XM172Nice one Guys!
Nice one Guys! The new premises look pretty good ! Big enough for a Lightning by the look of it!
Jetstream and Shorts comming soon ….. plus the other ‘bits n bobs’
Fly Safe all
XM172Nice one guys!
Nice one Guys!
Thanks Dave for keeping me abreast of what youve been doing with this lovely lady and im glad i was of some little help during the release paperwork ‘faff’ earlier on…. glad it all fell into place in the end matey.
I heard that Cockpitfest 2008 is going to be a Hunter Anniv Spectacular …. see her there maybe ???
ENJOY!
Fly Safe all,
XM172F6 Cockpit to Brunters (XS922)
Hello all,
I MAY be in a position to bring my F6 cockpit XS922 to Brunters on the 27th ???? Not sure yet as it depends on where i will be on the days preceeding!
Watch this space!
I should be able to bring down my T5 instrument panel (NOT very spectacular at the moment so dont get too excited!!!)….. interested??
Cheers all, fly safe
XM172Jimmy Dell visited Cosford
Hello All,
I had the honour of taking legendary test pilot Jimmy Dell down to Cosford last winter to look up some of his old ‘girlfriends’ tucked up in the museum.
Jimmy was involved with the TSR 2 of course having flown 12 of the 24 development flights and recounts that on the day of project cancellation, he was having lunch with his nav when they got he unexpected news. They both abandoned lunch and ran to the flight line to get XR220 airborne as she was sitting there ready to go but alas, they were stopped by security that had been told on NO ACCOUNT was it to fly and therin lies the story of the Murder of TSR 2.
Jimmy recounts how wonderful this machine was in all aspects and that it WAS a world beater …. if only! Needless to say he was very happy to see her again and to touch her …. something a pilot just has to do!
Anyway, Jimmy’s other aircraft at Cosford were the Lightnings various (but of course) along with Tornado Prototype no 2, the Jaguar, JP, Canberra and he recollects ONE trip flying the Fairey Delta!!! after a question/referal from Peter Twiss! …thats how it was done in those days.
All in all, Cosford is a wonderful museum and Jimmy had a teriffic day out. There was a WW2 reinactment day on at the time.
Cheers all, Fly Safe
XM172Blackpool Shorts and other airframes
Hello Glynn,
Sorry i got it wrong by saying it was a ‘Skyvan’ i aquired for you and not a 330! Its not a Lightning or a Heli so im not really that bothered about accuracy as you well know….(sorry purists out there!)
As for the other two airframes im trying to aquire for you, i think ones a 748 and the other may be a BAC 1-11 but i dont know! I will get pics for you to publish so ‘those who know’ out there can identify them for you.
As you so correctly said, now that ive got them for you, they need to be moved sooner rather than later.
Glad to support such a superb Aviation Museum as indeed Millom is and will become with the expansion plans afoot.
Fly Safe as always.
XM172Lightning T5 instrument crate
Hello All,
Ive been fortunate enough to locate a Lightning T5 instrument crate and look forwards to starting restoring it back to some sort of splendour. Should have seen Jimmy Dell’s face light up when i showed him it ….!!! WOW, what a true gent and flying legend! ..but that another story for my ‘Lakes Lightnings’ website when i get it going…..looking at end of April 07 with a bit of luck.
Anyway, back to the crate; Ive not done restoration like this before so should anyone out there know of any appropriate items (ebay or wherever) then id be very interested to hear about them…..thanks in anticipation.
All top tips and ‘steers’ gratefully received!
I will be taking the T5 crate in whatever form it is along to Cockpitfest 07 at Newark along with F6 section XS922.
Fly Safe
XM172Super Huey Bell 214ST
OK thanks for that correction about the ownership of the civi owned/mil operated Bell 212’s with the AAC…… sorry all, my ‘Facts’ werent quite as accurate and up to date as per my usual standard … i take the hit!..sorry!
However, if you want to hear a blade slap, then you have to hear a Bell 214ST ‘Super Huey’ as indeed i have ….ive had the pleasure of flying one for all of 107 hrs! It has ONE blade that has a track adjusting motor on it so you can tune the rotor in the cruise. I often flew her at 160kts vne with loads of power to spare!!!!!! Just go the WRONG way on the in flight tracking by a beep and the noise it makes is earth shattering as anyone connected with 214ST’s can varify.
This wonderful ‘Huey’ variant is a victim of the US/Iranian trade/sanctions dispute of years ago as it was built specifically for the Shar’s armed forces at that time.
There are several still out there and i believe one is operating up in the Shetlands as i type ??????? is that still the case????
Ive flown 212’s, 412’s, 214ST’s but the old UH1-H is the best…. she is a delight in all ways ……except with the hydraulics switched off !!!! Phil Connolly’s machine is indeed a real gem and a true warbird……. just like G-HUEY.
Fly Safe all
XM172THREE flying UH1-H Hueys in the UK
Hello all,
Just to clear up some points of fact, there are THREE flying UH1-H Hueys in the UK right now!
Firstly, there is G-UHIH which is the ex Vietnam 129th Huey flown on a permit to fly by Phil Connolly on http://www.huey.co.uk. This machine came in from the US after complete restoration.
Secondly, there is G-HUEY now back up in flying condition and this one was the Ex Argie one captured during the Falklands war. It has been static for some while at North Wield but recently got airworthy.
The Third one is up at Leeds Bradford at the heliport and is on an American N reg with a partial commercial ticket.
NOT to be confused with the Bristows owned but military run Bell 212’s out and about training Army Air Corps crews for Belize and Brunei detachments.
So there you have it, ……..the facts!
Fly safe
XM172Hunter vandals
Hello All,
Thanks to Greg for the info on Airfix’s Hunter …what a travesty if she should end up being scrapped! Surely she can be saved by relocation. I’d buy her to save her!
This mindless act of destruction is the fear all us open museums/owners have. Thats all really; im just adding my support and sympathy!
Fly Safe all.
XM172Cockpitfest 2007
Hello all,
Yes Heather and i will be there with Lightning F6 XS922 nose. We are considering bringing ‘Heathers Harrier T4’ nose too …maybe, maybe not!
XM172‘Lakes Lightnings’ update
Hello all,
Just updating Lightning info to include what i currently have at ‘Lakes Lightnings’….cheers all, fly safe
(looking for Red Top/Firestreak missiles and an Aden cannon with Lightning length barrel!)
Australian A/C Consortium A-20 Wamira II nose/cockpit EMU (Dave T)
Auster J1/N Autocrat G-AJPZ frame (Rlangham)
Auster AOP.9 XK421 frame (Dave T)
Avro Anson C.21 anon’ cockpit (Dave T)
Avro Anson GR1 EG426 – “Static Project” (Mark P)
Avro Lincoln B2 RF342 – “Static Project” (Mark P)
Avro Shackleton AEW.2 WL756 nose/cockpit (Camlobe)
Beechcraft D.18s G-BKRN (philipturland and Texantomcat)
BAC Lightning 53-671/ZF579 (mjr)
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XX889 (Buccsociety)
Boeing B-17 Cockpit section-reproduction (B-17man)
Boeing B-17 Radio room-reproduction (B-17man)
Commonwealth CA-6 Wackett Trainer A3-167 Flying Project -(Mark P)
Commonwealth CA-6 Wackett Trainer A3-85 Flying Project (Mark P)
Commonwealth CA-6 Wackett Trainer A3-156 Static Project (Mark P)
Commonwealth CA-27 Sabre, A94-983 (Pete.PS)
Commonwealth CA-28 Ceres prototype cockpit VH-CEX/SSV (Mark P)
Consolidated B-24 Cockpit section-reproduction (B-17man)
Consolidated PBY-5A “A24-387” N68756 Static Project (Mark P)
de Havilland Chipmunk ‘pax WP927 (Stuart Gowans)
de Havilland Chipmunk ‘pax anon’ (Dave T)
de Havilland Hornet F.MK.1 nose/cockpit – repro’ (dcollins103)
de Havilland Vampire FB.5 VZ193 pod (dcollins103)
de Havilland Vampire T.11 XD599 (philipturland and Texantomcat)
de Havilland Vampire T.11 XE985 pod (MarkG)
de Havilland Vampire T.11 XH313 (Vampire)
de Havilland Vampire T.11 XH328 pod ? (Bruce)
de Havilland Vampire T.11 WZ584 (Bruce)
de Haviland Sea Vixen FAW2 XN650 nose/cockpit (HMS Vulture)
Douglas C-47A Skytrain / Dakota 111 FL517 nose/cockpit (c-47 Skytrain)
English Electric Canberra PR.7 WH773 (BexWH773)
English Electric Canberra PR.9 XH175 nose/cockpit (RossMcNeill)
English Electric Lightning F.1 XM144 nose/cockpit (XM172)
English Electric Lightning F.1A XM172 Full airframe (XM172)
English Electric Lightning T5 XS420 Full airframe (XM172)
English Electric Lightning F6 XS932 nose/cockpit (XM172)
English Electric Lightning F6 XS922 nose/cockpit (XM172)
English Electric/BAC Lightning F.3 XP706 (Scott C)
Enstrom 280C Shark G-BXEE (iws)
GLOSTER METEOR NF.14 WS807 (Buccaneer Society/Jet Age Museum)
Handley Page Halifax B Mk III cockpit reproduction (HP57)
Hawker Harrier GR.3 ZD670 nose/cockpit (Dave T)
Hawker Harrier T4 anon’ nose/cockpit (XM172)
Hawker Hurricane P3554 ‘Jessamy’ (Rocketeer)
Hawker Hunter F1 WT648 nose/cockpit (Rocketeer)
Hawker Hunter F2 WN890 nose/cockpit (Rocketeer)
Hawker Hunter F5 WN957 nose/cockpit (Dave T)
Hawker Hunter F6 XG290 nose/cockpit (Rocketeer)
Hawker Hunter T7 XL591 (mjr)
Hawker Hunter FGA.78 QA12 nose/cockpit (MarkG)
Hawker Sea Hawk F1 WF145 nose/cockpit (HMS Vulture)
Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV838 nose/cockpit (wv838)
Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 XE339 fuselage only (wv838)
Hunting Jet Provost T.3 XN549 nose/cockpit (avroxix)
Miles Messenger M.2a G-AKIN (texantomcat)
North American AT-6-D-1-NT Texan G-TOMC (Texantomcat and philipturland)
Piper PA22 Colt – airworthy. (Moggy)
VS Seafire Cockpit Project (Rocketeer)
Supermarine Spitfire IX (Stuart Gowans)
Supermarine Spitfire nose/cockpit (Rocketeer)
Supermarine Swift F7 XF113 nose/cockpit (BDAC)
English Electric Canberra T4 WT486 nose/cockpit (sniperUK/2241sq ATC)
Supermarine Spitfire MkVcTrop cockpit section(Qldspitty)
Supermarine Spitfire MkVcTrop Reproduction(Qldspitty)
SpitfireMk VIII taxiing replica(well almost) fitted with a meteor engine (G Adlam).
Hurricane MKII (in bits) (G Adlam)
XM172Lightning XS420 at Fast
Hello all and a Happy New Year,
Thanks Bruce for your heads up ….my T5, XS420 will be at FAST Museum for the forseeable future!
There seems to be some inconsistency/turmoil amost the heirarchy between the museum/trust and its supporting business company.
Im well clear of any politics and offer my fullest support to ANY museum/organisation that wants to keep aviation matters alive ….. as indeed im sure ALL who follow this sort of forum do! …….bit obvious really i know but, sometimes we ALL have to just STOP from our busy lives and smell the coffee …isnt it good!
Cheers all, Fly Safe ….. N
XM172Lakes Lightnings …the cunning plan …
Greetings All,
Just to give you some heads up on my ‘cunning plan’ regarding ‘Lakes Lightnings’.
The Lightnings currently up in the Lakes are F1a XM172 and F6 ‘short’ nose
XS922….(and ‘Heathers’ Harrier’ T4 nose).
F1 nose XM144 will be relocated from Leeds to the Lakes in January 07.
F6 nose XS932 at FAST will be relocated from Farnboro’ to the Lakes in Feb/March 07.
T5 XS420 at FAST will remain there for now but may/will be moved Spring as ive had notice to move served by FAST Ltd. along with all the other ‘residents’…Yes she will also fit into my garden but i dont think im going to do that …. but im not sure so, ‘wait out’! I havnt decided yet …
My intention is to open up viewing in my garden, as and when, by prior appointment/event …. it is NOT a public place…. for those who know me, im more of a caretaker than an ‘owner’, keeping them for the future. Heather and i are intending to share them with like minded/interested parties … we will probably set up a ‘Lakes Lightnings’ association or something …. havnt thought it out yet.
At the end of the day, yes we will have 5 Lightnings! Enough comes to mind!
But i am looking for a Tbird nose/cockpit ! ! ! and a Firestreak and a RedTop….any one out there got any steers??
Enough ramblings from me so, Happy New Year all … Fly Safe…
XM172Lightning F1 XM144 cockpit
Hello all,
You may be wondering why Lightning nose XM144 has vanished from ebay with days to go til the finish date …. well, i have to say that Chris and i have come to a deal and ive bought her from him !
XM144 will be moving within a month from Leeds to the Lake District to become one of the ‘Lakes Lightnings’.
Her restoration process will be on hold for some while as she takes a back seat to XM172. It was looking as though no one else in the UK was interested and i just couldnt let this F1 leave the country!
Besides it has somewhat loose connection with XM172 as indicated in Damien’s website ‘Thunder and Lightnings’ …the two were destined to be together!
So thats it really … watch for the pictures and my Lakes Lightnings website launch …. when i have a day or so off!
Meanwhile, Fly Safe……
XM172Un known Harrier T4 nose section
Hello all and Happy Christmas,
Just picking up on this old thread on Harrier T Birds as my partner, Heather, recently bought this Harrier T4 nose section from ‘IWS’ up near Edinburgh. … now to be known as ‘Heather’s Harrier’.
So, anyone out there got any details of this T Bird other than she came from Roy Jarman to Everett Aero to Ian Sheffield to Heather Graham! ???
Im keen for ANY piece of the jigsaw …. thanks … Fly Safe
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