The Red Lion would be extremely convenient.

I’ve no idea whether the Lightning is considered complex or not. Given the age of the beast, intermediate would seem more likely, but the biggest problem is it’s considered unsafe.
I understand one of the major problems is all the flight controls are in the spine along the top of the fuselage. Given the types propensity for engine fires, much as I would love to see one fly, I can’t blame the CAA for not allowing it.

Did Keith Fordyce have an RAF background through National Service?
I’ve no idea how old he is/was. He looked old to me on the telly in the early sixties but as I was 11 or 12, everybody over 20 looked ancient.

There’s no reason why a “celebrity” shouldn’t be interested in old aeroplanes but it presumably soaked up a fair bit of his loot.

It used to owned and run by Keith Fordyce.

For those of a certain generation – a former TV presenter and one time compere of ‘Top of the Pops’.

Mark

The opposition actually – ‘Ready, Steady, Go’

I never visited the museum, it came and went in between family holidays with parents and the time I started heading that way myself.
From Mark12’s later comments, it seems museums could learn a thing or two from showbiz.

the calendar quotes Friday, Oct 1 1939 as the day the Corsair became the first American fighter plane to break the 400 mile an hour mark…says nothing about seaplanes or being the first AIRPLANE, period, to do it…just first American fighter.

Mark

As the Corsair first flew on May 1st 1940 according to the above link, or May 29th 1940 according to British Naval Aircraft since 1912, that would be extremely difficult.

As I’ve already said, the link also says it was the first production aircraft to exceed 400mph etc. I’m convinced the calendar’s wrong about the date but I’ve no reason to doubt that statement.

The Mosquito is widely stated to have been the fastest aircraft for about 2.1/2 years but as the prototype didn’t fly until November 1940 it beats that.

Anyone remember ‘Moonstrike’ about Lysander ops in France? I’m sure there was a real Lysander in it, can’t remember if it was flown or not though (this is 40 years ago 😀 ).

I remember that. My memory tells me there was a real Lizzie in it too but it’s so long ago I wouldn’t take bets on it.

Rotol prop blades were made of compressed wood until the end of the war when they changed to Dural.

DH made hollow steel blades postwar for the big airliner props but AFAIK Rotol never did. It was agreed Rotol would only make props up to and including Dart size and DH would make the bigger ones.

If you’ve got an SG at a jumble sale price I’d be interested. 🙂