Surely it is way beyond time that a national collection be established, that a register of so called Benchmark airframes be drawn up and a body formed to steer societies and individuals by legislation if required to care for and correctly maintain these priceless relics, and if that means grounding them for their protection so be it, the matter of constructing flying replicas could also form part of such a body under an educational umbrella were the construction process itself becomes a teaching tool to train candidates in methods of preservation of airframes after all would it be so bad to see a flying example of a mosquito again, even if it was actually brand new.
So after sixty years of trust ownership a Government operative will turn up at the gates of Old Warden airfield one morning and announce that this, this and this are now the property of the state.
I should co-co.
Looking at the way the Government of this fair land seems to make a b*lls up of even the simplest task–I would imagine the Bleriot, Dep and Blackburn would be reduced to kindling within five years.
I’d say that the reason why the preservation movement in this country is as healthy as it is, is probably because it has little or no Government meddling–unless you cite the CAA and it’s best not to go there.
I was also somewhat unhappy about the author’s comments on the way the trust was run and funded.
Oh how easy it is to sit on the side lines firing bullets. Perhaps these people should see how hard it raise to raise the annual costs of keeping The Collection going–bl**dy hard work by a small but very dedicated team and much pulling out of hair.
And if anyone thinks I take the comments about Old Warden personally–you’re right I do.
Andy
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