Some interesting stuff there. What’s the “US Army” single type? Is that a Fantrainer in the first picture? Questions, questions.

Bruce, that might be so for the Vulcan but down at the bottom of the aviation “food chain” where I am, the response to wanting to change to a permit was a firm “No” as long as there was a Type Certificate holder. This was despite the TC holder being 12,000 miles away and that it is arguable that the Glos-Airtourer was UK-built from NZ parts and therfore a true “orphan” in EASA terms.

Propstrike, you say the relaxation in paid rides is a wholly positive thing but surely the recent fatal crash of a P-51 Mustang in the USA with a British passenger can’t have helped the cause. That sort of unfortunate incident just makes it more difficult all round.

How would you have improved it Propstrike?

Our strip just North of Royston is pretty damp. Last time I was there the farmer’s ducks were just about swimming in the puddles at the threshold of 24. I did get airborne a fortnight ago for 30 minutes and then spent another half an hour washing the mud off. I understand Little Gransden is in a similar state. Sywell is OK on the runway but the grass parking areas are bad and Old Buckenham cancelled their January Fly-In for the same reason.

Sorry DBenz but your statement that airshows are as big a draw as football is simply not true. It was a “fact” made up by an American airshow organiser to bolster his numbers for a show he was promoting and has been quoted ever since. Other “sports” with a greater attendance include cricket, rugby union, rugby league and horse-racing just off the top of my head. but your point is well made that there isn’t a lot of aviation on the box in general.

Thanks for the update Moggy. To go in when it was just about flying shows what a tough old bird the DC-3T is. I can’t imagine the PT-6As enjoyed a sudden stop like that although they are nearly as unburstable as the DC-£.

Well done Mark, that was most illuminating. I’m pleased to hear the Drone is in good hands and might reappear. I must confess it was a real pain when Mike had it at Top Farm. Although it was dismantled, it rather got in the way when moving our aircraft and I don’t think anybody fancied the interview “with no tea and biscuits” if we’d damaged it while the movements were taking place.