There are no pictures of PS852 in the Aeroplane Monthly articles, but a nice shot of PS854, the sister aeroplane utilised by Ted Powles for the Chinese overflights. It has many differences from PS852, even though they were most likely repainted into silver by the same unit. PS854 has a silver spinner whereas PS852’s is red and white with a silver back-plate. Both have the anti-dazzle panel, but ‘852’s has a noticeable rake up to the windscreen and in addition the serial number is in a differing location on the fuselage. Even on PS852 the details do indeed change over time, with the windscreen frame changing from silver to black/night. It’s silver at the moment! I de-masked her today on completion of application of the main markings and she is looking very shiny!

Hi Roobarb,
What issues of Aeroplane did TP’s articles appear in?
Ed

November and December 1998. Essential reading, though I believe some has been incorporated into the new BBMF yearbook to tell the story of the scheme.

Yes it should look amazing in formation or parked up with SM845. The two Hong Kong schemed aeroplanes are very similar schemes but have subtle differences making them interesting in their own right. It has certainly caused me a bit of head scratching this time but I managed to source the vital photographs courtesy of Mark 12 and the old issues of Aeroplane Monthly with the articles written by Ted Powles. Some way to go yet but it should look great and a lot more eye-catching than before.

Hi All,
I have not been to Legends for years but would have thought by now they would have been able to have the Me262 Replica come over from Germany, or would that be either just to costly in the first place or if they did manage to acquire it as a participant would it then blow most of their budget restricting the other participants ?

Geoff.

There are also technical reasons to consider that are of importance. The 262 replica operated by Airbus/EADS has a non-original braking system which requires a very long runway due to its less effective capabilities. It is my understanding that at the present time Duxford would not be suitable for operations of this machine in it’s present technical fit. I also understand that the team would be reluctant to operate the aeroplane from a remote site such as Cambridge Airport.

“45-11371, VF-S, “Sunny VIII”, G-BIXL”
I’m afraid this is incorrect. Spencer Flack’s P51 VF-S “Sunny VIII” was NL1051S and marked only as 511371. It was never G-BIXL, that was Robs’s aeroplane as you have correctly listed at the top.
I have many happy recollections of Spencer’s aeroplane when it lived in the National Airways hangar at Southend. 😎

The Sea Fury has been flying around for most of today doing at least 3 if not 4 relatively high altitude air tests. I’ve been out in my garden (not far from DX) and there has been some serious high-power noise coming from up above as it builds time on its engine. The combination of a spring like day, a Sea Fury doing high power orbits overhead all day and the smell of a freshly creosoted fence. It doesn’t get much better than that…:highly_amused:

It isn’t just “said to be Alan Tomkins personal footage”, it IS the footage he shot. There’s a lot more and Connie has a lot as well but in far worse condition. Alan’s was shot whilst he was in Spain and looking for suitable locations and also later on at Duxford. Interestingly both locations have footage of torrential rain and waterlogged airfields showing that the rain in Spain falls mainly on the planes…