Whilst going through the Pacific wrecks forum I came across the following website
http://www.biak.info/foto/fotosite/indexfoto.html
in the sections for 1945 & 1946 it shows some awesome aircraft dumps in Biak. Having looked at these the old feeling of “if only….” came up.
However, with the current discussion on XL391 + it’s lingering demise ongoing & various Canberra cockpit sections up for grabs, the thought occurred, “Would we actually have a nice selection of preserved Stirlings, Hampdens, Whitleys, Beauforts, Halifax, Messerscmitts, Heinkels, & Junkers of various flavours plus extinct Japanese aircraft to drool at ?”. ” Would they have now been slowly reduced to their component parts and a few cockpit sections (nothing wrong with cockpit sections when it comes to saving things though) ?”.
OK, so those in museums such as Hendon, Cosford, Duxford and their ilk would be safe but what about others biting off more than they could chew. We have sadly seen some of the rsults of this. With respect to flying them the economics & legislation with operating such a/c would be prohibitive. We only have one private “Heavy” warbird, Sally B, flying in the uk at present & even that has been a bit of a tenuous existance, even with all the loving support that she has. It takes the support of the MOD to keep PA474 up. So I doubt if we would have had Balboas of a Halifax, Stirling & Lanc.
What do you all reckon ?
By: David Burke - 24th November 2005 at 10:08
The Helicopter Museum has the former Queens Flight Whirlwind HCC.12 in superb condition and Aeroventure has a superb HAR.10 on display which belongs to the YHPG.
By: mustang500 - 24th November 2005 at 09:31
amazing pics how many p-38’s and b-24,s and am sure i saw a p-61 there.
i agree what if!
By: Arm Waver - 24th November 2005 at 07:06
Prefer the rotary Whirlwinds to the WW2 example myself – I know what you mean though, i’ve yet to see a long-nose Whirlwind (HAR.9, HAR.10 etc) in good condition, apart from the RAF museum’s one and the airworthy one in Ireland, despite so many of them remaining.
Haven’t the Helicopter Muesum got one?
I know they have an early version and the civil equivalent.
By: RMAllnutt - 23rd November 2005 at 15:59
While I have to agree that it would have been lovely to have saved more… especially at least one of the extinct types… I must also say that part of their magnetizing appeal is the fact that they are so rare. It lends an aura of mystery and amazement at all those that still survive. If there were several hundred of each type still moldering on, I think we would be somewhat blase about many of them. You only have to consider the lack of interest in some of the more recent types which are rapidly vanishing to realize that. Just my thoughts though.
Cheers,
Richard
By: Rlangham - 23rd November 2005 at 15:25
Prefer the rotary Whirlwinds to the WW2 example myself – I know what you mean though, i’ve yet to see a long-nose Whirlwind (HAR.9, HAR.10 etc) in good condition, apart from the RAF museum’s one and the airworthy one in Ireland, despite so many of them remaining.
By: Moggy C - 23rd November 2005 at 14:10
Bummer 🙁
By: Arm Waver - 23rd November 2005 at 14:09
You know I mean the rotary ones Mog. I know it’s foul language to you that “H” word…
😀 😀 😀
By: Moggy C - 23rd November 2005 at 12:54
Some wise words there.
Indeed if you look around how many smaller museums have Hunters and Whirlwinds ..
Whirlwinds!!!! 😮
Fantastic, where? 😀 😀 😀
Moggy
By: Charley - 23rd November 2005 at 12:38
I suppose dozens of flying heavies would have been too much to ask but saving “one of each” would have been achievable.
By: Arm Waver - 23rd November 2005 at 12:07
Some wise words there.
Indeed if you look around how many smaller museums have Hunters and Whirlwinds and so forth and despite their best efforts some are in poor condition…
By: Moggy C - 23rd November 2005 at 10:35
Will you just look at all those P38s! (1945)
Moggy
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 23rd November 2005 at 09:03
A beacon of common sense in a sometimes rose-coloured world!
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November 23, 2005 at 12:35 am