If the project comes to naught, what we will have acheived is nothing short of impressive. Some of this countries leading restorers, Journalists and museum owners banding together to offer guidance and advice.

Loads of pics Jon or XL391, especially floor and canopy areas. The exterior lower sections / extreme nose and crew access frame may well be in a severe state given the number of times it has been dropped.

Just wish I could take time out to get down to Sandbach , however since opening the new workshops/retail counter I have very little time (with the exception of Sundays) to get out.

Count me in for an initial £100 with more to follow to aid the restoration,

Is there a preferred county/area for restoration/storage and display?

I guess delivery of money would be acceptable once the hurdle of initial purchase price and acceptance by the current owners is sorted?

Cmon Guys dig in –

Rocketeer – to some it may sound a regimmental scheme – but it sounds a fair and agreeable arrangement to me.

Stuart,

As one of the donaters to the shack funding request, I would like to backup Dave T ‘s posting.

I donated my amount in the full knowledge it was just that. I have no claim to any or part of the shack, nor do i expect ANYTHING in return, other than the personal pride I will feel in helping preserve something that others may view.

It was my way of doing something positive about the situation. Having spent many years as a member of the RAFM (Cosford Aerospace Museum as it was then), BAPC Rep for the aformentioned and since then an avid enthusiast and researcher I felt the project was one that required a litle help.

Should the same type of plan swing into place for XL391 I will be more than happy to do the same. After all said and done it is all to easy to sit back and moan about the state of aviation preservation when in fact for the same price as a day at a major air show or 2 or 3 Corgi diecasts we can make a small contribution and hopefully make a difference.

Negative attitudes will only bring negative results, and we have already lost far too many sole surviving and/or important airframes because of negativity.

Les

How about WT346 EE Canberra B(1).8 sold and shipped out to NZ. Leaving the UK without a complete example.

if thats the correct answer can I hand back the cheesey prize and have a torch so I can find the aircraft at RAFM Hendon – Pleeeeeeeeeeeeze?

Alanl,

Search for cockpit sections thread ( it was featured only a week or so ago). Plenty of advice and some contact details within. Haven’t got a clue how to link to the thread – help greatfully accepted.

We are still looking for pledges for the St Austell Shackleton recovery if you or any one else out there wants to take a step beyond talking preservation/restoration.

Bruce,

Some years ago the 707 was open to the public, it was complete within and proved to be very popular. Howeve IIRC the sheer numbers of visitors resulted in the aisle front to rear becoming unsafe and for that reason it was locked up. The Trident was also open for visitor access for a long time and was equally popular. Not sure if it is still accessible. The Comet is (or was in the early 90s) fairly complete (flight deck) with all the seats removed and fitted with racking for test equipment. The Viscount was ( and hopefully still is) complete – down to safety pamphlets on the rear of the seats.

I never did get to work or view the interiors of the VC10, 1-11 or Brittannia so I am unable to comment on their status, however I believe a corrosion survey was conducted on the Britt shortly after arrival.

A year or so after the arrival of the Neptune, I ( as a section Leader and senoir member, and as such allowed to sign out the museum gate keys) spent a cold but dry Sunday opening access doors to some of the aircraft on external display. At that time the museum was closed to the public. The Neptune in particular was very musty and there was evidence of some dampness and fungal growth around the windows and a damp musty stink throughout. A blast of fresh air and 7 hrs later she was clean fresh and presentable. V204 got the cleaning/airing she needed, I got a b********g for my efforts. My thoughts at that time was that perhaps preservation and conservation were low priority.

On the theme of scrapping and disposal of our aviation heritage by the RAFM I have started to work out a list of airframes no longer on strength at Cosford

XA900 Avro Vulcan B.1A – Scrapped despite being the last survivor of its mark – despite many volunteers willing to give both time and finances to the project.
WT555 Hawker Hunter – First Production model – Sold to Collector in the London area.
WR538 Venom FB.4 Sold privately
WL501 Avro Shackleton MR2/3 – Allocated but scrapped on site
XA923 HP Victor B.1 Scrapped on site

Disposals/loans
G-AGRU Vickers Viking 1 to Brooklands
G-AWIW Stampe SV-4B sold to Bob Mitchell
G-BADW Pitts S.2A Sold to Bob Mitchell
WT346 EE Canberra B(1).8 the last Mk.B(1).8 in the UK at the time – Now in NZ
XJ389 Jet Gyrodyne – To Southampton
XM555 SARO Skeeter
X977 Folland Gnat T. Mk.1 – one of 2 on site.
VV106 Supermarine 510- To FAAM
VX272 Hawker P.1052 – To FAAM

On the plus side many of the disposed airframes are now cared for in a way that are a credit to the new custodians, and Cosford have received some exciting new exhibits.

What I find odd are the continuing inconsistencies with the collecting policy of the RAFM

Letters out to Messr Flopp and Co also CEO at BA