Nice shots! Funny that common sense rightly says that aircraft should be preserved indoors for their long term health as much as possible, but there is something about seeing them all outside like that appeals to me. Photographically it’s far better!
Can you imagine seeing an Me410, Ju52, Liberator etc displayed outside on a grass area now?!
Nice to see the Valetta on display and the Victor Mk1.
It was a real shame that the Canberra B(I).8 was deemed unworthy of being kept by the RAFM, but at least it is in good hands now.
There have been some shameful decisions made in the past at Cosford, both by the RAFM and BA collection.

Vulcan XM598 arrived in early 1983 if that helps with dates.

I would like to know what is the current update on the Comet that is at Lyneham is this going to move to Brize Norton ??

Comet looks to be going to Cosford, thread here, http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=109403

I suppose that’s a question for IWM to answer as to whether they consider the C1K/K3/4 historically important enough in a military context (they have after all be continuously on ops for over 20 years).

Equally it could be asked if they could justify the expense of having two aircraft of the same type but in different paint, most visitors wouldn’t be worried about it. There then also creeps in the ugly spectre of the civil 10 possibly being disposed of when someone in the future can’t justify spending money on both airframes (see Dux Victor thread!) and the RAF one is in better nick.
As long as Cosford and Brunty get a C.1K the military version will be represented.
BTW am I alone in thinking that it would be great to see the last K.4 preserved? We have it in on maintenance and it’s surprising how different it looks to the C.1s.

Great news about the Herc JT!

Nice story TonyT, and the 10 and Herc both share some massive humanitarian accolades.

I thought the VC-10 to Dux was off due to them already having the BOAC example?

Re Britannias I actually think that they are good example of the balance of preservation being just right, four complete examples is all that is realistically needed to represent the type, and two are in RAF colours, though only XM496 at Kemble is a genuine RAF C.1.

but if you suddenly met your maker, would your affairs be in order?

Nope, and neither would I care!:)

Hopefully I will be run over by a bus by the time I get to hear Knowall Gallaghers’ version of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out!:eek:

Excellent shots Richard, just the right angles and you have caught the classic Lightning intake vapour superbly.
ISTR it is an effect compounded by ambient moisture content in the air.

like the Oddball lookalike, very convincing!:)

Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides

Excellent as always with these films, however I would say slightly the poorer for not having a lot of the original cast in it and it just felt different and more serious than the others – it could be though that like the previous two instalments that it requires re watches to fully appreciate it (critics complain that these three are too convuluted).
The first 20 minutes or so seen a bit odd aswel, almost like panto style acting with the King, but as soon as we get to the scene with Keith Richards it gets going again!
Penelope Cruz is far better in it that I would have credited her, and is gorgous! Ian McShane (yes Lovejoy!) is brilliant aswel, though for me no one does a pirate better than Rush’s Barbossa – “I’m curious, after killing me what is it you’re planning on doing next?”!

Watch out for the trippy Mermaids, possibly a very good reason (along with some of the action) to watch the 3D version, which I didn’t and wish I had.

Great watch, full of action and laughs.:)