I have not been on for a long time but I understand from a good few there has been some discussion and speculation re the RBL Spitfire replica.
To clarify and update as much as I know.
24th November 2009 a certain individual high up in the RBL forced the decision to stop the project and place it up for sale.
Anyone who had built it been connected with it or otherwise was shunned by the RBL and even attempts where made to also discredit those individuals.
Various excuses where given as to why ranging from it did not make any money (utter rubbish never made a loss).To a big clanger that it was looking at the past and past conflicts and the Legion should look at the future conflicts only.This caused major outrage to the far corners of the empire with letters of complaint etc directed at the person responsible who ignored them all and did not even give many the courtesy of a reply.
Many of us who where involved have moved on and continue to build and rebuild spitfires and other warbirds.We were even forced out of our home base at the local RAF station by the same person using the old pals act !!!.
We now continue at our new home base supporting museums etc.
The current situation as of last week the Spitfire replica is still supposedly up for sale but all interested parties are still waiting.The aircraft is sitting in a HAS at an RAF station.
The only comment I can make is a very short sighted course of Action by the RBL in the last major celebration year for veterans the 70th anniversary of the B of B.
As a footnote the individual responsible for starting all the trouble is understood to be no longer a director or employee of the RBL.
By: WJ244 - 20th March 2010 at 17:24
No It was nt he was a retired Group Captain who got employed as a director of things he did not understand.Stuck his nose into things he did not understand and made stupid comments that embarrassed the RBL.
Oh! so he may well be a disciple of Adam Crozier then.
The world is full of these people like the woman employed many years ago to run a major toy company. After a year they were so anxious to be rid of her that they eventually made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. The story was they offered to pay her all the money she would have earnt during the rest of her contract (which still had several years to run) plus a golden handshake and a new company car of her choice. Appparently she had done so much damage to the company in a year that they believed that this was a cheaper alternative to continuing her employment!
She walked and within weeks was working for another business and, no doubt, managed to cause similar levels of damage to her new venture.
Whenever I have started a new job I have always tried to find out what I need to do and how my input affects the overall running of things. It is a good idea to have some idea of what you are involved with and how it all works before you start making major changes otherwise it is like trying to tune an engine with no mechanical knowledge and no workshop manual – the result is inevitably a major blow up.
By: Icare9 - 20th March 2010 at 12:45
Firebex: Have you, or the RBL Branch that built and “operated” it, approached the RBL to use the Spitfire for the enquiries you have had?
If the previous chap has now gone, and in view of 70th anniversary of the BoB, surely the RBL must recognise that this year could be a record money spinner for them?
As you say, at least allow people willing to give up their time on behalf of the RBL use the thing instead of letting it just sit on the tarmac where it is not doing any good at all!!
If the RBL are still unhappy with it, why won’t they give it back to the Branch that built it and let them carry on?
If ever a Spitfire display is going to attract crowds of visitors who could join RBL, plus donations, it has to be this anniversary year!!
Even they must appreciate that! Hope to hear that it at least going to be on tour this year!
By: Firebex - 19th March 2010 at 23:33
Good to know that the idiot who came up with all this politically correct rubbish has gone. Hopefully somebody removed his head from his own behind along the way. I don’t doubt that he had all the exam certificates to show that he was highly qualified to do the job but the problem is that in the modern world these certificates don’t come with a proper dose of common sense which I have always found to be pretty useful.
I am a bit sceptical that the RBL will back down and allow the project to continue but let’s see what happens.
The aircraft is still sitting in a HAS 5 months on an dis supposedly goin gup for sale in the next few weeks ,but no one is making comment and no one seems keen to answer enquiries about the aircraft.I know of over 50 enquiries for the aircraft for 2010 most of them have come to me.As previously stated short sighted idiots in the 70th anniversary year of B of B
at least run the year then look at sensible action plan.
By: Firebex - 19th March 2010 at 23:30
It’s such a pity that the RBL is being discredited in the eyes of the world with fatuous comments about the RBL no longer focussing on the past etc…. What next, do away with the poppy?
So now the oik who caused the RBL such embarrassment has bu99ered off elsewhere…. His name’s not Adam Crozier is it?
No It was nt he was a retired Group Captain who got employed as a director of things he did not understand.Stuck his nose into things he did not understand and made stupid comments that embarrassed the RBL.
By: WJ244 - 18th March 2010 at 20:16
Good to know that the idiot who came up with all this politically correct rubbish has gone. Hopefully somebody removed his head from his own behind along the way. I don’t doubt that he had all the exam certificates to show that he was highly qualified to do the job but the problem is that in the modern world these certificates don’t come with a proper dose of common sense which I have always found to be pretty useful.
I am a bit sceptical that the RBL will back down and allow the project to continue but let’s see what happens.
By: Robert Whitton - 18th March 2010 at 18:49
This photo from the original RBL team shows their replica in use.
A lump came in my throat when I saw it.
By: SMS88 - 18th March 2010 at 12:35
The only comment I can make is a very short sighted course of Action by the RBL in the last major celebration year for veterans the 70th anniversary of the B of B.
As a footnote the individual responsible for starting all the trouble is understood to be no longer a director or employee of the RBL.
This indeed good news to know that the chap responsible has carried the can. Hopefully the current leadership will act swiftly to reverse this decision which will remove the tarnish from their good name
By: Icare9 - 17th March 2010 at 23:11
It’s such a pity that the RBL is being discredited in the eyes of the world with fatuous comments about the RBL no longer focussing on the past etc…. What next, do away with the poppy?
So now the oik who caused the RBL such embarrassment has bu99ered off elsewhere…. His name’s not Adam Crozier is it?
By: Robert Whitton - 17th March 2010 at 22:55
Thanks for the update. I hope most of your old Spitfire Builders are back together.
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March 17, 2010 at 8:37 pm