I was in the womb, up near Stansted, so I didn’t see it,  but I can’t imagine the Belslow did anything dramatic!

I have a feeling that Phil made his final takeoff a decade or so ago, so I’d be worried if he is reading this. 

I’m going to have to ask you all to pass the brain bleach,  because I don’t think my sanity can handle the possibility of having a Merlin in my house! But,  before I exit with my fingers in my ears,  I will just say that looks bloody stunning. 

Then you,  Professor M! 

Dosman, PMs are one of the “features” of the forum software that drives people nuts. You seem to have to have posted x posts before they are enabled, but with the less- than-minimal support available no-one knows how many!

Not from an Electra? I am shocked, shocked! Gambling in Rick’s Cafe? Shocked!

Intriguing! I can only think that there was a heavier grade tape applied at some point,  perhaps when at sea to keep the gun ports dry, but it must have been tough old stuff to need to be removed before whacking a .50 call through it. 

It’s difficult to ask this without emojis to make it clear that I am being mildly facetious, so you’ll have to take this as an indication of that. What,  MFowler, will you do for enjoyment if this really is Earhart & Noonan’s aircraft, and TIGHAR’s case collapses around them? Other than crack open a big bucket of popcorn and watch the fun, of course. You may have a big empty space to fill in your time!