A forum poser !! What aircraft would members most like as their personnal corporate warbird transport ? For reasons of practicality the choice is limited to no larger than twin engine types.
To make the decision easier the machine will have no previous ‘history’ so modify at will !
By: Wombat - 6th October 2002 at 20:41
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Hi guys,
Of course, you’re correct. I had only seen the model kit briefly in the hobby store, and that is obviously what the colour photo is of. I had a quick squiz at the kit in the box and noted the shape. Didn’t honestly take much notice of the original aircraft, I was just interested in the conversion.
Off I go to recognition school again!
Regards
Wombat
By: neilly - 6th October 2002 at 16:49
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Hi Wombat,
Ant’s quite right. I have a book, Beaufort, Beaufighter & Mosquito in Australian Service. I couldn’t find any actual pictures, but there were 2 line drawings.
Cheers,
Neilly
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By: Ant.H - 6th October 2002 at 14:28
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-10-02 AT 02:31Â PM (GMT)]Hi Wombat,
As far as I know,the Beaufrieghter conversions were derived from Beauforts rather than Beaufighters.A corporate Beaufighter wouldn’t be such a bad idea though! 🙂
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By: Wombat - 6th October 2002 at 12:42
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Steve
The RAAF operated a local conversion of the Beaufighter, called the Beaufreighter. I’ve only see a plastic model of this craft, but the upper rear fuselage appeared slightly more bulbous, the rear gunner’s position was deleted and filled in and the fuselage had some side windows, I think.
I don’t know if these were Australian-only conversions, or how many were made.
As they would have additional internal capacity, combined with the Beau’s other virtues, they’d probably make a very interesting and rare executive aircraft.
Regards
Wombat
By: Moggy C - 6th October 2002 at 10:06
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Taking the question at face value, I assumed my company was making way too much money and needs to burn it away, so the sky is literally the limit.
However – The taxman will be quite quick to drop on anything to obviously spurious, so trying to convince him that the costs of rebuilding a Halifax or a Beau are legitimate would be an uphill struggle.
Also, since I’d want to use it for serious executive travel, any piston is increasingly out of the question. Trying to get Avgas in quantity at major airports is becoming increasingly difficult. I also need to minimise downtime from engine snags, so the last thing I need is an ‘exotic’ power unit.
But all is not lost.
I have decided to build a luxury executive conversion on the OV10 Bronco.
Twin PT76 so safety over water and bags of spares / support.
Nice roomy fuselage once you’ve taken all the military kit out. I’d set the cockpit up with modern avionics whilst the rear ‘cabin’ would be reworked to provide comfortable seating for three.
Haven’t come up with the colour scheme yet, give me time, it’ll look smart with our logo very evident and the www address running large across the wings.
Moggy
But if you look in the back of the corporate hangar, far from the taxman’s gaze you’ll find a ‘spares ship’. Actually another OV10 restored to full Vietnam era spec and colours for me to show at displays working with Spads/Sandys and the like. 😉
By: FiltonFlyer - 4th October 2002 at 21:45
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
On the subject of the Israeli Beaufighters – they were civil registered, but still in RAF colours I think. If you don’t know the incredible story, you have to read it at
http://www.iaf.org.il/iaf/doa_iis.dll/Serve/item/English/1.3.3.6.1.3.ht…
cheers,
Andy A.
By: SADSACK - 23rd September 2002 at 12:07
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
It would have to be a Tiger cat. In somthing other than blue but still glossy. I’m still recovering from when I first saw one. 5 years ago.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd September 2002 at 11:56
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Mmm, commuting to work in a Beau, what a great idea! I’d keep mine at Wyton, and fly into Cranfield daily – both those airfield are just a couple of miles from home and work respectively. And then if I’ve had a tough day at work, take a little detour on the way home up to the Holbeach ranges to blat the hell out of some targets. I’m really starting to like this idea… 😉
As for civil colour schemes, I know the Beaus which ended up in Israel were purchased as surplus and civil registered, but I don’t know whether they were ‘in civies’ at any stage. From what I’ve heard, they arrived in Israel in various different camouflage schemes, which would suggest they were still wearing their old operational colours.
Wonder whether any ex-RAAF Beau 21s were ever used as outback hacks….?
By: kev35 - 21st September 2002 at 22:55
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
David,
thanks for the indulgence.
A civil scheme for a Beaufighter? Mmmmmm. Have to think about that one. In the meantime I’ll just take the colour scheme of one of the strike wings and underneath the tailplane in very small script would be the legend ‘Air Apparent.’
Regards,
kev35
By: neilly - 21st September 2002 at 19:50
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-09-02 AT 07:57Â PM (GMT)]Hi David,
I agree. Just the thing for doing the weekly shopping in! Impress the neighbours, too! Lets face it, the Mondeo definitely ain’t going to beat you to the parking space (I nearly forgot, I’d go for the fully operational package of extras. You know those little add on goodies like 20mm cannons, machine guns & for those difficult occasions 60 lb missiles! Nothing to ostentatious, you understand?).
A slightly tongue in cheek, Neilly!
By: David Burke - 21st September 2002 at 19:38
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Neilly – Interesting comparison with the ‘Beau’ being considered as a
runabout for the wife !!! It’s hardly a Mondeo v’s Fiesta difference !!!
By: Der - 21st September 2002 at 19:26
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Make mine a Shackleton. O.K. so its not sexy, but everyone would know when I was arriving!
By: neilly - 21st September 2002 at 18:50
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Hi All,
Sorry to be very predictable, but a Mosquito B.IX or B.XVI, would be my choice.
TTFN,
Neilly
ps.
If I could chose a run-a-round, for the missus as well, then I’d get a Beaufighter.
By: Bob - 21st September 2002 at 18:50
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Mind you if I’m going for a matching weekend runaround….
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By: Bob - 21st September 2002 at 18:29
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Hmmmmmm……
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By: David Burke - 21st September 2002 at 18:03
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Seeing as it’s you Kev yes !! For your sins however it would be interesting to hear of a civil scheme for a ‘Beau’ as I cannot think of any they featured !
By: kev35 - 21st September 2002 at 16:24
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
David,
can you indulge me and let me have two as I have the flu and trying to decide is making my headache worse? Please?
I’d like a Beaufighter but I don’t think it would be allowed as I’d like to keep the rockets and the cannon. Where I live they might come in handy (LOL).
Failing that I think I’d have to agree with PII and go for a Dakota please.
Regards,
kev35
By: David Burke - 21st September 2002 at 14:08
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Well Ja- please decide one !!!
By: Ja Worsley - 21st September 2002 at 13:43
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
I can’t decide out of this final five list:
1. Bristol Beaufighter
2. Bristol Beaufort
3. Grumman Avenger
4. Handley Page Hampden
5. Focke Wulf FW-189
Give me coffee and no-one gets hurt!
By: Merlin3945 - 21st September 2002 at 11:39
RE: The Ultimate Corporate Warbird !
Mine would have to be the good old mossie. for a twin engine anyway.
But if you really want a good eyecatching ride then how about the twin mustang.
Merlin
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September 20, 2002 at 6:49 pm