There are presently two Zeros at Duxford. Ready for the move to London is 3685, a Pacific wreck recovered in 1991 and acquired by IWM in 1999. A huge amount of work has gone into conserving and consolidating a very delicate object. This is how it arrived (Seen 30-7-99):
The other Zero is the centre section of the ‘War Prize’ A6M5, which arrived from London in September 2012 and is still present in Hangar 3:
Duxford Friday 8th November:
Another quiet morning, though this SNJ brightened things up briefly:
Two more ‘Large Objects’ ready for their move:
This Twin Squirrel seems to be based for a while on powerline checks:
DUXFORD 25 YEARS AGO (PART 9):
Staying in the past, here are some more scans taken from slides kindly loaned by Andy Robinson. A visit exactly 25 years ago on November 5th 1988 found the OFMC Buchon recently repainted:
Parked alongside was Fokker D.VII replica G-BFPL, this must have been around the time of its first flight at Duxford:
Later in the month, on November 13th, Tigercat N6178C was delivered to Duxford. Having been ‘Tanker E43’ since the sixties, it passed through the Weeks Museum before transfer to Lea Aviation. Repainted as 80483, she flew in the UK until return to the USA in 1993. Now flying as ‘Bad Kitty’ with the Historic Aircraft Foundation in Seattle.
Seen here in the murk at Duxford November 16th 1988:
Also seen on November 16th was Spitfire MH434 in the ‘Poirot’ scheme:
Duxford Monday 4th November:
Another batch of IWM ‘large objects’ was being loaded for return to London today, including this UN Ferret:
Some heavy lifting gear was preparing HMS Stickleback for departure, though not destined for Lambeth:
Otherwise nothing much to report again, here’s a few odds and ends:
Duxford Sunday 3rd November:
Hangar 2 North is now busy on Sundays, with winter maintenance well underway on Catalina and B-17. Onboard access for Friends of Sally B is going to be limited this season (check the Sally B Facebook page for opening dates!), so I took the opportunity for another look inside. Here’s a couple of views from the windows:
Otherwise, another quiet day. The IWM BE.2c:
The firewall of TFC’s Spitfire FR.XIVe:
Visiting King Air ( a very new Isle Of Man registration ):
Finally, some good news about an ex-resident. Lindsay Walton’s Nord 1002 G-ASTG was a Duxford inmate from around 1992 until May of 2011. An unfinished restoration project, many will remember her like this:
Even further back (pic from Tony Clarke Collection):
The aircraft has been in the Peterborough area for two and a half years, and recently flew again. She is now marked as a Luftwaffe/Luftdienst Bf108 BG+KM, hopefully photos soon.
Duxford Friday 1st November:
Another struggle to find a topical picture today. Not being desperate enough to cover the Quilt Festival, here’s an update on progress with Building 420 in its new position:
Duxford Thursday 31st October:
Just a quick note to record the departure by road of the Pilatus P.2 G-BLKZ / A-125, in storage here for around 5 years since an accident on 31-5-08. Photo from Fred Taylor with many thanks.
Old Warden Wednesday 30th October (Part 2):
The Spitfire’s starboard wing looks very different from my last visit, although much of the structure is part of a test assembly:
Work is continuing on other parts:
The fuselage and port wing are very advanced:
The Tomtit rebuild is also progressing fast:
Finally, some more detail from the Camel replica:
Main and auxiliary fuel tanks:
Centre section from below:
Manual fuel pump (by pilot’s right knee):
As usual, many thanks to all at Old Warden for the friendly welcome, and generous access.
Duxford Wednesday 30th October:
Warm sunshine and large crowds again this afternoon, but not much to report. Classic Wings were doing good business, and the Catalina was out for some pre-hibernation engine runs:
The jet-pan has been converted into car-parking ready for this weekend’s Quilt Festival, so today’s visiting light aircraft were on the grass:
Duxford Tuesday 29th October:
Firstly, many thanks again for all the positive comments during and after our brief absence.
Duxford seems to have escaped any significant storm damage, although there has been some tidying up required. The warm sunshine today brought a large half-term attendance with the car park almost full.
Lots of open doors today, here’s another look at the IWM Spitfire I:
Buchon G-AWHE was ferried back to Humberside at lunchtime. Into sun as usual!
Finally, the Yale was on the move:
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