Two excellent books I have enjoyed are:

A Willingness to die – Brian Kingcombe
Think like a bird – Alex Kimbell

Wasn’t it Stalin who said “It takes a brave man(or woman) not to be a hero in the Red Army”

Gotta be the ONR-CIA Rubber Airplane for me.

“Excuse me Sir, we’ve blown up your aeroplane for you”

http://www.unrealaircraft.com/qbranch/rubber_onr_cia.php

I’m still not sure if this is a wind up :rolleyes:

My personal thought are that I would want the most modern reliable methods used provided that they didn’t affect appearance or flying characterisics. Let’s face it, aircraft were subject to modifications and improvements throughout their life so why not employ modern methods in a restoration.

For example, if a particular carburettor caused engine failures should we use that type of carb for originality or employ a more modern reliable item? If an alloy spar was prone to fatigue cracking should we replicate it or improve it ? Should we rebuild an engine with moderm materials and closer tolerances etc or work to the original spec’n?

Interestingly, some years ago I used to overhaul propellers for the RAF Chipmunks. Because they were impossible to replace the original DH spec’s on minimum blade diameter and width were relaxed !

I think the wooden box bit was a myth. He was my Wg Cdr at Halton in the 70’s and when he told us the story he said the pins were fitted to the seat, the canopy was removed and he was wearing ear defenders. I’ve just listened to an interview where he retells the story and it was indeed a ‘bang seat’ made ‘safe for servicing’.

Nice to see these photo’s. I had a happy time at Halton in the late 70’s as a trainee. The JP’s were used for engine change practice, flight servicing, refuelling, ground running and marshalling training. The dual trade Appo’s got to work on the Gnats as the wing had to come off to facilitate an engine change. The Canberra was used for fuel flow test training. On the Argosy we learned ground running multi’s. With respect to getting Hunters up the road and into the workshops, if the Apprentices could steal a Whirlwind and get it up to the the parade square during the night then I don’t think the Hunters woud pose a problem – a Queen Mary perhaps?

I can also remember a twin engine light a/c on which we were taught propeller swinging but I can’t remember the type.

Thanks for sharing the photo’s.

Steve