Was this Trident also responsible for carrying out the first blind landing trials?

If so it surely adds to its historical significance. this aside she has been lavished a lot of TLC over the years.

This all begs the following questions:
1. BA still appear to have some capital available as they are reportedly supporting the preservation of the airframes moving up to East Fortune.
2. The BA website gives the outward impression that they are proud to have the collection under their (pardon the pun) wing.

The more I read the less sense it makes- or am I missing something?

XM172

Neil,

Firstly well done for the efforts in helping to preserve a piece of our heritage up here in the North West.

Have you spoken to any of the lads at North West Heritage at Warton? they may be able to help or advise on short term storage.

Some time back (when Cosford had a curator and some degree of autonomy from Hendon), they were asked if the wanted one of the AEW Nimrods. The answer was in the negative as the area it would have needed was allocated for the proposed Offices/shop/lecture rooms and parking area. The AEW was reffered to by a senoir member of the management team as nothing more than a ‘tin tube’!. A C-130 has been on the cards since the introduction of the 130K,

Given the lack of space ( even after the re-location of the BA fleet), its hard to see where they can add other aircraft and certainly where they could build another eyesore to house them.

IMHO the RAFM should have taken on Bitteswell when it was available and housed the entire reserve collection/conservation centre and storage facility on one airfield. The cost would admittingley been high but no more than the the total for the new building/eyesore at Cosford and far less than the fiasco at Greenwich.
This would have also given them the option to have an active airfield for future additions as well as central location for owners/collecters to maintain/display, rather like Duxford.

Pipe dreams or not it may have been the way forward. Now it seems the only way forward is to restructure the whole director/management team and effect a workable and focused policy. Not forgetting applying for lottery funding for a working heating system and lighting.

All in colour and approx 9 minutes each.

Hopefully more will be issued from the Rank Archives.

I remember an Air Ministry film on Sunderlands some years ago (out on general release), anyone know if its still available?

Miles Messenger G-AKIM early 60’s at Wolverhampton, Totally hooked from that moment on. Have a photo (somewhere) of me posing by the nose of ‘India Mike’.Followed by a ‘chippie’ whilst in the ATC at Kidlington in I think 63/4. Overflew Little Rissington and back. Must have been some sight, little short a**se waddling across the apron with a parachute pack almost touching the floor !! Thankfully no photo of that.

Scanned this out of the 3rd edition. hope it helps.

I have managed to ‘aquire’ all the editions with the exception of 1&2, in fact No.3 was purchased at the VAC Daffodil rally at Turweston 2001 for the princely sum of 50p !! even includes a typed note from George Jones to Dick Scholefield thanking him for a photograph included in the edition.

From Wrecks and Relics 3rd Edition

SOUTHEND,
At Southend Airport No.1132Sqdn ATC have acquired the ex North Weald DH Vampire T.11 7728M/WZ458 ’31’.
Collected together here by the British Historic Aircraft Museum are the
following types, which are currently stored on the airfield.
Saab J.29F 29640 >20/08′ R.Sw.A.F.
Lincoln B.2 RF342 ex G;-APRJ
Argus I G-AJOZ Proctor 4 G-ANZJ
B.25 Mitchell N9089Z Camera-ship.
Proctor 4 NP339 ex G-AOBW
Sea Fury FB.II WJ288 ‘029’
Anson C.19 TX211/G-AVHU
Sea Fury FB.II WJ244 ‘026′
Magister P6411 ex G-AIDF wreck
Drover G-APXX ex VH-EAS
Sea Hawk FGA.6 XE489 ‘626’
The scrap area contains many bits and pieces including the whole fuselages of Bristol 170’s G-AMWC, G-AMWE, G-AMWD, G-AMSA 8c G-AOUU together with the ex-Pakistan A.F. B.170 G-ARSA/SMt-09.
The fuselage of Prentice G-AOKT lies nearby having been used for the air test and certification programme for the ALT conversion.
Anson G-ALIH has been withdrawn from use1 and is here also. T
he fire heap has Prentice G-AOKM and Anson I G-ALXC.
The Viking G-AIKH of Continental is present on the old fire heap.
The skeleton of the Scion G-AEZF is behind the SE corner of the Tradair hangar in the airfield’s North-West corner.
Stored in the ex-Tradair hangar are; Dakotas G-AGHK & G-ALXN, Rapides G-AEM5 & G-AKRN, Doves G-AJBI, G-ANVC & G-AOBZ, Autocrat G-AGTX and Tiger Moth G-ANNN, all dismantled and wingless.
The wreck of the Skyways 7^8 G-ARMV is here also.
Stored outside the hangar are Dakotas G-AHCU, G-AHCV, G-AJIB, G-AHNW & G-AMDZ together with Viking G-APOP.

Tried to import the file as an attachment, but didn’t want to play.

91regal,
Boulton Paul aircraft since 1915. Alec Brew
ISBN: 0 85177 860 7

Probably the best book available on the aircraft of B&P.
Many years ago I was given the manuscript for a projected book by John Chambers (ex BP Drawing Office) which was incredibly detailed, sadly he died before he had the chance to take the manuscript further, but I feel the Alec Brew book is its equal. Highly recommended and well worth the £30.