The Comet is I believe still waiting for paperwork approving the undercarriage mods. Timescale – uncertain. It is noteworthy that Shuttleworth are already stating that it will be on static display only at the October Race Day Airshow, so it may be a while yet before it flies again (assuming it does so eventually) http://www.shuttleworth.org/tickets/event-details.asp?ID=275

I’m presuming you’re familiar with this rather excellent website:

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_index.html

Based, apparently, at Moree NSW

http://casa-query.funnelback.com/search/search.cgi?collection=casa_aircraft_register&profile=_default&meta_v_sand=sfw&meta_A=-allresults&meta_o_sand=&meta_m_sand=&meta_X_sand=&meta_r_sand=&meta_q_sand=&meta_xyear_sand=&meta_Y_sand=&num_ranks=10&Search=Search

http://www.warbirdz.net.au/search?wbreg=VH-SFW

hopefully lessons will be learned.

Sadly, flying VFR into IMC has been killing people for almost as long as aviation itself has been going, and no doubt it will continue to do so at a prodigious rate. 🙁

There’s a lot more to it than that. The rubber bag tanks had been previously removed and discarded, and the breather holes in the outer metal tanks plugged by welding the aluminium. The required 337 approvals were not submitted to the FAA for this significant modification to the fuel system. Best to read the full NTSB Probable Cause report.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/corsairregistry/f4u-124493.html

And a reminder for everyone who DOESN’T live on the South Coast, this is the furthest North that the two Lancasters will display together in public, according to the dates so far announced.