Twin Otter , I’ve never doubted your word , and was told the same when I visited the Coventry Museum .
All I am getting at is how things might have changed for these aircraft ,I too feel sorry for the staff of the NMUSAF , these hulks are a pain for them , but there hands are tied by there protocol ,America doesn’t have the influence it had in the 80s in the UK , I have an idea , and I am going to try it. I have friends in the RAF who have said these rulings cause problems for everyone and even they are not sure if the legalality of it all 30 years later. Nothing will get done until someone pushes the question to the NMUSAF , it is a lot easier for them just to send someone in and scrap it . But if this issue is brought up enough perhaps they will finally get around the table and at least discuss a way forward , but I feel this will only happen as with any Govt Dept when they are pushed into a corner to deal with it

Being NMUSAF , have really had no contact with many of the airfields , especially the private ones for many years and
Provided that a land owner has the RIGHT under British law to charge storage costs , with many asking to have the aircraft removed when say new ownership has come about , the fact that NMUSAF can’t even have the decency to correspond with said land owner / group museum . Under British Law can the land owner etc simply remove them himself , and forward costs to the owner / or give permission for another museum to take the obstruction from his land ?? . If it was anyone or anything else they would not have a leg to stand on in a uk court. Secondly these aircraft were donated to museums simply on TAX reasons , it was not properly thought out , and Uk Law has got a lot more complicated since the 1980s .
If you bought a house and the previous owner left his car in your garage to simply rot for 10 years , and you had contacted them , with no reply, asked them to move it with no reply , as the new owner from a previous owner /tenant , by law you can claim it or dispose of it ,after reasonable time… I’ve never heard such absolute Rubbish as what all this fuss on ITAR. .. rubbish !! …the law is simple “ your property/scrap / rubbish is on my land and you have a duty to move it , if you don’t I will set a date , and if it is not moved by that date I will move it , or go do with it as I please and take ownership of it/ gift it to whom ever I see fit “, surely it is as simple as that

Thankyou , TwinOtter and Fouga ,
For mentioning me , yes I didn’t move the Canberra ,but I massed a lot of parts , I drove over the country to find , which I supplied with the project and was forced to sell for personal reasons .
As you can see WH887 is something that I still think about from time to time ,Matt a Shaun done a wonderful job ,
I have been out of the loop for some time now . But still follow with interest the comings a goings of our aviation Heritage .

Wasn’t Merkle looking to collect Brigand parts?

Rob

Yes I was.. however that was before divorce , and debt, etc.. I have a few small pieces from one, but very very little.

I still find the period from the late 40s through to the late 50s fascinating , and one of the most interesting times in British aviation.

Currently I am searching Mystere IVA parts, I already have a stick , and gun sight and some plates.

I have gave up on cockpits and the like, , I had to be realistic, and take a check in with reality, as much as i coveted such objects, if i was truthful to myself, I never had the skills, or finance or space for such projects,
so quietly I have been collating pieces when i can afford them from the Dassault Mystere IVA .. one of those early 1950s aircraft that were a record breaker in there own right at the time of development
and as such , the Mystere is one of those types that has like many other less famous types been forgotten, and not as glamorous as more desirable types.. the parts are out there (SOMEWHERE ???) to make a panel up etc
and I will keep looking.
as for the Brigand, the very few coveted pieces I have will be framed one day .
But thanks for thinking of me Rob 🙂

Gutted , lovely aircraft , dream project , no where to put it and mrs won’t allow it. 🙁 … I hope she gets saved , Before the axe man cometh ,