VX,

It was XH669 that landed with an o/b emergency (cockpit fire), and you are correct in stating that it was cut up in 1993. I have pictures somewhere of the end of the first days ‘mauling’ with JCB’s. I was stationed there at the time, and used to pop across to see it at quiet times. The cockpit had been burned quite a bit if I remember correctly, but probably more than likely due to fire training.

Cadman,
The Victor in question had served its time well, and despite it’s career, it bowed out playing an important fire training role. Bear in mind that it was landed with problems when the Victor fleet wasn’t far from retirement. The incentive to fix it at that stage would have been low, unless it was VERY low houred from Major Maintenance. You can’t save everything, we’d have no pots and pans to cook with:D

Sadsack,

The new Hawks have been test flown and the RAF is getting them. The Reds Aircraft are rotated through the fleet when fatigue starts to get high. I’m sure when they’re all tired, they’ll be replaced with the newer glass cockpit type, Reds and trainers.

The Shadow R1’s (Raytheon 300C (Aka King Air) will be going to Waddo as part of 5 Sqn, and the first has been staying over of late (G-JENC), but I BELIEVE that they will only be hangared for Maintenance in 3 Hangar. the rest of the time they’ll be out in the elements/operating enviroments, as with the Sentinel R1. 2 Hangar is still earmarked for the Reds and work will start on it soon.

Message ends,
C 6

I can’t see any images, but is this the aircraft that my old Wing Commander bellied in…W/C Dave Bolsover??

Cheers,
C6

Excellent post. Many of todays warbirds wore civilian schemes longer than the military schemes they started out with and should be remembered as such. I am certainly more interested in photo’s of Mustangs from the 50’s,60’s and 70’s in civilian schemes thant the endless parade of yet another USAAF theme.
I still remember vividly the day in 1977 when i saw my first Mustang up close,
I-BILL in it’s gourgeous yellow scheme.
Photo’s of warbirds in civilian scheme make the history that airframe went through to survive seem more interesting.

I have to say that I-BILL was a early Mustang memory for me. Wasn’t it a Cavalier Mustang with extended vertical stab (fin)? I think I saw it at Greenham Common in 1977. The memories are bleak, I was only 4!! 😀

Any pictures of I-BILL?

C6

The Canadian Mosquito will fly in Spartan Air Services colour (color) scheme….bring it on!!!

C6

What a curious aeroplane the Leopard is. I remember seeing one at Bournmouth when I was there with the Sparrows, and thought how great a concept it was.

Can anyone expand the aircraft’s history?

C 6