I don’t know enough about them to be honest… I’d go for the one which was produced in bigger numbers and saw more use in service…. just so long as it looked better than that heap in the FAA museum. (Sorry FAA people, but it looks rubbish in bare metal and not very representative of the breed – however accurate to that aircraft it may be)

cheeky sod.:D You should know by now that what I say and what I mean are two completely different things…….:eek:

Black painted sheet metal – could also be flap , engine cowls, nose turret cupola. There can’t be any large steel sheets like that in any aircraft, even armour plate is not that big. It must be something to do with the recovery.

Ok, well this is my take on the bits – obviosly a wellington man would be alot more accurate…

1: Fuel tank / Oil tank
2:Fuel pipe (Too big for hyds)
3: Geodetic structure
4: Wing / Tail spar

11: Seat cover or self sealing tank cover… could also be flying jacket material

17: Oleo strut (fescalised portion with piston)
18: Wheel and Oleo strut

21: Engine bearer bits and u/c debris

The welly was fabric covered, so would the only black painted metal skin be the bomb doors?

Well, thats all I can tell. Like I said, its only guess work. Ask Brooklands… they have a better chance!

For what’s worth,

Does an aircraft have to have had a glorious war record? The fact that an aircraft was designed to an air ministry specification, built and used (either in combat or training) and service men dying in it qualifies it for preservation in any museum collection.

The Brewster Buccaneer recently restored in the US is a good example of this.
The Blackburn Botha was an unsung aircraft type as well but with several hundreds produced and used in training it deserves to be preserved as well.
There are still large section of Botha scattered around the UK’s hillsides. About time to at least preserve them.

Hint hint

Cees

I’ve just heard a story about a Botha pilot (test pilot?) who claimed that the Botha was a difficult aircraft to get into. He claimed that it should be modified so that it was IMPOSSIBLE to get into……..:D

why? whats happening?… tell me tell me……:D where, who, and when is the roll out?….

I think maybe one of my near neighbours would like to see a Stirling again. He flew ops on them over Germany. Maybe other members of the public would appreciate seeing them as well. I doubt that everyone who visits Duxford , Hendon or indeed any other of the aircraft museums in the U.K is an aircraft enthusiast. It’s very difficult to actually define how many people would appreciate seeing something if there isn’t one at present to show them.
Luckily we do however have an increasing band of people working in sheds and garages to bring the extinct back to life or produce cockpits which
the general public can get close to. Adding to all this is the activity abroad such as the Halifax restoration and the recently discovered Skua. You could argue who needs to see a silent Halifax or indeed the unfortunate Skua.
However there are many who can stand and look at a Halifax and understand its purpose and the sacrifice made by the many crews flying them. Similarily
there is no real justification in recovering the Skua if we use the popularity stakes . The people of Norway however are justifiably proud of what the
British aircrew did to try and keep their country free . If a million pounds was spent recovering a Skua and maybe one veteran in his failing years was able to see and sit inside it that would be worth it to me.
Certainly many people will see the Vulcan when she is up and about. Her combat record of a few heroic missions adds to the mistique. Brushing aside the glamour dont’ forget the airworthy Hunters – Pembrokes – Chipmunks – Vampires – Venoms – Canberra’s and Shackleton which played their part in the Cold War and seem to live at the moment in her shadow.

Now a flying Skua would be worth seeing… possibly in a heritage formation with a barracuda….