Peter Vacher's Hurricane

Wing Commander Bunny Currant, DFC*, who flew R4118 in the Battle, has died.

That deserves a thread of it’s own.

Moggy

As I’ve heard it, the Spit replica was severely damaged in a landing accident a few years ago. The engine failed to respond when the pilot attempted a go-around, the result being a heavy landing in the field beyond which did substantial damage, including tearing off one of the wings.

Re NIMBY’s at kiddlington, we displayed a Spitfire there last year for the Messier Dowty families day – whilst the display was still taking place a complaint arrived! The complaint was that ‘some idiot hooligan pilot was roaring up and down over his house frightning all the neibours and it looked like it was about to crash….’ When told it was a Spitfire doing an authorised display he replied that he knew what a Spitfire looked like and this was no Spitfire! His wife then apparently interviened stating it was indeed a Spitfire and that she had seen one here before – slight pause on the phone followed by ‘Oh if its a Spitfire and he will be finished in the minute thats ok’ – phone put down!
The irony of the compliant is that the person (apparently a regular complainer re aircraft noise) has had the police visit several times following complaints from his neibours about him riding his racing motorcycles ie non silenced, up and down the road and with no tax, no insurance and helmet!

This was probably the ex Clive Du Cros airworthy replica which was rendered a non restorable static by the mindless vandalism of sawing through the wing spars. Why not buy a plastic one instead? A shame that this achievement should have suffered such an ignominious ( have I spelt that right?) fate.

Rant over.

Hairy

Wasn’t it bashed about a bit anyway? I’ve heard varying stories as to why it was rendered unflyable in the future.

Spit on a trailer

This was probably the ex Clive Du Cros airworthy replica which was rendered a non restorable static by the mindless vandalism of sawing through the wing spars. Why not buy a plastic one instead? A shame that this achievement should have suffered such an ignominious ( have I spelt that right?) fate.

Rant over.

Hairy

Wing Commander Bunny Currant, DFC*, who flew R4118 in the Battle, has died. Full obituary in the Telegraph

“The remains of a Hurricane that he flew during his time on No 605 were found in India some 50 years later and restored to flying condition. It will fly in salute at his memorial service.”

Edited to add his DFC and Bar

Anything that will make a mess

Incredible to believe that people complain about aviation, I’m aware of one airfield that gets all the blame for 2 or 3 other airfields within the local area where it would seem that the owners can do exactly what they want.
Time to arm the aircraft and go on a mission I think.

Arm them with what?

Perhaps we could suggest that the governement encourage and subsidise more airfields and private flying, this would help lower house prices for first time buyers?

I have a bit of a theory on this. It’s the same reason that people buy a house on a main road in a village and then campaign tirelessly for a bypass. Buy house for comparitive peanuts because it’s right on a main road. Traffic noise, dangerous to walk outside, etc, etc. Three years later bypass gets built, village becomes peaceful little backwater, house value goes up considerably.

So, NIMBY buys a house near an airfield and uses that airfield’s existence to hammer the purchase price down. Then lodges complaints and starts campaigns to close said airfield, and when it happens, he’s sitting in a house whose value has increased exponentially, thankyouverymuch. Look at Turweston for a live example.

Or maybe I’m getting a bit too cynical in my old age?

I don’t find anything cynical in that. I would not be surprised to find that’s the truth of the matter.

Anyone who complains about noise from a Hurricane should be shot as a Nazi spy.

Yep, too right they should.

The restoration team are based in Suffolk.

OK be pedantic. Suffolk is still closer to Cambridge than it is to Kidlington so the decision makes sense as far as I can see.

I have some proofs of Peter’s book here to use to gather together commentary notes for Dunsfold. it looks good and is a good read.

Go and buy it NOW.

I had heard rumours that it would be based at Kidlington when completed. I would wonder if the Engineering staff have the experience to support warbird flying though.

I used to work there in the 80’s ( CSE Aviation ) and most of the noise complaints were based on the number of takeoff/landings and aircraft flying circuits. Since the ab initio flying training moved to Florida I understand the amount of traffic has reduced considerably which has led partly to the financial misfortunes of the company operating the airport. I haven’t heard any rumblings about noise recently.

And by the way, a Hurricane doesn’t make a noise, it makes music !

have got said book….

well worth a read, although don’t expect a detailed technical account of the actual rebuild. – it’s very much in the vein of the “Black 6” book by Russ Snadden outlining restoration from start to finish with emphasis on the struggle to acquire it, research of identity, history of airframe, research of pilots who flew the plane, colour schemes, the people who rebuilt it/her and the search for the necessary parts etc etc

Also interesting reference within it to two unsucessful searches for the elusive Patna Hurricane V6846 as well as a tantalising passing reference to “three Spitfires in the jungle adjacent to Burma” ,somewhere within travelling distance of Shillong

on a completely unrelated issue – i think I saw the camo’d Spitfire Prototype Replica on a trailer on Horseguards Parade yesterday – any idea what it was there for?

Perhaps this is the Peter Vacher book and not Mr Hiscock’s earier tome?

Happened across the book about this Hurricane in the lovely Ian Allan shop in Cardiff the other day- looks like a fantastic nuts and bolts and all restoration book, well illustrated throughout, and it’s gone straight onto my Christmas wish-list!

Ooo. Bring it to the next Basingrad forum meet and Melvis will sign it for you. Don’t bother enquiring for “your money back if not completely satisfied”; ‘ees got a plane to support!

(Good book though.)

Incredible to believe that people complain about aviation, I’m aware of one airfield that gets all the blame for 2 or 3 other airfields within the local area where it would seem that the owners can do exactly what they want.
Time to arm the aircraft and go on a mission I think.

Why is it that the most vociferous complaints about aircraft noise are from people who have just bought a property in the area. What do they expect? Active airfield = aircraft taking off = noise.

I have a bit of a theory on this. It’s the same reason that people buy a house on a main road in a village and then campaign tirelessly for a bypass. Buy house for comparitive peanuts because it’s right on a main road. Traffic noise, dangerous to walk outside, etc, etc. Three years later bypass gets built, village becomes peaceful little backwater, house value goes up considerably.

So, NIMBY buys a house near an airfield and uses that airfield’s existence to hammer the purchase price down. Then lodges complaints and starts campaigns to close said airfield, and when it happens, he’s sitting in a house whose value has increased exponentially, thankyouverymuch. Look at Turweston for a live example.

Or maybe I’m getting a bit too cynical in my old age?

Happened across the book about this Hurricane in the lovely Ian Allan shop in Cardiff the other day- looks like a fantastic nuts and bolts and all restoration book, well illustrated throughout, and it’s gone straight onto my Christmas wish-list!

Incidentally, that shop is great- knocks the Hendon shop to pieces!