Interesting reading…..
in OW’s own words… “The Collection is famous for its regular flying displays. During the season, all of the airworthy aircraft are flown in displays, alongside visiting aircraft from other operators and from other Services, re-creating flying during the Edwardian period, the First World War, the peacetime years of the twenties and thirties and the Second World War. Modern aircraft are also a regular feature and provide an intriguing contrast with the veteran and vintage types....”
OW is not a million miles away from us, and a member of my family has worked for the trust for many years in a hands on managerial role so I’m always keen to support the trust. The acquisition of any aircraft has to be good news, especially if it can generate interest in the collection as a whole much as this thread has done. This all said as member of the public (my interest in aviation is of the engine-less form primarily and then in terms of engineering and not flying!) I have to think that this aircraft has pushed the the collection in a direction that is not what’s it so highly respected for… preserving vintage British aviation and automation.
Another concern I have is the increasing ‘trend’ of re-branding exhibits to fit the collections narrative… surely a restoration by nature requires the aircraft to be restored to what it once was not what looks good for the photographers!
The Shuttleworth Trust has always been a little slow to to respond to the pace of modern electronic media but lets hope they make a statement soon that put an end to speculation and allows everyone to appreciate the new aircraft regardless of the politics behind its purchase.
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