TFC would get a much better deal by sending it to the US, at least that way they’d get something rare or perhaps flyable. Sending it to somewhere like East Fortune will just result it in a static restoration rather than what most people would like to see, an airworthy mossie.

best regards, steve

It’s TFC’s machine and they can do what they like with it ultimately, so i guess we should keep our fingers crossed that the rumours are false or that some UK collector will step in to purchase it.

This wouldn’t seem likely so i guess it depends whether you want to it go to the US to be restored or kept in the UK where it will either be left in storage or restored to static condition at the most. It would appear that one of the few groups with the ability and resources to take it on don’t want it so who else is there?

🙂 steve

Hi Neilly, perhaps our views differ but i think we both agree that we’d like to see the Mossie and the Beau stay here and be restored to flying condition but…..

the way things appear to be going ( only TFC know what is happening ) they no longer wish, or no longer can restore her so she has to go somewhere and if there is a collector in the US who wishes to restore her to flying condition then so be it. As for the Skysport Beau the same goes, Skysport wish to sell her and if no one from Britain steps in to purchase her then again perhaps someone abroard would apprecaite it.

As for the aircraft staying where it is appreciated, i dont think the Mossie moving to the US would mean it wouldn’t be apprecaited, the US did operate Mossies as im sure you realise, so im sure it has relevance over there. Here in Briatin we have Sally B, she’s not a British aircraft and yet she is based in the United Kingdom and is appreciated by thousands every year and i think it is wrong to believe that US enthusiasts would not appreciate foreign aircraft too.

At the end of the day, if the owner wants to sell an aircraft and there is no buyer over here then there is little that can be done.

best regards, steve

Well Yes, certainly do. Mr Grey is obviously passionate about getting the aircraft flying and has spent a great deal of time, effort and money on the restoration so why would it go abroad? Unless of course you have any other theory 🙂

I think the Beau is quite safe from levaing these shores ( unless its going to display at Jersey in 5 years time ! )

-bestregards, steve

It would be indeed a shame to see the Mossie go abroard but i guess at the end of the day it’s upto Stephen Grey what he collects because without his efforts, finance etc, there would be no TFC. Perhaps it would be too much of a drain to ahve both the Beau and a Mossie on long term restoration.

best regards, steve

Neilly,

what models have you built and how do go about starting in the hobby? Is a technical background needed?

best regards , steve.

Thats hardly fair Lancman. Ive got the display list for 2003 in the post this morning and the Dakota is down for many displays this year, just as it was last year, and the year before. I can think of many occasions when the Lanc has gone unserviceable only to be replaced by the dak at the last moment. Plus, there has been many times when the Dak has been used to transport spares when needed. The Devon if i remember rightly spent the last few years of its BBMF service sitting in the conningsby hanger so the Dak has more thanplayed it’s part despite the well known problems with it.

Maybe a name change for the flight would be in order. Then again perhaps not. Either way, the Dakota is useful in many ways and is an excellent display aircraft in its own right.

Steve