Interested to know that photos of incidents do exist at Kew, though. Don’t suppose you saw any Whirlwinds on moorland, did you?

Not so far, but I’ll keep an eye out!

Some of the notes were typed up in 1945 by Jim Wilson, from his own handwritten diary of the time – some wrong digits may have crept in there. I think the next job, the Hart, has the wrong serial too – but after that they seem accurate. The handwritten version that survives only goes back to June 41. Still, there is so much detail in the narrative I think Jim can be forgiven for a couple of typos.

Highlights for me are the bomber wheel caught up on a mine (His assistant saying he’d work with Jim on it, but only if Jim would tell head office he’d volunteered, and the bomb-disposal chap turning up to find they already had it swinging about in a sling, still armed), and the ‘hush-hush’ job picking up a Spitfire PR1A (which he called a ‘Blue Peter’ Spitfire).

These notes would be a very good basis for a very interesting book. Ever thought of it?

I suggest a Google of ‘DVLA’ and ‘Bugatti 35’ just in case anyone is naïve enough to think there is no difference between a replica Spitfire and one with genuine provenance.

It matters not what we the enthusiasts think (whether poacher or gamekeeper): if government organizations get involved then there won’t be recourse for discussion. I would suggest that it’s only a matter of time before someone raises the question.

I’ve no idea how the Bugatti issue became one for the DVLA, but we are talking about fundamentally similar machines (car vs aircraft), of similar age and of similar monetary value.

EDIT: a look here proved strangely prescient, when compared to George’s original post: note the proposed categories:

Option 1 – Rebuilt Vehicles

Rebuilt Vehicles: there’s no mention on line as to whether this applies to classic, vintage or modern cars (although all three definitions can be open to interpretation) it does say however a rebuilt vehicle can keep its original registration number if you can prove you’ve used:
•The original unmodified chassis or body-shell
•A new chassis or monocoque body-shell of the “same specification” as the original

You must also have 2 other major components from the original vehicle on the following list:
•Suspension (front and Back)
•Steering assembly
•Axles (both)
•Transmission
•Engine

Option 2 – Radically altered vehicles

Radically altered vehicles: these are vehicles (once again no classification) that have been altered from their original specification, but aren’t kit conversions.

Keeping the original registration number is based on a point system. The more original the vehicle the higher you score deeming your vehicle acceptable to maintain its age related plate. However you must have the original or new unmodified chassis and monocoque body-shell. 8 points or more allows you to keep your original plate.Take a look at the points system.
•Chassis, monocoque body shell original or new and unmodified – 5 points
•Suspension (front and back) original – 2 points
•Axles (both) original – 2 points
•Transmission original – 2 points
•Steering assembly original – 2 points
•Engine original – 1 point

Option 3- Reconstructed Classic Vehicles

Reconstructed classic vehicles: potentially with the DVLA changes to classic cars they could only allocate an age-related plate if the vehicle meets the criteria below
•Built from genuine period components from more than one vehicle, all over 25 years old and of the same specification as the original vehicle
•A true reflection of the marquee
•Has been inspected by the appropriate vehicle owners’ club for the vehicle type (marque) and confirmed in writing it has been inspected, is a true reflection of the marque and comprises of genuine period components all over 25 years old
•Disclose manufacturer dates for all major components

Sad to hear. But it was good while it lasted.

So now we’ve lost this and the F-86A, does anything now qualify as the UK’s oldest airworthy jet?

Two Canberras? I was there a week or so ago and the PR.9 was parked among a load of 747s on the north (ish) side.

What’s the other one?

There seems to be one very important category missing.

An aircraft that has been salvaged and restored to fly using little or no original components.

That’s Category E. Many of those around.

It’s a thing of beauty and in markings wholly appropriate. I hope they don’t restore but just conserve what’s there.

Some from today: ZD610 lifted by Chinook ZD575, which makes them around the same age I guess…

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