Now that would really have been the UK’s ultimate jet warbird. I can hear the Vulcan boys noaning now at that comment 😀

Wonder if the CAA would have allowed it to happen though?

While Mark Hanna was alive, in the early 1990s the Phantom project was certainly being pursued, as was a civilian Hunter four-ship display team. We were actively discussing the project with sponsors.

In addition to funding 😮 The big issue with the CAA on the Phantom was its use of afterburners for takeoff. While ‘complex’ aircraft can be certified with the right support as the Vulcan project has proved, this remains I understand the biggest stumbling block for the civilian certification of this type of aeroplane.

Apparently someone at CAA Towers is frightened we’d all start melting their runways!!:diablo:

The author was David Garnett and the book published in 1932, beyond that I can’t add anymore.

I keep deliberating bout buying a ‘St Ex’ book……..someone tell me why I should read one of his books?

David Garnett’s book “A Rabbit in the Air” is a gem, if you can find a copy. Anyone who is learning to fly even today, will identify with his struggles to master landings and navigation among other things! Mind you some things have clearly changed since 1932, the Blackburn B2s and Marshall’s Moths have changed a bit, and I don’t think his instructor telling him another lesson was due by beating up his cottage, would go down too well with the CAA today!

For the best of St Exupery I can recommend “Airmans Odyssey”, which combines three of his greatest. “Wind, Sand and Stars” flying in the early 1930s from France to Africa; “Nightmail”, pioneering flights in South America and “Flight to Arras” a harrowing story of what it was like in the crumbling Armee d’Air of summer 1940.

Hope you get it in time for Christmas!

SIGN THE PETITION!!

In addition to all the other lobbying that’s going on with this, I have taken advantage of a new initiative at No.10 Downing Street to place a petition on their website.

I very much doubt that Tony Blair – on one of his forthcoming trips to the UK – will get to read it, but you never know. Its certainly worth taking the minute or so to add your name!

Thanks Trapper for the wording. I hope you didn’t mind me cutting it a little to fit in their 1000 letters limit!

Webbies. Any chance of making this a sticky. I want to have an airfield to fly from in the future!!

Well done LPG. Mind you TT, your and Adrian’s ‘shed’ isn’t too shabby! 😉

I can vouch for that. 75mph cruise if you’re lucky.

But a stalling speed of about 35mph and benign slow speed handling make up for it!

In comparison the Taylorcraft can bite surprisingly fast you if you start getting too slow. I guess that’s how the US Army lost a few.

Petition duly signed and mass e-mail duly sent. It would be a tragedy if the future of this airfield were to be jeopardised in this way.

Webbie / mods. Can we get this put on the Historic forum too, where more people may see it?

Hi Matty. Welcome to the forum.

I imagine that docking scenario as pictured would have been a nighmare in real life. Flying boat hulls are not of the thickness and strength of ship hulls and the constant bumping against the “wharf” would have holed it pretty quick.

On the contrary, Saunders Roe had developed a multi-cable system which would have allowed the boats to be winched into a cushioned landing dock.

The passengers woud then have boarded the aeroplane via what look remarkably like the ‘air gates’ we use today.

The segmented control surfaces were I guess part of the Princesses’ powered control system. Richard Stratton, the design engineer responsible for them is still (at 80-something) a regular at our gliding club at Bicester. If he’s around this weekend I’ll quiz him for you!

Many congratulations Peter!

Will they be at L …….the winter fly in on December 9th 😀