Hi all the site is not gone I am having some issues contacting my host. As soon as I can get hold of them and pay the bill it will be back up. The Hinds have not been moved to Kemble yet but hopefully that will take place fairly soon. The plan is still to update the site with the restoration progress at intervals, time permitting. I will also finish the story of the recovery if I ever geat the chance. All in all it should be very interesting. Will update when the site is back online :o)

Ah I see! I doubt that has the constructors no# on it?

I think that’s a light?

well that is encouraging! If the s/n is stamped into the longeron as well there is a fighting chance of identifying her!

I believe all US aircraft supplied to the UK had USAAC numbers?

I think we realise that the the two plates that are missing from the pics aren’t the constructors data plate but the point is you are hardly going to to go to all the trouble of removing the patent plate and the canopy instruction plate and not the manufacturers data plate which is on the longeron right next to it. Hence the question! Let’hope s the engine plate is still there.

The point i am trying to make is that it’s all well and good trying to get permission to recover the aircraft but i don’t see how the RAF museum is going to launch a major logistic exercise like this in the middle of the Sahara desert. The military will not deploy for two reasons 1) budget 2) security, MOD civilians will not deploy into Egypt on an official basis it’s too dangerous. So what is the plan to secure the aircraft if the Egyptian government decide to allow a recovery?