Why long shot? This isn’t a single plane left on an isolated farm. This is Birmingham, one of the most industrialised cities on the planet at the time. Scrapping happened. Why go to the effort to ‘grease up’, package, transport and then bury anything? OK, they might be there. And if Mr Cundall wants to find out, then power to his sunburned elbow.[/QUOTE]

Trouble is in Brum you will still have language difficulties and need an interpreter :D:D:D:D

Cos they canna talk like what we does !!!!!!!

Ya reet **** ???.

That was the question I was posing, CD!

Some considerable time ago we did offer to have a go at recovery etc if any one else on the forum was up for us forming a loose rescue fund for it .But everyone stayed firmly in their arm chair and the TIGHR muppet show is at it again.I am sorry to say at this rate its going to stay there and nothing will happen unless they get told to B***r off and let serious folks do something about it.What say you Mr Saunders are you up for telling them to take a hike ????

Mike E

Somewhere down in the Bath area there is a Westland whirlwind fighter half under a pub car park and half under the bowling green.

There is another Whirlwind rear fuselage and bits in a private back yard collection somewhere in devon/cornwall after being brought up by a trawler ?.

I am going to win the lottery and buy the ex RAF radar site this weekend.

Mike E

http://www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

The long Marston aircraft is in a terrible state and was sorry to use the terminology Robbed by well meaning individuals who have sadly complicated the issues. It belongs to an elderly gentleman and I suspect you would stand more chance of winning Mr Universe than getting this aircraft.

It is missing engines,panels,Props,all the cockpit interior,control surfaces and goodness knows what else.He paid a lot for it and last time a friend of mine contacted him his response was more along the lines he would see it rot first.

Very sad state of affairs.

Mike E

Shackleton move

the only Shackleton that was being talked about for moving as I understand it was possibly the Manchester one.It came up a few times during last year that it may be destined to move as it is such a big lump in the main hall and restricted how much the exhibits could be moved about. The main issue was that the whole front of the main exhibition hall and large windows would have to be craned out to allow not only the aircraft to be moved but for the kit needed to get into the place.

I was on the end of part of the rumours re the Duxford aircraft it had been told to us by a semi official source that they where looking for a home for it and approaches had been made to various museums and collections to sound out if anyone wanted to take her on.But I think the revamp at Duxford the move on of a number of airframes and exhibits by the sealed tender process ( we where the fortunate recipient of one of the aircraft)has helped them in the decision to retain the old girl but she will need an awful lot of work to get her anything like also it is understood that the whole cockpit had been stripped out and placed into storage but some of it had been moved out and the location was not currently known.

She is in very poor state but I do hope that now she is undercover on it seems a more permanent basis she will dry out and get the TLC she deserves.I am not so certain that the Victor will be able to benifit as much but we shall see.

Mike E

http://www.aircraftrestorationgroup.org

On the DVD featuring the NZ aircraft the finish seems to imply that there has been no fabric re applied over the fuselage pod prior to paint.If I am wrong we would be interested to know how you managed to get such a high standard of finish .If you have not applied fabric over the wooden structure how have you managed to get a permit as the finish is none standard and not that originally designed ,I think if we did that in the UK our wonderfull CAA might do more than comment as they are very keen that an aircraft does not depart from its design without millions of forms,tests and documents to prove otherwise.
I am not 100% but understand that the fabric covering onto the ply/balsa pod structure formed part of the insulation and also as the pod surprisingly for a wooden fuselage is also pressurised it must form some part of this capability ?. If you know otherwise we would welcome any information that we may be able to use in any future submission process for our airframe.

Mike E
XG743
http://www.aircraftrestorationgroup.org

Both aircraft feature in the Classic cockpits DVD “Flying the De Havilland Vampire” well worth a watch if you are into vampires the detailed commentary and walk round preflight and then taking you through the cockpit then an actual air display and the extra section on the engine description is very good.

As the owners of T22 XG 743 we found it a very usefull item for background info and some briefing info for when we get our lady up and running,

There have recently in Australia and Newzealand I understand a number of tired vampire frames offered for sale but at very over inflated prices for very poor condition airframes.

The French Registered Vampire is currently up for sale and is in an auction in Paris on 17th February.

The ex Australian T22 that was at Bournemouth is now in South Africa to be returned to flight so it is understood.

A very nice bird in the air and easy to maintain if you keep on top of it but a sod if it has been neglected for any length of time and outside in wet weather for prolonged periods is a killer to the types wooden fuselage structure.

Mike E

XG743

http://www.aircraftrestorationgroup.org

As has been said a man with not only a great passion but a man with a great vision and also determination as those who know the details of his fight with officialdom will know full well.

A man who will be greatly missed and a great loss to the aircraft preservation movement. A gentleman and also a great example to us all if it looks hard it probably will be but don’t give up and keep pushing the end is well worth the effort.

Our condolences to the family and close friends at the museum.

Mike E

http://www.aircraftrestorationgroup.org

http://www.whirlwindfighterproject.org