Interesting question. Self sealing compounds were certainly available in the late 30s, although documents I saw from 1939 kept refering to “bulletproof” tanks which seems a bit ambitious.

There are four product names that I have come across so far in relation to the Short Sunderland:

Two apprently similar products were Cima and Semape, with Semape available as both a rubber sponge and a rubber mastic. The sponge was, obviously, lighter but also thicker.

In general the coating was half an inch thick at one pound per sq foot – on a big aircraft such as the Sunderland this equated to between 500 and 600 pounds extra weight, depending on the method proposed.

A third system was “Henderson Protection” but I’ve found no information on what it was like.

And the fourth I’ve come across is “Linatex” – which is the system eventually applied to the Sunderland. It was a quarter inch thick coating and could be added retrospectively to an aircraft, providing there was space and the fittings could be altered.

A very quick google found this: http://www.linatex.com/

Hope that helps

Allan

Is it just me that thinks this is just a contrived story designed to create religious tension, specifically anti Islamic?

After all, is is not that long ago since rape within marriage was legal in the UK. It was 17 years ago since a judgement made it illegal in common law – later included in the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. For full background see here.

So why such a fuss now about something this man said so long ago?

I got an iPod Nano for Christmas – my first mp3 player and a really lovely bit of kit, simple to use. I also got one of those little radio transmitters for it so I can play it through my (very old) car radio. That is well worth having.

But then I’ve also recently borrowed an iPhone 3G. Touch screen, GPS linked to Google earth, internet access, iPod, e-mail, absolutely amazing. Apparently you can also make phone calls from it.

Kitty, words (and attitudes) evolve all the time.

Not long ago the BBC spent very large sums of money restoring episodes of The Goon Show, but then edited them when broadcast because of material now too offensive for broadcast. They argue that the shows are at least intact and restored in their archives.

20 years ago when I lived in Aberdeen, we spoke with affection of “P@ki shops”. They were, very specifically, corner shops, selling a huge range of goods, opening very early and not closing until 10 or 11pm. Nearly all were run by south Asian families. But the word has now been abducted into a term of abuse by the BNP and the like (such that you cannot even type it into this forum)

Words evolve but it can be very difficult to keep up to date with it all.

Is it in any way linked to the W African Sunderland pic? If so then I might suggest on board SS Manela which was the HQ West Africa Command at Bathurst.

Wow, the speed at which this forum uncovers information never ceases to amaze

Lovely photograph, I can only agree with the above. I did notice that there are two different camouflage schemes on the aircraft – two in white with camouflage upper surfaces, one in all over Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey. The change to the white scheme was on aircraft leaving the factory in about April 1943. Given the shortages of equipment and spares in West Africa, I suppose it is not surprising that one was still in those colours in 1944, but possibly early 44.

Intriguing that the squadron had three aircraft down without props at once, but tales of difficulties keeping the Bristol Pegasus engines working overseas are legendary.

The group in white – does anybody know what uniform the French Aeronavale wore in W Africa?

I would imagine that you are not allowed to sell a kidney in the USA – ergo it has no cash value.

He loses but the judge will have fun with him.

Assuming that they would not know if the Valiant was suitable until it had been test flown is a bit of a shorthand – although sometimes useful.

A better approach is to consider when the Ministry placed the order for the production of the aircraft – and compare it with when they ordered the two Sperrins. Unfortunately I don’t have the dates for the Valiant – but somebody will.