Would hardly describe the SAL Pioneer and Piston Provost as Milestones of Flight, but then perhaps the markings say it all.
Must admit I thought the Pioneer had been quickly and quietly put back into British markings though after it’s brief sojourn for refubishment ( with an original intent of it going on loan to the Middle East) in the MBCC at Cosford

Does remind me that “Storm Front” by Rowland White is a cracking read though………………..

I think it is a Neptune. There was certainly a Neptune in the yard on a later visit.

Looking at pictures of RAF Nepture MR 1s – in retrospect the wing looks too far forward for it to be a Neptune

http://p2vneptune.com/i06.shtml

I wonder if it is a Buckingham or Buckmaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Buckingham

Just saw this item thats up for auction on the 31st by Dreweatts of Bristol, lot 274.

Bob T.

How do formerly restricted official files like that get on to the open market? It’s the sort of document that should be in the Museum of Army Flying archives.

It is pretty aviation related given it probably has Hurri type magneto switches!!

……and WO also designed the BR2 rotary engine which powered the Snipe and Salamander. – Good enough for me………

[How would a Spiteful fare in such a desireability content. Presumably it’s rarity would be a key factor in countering the lack of interest in late mark Spitfires – but then again an airworthy 20 series Spitfire is pretty rare and that hasn’t done anything to seem to make them any more desireable.

British aircraft were required to carry Union Flags from 2nd October 1914 to which were added roundels (or more properly the French “cockade” -which was introduced in 1912 along with requirement for the tail to be painted in the same colours) from 11th December 1914. The French national cockade had been seen on French uniforms since revolutionary times. The British cockades were of course in the reverse order to the French colours. The fin flash was adopted by British aircraft in June 1915. Presumably the British adopted the French practice to give a common appearance across the allies and avoid what has come to be known as “friendly fire”

I would have thought that the French fin flash started simply as a representation of the French flag on the only vertical surfaces of the plane and simply grew to cover the whole surface. We saw similar with the Britain’s initial use of the Union Flag on the vertical tail surfaces. The French initially only used the cockades on the wings and not the fuselage

I would hope that you are allowed to rescue the FAAM example from the brink – perhaps in that case melding as much original material as available “Bluebirdteamed” – (that’s a new verb – to Bluebirdteam : to restore historic machinery using only original material re-worked as required) with a minimum of new build. After all the FAAM have set a sort of precedent – repainting the Martlet fuselage whilst retaining the original paintwork on the wing.

With a bit of luck, there’s enough Skua material to complete two airframes with a minimum of new build.