It’s either CG or a Photoshop job. Difficult to say being so small.

Matt this brings up another thing I was going to ask about; the APs and updates. It’s my understanding APs would be updated with new photos and illustrations but the Whirly AP we have still shows the TR9 controller but as you state we know this should have been swapped out for TR1133 fairly quickly and in fact all Whirlies after the first 24 should have these. Did they just not bother or is there an updated AP out there with new cockpit photos?

Just wondering how the tyre came to be buried so deep if it failed on take off. Was it perhaps the case that the aircraft got away, the pilot realised the problem, baled out leaving the machine to pile in from height?

Pretty much. The story of the incident and dig is here: http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/whirlwind_lanton.htm

It would be really neat of them to take a shed load of reference photos while they’re in there. My requests to get close up access has fallen on deaf ears in the past and from what others have told me even those very well connected have a tough time of it.

Looking very nice and shiny.

This vintage instructional video may be of use –“The Starfighters” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX1NMHttBs8

In all seriousness are the wings really so sharp they can cut paper?

Not James Cameron, and not Memphis Belle.

The best aerial CGI I’ve yet seen has to be from Dark Blue World and, strangely, King Kong‘s climax atop the Empire State Building.

That’s not true, the best CGI you’ve seen you don’t know you’ve even seen it. Some shots in Pearl Harbor are very good indeed, but as soon as the cameras and planes start doing nutty stuff is when it all falls apart. That’s not the fault of the tools but the direction.

I was in touch with him for a bit attempting to purchase some drawings about a year ago but after a few emails he seemed to disappear.

A short while ago his website was down so it’s good to see it’s back up again…