The Recycler (LA answer to Exchange & Mart) often has Migs in the $15K range… (15 & 17, not 21’s etc..)

That plastic looks like it could well be Tyvek which is used as a vapour barrier to keep moisture out once it’s covered up by cladding etc. I’d guess it’s part of the actual structure & not temporary.

I repaired some damage to some little biz jet at Van Nuys a few years ago that landed with the nose gear up. The only passenger on it at the time was a former B17 pilot.
When he was informed that they couldn’t get the nose gear down he replied “I’ve landed a B17 with all 3 wheels up so I’m not too worried, just scrape it in as gently as you can”.

Can’t remember what the jet was now, some Israeli contraption.

Wow, they are into 3800s now? and 1 pound, I was still living in the 20p price range!.. .

Last ones I bought were about 12p..

Funny conversations:
#1: Howard Pardue being strapped into a plane at Dx & responding to everything with his usual grunts.
Guy helping him with the straps says “Yanno, for a guy worth 400million bucks you sure are a miserable old b***ard” 😮

#2: Air Commodore (as he was then) Johhny Allison signing in at some show (I think he was in the TFC P40) to get Officers Quarters & puts a/c Allison in the book. Sgt behind the desk bawls out ” OI! when did we start allowing air bloody crewman to stay in Officers Quarters? Bugger off!”
JA reaches into his bag & pulls out *the hat* with enough brass on it to sink a ship & says “Thats Air Commodore to you…. corporal” Sgt has his entire career flash before his eyes, JA turns & walks off, once out of earshot around a corner doubles up laughing. :diablo:

There’s another one in cambridge:
I can’t remember the name of it, but as ya go down the hill (yes, there’s only one) & cross over the river there is a pub on the left that has aviation stuff on the walls, including a large pic of a Brabazon signed by a bunch of people who worked on it.
Possibly the Mitre? .. only went in there maybe 10 times & the last time was at least 15 years ago…

PR XI were definately operated by the IAF, When I reskinned part of PA980 for the museum at Wright-Patt I took home the bullet riddled fuselage sides that plainly showed IAF roundels & serials #’s.
For a while both of them were screwed to the ceiling of a local bar until a change of ownership saw one of them stolen & apparently sold off on Ebay, as were the semi crushed valve covers (wonder who’s got that stuff now?)
The other side is still there, but I hear of another change of ownership so that will be returning to my garage along with a stack of A26 & R2800 parts etc.