New arrivals at Duxford

Ooooh Becka!

I love it when you get masterful and lock things up

(Handcuffs?)

Moggy

Ok, enough. I originally began this thread as I thought some of you would appreciate the information. I “sat on” the info for a day before posting, and decided to post on the grounds that a) the aircraft were not covered up, and b) I believed that sometimes access to ARCo’s hangers is granted in response to a polite phone call or nicely written letter. Anyone who restores/works on aircraft in a public environment such a museum will tell you a good part of their time is spent talking to people who stop to ask questions and who strike up conversations with them, which of course slows progress on the project. Therefore, I thought this was ONE reason (not the only reason) why ARCo’s work is carried out away from the public gaze. Plus, I wish to reiterate that I did not attempt to access any aircraft that are “hidden away” and would not dream of doing so.

If Bertie meant his comments in a light hearted way, then I apologise for my reaction on Saturday – I don’t usually take comments to heart, but this caught me at the end of a frankly, **** week. CAS, I have no problem with people having a different opinion to mine, if we all took the same view on things, then the world would be a very boring place. I do take offence when I feel that people are patronising me or speak to me like I am just a dumb chick who does not have a clue what is going on. Yes, I am only an archive assistant, and no I don’t restore/fly/maintain aircraft, and no I don’t have the knowledge that people like Mark12, Voytech, JDK and others have, but I certainly enjoy learning from them. Those of you with the knowledge/skills/contacts/experiences, please don’t look down on those of us who don’t. We’ve all got to start somewhere.

And with that I will lock this thread. Any comments, please send them in a PM, thanks.

Becka

Calm down.

Am I the only one who took Bertie’s post as a tongue in cheek statement? Just try reading it in a jovial manner and it’s not that offensive. I can’t take it seriously that anyone would find the need to hide a chippy for any reason. However, there are probably very good reasons why ARC/HFL didn’t want anyone poking around at the moment and hence the reaction to the report.

Flood, wind your neck in. If you really want to ruin access and cooperation with these two companies for everyone on the forum, then you’re doing a splendid job. Becka’s spoken her mind already and doesn’t need you to wade in with your hamfisted attempts.

Rob

Seems amazing to me, go away for a couple of days and a war breaks out at Duxford. Would as much fuss have been made had ARCO/HFL chosen to base themselves at a different airfield somewhere? Should we not be thankfull that there are a group of engineers working hard to rebuild and preserve some very rare aircraft which are then regularly on public view on the same airfield. It must be very difficult for all the engineers at Duxford to maintain concentration with hundreds of people asking questions day in day out.
Guess this has all got a bit out of hand, think I’ll crawl back into a little hanger in the peace and quiet of the countryside now.

surley the point is that without private operators on the site duxford would a/ never have grown to the present museum and remained a storage out station for the IWM.
b/ be another boring static collection
c/ not revisited by people due to non flight policy it has.

private owners are the life in what would have been a drab collection of static aircraft and decaying buildings. yes they do contribute to the IWM but it is a working partniship which has evolved through years of hard work from both parties.
the chipmunks arrived at duxford prior to public opening time due to transport logistics and were not being hidden from view as is being made out, ARC are committed to preservation of aircraft 100% and it is a shame that some people view their establishment as a “area 51” but it is due to some commercial pressures that are placed on private owners which see the need for some degree of secrecy.
I realise we are only talking about two chipmunks in this case, and it is sometimes hard to accept that the world through the www web is looking over your shoulder and reporting every move.
but it seems to me that some people are very quick to condem others for their view point. the forum is a open domain where all points should be allowable but it seems to be a place where if you do not conform to the required format then look out. ” and i expect this posting will take that dangerous route” but i feel some members take life far too seriously.

I expressed some disappointment about the lack of access to the new hangars. You are right that the operators bring some life and energy to this wonderful museum and I do not doubt that, in fact I applaud and adore it. However, the new hangars are the only area (other than a few small buildings) that the great unwashed are not allowed to go. This is a pity, I find it sad and I stick by that.

Duxford actually owes much of its roots and existance to the Essex Air Group. The BoB film and early operators built on this to make Duxford what it is today.

I, like many, found Bertie’s posting offensive and not necessary. I am all for free speech but attacking Becka was not a nice thing to do.

Maybe I am a little angry?

By the sound of it you are something to do with the ‘otherside’ of this coin?

Certainly those who moan about things arriving in plain-sight on trucks from the public highway do take life far too seriously;).
Yes, the forum is an open domain and generally all points are allowable – so what Bertie did (“quick to condem others for their view point”:D – its your quote!) was downright crass and stupid: is it your required format that everything here or in magazines should be ok’d with the boss first? Maybe you feel that it is alright for him to lay into someone for telling what she saw. From what I have read (from his previous posts) he is certainly not one to hold back and say what he thinks – and certainly never sugaring the pill. From the people I have asked about him (and I have also been asked about him by several members who were clearly very upset about his remarks: I could tell them nothing, for I did not know) I got the equivalent of sucking in breath over clenched teeth whilst shaking the head – is he that dangerous or just plain clumsy? Maybe it was the bumbling way that Bertie leapt in to denounce Ashleys info – in deep with both feet for real annoyance value. He must be a real PR charmer in the office…:rolleyes:
If these Chipmunks were worth him fighting for their secrecy then they should have been covered. Other things have arrived and departed in ISO containers – were they not worth the trouble? Its not even as if they were kept secret from their source – Air Britain had them too.
Frankly I couldn’t careless what you have in your hangers – the whole of Flight 19 or a freaking flying saucer, its your silly secret after all – but the hangers are at Duxford, they are occasionally open to view by people with cameras, and if you are going to test fly their content then you are going to look very silly flying alongside with screens up just so that nobody sees the flight of a Chipmunk that they have very little interest in anyway (general public, that is: there are Chipmunk fans here). Or will your bovver-booted security guards march along the fence demanding that eyes are averted and all film/digi cards are handed over?
Yes I am bloody annoyed. I have previously suffered (in the course of my job) at the hands of over zealous security muppets and slapheads who thought they were ‘important‘, or really something special: it is worse when the victims are totally innocent parties like Ashley. She deserves an apology – which we all know she won’t get – but before you take out your heavy-handed corporate vengence on her you’d better know she has nothing to do with this, with me, nor I with her: if you’ve got a problem with this then talk to me.:mad:
Have a nice day.

Your faithfully servant…

Flood

Duxford is a museum open to the public. Part of the arrangement for the various operators that inhabit the site is that they contribute to the IWM .

surley the point is that without private operators on the site duxford would a/ never have grown to the present museum and remained a storage out station for the IWM.
b/ be another boring static collection
c/ not revisited by people due to non flight policy it has.

private owners are the life in what would have been a drab collection of static aircraft and decaying buildings. yes they do contribute to the IWM but it is a working partniship which has evolved through years of hard work from both parties.
the chipmunks arrived at duxford prior to public opening time due to transport logistics and were not being hidden from view as is being made out, ARC are committed to preservation of aircraft 100% and it is a shame that some people view their establishment as a “area 51” but it is due to some commercial pressures that are placed on private owners which see the need for some degree of secrecy.
I realise we are only talking about two chipmunks in this case, and it is sometimes hard to accept that the world through the www web is looking over your shoulder and reporting every move.
but it seems to me that some people are very quick to condem others for their view point. the forum is a open domain where all points should be allowable but it seems to be a place where if you do not conform to the required format then look out. ” and i expect this posting will take that dangerous route” but i feel some members take life far too seriously.

G-ALWB

A bit of a story behind this machine.

It appears that the all important wing spar mod had only been completed as far as the logbook entry. The thing was covered and painted and then had to be stripped again when the anomaly was discovered. Ouch!

An expensive, time consuming and very annoying situation for Dennis, who thought he had bought a machine with this important work done.

All sorted now it would appear.

As nice as the Chippie is, it carries so much baggage in the form of endless Airworthiness Directives, all as a consequence of its lengthy military service.

Anybody contemplating buying one ought to chat with a few owners first.

This ain’t a cheap aircraft to operate. I will be interested to see what Dennis has to charge to make it work for him.

HP

Excellent, everyone form a que behind me! 😀

DGH- Chipmunk G-ALWB has been under rebuild at Skysport Engineering on behalf of Dennis Neville. She has flown to ARCO for the completion of her Public Transport C of A . Once that is completed Dennis will be offering type/tailwheel conversions and Chipmunk air experience flights in her.

Bertie

Come on Bertie,

I am struggling to understand the purpose of your post.

What really does blow your frock up? It cant be old planes.

At least we can be certain that you ain’t going to post anything on this forum that could even remotely enrich the lives of us genuine enthusiasts.

HP

Plenty of Chipmunk action at Duxford yesterday! Clive Denny did a couple of practice displays – very nice and one of ARCO’s was also flying about. Best of all though was seeing G-ALWB outside ARCO in it’s new red / white colour scheme having ( I presume ) just had an overhaul. This aircraft was a regular around the scene until recently in it’s black and gold colours. Anybody know if a new C of A has been issued yet?

Mike – You might have detected a slight hint in post. They are good machines but they are very expensive to operate for what they are
and some parts for them are getting very difficult to get hold of.
Serious moves need to be taken to manufacture new fuel tanks and tailplane support tubes in the next couple of years.

Tell me about it, last I heard tail wheel tyres were hardly the easiest aircraft spares to obtain either and rumours that the wheel itself was becoming increasingly hard to find in a fit state to go on an airworthy machine.

Steve – A Chipmunk will start at about 25K and work up to 40K for the very best. Fatigue life is critical on ex military operated machines . Refabric work if needed can be expensive and a Gipsy Major rebuild can now be up to 18K
so it pays to buy correctly.

I wouldn’t expect a reply from Bertie, it so often happens, A member makes a quite clearly unacceptable remark and then disappears rather than apologise. A bit like what happened with the English Comedian / Spitfire thread.

Thanks for keeping us up to date Ashely,

David, do you know a rough figure on how much it would cost to obtain a Chipmunk in full flying condition? Just out of curiosity.

best regards, steve

Becka, thanks for the info, and for taking the trouble to post. 🙂

Bertie, your rude and unkind response would be more appropriately answered by a PM than on a public forum. Unfortunately, you have removed that option from your account, which speaks legions for your attitude to this forum, as does a number of your previous posts. 😡

If you didn’t rush to your keyboard as quickly as your handbag, then you may be privvy to more pukka gen….!

It is a private company, after all…….!

Can I tell the forum about your new car/cat/boyfriend……?? Hmm…..

Tin hats, everybody!

Leave our Becka alone!

Regarding Duxford, it disappoints me that we do not get more access to the new hangars at Duxford. If they wish to be secretive or not fully integrate as the other flyers do, then there are other airfields around.

Having said that, I love the work they do, just wish that they could find a way of letting us look at it in the restoration stages. That is what Duxford is/was all about

Mike – You might have detected a slight hint in post. They are good machines but they are very expensive to operate for what they are
and some parts for them are getting very difficult to get hold of.
Serious moves need to be taken to manufacture new fuel tanks and tailplane support tubes in the next couple of years.

Ashley,
Don’t worry about what such a rude member might threaten, I am pleased to see that you are treating it with the contempt it deserves.
I hope you get a heartfelt apology, but I wouldn’t hold your breath; such arrogant people seem to believe that others are there to order about…

Flood

Cool. I want one 😎 Thanks Thermal.

Were you at the Bof B film showing this afternoon/evening?