…if this was so the RAF Museum would not have spent over £100,000 in moving the Nimrod by road to Cosford.

…and doubtless considerably more on doing the same with the VC-10.

Hub? More of a shed I’d say!

As I said earlier, the published RAF Museum collecting policy sets out very clearly the scope of this. It would be a lot easier if you would just read it!

The research collection at Cosford has little relevance to a museum devoted to the history of the RAF. If you take the trouble to read their collecting policy, it clearly falls outside it (unlike the Dornier, which falls squarely within their core collecting policy). They have already farmed some of the research aircraft out to Yeovilton’s Concorde Hall, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the RAF Museum get shot of the majority of the remainder when they carry out their forthcoming rationalisation review. The policy also refers specifically to the undesirability of unnecessary duplication of artifacts. If you go away and read the document WH904, the answer is very clear as to why they have not taken on yet another example (on top of the numerous Phantoms they already have on their books) of one more relatively-insignificant Cold War aircraft.

If a Pobjoy is unavailable, I wonder if a Rotec might make a suitable substitute? Or there is always the option of fitting a Gipsy (three were buily that way for racing, including the one which Roy Fox has in Australia)

It’s a shame that the use of it for functions failed to be commercially viable, I went to a few meetings, weddings, etc there over the years. It is good that it will continue to be used though.

Well, it is only a plastic one, so no real loss.