I wasn’t aware its rebuild was finished? I went to the Kemble Open Day in September and enquired about WV318’s status and was told it was expected to fly again ‘sometime next year’.

We have debated this issue MANY times on this forum and a lot of rubbish has resulted. However, this time round it it refreshing to read some genuine useful and interesting facts from Don and JDK in particular. As one who has published much over the years, I also have had experience of various copyright issues. However, publishing a copyright photograph without permission is one thing, but ‘proving’ ownership is quite something else. You can be stood side-by-side with someone shooting an aircraft and take identical shots. Could you prove which one is yours? Secondly in this wonderful digital age of technology, whereas an original ‘Crown Copyright’ photograph would be stamped on the reverse, these can be scanned, cropped and reprinted, so in effect it is not the same photograph. For anyone disputing that, run that photo through Photoshop and add a ‘spot’ and you have created a new image. Thought I would just play ‘devil’s advocate’ to see where we stand with that?

Joined up manager thinking as ever. You must have been peeved Albert?

‘Peeved’ is not a word I would have chosen! There are times when banging your head against a brick wall doesn’t help. I hasten to say that shortly afterwards, the Aviation Archive marketing manager was made redundant!

I have been following this story on another aviation forum.

They were actively campaigning against this plan, as it meant the complete destruction of the airfield.:mad:

Is that really relevant for Wroughton, as it is seldom used by any aircraft these days. The Science Museum killed off any aviation events such as the ‘Great Warbirds’ air show and the PFA Rally by asking too much money for the use of the airfield. The few times the airfield is ever used, they have to bring in special fire cover etc. Is is really worth keeping it open as an ‘airfield’?

Here are some of the photos I took of George Edwards, when I shared the last Viscount flight out of Heathrow on 18th April 1996.
That’s Raymond Baxter stood up and George is immediately beside him, alongside famous personalities associated with the Viscount, including the prototype’s test pilot, Jock Bryce.
The photo in front of the Viscount shows Sir Peter Masefield, George Edwards and Lord King, then Chairman of BA. Sadly all three are no longer with us. I have also included a brochure given to us on the day, on which I obtained the signatures of George Edwards and Lord King.
I was very proud of being invited to that historical event and to share the company of such aviation legends.

This is not just about aviation, this is the History of Science & Technology in transport and the Wroughton collection comprises so much more than just aircraft – vintage cars, buses, tractors, the SRN-1 Hovercraft prototype etc. This would have been showcase for future generations to see all these including the aircraft…..now they just have to remain housed in a series of WW2 hangars!! What an opportunity missed!:mad: