Al
Your last picture shows a Henschel HS129 and a FW190 and to the right part of the tubular structure of a Me323 which added to the arid look of the place suggests North Africa, Tunis perhaps.

Richard

Miles M20 Fighter. Always thought this would make a nice replica, full size and ideally with a Merlin but something more modern if needs be.

Richard

I am no expert but have never heard of any rearward firing gun on a 109, and for mechanical and aerodynamic reasons I think it almost impossible to engineer. And thats ignoring the difficulty of aiming the thing if you could find a way of fitting it.
It is possible that it was a Ju87 which doesnt look much like a 109 or an Arado Ar96 which might be confused with a 109, a small number of these did have a rear facing gun. Although in the heat of combat it must have been very easy to make a mistaken identification or be confused as to where gunfire was originating from.

Richard

One other modification to prevent the crashes was to replace the wing incidence control with a rigid push/pull rod rather than previously where a cable pulled the wing down, the up being by bungee straps from the wing leading edge to just behind the engine. In the accidents the aerodynamic loads could overcome the bungee pull and control was lost. The example in the picture has rigid rods, but the rear wing control is new to me.

Richard

I expect the cost of operating a Wildcat/Martlet must be comparitivly lessthan some of the more exotic types, and it then gives them something that is much less weather effected than the lighter types.
In my view its a fantastic choice that I hadnt considered before but makes so much sense.

Richard

I have avoided the urge to make comment on the Vulcan operation up till now, but I just want to say something that I believe might be the same as a lot of other people.

1. I love seeing the Vulcan fly and like last Sunday when it transitted past my home the whole family rushed outside to see it. Its an amazing sight that I feel very proud to have witnessed. But that is the same as when I see other types like the Blenheim, Lancaster or even a DH Dragonfly in the air, so I must give credit to the technicians and engineers who have made it work.

2. When the idea was first proposed to restore the aircraft to flight I was very sceptical and thought it would never happen, from a funding, technical and legislative point of view.

3. I dont like the constant begging for more money. The original funding plan was obviously greatly underscored and this, I feel, has had a knock on effect on other more viable projects. Personally I have not contributed to the Vulcan but continued to support the organisations I previously supported who will be around long after the Vulcan is grounded.

4. The marketing thing about it being a way of remembering the Cold War is missed on 99% of the people who see it, to most I suspect its the Vulcan Bomber and as to why it came into being is not even considered.

Richard

Dammit, isnt it annoying when you are after a camo coloured single seat Spit and a nice yellow two seater comes along at a bargain price. Guess I will just have to wait for the right one.

Richard