Whilst it may be fair game to have a go at the overall management of the project, (I wouldn’t know), I think it is disappointing to read people calling for the resignation of the engineering team just because the Permit to Fly was not renewed in time for the aircraft to appear at an airshow.

I think a lot of people underestimate quite what was achieved in returning this aircraft to airworthiness and the difficulties in managing its continued operation.

I understand everybody is entitled to their point of view, what I don’t get is why people feel the need to air it in public when at best it is often naive and worst just plain ignorant of the practicalities of airworthiness management of a complex obsolete ex military aircraft.

There now seems to be too many people on here waiting in the wings ready to have a pop at pilots, engineers or operators at the slightest of excuses.

I can fully see why we don’t get the good gen on here like what we used to.

Have the American plug mod done and fit REL 37Bs,I did and haven’t had a problem since doing it-and the plugs are cheap!

Hi Mudmover

Is it much of a mod to fit these plugs to a Gipsy?

I think this was it. Demolished and re-developed now.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=North+Hyde+Road,+Hayes&sll=51.45767,-0.437565&sspn=0.012916,0.038452&ie=UTF8&ll=51.500942,-0.425591&spn=0.006452,0.019226&t=h&z=16

Good post mjr.

There is a lot of rubbish posted about the CAA on here.

There is a set of rules for certification of ex Military Aircraft, BCAR A8-20, available on the CAA website (where would be without rules?) . Pick ‘complex category’ tick the boxes and you to can have a flying Lightning*.

For people out there who think the CAA are out to stop all our fun, ask yourself this which country operates the largest, heaviest most complex warbird in the world?

*A triple euromillions roll over may be required.

There is a T2 coming down at Stansted shortly.

Might be a bit big for your needs though 😮

For my humble Auster its about £750 / year, which covers two passengers.

My car insurance is about £600, so I think that makes the Auster quite good value.

One of the Meteors I think – NF12 at Cranwell?

That be one of them.

Do you remember that chap from the RAF that helped us?

His plan was to remove the outer wing panel fairings, using some rope and his motorbike?

Our plan was to stand well back and watch, as the rope snapped and he disappeared, clinging on to his bike, as it shot off at a rate of knots down the taxiway.

I don’t think we saw him again after that.