Perhpas the RAFM could be the next to open a ‘Restoration/ storage hanger’ to permit those interested, for a fee devoted to restoration, to visit these reserve collections etc etc… this split levle of interest would generate general income and specialist income..

The RAFM had an excellent opportunity to achieve this during the recent design and build of the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre which is ideally situated on the Cosford site and would have brought many of us back to the museum time after time – just as Duxford does.

Instead, presumably because of Health and Safety reasons – which seems to be a particular issue for that organisation (but not for Duxford for example) – they chose to exclude the public and work behind closed doors.

One wonders where the focus lies.

According to the Manchester Evening News website

“The crash wreck was constructed on a Lithuanian airfield with the inside of the plane built on a set. A combination of a model and computer- generated imagery was also involved, plus the cockpit of a real plane in a museum”

The honour is given to the Junkers J1 in all the refs, and I can find no reason to doubt it.

But floating around in that loose pile of disorganised info commonly called my brain is a vague recollection that there was a pre WW1 French design which was built but did not fly. If I can remember where I saw that (if indeed I did, and it wasn’t the grog) I’ll post it. :confused:

There seem to be a lot of references around to something French called the “Tubavion” which was flown by Ponche and Primardlew in 1912 – looks as if it had a metal frame with fabric covered wings

probably five letters, rhymns with honey, starts with an “M” – particularly for the major museums

but conversely look what can be done – eg Skysport, Historic Aircraft Collection, Airframe Assemblies, Assault Glider Trust, to name but a few with hopefully the Stirling and Whitley groups building and collecting the necessary foundations to do excellent jobs.

Jeepman’s Law states that any such project probably needs just four elements to succeed
Money + Willpower + Skilled Manpower + Original material and/or plans

Lack any one and the result may be compromised

sadly it seems that the days of UK national museums initiating and funding the recovery of “extinct” airframes seems long gone – if it was ever there in the first place.

There must be enough material around to inititiate comprehensive rebuilds either in house or through third parties of both the Skua and Barracuda but neither has progressed. Whilst the careful derestoration of Corsair and now Martlet are valuable exercises what will Joe Public think of the result (“Mum – it needs painting…”) and could not the resources have been used to better effect.

“Extinct” RAF aircraft have fared little better, with the funding stringencies of the RAFM plain for all to see. Swaps for spare ex gate guardian Spits represent one opportunity as do the Projects initiated by commited private individuals such as the Stirling, Whitley and Assault Glider groups – but how keen will such groups be to lodge their carefully restored/recreated airframes with the RAFM when they see the way in which they treat the Valiant?

In terms of recent restorations, the Bulldog stands out as a shining beacon, but were others such as the Wallace and Southampton (and perhaps the curious half and half restoration of the Hampden) compromised by the need to be careful with funds?

Another factor is Father Time – as Cees has said – if we don’t recover some of these airframes shortly – they will be gone for ever. Whilst purists might question the extent of new material in NA337, the simple fact is that established museum practice of conserving as much as possible may be stacking up problems for the future – viz W1048 and the Battle. Having said that the RAFM have lots of nicely (and not so nicely) painted stripped out empty shells which require considerable work to bring them up to proper display standard. They have probably got enough to cope with with what they already have let alone initiate further searches and rebuilds. I advised them of the Vengeance projects formerly available in Oz – as this was apparently on the list of wants – they didn’t even acknowledge my communication.

sorry – I’ve rambled a bit – but you probably get my gist

infer me…………

he’s got it infer me…………

There has been plenty of opportunity to do something had either

1 – there been the will to do it
or
2 – there was a need to do it

any body corporate will not necessarily take remedial action in response to a third party approach as this is tantamount to an admission of failure on the part of that body corporate

perhaps the old girl is so corroded anyway that it doesn’t really matter whether she’s protected or not.

However, the cost of some heavy duty polythene sheeting and duct tape would have been considerably less than either the cost of the new building ( 😉 ) or the cost of the negative publicity and ill-will generated by the decision to leave the Valiant in pieces and unprotected within the car park

These rebuilds can be done by national museums – the national museums should look at the efforts of the Canadian’s with the Halifax and inwardly digest – when it’s a matter of national pride it can be done.

But will they?

and I forgot to say that I hope that when they’re finished the Horsa and CG-4A Hadrian, the Assault Glider Trust go on to recreate a Hamilcar in all it’s glory