RAF Museum Lysander next for MAPS.

‘However with this ludicrous policy that RAFM a/c have to be in the colours that they wore, this is unlikely.’ – I guess the Beaufort – Kittyhawk-B-17 are the exemption to that rule! It is the Royal Air Force Museum -its not a theme park ! Why would you wish to polish the B-25 and put nose art on it ? The majority that flew from these shores wore paint !

In fairness, when I was last at Cosford, the FW190 was unbuttoned and the Lincoln had one of its Merlins on show….

re;

‘Thrown together out of scrap’ is a fair assessment; IIRC it was a ‘bitsa’ from an aircraft that crashed in the late 70s and a selection of donor parts from other aircraft. It had to have a second restoration after arrival because it was so awful. However, the swap needs to be put in context; the RAFM had a glut of Spitfires and badly wanted a P51 (as prices were escalating rapidly) and possibly saw this as the only opportunity to get one in the short term. The donation of the magnificent ‘Donald Duck’ (though sadly at the expense of her flying days…) released the mongrel to Cosford where she represents her type (at least in shape…). Perhaps after the ‘shell’ P40 is fitted out, it could be properly restored and repainted as a RAF machine – maybe 315 Sqn?

It would be logical to have one of the P51s ie Donald Duck in USAAF colours and one in RAF markings. However with this ludicrous policy that RAFM a/c have to be in the colours that they wore, this is unlikely. How a member of the public could be captivated by a B25 wearing a plain scheme rather than a polished metal one with nose art, is beyond me. The B25 with doors open, being loaded up would be far more intersting. The B17G should be at Cosford.

One thing I cannot comprehend – when they go to the effort of putting a brand new engine into an exhibit, please explain the sense in putting all the cowls on.

This one?

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/curtiss-kittyhawk-iv/

such as the B17 could be in British markings

Had a moment of clarity when I read that and thought of Hendon’s Fort painted in No. 214 Sqdn colours complete with lumps and bumps. Golly.

Forgive my ignorance but what’s the “shell P-40”. I’m assuming not the Copping machine.

I wonder why?

£££££

I checked the MAPS website before paying a visit to find that the Lysander never arrived there!
I wonder why? http://www.mapsl.co.uk/
mmitch.

Perhaps after the ‘shell’ P40 is fitted out, it could be properly restored and repainted as a RAF machine – maybe 315 Sqn?

That would good. I’ve said before that I wish more of the US machines such as the B17 could be in British markings to represent the RAF history, rather than the wider context. I do not mean this as a slur on the efforts made by our allies and the men that flew, or that non RAF marked machines should be excised from RAFM!

‘Thrown together out of scrap’ is a fair assessment; IIRC it was a ‘bitsa’ from an aircraft that crashed in the late 70s and a selection of donor parts from other aircraft. It had to have a second restoration after arrival because it was so awful. However, the swap needs to be put in context; the RAFM had a glut of Spitfires and badly wanted a P51 (as prices were escalating rapidly) and possibly saw this as the only opportunity to get one in the short term. The donation of the magnificent ‘Donald Duck’ (though sadly at the expense of her flying days…) released the mongrel to Cosford where she represents her type (at least in shape…). Perhaps after the ‘shell’ P40 is fitted out, it could be properly restored and repainted as a RAF machine – maybe 315 Sqn?

As a genuine Special Duties machine it would be nice if the Lizzie was returned to her original spec!
TT

They will probably find some excuse to paint as a target tug or trainer…or something equally unwarlike 😀

What a strange post on a historic aircraft forum.
Cees

I suspect that is in reply to my post. If so, this is my reason for thinking that. The RAF swapped a beautifully restored Spitfire for that Mustang, and when I first saw it I was shocked. It looked like something that had been thrown together out of a load of scrap, It falls far short of the RAF Museum’s usual standards, and certainly not a fair trade for that Spitfire.

As a genuine Special Duties machine it would be nice if the Lizzie was returned to her original spec!
TT

What a strange post on a historic aircraft forum.
Cees

Mike – the best thing that could happen to the Cosford P-51D would be if it could be sold/swapped for something more deserving of preservation.

No, the best thing that could happen to that Cosford ‘P51D’ is to have a heavy hangar door fall on it, and then just bulldoze it into a pit.

‘Like’!

A Spitfire XVI, perhaps?

Mike – the best thing that could happen to the Cosford P-51D would be if it could be sold/swapped for something more deserving of preservation.

Photography strictly verboten! That is not a MAPS ruling, though.

It would be really neat of them to take a shed load of reference photos while they’re in there. My requests to get close up access has fallen on deaf ears in the past and from what others have told me even those very well connected have a tough time of it.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they got their hands on the Cosford P-51D and the Hendon P-40 and Beaufort at some point!