Question….. On Mary Alice and Sally B, what are the slightly raised panels under the captains window? Armour plate?

Thank you 🙂

These are ‘quick’ detachable panels to allow access to control runs and wiring.

Duxford Friday January 6th:

Terence the Tug saved the day again, bringing the HAC Hurricane and Spitfire into the bright sunshine :

do you know if the corsair is going for more engine runs ?

I wish I could help, but for some reason I’m never consulted on such matters.

Duxford Wednesday January 4th:

Activity in Duxford’s hangars is back to normal after the break, today started with another epic shuffle by Terence the Tug:

Work was continuing at TFC with restoration, inspection and routine maintenance:

The chance was taken to record the status of the long dismantled Sea Vampire T.22 XG743, which has provided some parts for the rebuild of Vampire T.11 WZ590:

The Martin Baker seats awaiting installation in WZ590:

You can write your own caption for this:

To follow up on a comment about VC-10 G-ASGC, the engine blanks are presently fitted. I think they were only removed for filming last year, here she is in the murk this morning:

Duxford Monday January 2nd:

Thanks to all for your kind words about our 2011 Duxford coverage, we will try and maintain the standard during 2012. Although the ‘Duxford, Again….’ thread will fade away, the photos will remain on the Flickr pages at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/sets/72157626128462252/

Other recommended coverage can be found at PenPusher’s Duxford Gallery at:

http://duxfordfotogallery.co.uk/,

Martin Claydon’s Duxford Update (hopefully back in operation soon) at:

http://www.duxford-update.info/

And don’t forget Bomberflight’s massive coverage of the B-17 conservation at:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=40406

It’s not always easy to find anything newsworthy this time of year, so to keep things going I include some random views from a quick visit this lunchtime:

Hopefully there will be more to report when the holidays are over.

Duxford Saturday December 31st:

With 2011 drawing to an end, it is appropriate to renew this thread. Any further updates that I can offer will appear on a new ‘Duxford Diary 2012’ thread.
It is also a good time to record my thanks to the many others who have contributed pictures and updates throughout the year. Not much has been missed between us, and I am confident of continued support next year. Special thanks to Duxman, Fred T. and Bomberflight for their photo coverage and good company.
And of course, all the credit belongs to:
The owners and operators of the historic aircraft who are generous with their enthusiasm and keep Duxford an active and exciting location,
The skilled pilots who provide so many photo opportunities,
The dedicated engineers who restore and maintain such demanding machines, despite the handicap of working with an audience,
The staff and volunteers of IWM who make Duxford such a welcoming place.
I thank all the above for their help and tolerance.

I thought I would end the thread with a review of 2011. It was difficult to sum up the year in 20 new pictures, but here are my nominations for the honours list:

First debutante of 2011 was the Beaver G-DHCZ. Just after its 50th birthday, it took to the air after a long restoration on 22nd February. It would be worth starting an awards scheme just to recognise the standards achieved on this project:

ARCo followed up with the completion of Buchon G-AWHE. Imported in 2008 as N109ME, a thorough restoration was completed with a maiden flight in JG53 desert colours on 6th May:

The hat-trick from ARCo was achieved with the first flight of the magnificent Spitfire I G-MKIA/P9374 on 1st September:

Tiger stripes on Sabre G-SABR/8178 drew attention to the aircraft’s 20th UK display season:

TFC’s Team Thunderbolt rolled out ‘Snafu’ in her amazing new colours on 14th June, with first engine runs on 9th November. If the attention they got from the roll-out is anything to go by, the forthcoming first flight will be the highlight of 2012:

A new arrival with TFC was P-40F VH-PIV. Uncrated on 4th July, it is now enduring the trials of UK certification:

Having spent nearly 6 years in storage in Hangar 2, the TFC Fiat CR.42 G-CBLS underwent a trial assembly in December:

Hawker Fury G-CBZP/K5674 arrived on 24th June, and completed some engine runs before being roaded to Goodwood on 13th September. Looking forward to her return:

The biggest IWM project this year was the ‘fast-track’ conservation on B-17G F-BDRS. Leaving the American Air Museum in sections (the fuselage on 19th May), progress has been rapid:

Unfairly overshadowed by the B-17, the progress with Vampire T.11 WZ590 has also been rapid. Conserved/restored to the highest standards, completion is now in sight:

Although smaller in scale, the return of Chipmunk G-BCOU/WK522 to the air is also approaching. A part-time project by her owners, but matching the standards seen elsewhere at Duxford:

Film crews were regular visitors at Duxford this year, with a big-budget BA commercial using resident Dragon Rapide G-AIYR of Classic Wings to represent Imperial Airways DH.86 G-ADCN:

Brought in from Norway, the Dakota LN-WND also took part in filming for BA (Terence the Tug also starred):

Airshow highlight of 2011 was the Red Bull P-38 N25Y which debuted at Legends in July:

A familiar Legends visitor, Corsair F-AZYS returned in her new guise as an F4U-5N:

The Horsemen brought two Mustangs to Duxford from the USA just for Legends, can that be beaten in 2012?

Although Legends 2011 might be remembered for the loss of ‘Big Beautiful Doll’, I prefer to recall the amazing escape of her pilot and the survival of the French Skyraider F-AZDP:

A first airshow appearance by Meteor T.7 G-BWMF/WA591 in October:

Visiting Duxford in September from Old Warden was Demon G-BTVE/K8203:

My visitor of the year was Howard 500 N500LN:

Best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous New Year.

Seems odd to put a sticker on the aeroplane, zoom off for a photo-session, and then tear the sticker off again in case someone sees it. :confused:

The Flypast article describes Mr Dibbs role in creating the artwork, so I think he was justified in wanting the ‘exclusive’. Next year’s display season should see the permanent artwork on show to a wider audience.

A full history of G-PBYA as well as 433915 is on the Catalina Society website at:
http://www.catalina.org.uk/
‘YA has a remarkable history, having been on wartime anti-submarine patrol duties, then a freighter, surveyor, Search and Rescuer, waterbomber and now warbird.