JASE, following your initial line of this thread, my understanding was that the colour yellow in a squadron flash was to exhibit to all that the squadron was indeed operating ‘in disgrace’. The reasons for each squadron so attired I cannot comment on. However, with regard to one particular squadron I can. No 8 Squadron, Royal Air Force, a fighter squadron, displayed a ‘fighter’ flash around their roundal. The colours were, from top down, yellow, blue and red. As part of my introduction to the squadron in the early ’80’s, I was told, not informed, that in the biplane days of 8 Sqn in a hot dry climate, that the groundcrew were left to the fate of the Turk forces by the aircrew. Following this incident, Lord Trenchard himself banned 8 Sqn from ever serving from the shores of England. Many years later, this caused ‘questions in the house’ with the advent of the Shackleton replacement, the E3D AWAC, to be based at RAF Waddington. The rest is indeed history.

Yes I will pledge £200 towards the purchase of this as part of … whatever as long as it is preserved. If there isn’t enough interest for a group ownership with equal shares, I will consider unequal shares or an outright purchase. Not too sure what the total weight of the nose will be but would guess stripped out it would be about 1 1/2 tons max. This would therefore fit onto a good four wheel car trailer…like mine. And I can tow it with my Disco. Let’s here it people. Which way shall we go with this?

Some great stories. Thanks for sharing them. I’m afraid anything I’ve got to share pales into significance in comparison.

There was the rather interesting flypast by a 117. Three times. Past the wingtip of our C47. Over Norfolk. Completely forbiddon and fully prearranged. Probably ok to talk about it now as I think everyone of us is now out of uniform.

There was the time I was driving over the railbridge into RAF Valley one morning, suddenly realising that my 3 litre Capri had become extremely noisy. No, it was completely deafening. Oh, no its not my car, it is the Vulcan now deciding to do an overshoot climb at about 80 degrees right beside me. I stuck my head out the window watching this magnificient, majestic collection of all things great in British aviation dissappear upwards. Realised that I was now holding up all the traffic behind me. Quick look behind and everyone else is looking up as well.

There was that airshow in Europe back in the late ’80’s. Just climbing out the back of the Shack to see the Portugese display team taking off in two layers of three. Sudden loud noise. Bottom right Portugee drops down to runway as top right stall climbs. Bucc tears through at 500 kts between them. Bucc climbs up out of the way, ATC confirms no-one else in the circuit, Bucc does a roll in the climb, confirms circuit clear and commences his display. Don’t think the crowd realised what had just about happened. One year after Ramstien.

Then there was the Spit display at Mildenhall. The USAF hosted the Battle of Britain Veterens every year. This year in particular it was Mildenhall’s turn. Unfortunately, there runway was torn up for resurfaceing. No problem as there was just sufficient taxiway length to land a Spit. On the day, it was about 95 degrees in the shade. No problem. The USAF put up a markee for the vets. The Spit pilot, now retired, realised he would have to do a flat display due to the roof of the markee. And he did. Boy did he ever. Almost overshot the landing though (hot,hot Day in more ways than one).

Then there was the Spit at Woodvale. After replacing the leaking rad and runs, the dashing, young, ex-Woodvale pilot was requested to give a flyby. He most certainly obliged. Wingtip one foot above my head.

Then there was this old Catalina being delivered to Holland. As a matter of fact it was the oldest airworthy Cat. The ferry pilot, lets call him Chuck, was staying in the same hotel as us. He had just flown this Cat all the way across the North Atlantic… without heating…or autopilot, and his contract called for him to give a couple of the Dutch Historic pilots type training. Well, we couldn’t carry out our airtest following our engine change on the C47 (story for another time) due to the cloudbase, RAF rules requiring 3000 ft VFR for feather and unfeather check in the air. Chuck offers me a ride in the Cat. Damn right I’ll come. Jammed between Chuck and Hans, and I do mean jammed, and off we go. Hans taxies us out and off we go. ATC request a flyby for the visiting schoolkids party. (UK education ministers take note…kids love aircraft). Chuck says ok. Round the circuit and Chuck tells Hans to aim between the tower and the windsock. ‘Ya ok’ says Hans. ‘Take her down’ says Chuck. ‘Ya ok’. ‘Go on take her down’. ‘Ya ok’. We’re glued to 200 ft AGL. ‘I have control’. No sky, just a windscreen of green. I really am going to die. Slight pull up. What no crash. I have never before or since flown wheels up past a tower and a windsock looking UP at both. Climb away and Hans, with a little bit of sweat on his brow continues his conversion. ATC says ‘Thanks’. I thank Big G I am still here. ATC told us later that the schoolkids loved it. Over a large number of beers in the hotel that night I find out Chuck has about 10,000 hours firebombing on Cats.

There is more but I am probably really boring you all now. Some one else’s turn.

Dave T, do you know if the Shack nose section is from WL756? And just to be awkward, do you know where they have cut? Could you tell me where it is?
Anybody would think I have a soft spot for such things.

JDK, thanks for posting the attachment. Doesn’t bode well for these unique aircraft. Don’t quite understand the emphasis on Concorde. I accept that Concorde was the most recognised aircraft in the world. Because of this alone, I cannot accept the ‘incomplete’ description given to the collection as being valid. Sounds like a thinly vieled excuse to get rid.

Visited Bruggen for 17 Sqn 75th. Damn good bash. Good band on the stage in the HAS as well. Don’t remember much else. Do remember the scenery looking much like the photo’s above. Unfortunately, some politician forced the RAF to replace their excellent aircraft (Phantoms) with something far more inferior. Think they tried calling it a good aircraft name. Still didn’t make it as good as an F4.

The hangar here is full but we ALWAYS have room to fit a Spit. Been a few years since we had one in. Sniff, sniff.