http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-shackleton?fb_ref=Default

Tracey Adams was Gary’s girlfriend before he was married to Gemma. And yes, Tracey did design the Squadron Badge. Here are a few more Team photos…….

Being a volunteer there for almost three years (and way before it opened) it was always deemed to be a tourist attraction. The maintenance facilities were rather on the small side (which I presumed was planned) and therefore all annuals were conducted at Coventry. A local engineer was brought in to do 50 hour checks etc on the pleasure flying craft and as to restoration, nothing was ever done here as to flying machines, owing to the lack of tools and trained staff. The only restoration works carried out were that done by the volunteers on the static airframes i.e. the Harrier. If engineers had to be down from Coventry, they stayed in local accommodation owned by CAF.

It was always deemed to be a tourist attraction. What with the change of use of buildings, the shop, cafe, cinema, model collection, flight simulators, children’s projects, advertising leaflets, banners etc, it could have not been anything else. I realise as people have said before that the Summer season was rather on the small side, it’s main group of visitors were in the age range of 55+ and the majority of those having either served in the RAF or at St. Mawgan.

These are the same people that are now moving some of the airframes back to Coventry.

Will be going to my Dad’s tomorrow, so will hunt down some more Harvard photos. Got to be some there (somewhere!)

Martin

A very good friend of mine has been almost single handily been working on the Newquay Canberra since its arrival and was until recently awaiting for its seats to arrive from Coventry. Suppose this will now not happen until the new trust is set up. As to the other Canberra, I ‘believe’ that there was something wrong with one of the engines sourced from overseas and at the moment, the priority is to get the piston engined types back in the air. The Devon and I think the Pembroke has flown, and next hopefully will be the Twin Pioneer.

Edit: Just been told that the NQY Canberra is out of hours and although it is stated on the website that it is due for restoration as G-CDSX, it was de-registered on the 6 November 2014 as permanently withdrawn from use.

I was member #111, joining at the inaugural meeting which was where I met both Martin (T6flyer) and Janie. Would that have been 1985/6?

It was huge fun in those days, and I hope Sam and Tony are having a idyllic time in France. It was a splendid idea, and it was such a shame when the influx of Yak 52 put an end to the team.

Moggy

I started with the Team in October 1988 and The Squadron opened on Easter Saturday 1989. Remember I was member number 51. Were good times, won’t be anything like that again. Enjoyed it a lot, cept for the 600 mile round commute from Cornwall every month.

Best wishes,

Martin

So what happened to the aircraft and where are the pilots now?

Can’t remember what I did yesterday! 🙂 Haven’t seen anyone for over 15 years now.

Beech C-45 N5063N after sold by Anthony Hutton was then owned by Andy Foan at Exeter and now sold back to travel around the world. Gary Numan’s Harvard Mk.IIB G-AZSC is now based at Goodwood with the Flying Club there. Euan English was tragically killed in his Harvard Mk.IIA G-TEAC on 4 March 1995. Harvard G-CTKL is now at Biggin Hill with all those Spitfires, Anthony’s Harvard Mk.4 G-BIWX is now registered G-RAIX and lives at Lee-on-Solent and Norman Lees’ Harvard Mk.IIB G-BDAM is now in Canada and currently up for sale for $179,000.

Martin