Many seem to keep an eye to the sky (see the “Spotted” thread) looking for Historics whilst others keep their nose to the ground by browsing eBay. How about a thread then on what we have seen on eBay?

If you spot something for sale, tack it on the end of this thread. 🙂

We had a similar thread running on the International Cockpit Club Forum for a while. Then people started getting grumpy because stuff they wanted to bid on was being highlighted in the forum thread. The perception was that it would attract more attention and bump up the price. So after a while I deleted the thread.

The same sort of comments have been made here in the past too.

You’re right, they were gunnery trainers known as “Dome Trainers”.

In this case, RAF Pembrey (where this picture was taken) had two Link Trainers but these were housed in a pair of small sheds about 50 yards beyond the location of the dome in the photo towards the leftmost hangar in the background.

As I understand it the trainee gunner was seated in the centre of the Dome Trainer with his ‘gun’ controls. Images of moving aircraft were projected onto the inside of the dome for the gunner to practice tracking.

I, too, thought of Meteor but someone else assured me it was a tail cone off a Dakota.

Roger Smith.

Neither. It’s from a Vampire.

This one, on the same site, goes on a bit (53 mins) but is absolutely fascinating…

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-5465058415007452568

Yep it’s the one from culdrose, it was on ebay a couple months ago, it’s a total mess!!:)

Been sat on that trailer for about 6 weeks now. Any sign of the wings etc.?

Unberlieverble.
I do believe you are the very same Tony D’ that I’ve been trying to contact though the International Cockpit Club. Again to no avail!

I believe the poor devil who looks after the International Cockpit Club e-mails has been away on holiday for a week and only got to read your messages this morning – so give him a chance! 🙂

Anyway, your artwork is very good – you really should post some of it here for all to see.

One comment though – on your Spitfire IX panel, you have the ASI and RoC indicator the wrong way around. Otherwise excellent – let’s see some more!

BTW, is this any good to you – http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/hurricane/hurricane/cockpit.htm?

I believe Hawker materials are now held by BA Systems and I’ve had contact with thier historic section who have either denined the existance of Hawker materials or flatly refuse me any access to any records. Is this normal?

Oh yes, quite normal. Getting blood out of a stone is a far more productive exercise. The assumption seems to be that as soon as anyone is allowed access to a plan or drawing of any sort they will immediately attempt to build their own Hurricane/Typhoon/Hunter/etc. (delete as appropriate), crash it into the ground (maiming themselves in the process), then blame BAe Systems and sue them for all they’re worth. Rather than expend some effort into arriving at a sensible mechanism for allowing access to drawings for reference/research purposes, BAe Systems’ elegant solution is to deny access to this valuable material entirely. Very helpful.:mad:

I love the smell of a rant in the morning.

Judging by the amount of corrosion in the cockpit area I doubt if even cockpit project would have been viable.

Pah! Shame on you Mr.D! Remind me to smack your wrists next time I see you.:D

That’s a perfectly restorable cockpit. I do have the advantage of having seen it up close fairly recently but, as a cockpit project, it’s a definate goer. Such a shame it’s the third Hunter in recent months to be put out of reach like this.

Chaps

As many know, we are planning a Hunter line up for the CockpitFest 2008 at Newark Air Museum. The object will be to get as many Hunter cockpits lined up in Mk order as possible.
So far we have:-

F1 – Tony Collins
F1 – Tony Dyer
F2 – Tony Dyer
F4 – Mark Templeman
F4 – Possible NAM resident?
F5 – Mike Rolfe
F6 – Black arrows
FGA9 – Bill Fern
GA11 – Naylan Moore
T7 – Doncaster
QA – Mark Gauntlett

I know other people have pledged Hunters (at least another F6). I would like to use this thread to add to the list and see if we can get the number up.
I would also like to encourage people with Hunter exhibits to come as well (ejection seats, models, photos, parts, instrument panels) so that we can get a good tribute to this great aircraft.

If people could get potted histories including recent restorative history and photos to me on their projects, I will endeavour to get a small info sheet we can give away to the public. Please contact me through my website email.

With this info, we can get arrangements together with NAM to make it a success

We may also have T shirts etc if people are interested.

Regards

Tony

2008 is the 50th anniversary of the 22 Hunter loop at Farnborough. As it’s a record which still stands to this day it’s worth celebrating and as we’ll (hopefully) have an aircraft in attendance which actually took part, it’ll be doubly appropriate.

All being well I’ll be there. My ‘mark’ number is FGA.78 by the way, which means if we’re “lined up in Mk order” then I’ll be somewhere near Lincoln!:D

Edit: By the way Tony, I believe the F.4 you list as “possible NAM resident” has now been sold so may not be available – can anyone confirm? So, in the words of Princess Leia “Help us Mark T, you’re our only hope”! (Sorry 😮 )