Which aircraft wpould you like to see return

I really hope this Bucc goes to a good home.

Its in very good condition and needs to stay undercover to keep it that way.

I’d like to see someone figure out what to do with the Buccaneer, XV361, that is in the recently closed Langford Lodge museum in Northern Ireland. I live in belfast and never knew that place existed! It flew into the museum but I don’t know if it can fly back out but it should be in suitable condition. It would be nice to see it in the skies of Northern Ireland.

I would like to see XW986 display at Farnbrough in 2006 🙂

No question at all, one of the departed Mosquitos.

Either Kermit Weeks’, or the ex-Doug Arnold one now in the USAF Museum (stretching the rules a little as neither are currently airworthy, although both flew across the pond when they left these shores 🙁 )

Yup I’d agree with this one, unfortunately, the only potentially airworthy one being RS709 in the USAFM, and no way IMHO is that ever going to be sold or take to the skies again………. 😡
I really have my doubts as to Kermitt ever getting RS712 back in the air again, being as it needs a new wing…..and what with all his other projects 🙁

Seeing a Mossie back in the skies over the UK is probably about as likely as seeing a Lightning doing a rotation take-off again from a UK runway…. 😉

Oh for both to become a reality…… :rolleyes:

Spencer Flack’s G-FIRE. The lady in red.

When I first saw her at the Liberation Airshow at Zestienhoven, Rotterdam in 1985 I was hooked. When we drove home we saw to Spits enjoying themselves chasing each other. Magic.

Cees

I don’t think the CAA could stop you but as Mike J says I think the insurance companies would. I don’t think anybody would intentionally take one into the air, I think there would have to be a serious problem first.

By the way John C – it was Wg Cdr ‘Taffy’ Holden. Must be the strangest 12 minutes logged in a Lightning ever!

Mike J

Is their any way the CAA could stop taxi runs if they wanted to as until anything takes of its simply a “device” traveling down a runway at high speed not an operational aircraft.

JN-4 and I were having the same conversation; she could see the sheer glee in my eyes as the Lightning was doing it’s run, and after the noise subsided she told me that it was evident that I’d love to have a go, but if I ever did, would I be tempted to just lift it off and do a circuit? After all, she said, I’d had the cockpit tour, and I know where the basic bits and bobs are… did I think I’d be able to fly a circuit and get it back down again?

My answer was yes, I reckon I *could* do it if I ever found myself in that situation, but by the same token, I wouldn’t ever want to.

Whyever not? asks JN-4, somewhat surprised at my reply. Surely that would be the ultimate thrill?

Well, my viewpoint is that no matter how lovingly maintained these things are, and no matter how strictly the pilots stick to the original RAF pre-flight checks and vital actions, you can never get away from the fact that these are NOT operational airworthy aeroplanes. They spend their lives outside in all weathers, and have done for the last god knows how many years. They are no longer subjected to the old minor, major, and annual servicing schedules that they used to be, at least not as far down as in the old days. And why should they be? They are ground runners, not flyers.

But as they are now ground-bound, they are no longer subjected to the stresses of flight. If, god forbid, one were to lift off of Bruntingthorpe’s runway, would the control surfaces still be able to perform as they had in it’s operational days? Would the wing spars cope? What if there is some deep deep corrosion or cracking going on which would only ever become evident in a full strip down and rebuild? Or when the aeroplane turns crosswind, the loadings become too much, and the spar gives way at 1000 feet and 240 knots…?

Nope. That idea terrifies me too much. I must stress that my comments above are in no way a reflection on the professionalism of the LPG guys, who perform minor miracles in keeping these beautiful machines in ‘as live’ condition on minimal resources. But there’s the key; minimal resources. And if the resource isn’t there to make it 100% airworthy, it should not leave the ground. Period.

Well, the repercussions would be huge so I hope it’s just idle curiosity on my part – but it’s a nice thought!

I think the CAA would be furious but what could they do after the event.

I’m with Steve – Lightning for me. I’d forgotten what a thrill it is to have your internal organs move around because of the noise!

I wonder how tempted the Bruntingthorpe pilots are just to let it take off 🙂 After all, it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission….. You could just take off, do a circuit, land and go “oops, sorry”….

Well, the repercussions would be huge so I hope it’s just idle curiosity on my part – but it’s a nice thought!

JC

What was the name of the Engineering Officer who had an unplanned Lightning flight? “Taffy” Jones?

Ah yes, how could I forget 😮 , I’ll add a mosquito to my previous list. It would also be great to see such nice machine airborne in europe again! 😎

J.V.

I’d like to see a de havilland Hornet anywhere

Hi Guys,

How about this Take from an Yank, I would love to see next year at the 60Anv. of the end of WWII show the following Uk Types that are across the varoius Ponds.

CWH LANC, Just Two Lancs Flying together would be great 😀
The Meatbox Flying witht the 86&33 😎
The Four Hurries 🙂
The Mossies :diablo:
Suddy :diablo:

And for me every Bloody Moth that is know to be flown in the Largest Moth fourmation Ever :diablo: 😮

Cheers The Crazyone

Instructions are for sad buggers who shop at MFI or Ikea 😀

Instructions are a guideline when all else fails.

I’m with TJ – an Me109, thank you please 🙂

Instructions are for sad buggers who shop at MFI or Ikea 😀

Morris Minor

I’d love to see an airworthy Morris Minor

Mosquito
Wellington
Halifax
Meteor T7 and F8
Sunderland (flying out of Chatham)
Blenheim Mk1
Battle
Morris Minor

AE977 and the Lindsay Walton Corsair please…..

The Sunderland as its the only one of those mentioned that I never saw at all, never mind flying 😡 .