Hi Charley,
Reasonable question. as I was trying to say earlier, by the time the RAFM got the Beverly it was so corroded it was going to start dropping bits on people. Dismantling it would have resulted in bits coming off in your hands. Theoretically, you could take it apart, spray it in preservative and stick it in store. But even that wasn’t on because the corrosion was advancing at such a rate that it would have been crumbling even in those conditions. Then there was the fact it would then need to be rebuilt. IF the RAF had given it to the RAFM 10 years earlier, or looked after it properly, they might have had a chance – but to borrow a great philospher’s phrase, it wasa ‘dead parrot’. The option was explored. It wasn’t on. The document is avaliable, if you ask. I’m sure Phillip will be sharing it with us soon. 😀

On that note, why was XL149 scrapped at Finningley, as it was in the collection there until the mid’70s. Was that corroded also? :confused:

I’ll be Kenneth More…always fancied being a Squadron Leader! :rolleyes:

I don’t mind how many warbirds get grounded as long as everyone gets a chance to see at least one of each type in the air. I’ve really gone past getting excited at the umpteenth Spitfire being made airworthy, as long as all grounded types are well looked after and in good condition kept in well-lit museums

“Albert” it’s an original Mk1 nose that was converted into a car by a Bristol employee – the story is in this thread http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26902&highlight=blenheim+nose+car
Rob

Thanks for that Robbo! Would still feel happier if the noses could be changed round every few years, as the Mk.IV is far better looking.

So where did Duxford get the Mk.1 nose from? Is this original or a reproduction?
If the latter, I would prefer to see as much ‘original’ airframe flying as possible, so I agree with Robbo that the Mk.IV should continue as its a Canadian Bolingbroke of which the majority is original.

Best of all would be to have a slave, fully trained in aircraft recognition…

…ah there’s a job for you somewhere :rolleyes: