Thank you Blue for taking much of your valuable time to show me the restoration work in progress. Thank you too to all the other guys on the Meteor and Buccaneer for making me feel welcome. I was amazed at the sheer quantity of steel in this airframe. Looked like a production of Redpath, Dorman Long, not an aviation company. Mind you perhaps the ghost of William Armstrong and his mania for ironclads lived on. Certainly the number of rivets and screws in the AW designed front end was more than enough to keep the old lady’s clothes on. Really enjoyed my trip. I can tell you that l wasn’t told to say this but l think that any of us who are shown such generosity should show our appreciation by making a donation before we leave. Job done, Blue and Dave, some money in the hangar donation box by the door. I shall return.

Best wishes, happy Christmas and meteoric success in the new year, Blue_2 and team. Couldn’t resist.

WZ

Latest unfortunate news. It’s a lemon.

If in doubt, consult Eric.

Eric Brown, in Wings of the Luftwaffe says the representations of the aircraft as being “indifferent” was unjustified. It was a fine aircraft but was misused by the High Command who did not make use of its key attributes. He thought it an elegant, well designed aircraft and he flew both the C and G models. While he does not cite the limitation on frei jagd in the Battle, it was possibly the factor he was referring to. He makes another point, that he never met a German ME 110 pilot who disliked the aircraft.

A big thank you to Blue_2 and the team for the very warm welcome to an inquisitive visitor. To answer your challenge Blue, I enjoyed the 17th of April Comedy of Errors. Thank you very much. Now I must find a Meteor kit to do it justice. That Ardrox stripper is a miserable substance to use, I do not envy you finishing the acreage left to do. Perhaps taking the baptist route and total bath immersion of parts followed by controlled HP water jetting would shift the remainder. Obviously a change of solvent would be of benefit if a safe one can be sourced. Its a beefy aircraft you have there and I commend your collective noble dedication. At least your hanger was cool to work in. The Nissen billet hut on site was the best heat box in the world, probably the best refrigerator in six months time.(Why is the pot bellied stove alight at this time of year?) Since my last visit the Canberra and Tornado have come on considerably and are a credit to all who give their time so selflessly. Great museum.

East Fortune. I think we need to be a little careful. I have been back in the last month after an absence of several years. While one hangar has (No1?) has been closed because there is too much in there for the public to enter safely, I did think the revised layout and interactive boards in the other hangars was much better and the whole more family friendly. Why is this important? Because if you don’t catch ’em young, you don’t generally catch ’em as they have fallen for something else. Secondly for those who abhor aircraft outside, corroding, like me, I understand East Fortune has purchased/obtained access to land just outside the listed site boundary and is building a new hangar to house all outside exhibits. I enjoyed my day more than I expected based on my previous visit and wish them well. Things are changing.

Damn it! You think you are headed for glory, a Daily Mail photographer is on hand and he doesn’t even snap the flight just out of sight to the rear where I was flying

Yours despondently,

WZ862