That was my instant reaction, RF-84 Thunderflash. Nice item by the way Simon.

Rob

Edit.. The profile fits apart from the camera window position on this particular example[ATTACH=CONFIG]239676[/ATTACH]

It’s from a G-91!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]239679[/ATTACH]

A cropped version of the top photo in the link makes it easier to see that it’s a Mustang or Apache.

See Post #2.

Apologies for the repetition ! I have not been able to spend much time on here for a while, so am a bit out of touch.

As a friendly prompt, none of you gents have started any threads since early June, so I reckon some new input would go down well if you have got anything 😉

Well I did hear about some Spitfires in Burma….

In general I don’t start threads just for the fun of it, so unless I think of something worthwhile, that will be the status quo.

😀

Wh 904 has a good point,easy to dream up these schemes like the Academy and far harder to make them viable. Is there any evidence that there is a shortage of UK aviation engineering college places? Access to live side civil passenger airports is now very limited for good reason,safety and security so Finningley will be out for viewable taxi runs. It wont matter much once that last landings made, people will be calling at Newark rather than Finningley.

Fully agree: the Academy idea verges on the naive, and though it’s laudable to think of ways with which to use XH558, it’s also the responsibility of those in charge to treat this aircraft in a manner which respects the thousands who have donated.

That sounds like Air Britain territory, very much the subject, length, style and price for their books.
If you are serious about having a go at the HP42 I can point you in the direction of a number of original documents

Well for now I’m looking into a few primary sources and already note a few discrepancies between these and the dreaded W*kipedia. That’s a good enough reason to get scribbling. I may be in touch!

Although it would result in a somewhat dry tome it would be interesting to see a history of wind tunnel research. Parts of this are available in fragments from the likes of NPL, NACA and RAE but the tunnels built and run by commercial companies have received little attention. As their use, of lack thereof, was of increasing importance through the late 20s and 30s the subject is worthy or research.

Some of these suggestions are indeed a bit ‘dry’ – I do feel a distinction should be made between ‘interesting to see’ and ‘nice to have’. I love technical books, but I think I’d be unlikely to buy a book about wind tunnels. No doubt the research would be of merit, but would it make anything other than a very niche reference work?

However, I do feel that there’s thread going through this, er, thread – that there’s not much in-depth written about aviation in general prior to 1939.

So is anyone out there already doing a book on the HP.42/45? I am sorely tempted to give it a go, ill-equipped though I am! And more importantly, is there a publisher out there prepared to commit to a minimum of 100,000 words, 200 photos, line drawings, colour side views, full histories of each aircraft built and a retail price of £50?

It’s a book I’d buy.

Strange: been to WW a number of times but never seen it. WW was a Fairey airfield too I recall?

Sorry – I’ve sacked the typist – USAF should have read USAC. Built as an L-20A but re-designated U-6A in 1962.

Aha. I hope the info was of use.