To qualify – the Yeovil Whirlwind has been hacked on a fire dump, de-winged, rolled around by earth moving equipment then left to rot underground for several decades. What remains is of academic interest, but it won’t be flying to Perranporth any time soon. Just thought I’d say that before people start sending money.. actually, no, forget I said that.

Completely agree but if the airframe is recovered, the Whirlwind Project then perhaps becomes the rebuild of an original airframe (like many current Spitfire rebuilds) rather than the creation of a reproduction airframe to original standards – which in my opinion is a significant difference. It will also provide a range of salvageable parts for incorporation into the new build as well as providing patterns for others and perhaps providing other parts that can be used to confirm some of the drawing work that has been done from scratch. It might be junk but it’s still valuable junk with a provenance.

Just sayin’

Complete thread drift I know, but in one of the books written by Richard Pullan about WW1 tanks there is reference to a house in Worcester with a WW1 tank in the cellar.

Some “entrepreneur” was using a surplus WW1 tank to demolish houses. Unfortunately this house had cellars and the weight of the tank was inevitably too much for the floor. It fell into the cellar and was deemed too difficult to recover so was concreted into it’s resting place instead

The clue is stuck to the canopy!

Bruce

Perhaps someone could risk life, limb and gonads to take a shot which provides conclusive proof of the colour that an early Mark 1 Spitfire’s cockpit was painted. Surely the level of radiation would permit a couple of record photos to be taken, even if the photographer wore a radiographer’s lead apron. I suspect it will be different from what is expected.

Notwithstanding the factory workers who sadly used their lips to give the brushes used to apply the radium paint a “point” has there ever been any conclusive proof that radioactive instruments have been injurious to a specific persons health?

Duxford Friday 11th January:

Nothing much to report from a quick visit today. It occurred to me that we have passed the half-way point between Legends 2012 and 2013, so here’s a reminder of the first 20 years. Many thanks to JL at TFC for the missing covers.

Somebody ought to sell that image as a poster.

It’s all damn bluster……..

Who from the 1950’s can remember surplus Irvin flying jackets advertised in the Exchange and Mart, every week or whatever it was?

£5 is the price that comes to mind.

Mark

from Silvermans IIRC – and every dustman and coalman wore a leather jerkin….

Jeepman…your knowledge of all things TT and Gary B is impressive to my lady (who is the biggest TT fan in the world!)……I am not sure impressive is the word I would use tho!!

On occasions like this Google is most definitely your friend I hasten to add. 😉