Moving onto more important Duxford residents, I was surprised that no one noticed this member of the “family” had come up for grabs. Surely the most desirable “must have” for the warbird collectors fleet:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAF-Lansing-Bagnall-Aircraft-Tug-/251361390382?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a864e6f2e#ht_120wt_960

I understand he (it’s blue so it must be male) is now moving to a new location in the south of England, to tow a Spitfire, T6 and Chipmunk in and out of their hangar, with the occasional foray into the public eye at certain times of the year 😉

Any suggestions for a name? Must begin with “T” of course…

Some of them look ever so familiar…:cool:

G-FIRE was looking pretty rough by the time it moved to TFC/SG for export. I had a good look round it when it passed through Southend on the way back from the Ramstein show and it made me sad to see the state it was in. Patched holes in the rudder and elevators, a collapsed main oleo and locked down tail-leg and that gorgeous paintwork dirty and badly eroded on the leading edges A complete contrast to when Spencer had it make it’s show debut along with Stephen’s P51 at the Biggin Hill Air Fair. I’d just been looking over a couple of tatty ex-PAF silver/dayglo Harvards and then the lovely Nord 1101 in Aeronavale colours thinking how good it was when I moved along to find Candyman/Moose and G-FIRE side by side looking quite frankly STUNNING! Up to then I’d only seen BBD at DX and Robs’s Israeli P51’s so the Mustang was pretty incredible. But the Spitfire!!!! 5 Blade prop, “star” spinner, low back fuselage (never seen one of those Spits flying up until then) that amazingly deep shine to the gloss red painwork and those guns! Yeah lots of people say “Oh that sounds really naff” now, but to me they have remained embedded in my memory as one of the most innovative ideas on the airshow scene. That and the gas-gun on the CASA 352 from Rochester. Sadly when she moved abroad, the chance for an authentic livery was bypassed for a disgustingly bad CAF style gloss cammo in the wrong shades and representing a Mk24…
Personally, I’d have it back in the Spencer Flack red scheme accompanied by the flashing guns and the moans of “It should be in cammo”, from Mk12!

I believe it was all sorted out after Beaufighter VI administered a packet of “Tunes” to both aircraft…

(Other red nose eliminating cough sweets for vintage aircraft are available, terms and conditions apply, always read the label, wear safety glasses and hi viz laces when working with foil sweet wrappings, excessive intake may have a laxative affect leaving puddles beneath aircraft…)

Although given how many times we’ve seen people at DX photographed holding up signs by containers saying things like “Chinese Stirling” or the like, it might just be that someone there has read this and is pulling our legs…

Adrian

Pssssst DCW…

The Stirling is out for compass swinging next week….;)

Now if some forward thinking Brats had “spirited away” those “changed engines and props” they would be in a very good bargaining position right now! Instead they probably put more effort in towing Sea Hawks or Provosts to Wendover in the middle of the night…