I’ve not been involved in digs so I’ll stick to the areas that I have been, with some pieces given to me.

Can a few corroded lumps of engine and airframe portray the history of a particular type or airframe to any great effect?

Yes. But I’m sure we all seen some that weren’t very well done – as well as some good ones.

This is from an exhibition that I helped to put together.

The pieces are from a Sunderland and were set up by a sculptor who wanted to bring out the emotion of a crash which killed 15 people. The hanging piece was allowed to spin gently casting shadows on the wall, where there was a list of the names of those who died. It was a small tribute to those men.

The piece on the plinth is a section of floor which has also been some use in helping a reconstruction project.

The case too of the dig on the Spitfire to try to determine who shot down Douglas Bader is another angle of what can be done I guess. More of a historic forensic examination to determine causes and effects, perhaps dispel myths and prove theories in certain cases.

Apart from recovering bodies, I can’t think of a better reason for a dig.

Allan

The scots etc have their own which they use when Scotland are in something

Erm, no, Scotland doesn’t have a national anthem either. Put simply the Nation is “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” which has God Save the Queen as a national anthem.

The countries which make up the UK are not individually nations. The fact that Scotland resolutely insists on using its own tunes at major sporting events (when we get to them ;)) is a reflection on the pride we have in our culture, but not an official anthem.

There is some confusion about the Scottish “anthem” anyway. When I grew up it was always Scotland the Brave but recently Flower of Scotland has gained huge popularity. The third verse contains the lines:
Those days are past now,
And in the past
They must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,

See, not a nation – yet. 🙂

I always thought England’s sports teams used Land of Hope and Glory. No reason why England shouldn’t have its own tune – and no doubt the same confusion over which one to use.

Presumably this one:

http://www.obantimes.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3951/Mystery_plane_on_seabed.html

No info on the recovery though.

Mark Pilkington has mentioned the Short Brothers’ early machines. Are you aware that despite, the importance of their aircraft to early aviation and the birth of the RNAS, the only Short survivor prior to the mid 30s is the 184 fuselage at the Fleet Air Arm Museum?

That gives you a great choice: The Short No2 was owned by JTC Moore-Brabzon and used to win the Daily Mail prize for the first 1 mile flight by a British Pilot in a British aircraft.

Or the Short S38 – first aircraft to take off from a moving ship

Some early Short folders, as used by the Navy, would be easy to store.

Or you could go for a replica of the Short 184 Type. They had a range of different engines to choose from.

Or you could just start with a float and go from there 🙂

Have fun though,

Allan

I’d forgotten about this thread but have realised that some parts I saw from a Sunderland carried numbers beginning FB – presumably associated with the Bristol Pegasus engines.

Very useful – thanks for the list

Allan.

Well, since RAF Alness was home to 4 (C) OTU’s flying boats, I suppose the runway is still there :diablo:

Seriously, I had a wander round there last summer and a lot of the hangars used the by the flying boats are still there, together with a few concrete structures by the firth. Close by is the land runway that, IIRC was under the different name of RAF Evanton (HMS Fieldfare) It shows up well on Google Earth (57 39 59N 4 18 28W)

But its not my home turf so others with more knowledge will tell you more about what survives.

Allan

That’s mad that is.

What’s the economic reason for connecting them? I can understand the need to connect Europe to the UK – massive amounts of trade flow between them. If they want to move oil, then build a pipeline but I’d need more convincing about the need for a train link.

Technically it should be buildable though. The Straits are quite a way from the Tectonic plate boundaries. NE Siberia and Alaska are actually on the same plate – different continents but the same Tectonic plate. The boundary between that plate and the Pacific plate is further south, along the line of the Aleutians – that’s where all the earthquakes are.

Gosh – I looked away for a couple of days and the debate got really interesting – partly because of the grey areas (The ones Moggy mentioned not the esteemed mod)

I agree with the view that hunting purely for sport is wrong. But then I live by a rule that if I couldn’t kill it then I don’t eat it. BTW that makes me a pescatarian. I also like to think that I’m tolerant enough to accept that if you want to eat it and you can kill it, then fine – each to his own.

Clearing animals from airfields, and managing deer through culling doesn’t easily fit my simple logic but I wouldn’t object to them. Partly because the alternative plan, to reintroduce wolves to the Scottish Highlands, I find fascinating and frightening in equal measure.

And I don’t understand the need to hunt foxes in areas of arable farming.