Well imagine the alternative headline…

from bbc online

“News has reached us today of the first aerial engagement over British shores since 1945, a Luton Minor was brought down by a heat seeking air-to-air missile fired from a microlight in a bizarre incident at Sywell Aerodrome, though written off, the damage to the destroyed machine is estimated not to exceed 48 pence…. :diablo: “

sorry Steve (not really) :diablo:

TT

An on looker also reported that the missile had been fired from somthing that ressembled a shopping trolley covered by a tent, “Its amazing what you can get at Tesco,s these days” he said.

:diablo:

It’ll be quite an event, personally I’m looking forward to the traditional Luton Minor Bonfire and Fred-Firebombing ceremony :diablo:

TT

I have just one thing to say, SKYRANGER!!!!:diablo:

If you look at the economics of running an Airshow you would never run one!!!At Sywell we try to cover the cost of the Aircraft by Corporate Hospitality and Sponsorship, for our little 3hr show somewhere in the region of £25K:eek: and thats not including all the site expenses, fences, toilets PA etc. This the last two displays has not happened and we are then relying on you the paying public coming through the gate in the right numbers. Last time we had torrential rain the morning of the show and not enough came through, the result a £10K loss!!!! better than the time before by the way.
What with weather, people trying to get in for nothing moanging on the gate price etc etc etc its not for the faint hearted:(
Its a lot of work, alot of stress and on the day when it all comes together, the weather Gods are on side and the paying public have had a good day its becomes all worth it. 🙂

Sad news indeed:(

” Dont look Ethel!!!!!” “To late she’e been Goosed!!!”

😉

Just think, could YOU have restored such an aircraft back to flight??? What they have done so far is a big achievement even if she cannot fly. They’ve overcome a massive hurdle to even get her in the air again so I think so much criticism is out of order (not just here, on other forums too).

Good luck XH558. 🙂

With access to a £6 million budget i think i could have had a bloody good try, but then again i would’nt have because i live in the real world!!! As has been said countless times before on this and many other forum know one is talking away the huge achivement of alot of people involved with this project, but right from the word go many, including me questioned the reality of it being financially a realistic proposition. Its sad but in reality it isnt and never was.

Both……I first met Paul when I was at The Squadron at North Weald and did the history of the Chipmunk (BBMV) before I did that of the T-6G (DDMV). One day when we were discussing the finer points of T-6s over the phone, he asked me if I had heard of what he had bought next and so I replied that I hadnt worked on any Mustangs before, to be told that he wasnt talking about the history then, but did I want a flight in the back. Well, what could I say.

I was still living at home then and when I told my Mum ‘I’m going to have a Mustang flight’, it was just a ‘yes dear’ and that was the end of it. Eastenders was far more interesting.

I did SUSY and DDMV both on the same day at the 1992 USAAF Fly-In at North Weald with Rob Simpson flying the T-6G. I managed 40 mins in SUSY, with a trip up to Little Staughton and back.

I flew in the T-6G again this time with Paul at North Weald at a later date – he was a true gentleman and will always be missed. (I loved the Ilmor Christmas cards, they were always out of this world).

But last year, when I was kindly offered a short flight in the aeroplane that had started it for me (BBMV), I just didnt know what to say and still believe that it will be for sentimental reasons, one of my all time favourites. That quick flight meant a lot to me.

Best wishes,

Martin

Arrh, i see, wasnt sure if you had been for a trip in the T6, I guess that was with then owner Paul Reading, sadly BBMV has now moved on to pastures new. Much missed as i have had flown and looked after the A/C for many years, hopefully she will be well looked after by her new owner. DDMV still resides here at Sywell and hopefully will do for many years to come. Paul is greatly missed by us all, a loverly man who did much for Sywell and was allways happy to share his aeroplanes with those that spent the time to be interested, im sure he is still keeping an eye on us from upon high. One of my fondest memories of BBMV is doing the missing man flyby for Paul at the Sywell Summer Ball the year he was killed, i pulled up out of the formation in MV and struggled to see though the tears to land:(