My thinking too, nice Wessex 5, synonymous with any 60’s shipborne Carrier operations, they would all have at least one

Already have a rather lovely Wessex in, would just like something fixed wing to compliment the choppers. Seahawk would work well. I know the Dunsfold, Gatwick and FAA ones..

Thanks Guys!

Hmmm.. rather ironic that in asking for details of the one saved from the scrappies at Millom for this project it appears they may well be destroyed by yourselves anyway, don’t think I will bother in the future pointing out any aircraft locations if that is their fate.

Well of course that’s your choice but lets be clear in that we’ve not purchased any nice preserved examples and in a fit of movie excess glibly smashed them up.

In the case of the Jetstreams we’ve taken airframes that either were destined for the scrap man or indeed, as per the Millom example, already at the scrap man. You’ll understand that I can’t give too much away about their exact use but it’ll mainly be studio based to allow interior shots of a real flying aircraft. Because of the restrictive fuselage size some will be halved down the spine to allow side on camera and lighting access, while others chopped front or back to allow shots fore and aft down the fuselage. What’s left may or may not be suitable for external storage. If it is we’ll keep it, I know the most complete of the cockpits will definitely be saved.

However beyond the specifics of this film and it’s Jetstreams I didn’t want this thread to end on your somewhat negative vibe. I think on balance the movie industry has done much more good than harm to the world of classic aviation.

On a personal level I’m an aircraft enthusiast, pilot and classic aircraft owner. I’ve been fortunate that the Film and TV industry has allowed me to exercise this passion, and believe me it is a passion. No accountant, even in their most creative moment, is going to make classic aircraft ownership and operation look like a good idea.

On a company level, a company funded by the Film and TV industry, we’ve kept a DC3 flying for over 25 years. Look at the DC3 in isolation and it’s made a loss, sometimes rather significant, every year I’ve known it. However the boss is passionate about old aircraft so she lives on. Numerous other aircraft have come and gone in 30 years of business – flown and shown, care taken, bills paid. Outside of our own aircraft we’ve been broker between hundreds of productions and hundreds of aircraft owners. I’ll accept that sometimes the cheques go to operators who you could hardly argue ‘need the money’ but often it’s much appreciated income to an owner or group who are trying really hard to make ends meet and keep their personal passion flying. I know Dear Mr Lucas personally kept Pink Lady flying for a couple of extra years.

On a wider scale the movie business, especially in the ’60s has enable many aircraft to be restored and flown to this day. It’s been well debated on this forum already so I won’t repeat.

However, specific aircraft aside, for me here’s the biggie..

I’ve spoken much of passion but where does it come from? Where and when did the hook sink in? For me, maybe it was on the shoulders of my Dad at Farnborough or at the Fairoaks fence. But I know for sure much of it was as a very young lad in front of some of the classic aviation movies. Pilot, owner, operator, restorer, engineer, museum volunteer, airshow attendee or just anyone who looks up when they hear an aircraft above. Which one of us doesn’t have a favourite aviation movie moment that has helped feed the fire?

Maybe there is a nipper out there today who’ll see the Jetstream action sequence and the hook will be sunk. I really hope so.

So although I totally understand your snap shot of emotion I hope if you pan out a little (excuse the pun) it might not all appear that bad?

Taifun

Well as you have aquired 2 jetstream 31’s for your project, what will happen to them when you have finished with them?

I am compiling a History of the Jetstreams operated by Highland Airways, so I am interested in the fate of G-UIST, also will any photo’s of the project be released??

I think if anything meaningful remains then they’ll head back to our base at Dunsfold. Nudge me in 6 months and i’ll have an update!
🙂