P9306RE: Unlimited air racing
Maybe so Elliot, but not many of us will ever get the chance to participate in it, and for the vast majority of potential spectators it would be extremely boring indeed….apart from maybe the last couple of minutes when they all come back together as if the result has been fixed……….;-)
If you need any further proof of how unattractive it is as a spectator sport………..then ask one of the TV companies if they would like to film it and screen it………I think we all know the answer you would get…….it would be something along the lines of…”I would rather sleep with my mother-in-law….matey”
On the other hand, if a close circuit big piston warbird race was staged, then it is mine and Tony’s very humble opinion that lots of people would want to see it, and the TV companies would be happy to screen it as well.
There would be ABSOLUTELY no question of butchering historic aircraft as they do at Reno….it would be run at speeds and power settings that the owners/pilots were happy about, some would really wanna race and try to win, while others were just happy to participate…..it would not be Balls-out to the firewall, risking the engines……it actually would not be a hell of a lot different from the usual airshow high-power tailchasing around the airfield….but the element of competition would be the bit that attracts more than just your average enthusiast……blimey, if golf can draw huge audiences, utterly boring as it is IMHO….then huge bloody piston engined warplanes tonning it round a circuit should be a nice day out for Mr & Mrs Joe Bloggs and their 2.4 screaming kids……..!
As regards location, it would HAVE to be run over the sea somewhere, because we just don’t have enough free countyside in Britain…..especially free countryside where there is not a load of moaning NIMBIES to ruin your plans.
My favourite would be the Solent, where the Schneider race is already run every year, using Bembridge and/or Lee-on-Solent airfields.
The one thing that could really ruin it, apart from the weather of course, is the attitude of the insurance companies……but nothing is beyond the wit of man, unless it is a man without wit who’s trying to do it……..
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Best American Fighter?
Sorry Christer, no offence meant ! 🙁
I should actually have replied to Neilly………but no offence to him either 🙂
My comments were more of a joke really….it always amazes me how when someone asks a specific question…some folks go off on a tangent talking about everything but the original question. 🙂
Of course it’s happening again right now because I’m not even talking about which was the best American fighter….although I would say it was the Mustang.
A little advice for Scooter if I may……..If you want to talk about single engined fighters, or which was the best American fighter…..then ask a question about twin engined fighters, or maybe even four engined bombers (!), or which was the best fighter from every other nation except America…you should get all the answers you require then……:-)
All in jest of course and no offence meant to anyone (in particular) 😉
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Best American Fighter?
I was wondering when the Mosquito would enter into this argument…….AGAIN !
Why is it that Scooter has asked several times about SINGLE ENGINED FIGHTERS……and people turn round and talk about TWIN ENGINED MOSQUITOS ?
I know how you must feel Scooter, because I have asked SPECIFIC questions before on several forums, and got the same kind of replies……but you at least seem to be doing better this time round 🙂
P9306RE: Unlimited air racing
“What’s wrong with ordinary air racing?”
Because it’s bloody boring, that’s what !
🙂
P9306RE: Picture of the day 03/12/01
:+
The rear one IS NOT TE566….it is MK732 485 NZ Sqn…..same as ML407.
MK was painted up in it’s original wartime D-Day markings back in 1994 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day with ML……….
Mick
P9306RE: Pictutre of the day 26/11/01
Flying authentic 1940’s fighters is a wonderful thing…..but dying authentically, like a 1940’s pilot, is not so good.
So, to put it simply, a warbird pilot should wear as much modern safety gear as possible………if they don’t think they have to, like some pilots think, then in my opinion they are not such safe pilots, because they don’t pay enough attention to the safety of their own lives, and frankly I wouldn’t want them flying my warbird.
TTFN
Mick……stirring up a hornet’s nest again !
P9306RE: Warbird Group – anyone keen?
I forgot to ask……If anyone with aircraft syndicate experience would care to comment, it would be most useful.
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Warbird Group – anyone keen?
Hi Sad Sack !
I happen to think it is a good idea, because it is exactly what I have been thinking for several years now !
My thoughts.
I think it would have to be a two-seat Mustang or Spitfire to start with……this because they are very well known and loved….leading to many more people wanting to become involved.
The aircraft should be sold to anyone who wants to own a piece of real history.
The value of the said aeroplane would be split down into shares, perhaps of £500 each (?)……this would be very attractive to people who do not have too much money, but that have always wanted to own a bit of a warbird.
There would be a maximum of shares owned by any person, to stop someone wanting to “take over”.
Only share owners would be members/owners of the “Club”.
The flights would be allocated on a first come first served basis to those who own a specific minimum of shares, it then continues on a rota basis until everyone has had a flight.
Flights would only be given to members/owners.
Owners/Members could “buy” a flight whenever they want to, within CAA rules and regs.
The annual maintainence etc costs would be shared between the owners/members…..the more shares you own, the more money you pay for maintainence.
It could be based at Duxford and operated by someone like ARCO at first……but I would want it to be based at a more central English location eventually with “our own company” doing the operating and maintainence……also making use of suitable volunteers within the organisation….who get extra flights for their work in return.
As regards film and TV and airshow work.
I don’t think there is actually enough of that to go round, to keep a warbird flying, so it would have to be flown purely for the sake of flying it, and giving members flights of course….but taking every possible opportunity to use it for “work” as and when it came up.
Well this is about it for now…..lots of details to work out…..but I can’t see why it couldn’t happen…..unless certain people get a bit jealous and throw spanners in the works….or people don’t want to own an aeroplane with other people ?
Tell me what you think !
TTFN
Mick
PS:- Are you SadSack involved in warbird operations in any way…or are you a warbird wannabee like me !?
P9306RE: TFC Mustang
I think the seat on the wing is for the passenger ! 😉
This because the CAA will not allow a passenger in the old back seat which is no longer there !
I can’t wait to see it it fly, as I never got the chance when it first came over here.
Anyone know if it will definitely keep the Princess Elizabeth colours ?
It was a very beautiful scheme, but I can’t help thinking that an RAF scheme should be worn to show the very big contribution to Mustang history by the RAF, and this is probably the only chance for a P51B/C to wear an RAF paint job, I just can’t see a yank painting one in RAF colours.
But of course it is completely the owner’s choice , and I will be happy with any scheme it has…..I just wanna see it fly !!!!!!
By the way, anyone know why the TFC website has not been updated since 16th August ?
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Hurricane movements
There’s just not enough multi-milionaire aviation enthusiasts to go round in Britain.
They ought to try a bit harder at the hard sell.
P9306RE: Picture of the day
I know TFC has had a few problems finding wheels and tyres…but four castors on each leg !!!!!????……….getting a bit desperate by the looks of it!!!!!???? 😉
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Hendon
The Fortress could be painted up as a BIII in No100 Group, No 214 (Special Duty)Sqn colours of dark earth/dark green and black underneath, perhaps as KH999 BU-M (!),with a big H2S scanner radome under the nose and “Piperack” aerials on the tail…….that would look just wonderful.
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Whistling Mustang
Yes , it was a very nice looking machine when owned by TFC, and it’s current markings are not too good…..but if we can wait till after the winter, it will (Apparently) be painted in different markings (though still yellow nosed), and given that OFMC are masters at accurate paint jobs, I think we might just be in for a real treat….I hope !
TTFN
Mick
P9306RE: Hendon
Just my two Euros worth…..but I think they should sell off Hendon , join together with the Cosford branch, and move the RAFM in it’s entirety to an airfield in the middle of the country……maybe Upper Heyford….before the developers get their grubby hands on it ?
That way they would have tons of space, and they could also get a few flyers as well….maybe even the BBMF should be based there, and the Red Arrows to help with recruitment for the RAF…………
Byeeee
Mick
P9306RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod
I agree entirely with both of you.
I saw the news item myself.
And it just made me wonder again, how the decision makers at the MOD would feel if THEY , or their close relatives, were destined to spend eternity in some farmer’s field being constantly ploughed over, and at the risk of having their “grave” robbed ,and faceless wonders kept telling the whole country that they will not ever recover them and give them a decent burial.
I would seriously like to know the REAL reason behind this policy decision, which has obviously been decided on very many years ago, probably near the end of the war .
Is it money or is it some “deeper” reason ?
Considering all the things our tax money gets spent on, like huge amounts to certain newcomers who feel nothing for this country, would not know what a Spitfire was if it dropped on them, but think we owe them a living and a nice place to live, if the general public was to be made aware of what government policy was on the recovery of our dead Heroes, perhaps they would not be too happy about it at all. Especially when our boys are now going out to risk their lives for world peace yet again, and given very little thanks by certain people in return.
Maybe a “big stink” should have been made of it during the Poppy Appeal season, with the politicians being made to answer searching questions from Jeremy Paxman.
How do current/former military people feel about this treatment of their comrades?
Mick
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