A quick google brings you this………

Goodyear chemist James Merrill was awarded a patent [2] in 1941 for refining and successfully testing his method for manufacturing self sealing tanks using a two-layer system of rubber compounds encased in a metal outer shell (or the wing of the aircraft). In 1942, he received a War Production Board citation from President Roosevelt and the Goodyear tanks were subsequently placed in service in Goodyear-produced Corsair fighters, as well as other aircraft. By 1942 Fireproof Tanks had developed the first flexible fuel bladders as range extender tanks for the MkIX Spitfire. These tanks were flexible containers, made of a laminated self-sealing material like vulcanized rubber and with as few seams as possible to minimise leak paths.

Clipped from Wiki………

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-sealing_fuel_tank

Hope this is the right direction.

John.

no, i know many have been cut, but its a sad that she survived this long without being sliced up, and has now been cut (if you get me)

Nash

Her wings had already been cut before when she was moved to Grainthorpe, XR770 on the other hand was dismantled respectfully when she was returned to the RAF late last year.

A task which took many bodies, a crane and a couple of low loaders I believe.

Regards,

JB.

Isn’t this all old news?, the Intrepid museums finances were pushed to the limit with a huge re-fit and re-furb programme that has taken over a year to complete, she is now open to the public, the damage to G-BOAD was caused by a lorry that did not observe the barricades and colloded with her nose, as for the grafiti, IIRC it was minor ‘tagging’ by youths and was not a major problem to clean jup.

She has been spruced up and is now bak on display on the deck of the USS Intrepid.

Regards,

John.

There is of course the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust museum that is well worth a visit……

http://www.airsciences.org.uk/

Regards,

John.

I guess you could always ask the price ?

It’s an age old and very simple solution and usually works in most cases

Edit: I just spoke to the vendor, price is offers £5K or over.

.

£5K is IMHO a little bit steep, this is not I beleive a converted airframe but a purpose built simulator section.

5K fully fitted but minus the bang seats then maybe.

John.

Now that really makes my heart go cold, still you can’t save them all.

Interesting note is that in my picture I was 11 years old and had to stand/push myself up in the cockpit to make it look right, nowadays without lots of swearing and pushing I can only just fit in (not able to put my feet on the rudder pedals!!!).

Regards,

John.

Firebird,

The dark grey one used for cockpit photo’s was XS895, tailcode AO, the company was Forge Photography of Tattershall.

XS895 ultimatly met the scrapmans axe, IIRC nothing of her survives.

Regards,

John.

Peter,

I think they made a small hole to make way for the civvie ariel, yes you are also right with the e-bay angle, they also sold off a lot of old stuff on their stand at shows.

There was also sponsor a part campaign that allowed you to ‘buy’ a particular part of the aircraft.

HTH,

John.