Clearly lack of research is not a new trend amongst documentary makers! An amazing programme, I had no idea that there was film footage of such events as Lindbergh’s arrival or the Hindenburg distaster.

There aren’t a vast number of exhibits outside at Hendon begging for a roof… In fact, save a couple of motor launches, are there really any at all?

In a perfectly idealistic world, yes maybe it would be nice to move all the BoB airframes into the Wonky Hourglass (that’s my new name for it!), uproot the existing building and donate it to some poor needy volunteer-run museum acouple of hundred miles away, so they can get their Vulcan, Lightning, Sea Vixen, etc out of the rain. But can you really see this happening? When the new “beacon” is done, they’ll reduce the old building to road-building rubble and be done with it. On that basis, I think Vultee35’s point still stands.

EDIT: My apologies for neglecting to complement Tony on a fine set of photographs! It’s so easy to let thread drift creep in…

I did read the link with great interest. Don’t get me wrong, my first thought was that the whole enterprise is wholly laudable, and I have great admiration for the people actually able and prepared to go and do this sort of thing. A finished Lodestar in CPA livery will look superb, and a testament to a lot of hard work and a pretty epic recovery.

I was merely pointing out (quite realistically, I thought) that this method of recovery (repairing, then flying out) is pretty risky, and hasn’t always worked in the past even with better-preserved aircraft (like the infamous B-29). I’m no airframe mechanic, but I’d like to think even the layman like me can appreciate how difficult it is to completely assess the structural condition of the aircraft (spars, etc) in situ in a bog. An aircraft like this that belly-landed could have recieved a lot of serious, but outwardly invisible damage: aircraft are not designed to withstand slithering along on their bellies! Making absolutely sure you’ve done enough of a repair to render your Lodestar acceptably safe to fly is surely going to be difficult?

I’m not saying they’re stupid to attempt it, or that any of the other alternatives look any easier, or indeed that they’re not likely to take the due care and attention! I was merely pointing out that flying out a crashed machine in this way is risky, and hoping that despite this it works, and in the future we can see a beautifully restored Lodestar !

My family made the mistake(?!) of taking the six-year old me to Cosford back in 1996: I was hooked: I have very few memories, but remember being overawed by the Vulcan, assuming the Lincoln was a Lancaster, and wondering what the big camouflaged jet was that my Dad was being photographed next to (it was the Javelin).

The following year my Dad and I won tickets to RIAT 1997 in a church raffle, and I got to see and hear my first Spitfires, Lancaster and Mustangs singing their Merlin songs, while a Sabre and Hunter shrieked across the blue sky (it was very hot). Endless lines of C-130s and KC-135s. Snarling Russian jets, shooting skywards on reheat that made the air in the bottom of your lungs crackle. Walking right through a C-5 Galaxy from one end to the other. Having a print signed by a Tornado GR1 pilot with a green flying suit and sunglasses. There was no looking back!

You have to commend their determination, passion and guts, but I hope this doesn’t end up like the B-29 “Kee Bird”-seemingly a remarkably similar project.

Less Teutonic, but just as unique, I’m glad to see the Hawker Hartbees still alive and well.

This must soon be the first Mk.1 Anson to fly since…the Skyfame (now Duxford) example in the 1970s?