he has no interest in the airframes other than they attract attention at the market held at the airfield . It’s worth pointing out that the Shackleton was comprehensively stripped along with the Sea Prince when parked on the airfield . Stuart was responsible for the Shackleton being moved into the compound which has dramatically extended it’s life believe it or not.I would suggest that if you have a conversation with someone you abide by their wishes – Stuart saved the majority of these machines off his own back and with his own resources. None of them is corroding away at a rapid pace or indeed in any greater danger than some other machines I can think of within ‘preservation’ as such.

Nashio , I realise that you have every good intention but sometimes you have to take being rejected and shift your enthusiasm to somewhere else.Surely there are existing museums in your area who would welcome help. Life is too short to waste time after a rejection like that and I know of plenty of examples where owners just leave historic items to rot,it is their choice. So put your energy into a place where enthusiasts are active.

Pm’d you back :p i just dont understand why someone wouldn’t want someone to look after their property for free 🙁 aircraft need to be maintained, not just abandoned!

Nashio, I agree with u. Oh u have a PM by the way Bex :diablo:

I appreciate entirely what you are saying and i also understand what you are saying, but im sure everyone on this forum agrees that something must be done, the beautiful aircraft cant be left to rot whatever the circumstances, they are important parts of our aviation history and should be treated as such. i only hope that something can be done for at least some of them :(, even if it is only making sure that they are clean and as presentable as possible, instead of beig derelict hulks that people scavenge from.

Dont give up

Nashio, firstly its a well known fact that when it comes to a certain little aeroplane that first flew 58 years ago tomorrow I have a rather large soft spot for them, so if you can help one then go for it. Its also a known fact that Ive already put both my feet in it big time in this thread with a joke that went badly wrong so I shall be a bit more careful this time.

If I was unable to look after something that I owned and someone offered to look after this object for me at no cost then I would take their offer of help. Now I do not know the circumstances that surround certain objects this thread refers to and these are my own views regarding something that I can only dream about. Im sorry to be so vague, but I really dont want to goof again. Bex

Stubborn To The Core

im far from the point where i stop trying, an interesting development though, one of my friends fathers it seems owns the airfield, and therefore the canberra, shackleton and whirlwind. so hopefully all is not lost 🙂 i just dont see how someone can eb so callous about something so beautiful, perhaps if people who are interested in helping one weekend a month could write to the owner explaining intentions etc, the chap who owns the other airframes may see the light, who knows? i would be glad to know what you think bex, im not going to criticize you for your opinion. still anyone with suggestions please get in contact. 🙂

Nashio, Im not gonna say too much incase I do my usual party trick of putting my high heel right in it, except this, Well done for trying. Bex :diablo:

Gloom On The Horizon

Thanks, i shall let you know what happens

Just called the chap that owns them, i asked if there was any work i could do to tidy up the compound, “No we don’t do that anymore” was the answer i got. I asked if he was sure that there was nothing i could do to help out and again came the same answer. What is someone to do when fronted with this? an enthusiast, willing for nothing, to go and care for these beautiful aircraft and at least increase their lifespan for a few more years, is snubbed then and there without even being given a chance to explain his intentions. Is there anymore one can do? Please, if anyone has suggestions, get in contact, because i don’t want to just give up at the first hurdle 🙂

Progress On The Horizon!

Thanks, i shall let you know what happens

Info….

Hi Nashio 966, please check your pm,s regarding Long Marston info……

Something Must Be Done

That would be brilliant, as far as i can see, no one has touched these aircraft in 4-5 years or more, i have only lived in the area for a few years so i wouldn’t really know, i have kept an eye on them though, at one point one of my friends compared them to forlorn dogs in a dog shelter, looking through wire at you….. personally i think he hit the nail on the head with that! a good scrub and making them secure would be brilliant. though i really cant see how people manage to get in, the fence is 8 feet high all the way round topped with barbed wire, this fence even runs through the hedge at the back of the compound, i have to say though i cant blame people for wanting to get close to them, some of these aircraft are getting pretty rare, there cant be more than 10 Shackleton’s left in one piece!

A great start!

From the pics that have been posted just doing a general tidy up and and giving the aircraft a good scrub would do wonders. Also securing the aircraft from unauthorised entry would be a bonus also! Who knows if things go to plan and you become a regular volunteer along with others maybe one day she can reopen for visitors again!:)

I appreciate what you are saying, and by no means do i have the funds or skills to restore any of these aircraft to flying condition, but if you take the hunters at Kemble for an example, or an aircraft which has essentially been built from a few rusty formers that have been found in a lake, all i was saying that anything is possible with enough care and time. I know that the Shackleton, Canberra and the Whirlwind are apparently owned by the current landowner, The rest with the exception of the meteor belong to a different chap and the meteor belongs to another. i know in my heart that these aircraft will almost certainly never fly again, but i suppose you never know 🙁 even if the museum isnt open to the public wouldnt it be a good idea to tidy the place up so people dont get the idea that the aircraft are abandoned? I suppose the only thing you can do is hope 🙂