I TRY to avoid criticism of other Forum members but lighten up Robbo 🙂

As Blue Robin has said his question was answered in the next post and you (or anyone else) need not have gone further.

However the thread DID provoke some humour and, perhaps, thoughts about the vulnerability to wind of aircraft standing outdoors – let’s all be thankful it was only an FSM.

Roger Smith.

Welcome to the Forum FelixFlyer.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been involved.

As Yak 11 suggest the Museum of Berkshire Aviation at Woodley would be a good place to try – especially as they fit in with your wishes with airliner and GA aircraft. They are, I believe, a volunteer-based museum who would probably welcome you with open arms.

However unless you are already skilled in restoration be prepared to work your way up from the bottom – cutting grass, litter picking, selling in the shop (if you’re lucky). Eventually you may perhaps be allowed near an aeroplane – cleaning one, pumping up tyres, helping to move – then, at long last, actually working on one.

Some groups/museums can be cliquey. Always be polite to visitors – they may towards the end of a long day ask you a question the 20 before asked and delayed you doing that job you wanted to get finished before going home but visitors are the lifeblood of most collections. They will hopefully tell their friends how they enjoyed their visit, they may even decide to join in themselves.

Most of all enjoy it – the hobby of aircraft preservation can be fantastically satisfying.

Roger Smith.

No, just schoolmate Les Ryder and I doing some “hill walking” with something to look at/a target to aim for. Was about 1967/68. We did remove a few small bits (we didn’t know any better then) including a bomb grasp which went into the embryo collection of the Midland APS (MAM).

Roger Smith.

Ah memories! Once upon a time, the only source of information available:D

How very true. I could go on in Monty Python fashion about “living in a cardboard box” comparing the information in ‘Control Column’ with the massive amount we have access to today – but I won’t.

This is a coincidence Elliott – I am moving office and came across a photocopy of my article “Whitley in Wales”. I didn’t stop to re-read it.

Roger Smith.

Neville Franklin RIP

I tend to fall on the side of believing we have an increasing “nanny state” and are being over-wrapped in cotton wool.

However it is good that Melvyn has brought the subject up for discussion as the rules are in place and, I guess, have to be complied with.

I believe the USAF did a survey on all the NMUSAF loan aircraft on display in the UK (about 5 – 6 years ago?) to make/declare “safe”.

I have heard one individual – the principal of a large aircraft museum – publicly state his opposition to what the HSE are doing and I think he may provide an early “test” of their powers.

Roger Smith.

Amazing piece of engineering – thanks for the photos. My (slightly technical) grey matter suggests to me that, as the opposing lines of cylinders are directly opposite, there was a single crankshaft. If I’m right it must be one helluva size!!

Roger Smith.

However the relevance of the F-117 is not clear…

I don’t know what their collecting policy is but IWM is a Museum of Warfare therefore almost any military machine would surely be relevant.

Roger Smith.