I should imagine they were the ones that cut it fee from the fuselage. Previously G-AWZI had stayed at Heathrow into the late 80s (~1987?) in a decommissioned state and was painted dark grey with a gold cheatline at some point as a test for a proposed scheme for an Arab Sheikh or some other significant Middle Eastern private aircraft. The aircraft was then further broken up with the fuselage being transported to Reigate fire station (~1989?) When they were finished with it, 10 or more years later, the cockpit was acquired when the rest was scrapped and that was restored by the aforementioned members of the TPS.

If it does then someone should be hung by the short and curly’s and shot :diablo: .

What about the Trident at Manchester, They do not operate with the same sort of budget as Cosford and I’m sure they would not say no to a lorry load of spares.

Regards,

John.

We were supposed to be getting some apparently, although we havent heard anything. Quite what what would be compatible or useful (that we dont already have) I’m not sure though, although we were promised the steps apparently. I do hope they havent been inadvertantly scrapped too!

Just to set the record straight, it is my understanding that the Comet and Britannia are not part of the official BA collection and are therefore not affected by the current situation. Indeed I have been advised that the Comet was never in service with BOAC and hence to purists, that livery is inappropriate on that airframe. I’m not sure about the history of the Britannia, but I suppose they could be at liberty to paint it up in Transport Command colours at some point should they choose to!

I still think its a crying shame the last remaining Trident 1C is being scrapped though. To my mind its not even as if its the poorest example of a preserved Trident either 🙁 Theres enough Trident cockpits around already, but only four preserved airframes (in the UK).

I’d agree with the original poster, “Robin Hood Airport”? “John Lennon Airport”? Hardly known for their contributions to aviation, but nice to see that local heritage isnt lost on those at BAA or the council near where I used to live.

There were probably a few saddened aviation enthusiasts when the Supermarine hangars (modified Belfast type) were pulled down in late 1988, first making way for a car park, and later redevelopment, but since then, the main road into the airport has been named in honour of Mitchell, a replica of the prototype Spitfire has been erected on the roundabout at the entrance and there are various other recognitions of him around the city, including:

A double decker bus operated by Uni-Link (University’s bus service)

A bust of him in the foyer of the University’s Aerospace engineering department – who has also named its largest wind tunnel after him!

A plaque near the east end of the Itchen toll bridge – close to where the old Supermarine works would have been, with the slipways into the water

Numerous references to both him and the Spitfire and its developments at “Solent Sky” (formerly the Southampton Hall of Aviation).

As regards previous names, I dont believe it has ever officially been “Eastleigh Airport”. When I was growing up, I think it was colloquially referred to as such and had been for sometime (whilst the official title was “Southampton Eastleigh”) until it was changed to Southampton International with the opening of the new terminal in 1994. Prior to that it had been “Southampton Munical Airport”, “HMS Raven” and for a long time prior to that “Atlantic Park”.

This threads seems to have gone a bit off topic in a Duxford direction.. anyone got any more news or photos on what work has so far been carried out at Duxford. I think theres a fair few people around like me who will be hoping until the last possible moment that the Trident and VC10 at least might win a reprieve 🙁

I have only just heard about this and I am very disappointed. From what I hear the VC10 wont survive in once piece either.

I have recently compiled a fleet list of all Tridents built and their current status as part of the forthcoming new website of the Trident Preservation Society. The list can be viewed by clicking here .

I’m not entirely sure, but I think the Canberra at Hurn was the ex-Blind Landing Experimental Unit one from RAE Bedford.