Will they give us (the taxpayer) a cut of the profits then?

I was told today on a visit to a museum that the wings on this particular airframe had already been cut for transport prior to moving to the Ferranti works to become a gate guard.

Obviously unless it is from the horses mouth then this info should be taken at face value but if it is true then it’s not so bad that they had to be cut again for transport.

Lets face it there is very little chance of one flying in the UK and if it does happen then there are at least half a dozen airframes that are viable for a return to flight, I do think it is a shame that wings were cut off these beasts for transport purposes but having seen some profesional jobs on re-attaching them they are not bad at all.

Regards

John.

paaln, I had a look at the site and it was interesting, But what suprised me was a couple of the museums had ‘closed due to 9/11’.

There must be an economical reason for the closures but why blame 9/11?, I know there is a potential to p!$$ a lot of people when there is talk of 9/11 but I am just curiouse as to why a museum which houses defunct airframes has to close due to this very sad event.

Someone enlighten me please 🙂 .

Regards

John.

I would like to offer my opinion on Duxford, after having recently visited and watched over the years the site develop into what it is today.

My post is only an expresion of my thought’s and that it should be taken as such and not meant to cause any offence to those more knowledgeable than me, here goes…

I agree/disagree with the AAM hanger…..it is a beutifull piece of structural engineering and is (to me) pleasing to the eye, as I wandered around to the entrance one cannot pass the memorial wall and not stop and take time to thank all those who gave everything for what we stand for today.
Once inside I am greeted with the nose of a B-52, looking down on this mighty bomber one has to wonder ‘where else can I see this?’, the curved walkway gives some excellent angles on warplanes that are in superb condition.
The hanger is not the best when it comes to photography but that to me as an amature is a challenge and I have to keep pinching myself as I walk round cosseted from the elements between a B17, B52, B24, B29 and an SR71 the list as you all know goes on.

There is some thing in there that creates ‘time compression’ and one certainly feels humbled to walk amongst these planes with seemingly unrestricted access and upon venturing back to the great outdoors I find myself missing several hours!.

The other hangers warant lots of attention to, where do I start?, the point is I visit Duxford knowing what to expect and that is why I go there.
I step through the gates and follow a time line mistifies me from the moment I arrive to the moment I leave…..flying Spits and Hurricanes, active restoration of very rare warbirds, Sally B, Airliners, V Bombers……the list you all know is endless beyond comparison.

I am patiently waiting the completion of the new hanger, to me it looks like it will be ideal for photography and give a superb home to airframes that require such space, has anyone stoped to think that once the 30+ airframes that go into it how much space will be freed up in the other hangers for yet more restoration projects and other such airframes that can be brought inside.

I could go on forever on this subject but one thing to me is clear, Duxford rouses so many emotions inside me that I itch all over until the next time I go, I for one spend the majority of my time there looking at the airframes and not worrying too much about the building they are housed in.

Regards

John.

Decisions, decisions :rolleyes:

I can’t decide, they were all fascinating aircraft in their own individual way. I wish we still had something like them in service today doing dual-role tanker/bomber missions with a TIALD pod and a load of 1000lb Paveway LGBs or Storm Shadow cruise missiles on the wings and in the weapon bay 🙂

There are some nice V-bomber pics at http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb/ (do a search for Valiant, Vulcan or Victor).

Shocking to know this but the Vulcan was fitted with 1000lb LGB’s and underwent succesfull firing trials in 1982, it was also fitted with sidewinders for self defence but this was only a mock up and never anything more.

Regards,

John.

Sorry Mike J I fail to see how the FSM has a nasty paint scheme, After walking round all the other Spits at Dux me and my Father stood by the FSM for a good twenty mins before one said to the other……..”it’s a mock up!”……… 😮

Ok so we are not hardcore Spitfire fans and to some the paint job might be wrong but what a fantstic piece of publicity for Dux, any plans to put it on the gate with the Hurricane?.

Regards,

John.