Who's taking over the reigns?

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

Cheers. The Demon will be K8203 / G-BTVE I think.

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

Hi Steve ,It’s on Discovery Flight , I finish backshift around 23:30 and its on at least once a week around then , there a bit about the Beau , and theres a good view of an uncovered Hawker Hind/Demon then a bit about the Viscount.

Alastair

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

>As Steve says Tim Moore / Skysport MUST be around the top of
>the tree when it comes to building rare aircraft ,
>everything from an Avro 504 to a Viscount !! ,

Tim’s list of achievements is truly impressive; personally I think the RAFM Bulldog must be their finest restoration. They also did TFC’s Bristol Fighter, which is also truly stunning.

>I keep
>watching Plane Crazy on Sky TV hoping for a followup to the
>Viscount/Beaufighter programme ,

Never seen that, what channel’s it on?

>Steve , is the Viscount
>assembled ?

Not entirely. She’s currently outside, laid out in aeroplane shape, but the wings and tail surfaces aren’t attached. She’s visible from the air, and on summer evenings the Microlights out of nearby Moggerhanger usually buzz overhead having a bit of a nose.

>and is the DC-3 a complete airframe ?? ,

Complete as in all bits present, but currently stored dismantled.

>in the
>programme you can see several craftsmen working on parts –
>are you one of them ?? ,

No. The lens has not yet been invented which will capture my ugly mug without breaking into many pieces. Besides, I only do evenings when there’s no-one there but the cat. 😉

>so many questions !! , will there
>be a Skysport website sometime ??

Don’t know. I heard it mentioned, but I think it’s more intriguing to be a bit mysterious…. 😉

A couple of years ago I did attempt to cobble together a website dedicated to Beaufighters, and had intended to cover the Skysport Beau in some detail, but after an initial start, the idea kind of floundered. I might resurrect it when I finally learn how to do so, but it won’t be a Skysport site.

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

As Steve says Tim Moore / Skysport MUST be around the top of the tree when it comes to building rare aircraft , everything from an Avro 504 to a Viscount !! , I keep watching Plane Crazy on Sky TV hoping for a followup to the Viscount/Beaufighter programme , Steve , is the Viscount assembled ? and is the DC-3 a complete airframe ?? , in the programme you can see several craftsmen working on parts – are you one of them ?? , so many questions !! , will there be a Skysport website sometime ??

Alastair

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

You can also add Skysport, who have been plying their trade in characteristicly professional but low key fashion for twenty years. They don’t churn out the high profile warbirds, but boy do they produce some amazing work.

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

Yak 11 fan. Dont think I am trying to get at you. But I really am not getting at you. Every time I go to my local airshow there is always a great variety of Warbirds, Jets and aerobatic aircraft and personally I wont leave the display line until I ve seen every aircraft. I usually go early and see the trade stalls first but I dont get there for doors opening just a little later than that. Then I set myself up at the display line for the rest of the time. One thing that does annoy me and a few other will agree is when you are sitting or standing near a fence with a decent gap between you and the fence but no space for anyone else at the front why is it that people always are so inpolite and barge in front trying to take pictures all the time. Wouldnt it be simpler and less offensive to say excuse me mind if I get a few pics in. That I wouldnt mind so much because just maybe I will see the persons pics on the web if I am lucky.

Sorry I dont mean to ramble on about airshows but My main point was the Aircraft involvement.

Merlin

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

I think ARCo/HFL are one of the leading lights in historic aviation these days.If you look at thier latest Spit,with it’s telemetry systems and carbon dioxide sensors,it’s a sign of a forward looking approach to operating old aeroplanes.In the long term,these systems might well become a common feature of future restorations,and it’s good to see a group in the UK pioneering the idea.
Some of thier past work is also extremely impressive,the Blenhiem being the shining example of what John Romain and his team can achieve,not to mention thier work on such things as Lysanders, and now they’re branching into classic jets.Then there’s the GA and brokering side of the business.All in all it’s a pretty incredible operation-it’s just a shame that most of it is tucked away in a hangar that’s closed to the public.Do they have any plans to hold open days??

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

I saw Angie Soper’s Yak 11 at Biggin Hill, very nice display particularly as the aircraft is very special to me. The Yak is a very under rated aircraft, a lot of organisers don’t know anything about it, and don’t want to know. This was certainly the case some 8 – 10 years ago when G-OYAK was the only Yak 11 being offered out for display, back then it was very difficult to get bookings, in the end the then owner used it for his own pleasure. Somewhere I have some great pictures of G-OYAK being displayed with great enthusiasm by Gary Numan at Earls Colne on a couple of occasions in the early 90’s

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-10-02 AT 09:42 PM (GMT)]It was the OFMC T6 that displayed at Duxford in September, flown by Rolf Meum (lovely lyrical aeros). TFC’s example was also listed to appear, but didn’t fly.

Angie Soper gave a very nice display in her Yak 11 at Biggin Hill back in June. In addition to Little Gransden, I believe the displays at Old Hay and Woodchurch were also blessed with Harvards and Yak 11s.

It’s a pity that we don’t see more of them at airshows. Would be great if they could have their own slot at Legends, particularly as TFC has a Harvard.

Back on topic, Spencer Flack did a lot for the preservation scene, along with BBMF and Shuttleworth.

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

and long may it continue, as a matter of interest which Yak 11’s and T6’s were used? I guess Mark Jeffries machine was at Little Gransden, but what about the others?

RE: Who’s taking over the reigns?

You need to add a few more to that list,

Robs Lamplough
Graham Warner
Anthony Hutton
Tony Ditheridge

As for the future I feel that we will see more smaller collectors such as

Rob Davies & Maurice Hammond and others

With a few aircraft used as much for the pleasure of the owner as well as airshow audiences. That said I do feel that airshows will not in the future be as Warbird rich, or as plentifull as they have been in recent years, although this could be a good thing, lets face it when was the last time you saw a T6 or a Yak 11 at an airshow and actually stood and watched it rather than it being a break between the fighters. This is purely my opinion, we’ll see what happens