Anyone got an update on these airframes ref disposal etc.?

🙁 Sorry Lindy’s Lad but I have to disagree with your views about the HLF.

With a good Forward Plan; a robust business model and the ability to manage your cash flow you can deliver successful HLF capital projects – to suggest otherwise is slightly disrespectful to the many organisations that have.

The project, in the eyes of HLF, is a great sucess as it is one of the 1 in 4 projects that were actually brought to completion.

The HLF requirements were to return the aircraft to the country in fliying condition, NOT to operate it for 10yrs.

The HLF, even though asked a number of times recently, alway said NO as it is not allowed to fund a flying aircraft, so the minute the wheels left the ground their commitment ended until she stops flying when they step in and take posession of the aircraft and they decide where her final resting place will be..

As to repainting the external surfaces or plastering her with corporate logos.. not only the HLF demanded this not to happen, but the MOD said if any external advertising appeared we would be required to remove ALL military markings including XH558.

them’s the facts folks….

🙂

Yes, having looked around a number of other likely places for information, and noting that Denis chose not to rise to the bait, I felt it was unhelpful to the project to start more rumours. Lets wait and see.

Bruce

?

Did I miss something??

:confused:

R&M I too can see your point, but as 558 is a permit to fly a/c I wouldn’t have thought just anyone would be allowed to help without an authorised person or deputy in control who has been trained/auth for the position, 558s hanger is if I understand correctly is a controlled area. I know for a fact the access manager [if thats still his correct term] is a club committee member & was at H.B. I’m not in any way saying they couldn’t have opened the hangar, but things are not always as easy as some seem to think it is.

We are not, under any circumstances allowed to give access to the aircraft or it’s cockpit… CAA regs.. The only people, and that includes members of staff, allowed in the cockpit etal is the flight crew and the engineering team, even Dr Bob has to ask permission and be escorted by an engineer.

There are two other members of staff [other than engineering] who are permitted to open the hangar envions and only in specifically designated areas, Miriam Tong {Education Manager} and myself {Access Manager}and only if we have been issued a work permit by the engineering staff.. no permit no entry and this rule is rigidly applied..This is how we control Sunday access with the aid of our band of trained volunteers.. Sunday access is a privilage granted to us, no a right. and if we misbehave it will be withdrawn…

The hangar was open on Saturday morning until 12 noon but as has been said I had to be at the Club day in my capacity as Membership Sect after which I had to go home to prepare my severely disabled wife’s evening meal, therefore I did not even see the Lightning run.

I work a 6 day week I need at least one day off..if for nothing else, to get the weeks food shopping in..

Come guys, we don’t wish to overshadow you, it’s just our profile is a little high at the moment, after all to a certain extent we are in the same game…. and don’t think it’s a bed of roses when it comes to shoe-strings we can boast a couple of boot laces.

I still have a connection with the cold war jets collection in Canopus and I do encourage all my hangar visitors to see the rest of the collection, but I have had to employ an enforcer to make sure they pay up when they leave us.

we are still part of the Bruntingthorpe team,

Denis

🙂

Consider also 20000 Friends of the Project – if they can be persuaded to continue to donate £50 per year then thats £1.1m without trying too hard.

Then there’s the Gift Aid for UK taxpayers – should add 28p in the pound for around 20-25% of those Friends (worst case). The only problem is ensuring a steady cash flow over the course of the year but then merchandising, ad hoc donations (the blue bins!), sponsorship and appearance fees could help even that out.

Great idea but, the vast majority of the 16000 friends & 2500 club members fall into what I call a “Senior” catagory and most are on state pensions, so £50.00 per year would to say the least stretch already over-stretched resources (I know I have been speaking to them over last couple of weeks and heard some heart rending stories but still they donated ) and non-tax payers to boot.

Denis

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