Came across a new one.

Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck:

Known as “Clunk” due to nosegear reteaction noice.

Status:
Date: 28 JUN 1979
Type: Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina
Operator: Philippe Cousteau
Registration: N101CS
C/n / msn:
First flight:
Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Total: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 8
Airplane damage: Written off
Location: Alverca (Portugal)
Phase: Landing
Nature: Test
Departure airport: ?
Destination airport: ?
Narrative:
The aircraft nosed over during a high speed taxi run after a water landing, to check the hull for leakage. The Catalina turned upside down, causing the fuselage to break behind the cockpit. The wing separated from the fuselage and the left engine broke off, penetrating the captain’s side of the cockpit.

Jacques Cousteau’s Catalina

Of course, in those days air travel was still for the relatively “well off” few, the days of airtravel for the great unwashed masses had not yet dawned, or even been dreamt of, and so a degree of “expected” luxury/comfort was probably “built in” to the space per head.

Nowadays it’s all about cramming as many heads into each aluminium tube as possible so as to maximise heads per flight, and thus try and convince the paying public that being cramped is good for their wallet (if not for their circulatory systems!).

Note the absence of over-head stowage bins in the interior shot in the earlier post – I wonder where the hand luggage was going to be stowed? Presumably the helpful and courteous cabin crew carefully took it form you as you were welcomed aboard, and then carefully stowed it in convenient locker somewhere – no need to damage your back/shoulder muscles whilst trying to wrestle your maximum-weight/maximum-size hand luggage into an already full overhead locker, and then having to use a crowbar to remove it again at the end of the flight, whilst deperately hoping that none of the contents have been broken by whomever threw/forced their heavy duty free or laptop bag in on top if it.

Just think of this thread next time you are trying to “enjoy” a flight in the back end of a modern airliner 🙁 .

Paul F

Although i too enjoy the idea of vintage airtravel, you have to admit that being cramped IS good for your wallet. It was the industry vision of large scale airtravel, that has been driving airline development. Unfortunatly we are now at the logical terminus, where Ryanair (and others) run flight services well below cattle truck standard.

The pax limit of the Brabazon was (althought nice) part of its failure. The industry had no need for luxury travel on that scale. They were moving towards a “Flights for all” policy.

Today you could fly a luxury airliner like the Brabazon and make it pay, but now the development cost (as you would only sell a few) would prevent it from ever flying.

I seem to remember a DC-8 flying as a small luxury cruise type airline somewhere, not too long ago (I hope).

how about some sort of radar antenna? Seems to me that “pipe” has a hinge point on the front. It may fold down in flight as an antenna hanging straight down from the aircraft.

I think you are on to something there.

They have even provided a “detail” picture of the hinge. There must have been a reason for picturing that detail.

Cees

Yes, I recall now that he mentioned the Halifax when we met him. I think I am right in saying that the bomb load was still on board? Mark12 may recall more. He also spoke of a 4th FG P-51 in a lake, too. Information and recovery available for large sums of money as I recall. He also had some very nice Do 17-Z nose glazings and a whole stack of late model 109 leading edge sections or slats which we saw and photographed. As soon as you settle on a price with this chap, though, the price goes up! His rationale being that if it is worth £X and you are prepared to pay that then it must be worth £XX….! Thats why his Spit Mk IX is gently rotting away, no doubt!

Am I right in thinking, that a Spit/Mustang wreck only have an actual value, when you also have a competent restoration team?

Sure its worth paying for a recovered wreck, but the location itself seem valueless to me (unless its something rare, or in a well conditioned hangar 😀 ).

There are already a few projects around, that could do with a new management, so simply buying a location seem a waste of money.

BTW Value = more money than the finder spend finding it.

I have also seen the dark (no markings) models of bombers, they had “arch of fire” illustrated by “sticky-out-bits”. Also they had no stand.

The Ebay one looks more like a toy of sorts.