Lyneham's Comet – We Can Save It!

Erm, cough, bump 🙂

Damien

I have left a few messages on the other Forum. Many thanks for the info.

Bruce et al

I have received a number of PM’s. Many thanks to you all. I will collate the info gathered and circulate it to you by email in a few days time.

There is room for more volunteers of all levels of experience. Please drop me a PM. It looks like an great opportunity to take care of XK699 and give her a long term future.

regards

tc

Thanks all,

This will probably be my last post for a week!

Damien, Yes, I was in touch with him about a year ago, but have not had the time to follow up on his initial suggestions. This was to contact the station commander, and go from there.

Merlin, DGH and others – yes – 10.30 at the museum on the 17th works for me. I will show you what we get up to first, and then we will have a chat, and see if it is feasible. All are welcome! If you intend to come, let Merlin70 know, as it looks like he is starting to pull things together (Thanks Merlin)

Philip – you started the idea – can you make it too?

Cheers for now

Bruce

Bruce. 17th Oct is okay with me. How about 10:30 at the de Havilland Museum?

Tony. Thanks for your advice. Once we have an initial plan we will identify the sort of press coverage that is required.

tc

I know many people have bad feelings about the press, local newspapers etc, but if this is a serious project, then contact the local paper, a story, might yield people who worked on the plane etc…PM me if you need more details.

Bruce,

Oct 17th is good with me, have sent Merlin70 my details. 🙂

Phillip

The initial thought is to take the Comet back to her spiritual home, this being the de Havilland Museum at London Colney.

Thanks for your ideas. I am drawing up a list of contacts, locations and ideas for the team to work on as we set about establishing how we will proceed.

regards

tc

Sorry, didn’t read all of the previous messages.

Phillip

The initial thought is to take the Comet back to her spiritual home, this being the de Havilland Museum at London Colney.

Thanks for your ideas. I am drawing up a list of contacts, locations and ideas for the team to work on as we set about establishing how we will proceed.

regards

tc

So it appears that this forum’s project is to save Lyneham’s Comet

First to find her a new home. May I suggest the following:

Newark.
Elvington.
East Midland’s Airport

I’m visiting Newark tomorrow and if I find someone high up I will mention this project. I would like it to be moved under cover and both Newark and Elvington might be able to offer the right facilities.

I would advise whoever takes the lead to contact the Helicopter Museum who managed to buy one of only two Queen’s Flight Wessex’s using a strand of HLF money dedicated for this type of project. I have a contact with someone within No.2 Squadron MT who might be able to get me through the back door.

Any suggestions on location?

Guys

To let you all know – I am out of circulation for 1 week from tomorrow. Should be back at a computer on October 3rd.

Merlin, I will send you my e-mail address; we can see how many interested parties we have next week.

Cheers

Bruce

Can anyone interested in taking part in the relocation project, please register their interest by sending me a PM with their name and email address. An indication of skills or previous experience on type or with other large airframe relocations would be very helpful.

If you are unable to take a direct involvement but can offer ideas or experience please let us know.

regards

tc

I won’t be able to make the meeting but would like to offer my support in what ever capacity I can, being stuck in the middle of the Channel. If this project is taken up, I think lottery funding should be sort at the earliest possible point.

Thanks to the interested parties so far.

Whilst this is a good place to discuss the project in a general fashion, we should wait until we meet until we make any concrete decisions.

Personally, I think the group should be part of the museum. As an existing body, I feel that the museum carries more clout than an unknown group of people.

Perhaps the weekend after would be better for those interested in the project – October 17th? Hopefully it wont clash with anything!

A group like this would help me a great deal; as I mentioned in the other thread, I dont have the time that I used to have, and I would hope that such a group would be able to do much of the organising and talking to the relevant people without too much reference to me.

Lets see how things go when we meet.

Cheers for now

Bruce

When I heard of plans for Lyneham’s closure about a year ago now,I emailed the RAFM to see what thier stance on the aircraft was. At the time I was under the impression that the aircraft was RAFM property,having been in the RAFM store at Henlow, but in their reply the RAFM stated that they’d never owned the aircraft and that they aren’t looking to take it on in the future. They have no space at Hendon and there is already the Comet 1 at Cosford,hence thier lack of interest.
I recently moved up to St Albans & joined the Dh Museum as a volunteer (so far i’ve only been able to make it down there once due to work commitments-doh! Sorry Bruce), so hopefully I’ll be able to put some time and energy into the project via the museum. I’d be happy to help out in any way I can,’699 is now unique and deserves to be preserved.
I’ll do my best to be available for the planned meeting about ‘699 at the museum next month if I’m welcome to come along. Has the date been agreed??