I just thought id see what the owner thought of his aeroplane

Obviously not much if
a) he let it get to this state in the first place, and
b) he’s now trying to get shot of it!!

The Belgian Air Force still flies 7 much older Magisters, so why aren’t these ‘time expired’?

It depends what the usage rate is. An aircraft that’s been flown 4 hours a day for 10 years will reach it’s manufacturer’s stated fatigue limit before an aircraft that has been flown 1 hour a day for 30 years. And it depends on sortie profile. And if the entire airframe is lifed, not specific components, then it’s goodnight. There are really likely to be few cases where replacing things like mainspars are going to be be economically viable, it’s just too much work…

No, she’s not coming back…

Kodak,

So by the same logic, all the reproduction aircraft (eg ME-262s) are ‘awful’ too, as they are not authentic?
And presumably you can’t replace any parts with new or remanufactured items, which would also render PA474 and LF363 awful too?

Just because an ex-military aircraft is not in service with the military does not mean it is not in service. therefore, it should be painted in whatever scheme the current operator deems appropriate…

This argument could run and run, couldn’t it?!!

‘The issue with the SHar was simply that, as EDSG is not a currently used FAA colour, there was none in the stores at Yeovilton at the time.’

You beat me to it, Mike! EDSG is certainly available, the ‘SHAR’ in the Fleet Air Arm museum that Dunsfold did was painted properly in pre-Corporate EDSG and white.

Neither would be particularly good in the dive bombing role.

Firebird, Absolutely correct, the only Lightning at Warton is indeed XS928, on it’s bit ‘o concrete not 50 yards from where I now sit. i know it is engineless and from chatting to the preservation group here, it was,as you say, spares recovered before going on display. Shame it’s in silver though…
Cheers
Dees

PS it’s COMA – Company Operated Military Aircraft..

Not a bad year, not quite as many aishows done as I would have hoped.

Highlight : crossing the Waddo threshold at 450kts at not very high followed by a loop and then break to land at the airshow. Top fun…