Well I’m interested where some of you optimists get your crowd figures from but I’d estimate that 99% of the British public at large don’t give a monkey’s toss whether a Vulcan flies again or if they’re all reduced to scrap.

I’d go further and say if gate prices were pushed up to the extent that was needed to make the sums add up on a Vulcan display, you’d actually see gate numbers drop.

Airshows are already close to the tolerable maximum that many families can afford and another hike would drive many away for good.
It really isn’t the enthusiastic minority that keep airshows going, it’s the normal family punter who’s wife would prefer an afternoon at Ikea anyway and the kids are only half interested.

If you don’t believe me, next time you’re at an airshow take a walk around about half way through the flying and see what types make-up the crowd.

As far as where I’d like to see the Vulcan display first.
Well it obvious innit?
Dunstable downs gliding club–then I don’t have to be *rsed to go and see it.
Well apart from onto the patio that is.

Andy

Of course not, you should no better than that………paraffin burners arn’t welcome at Legends 😉

Yeah sorry I forgot.
I’m told it’ll land on the grass at Old Warden though… 🙂 😉 🙂

There’s a simple answer to this seemingly endless question.
A large shed load of ali-scrap–that’s the answer.
Oh, and a fine selection of data plates.

The subject of the contents of those blasted sheds must be the most tedious subject in vintage aviation.

Andy

Can anyone point me to a publication that might have a list (and, possibly, details) of World War 1 Aircraft Acceptance Parks?

thanks, Roger Smith.

Roger,
I think you might find some of what you want in ‘The War In The Air’.
The official history of the part played by the RAF in The Great War.
by
H.A. Jones and Walter Raleigh.

There are seven volumes of it but they are available through The Naval and Military Press.
This gives all sorts of detail about things like aircraft parks, brigades and wings.
As well as a mine of other details.

Hope this helps (a bit).
Andy

Wasn’t the replica at Hendon a flyer too? It’s easy to forget it, the doors of the Grahame-White Factory are rarely open for you to be able to see it.

Indeed it was a flyable replica, and it was flown before it was retired to the dark recesses of the never to be opened GW building.
As was I hasten to add the Vickers FB5 and the Caudron and the lovely Vimy.

I would also add that after my visit to Hendon yesterday I intend to wage war on the current management there with whatever means I have at my disposal until they either go or the place improves!!!

Not a happy camper.
Andy

Andy – Problem with that theory is that the collection sold it’s original Piston Provost and Chipmunk in the 1980’s because they were deemed of little appeal. I don’t imagine buying replacements for them resulted in huge increases at the gate ! However the collection does indeed have to attract the public but how many of those are attracted by the Spitfire/Hurricane or the overall package. There is undoubtedly a difficult balancing act to be made but if you explore the aircraft that Richard Shuttleworth
preserved he made quite bold decisions to preserve aircraft that were not exactly in many cases hugely good but interesting from a technical viewpoint.

David,
yes but Richard shuttleworth was preserving the collection for his own delectation and he was also extremely wealthy. I doubt he ever had any plans to open the place as an aviation museum.
I do agree that it appears somewhat hasty the way the original Chipmunk and Provost were sold off by previous managements at Old Warden but, I’d argue that neither of them still have much appeal to the masses.
I personally find the Provost (both jet and piston varieties) a somewhat underwhelming type to watch although I do accept their significance.

From observation I’d say over half the punters are attracted by the ‘bigger’ types at Old Warden, sad but true.
By that I mean Spitfire, Hurricane, Lysander, Hind and Gladiator.
There were several occasions last year when the place emptied after the Spitfire but before the Edwardians could be prepared.
These people miss out on much in my ‘onest, but there you are.
Andy

The mini- skirt (and it’s contents)–far more interesting than any machine.
A.