Re the Swift, It sounds very much as if the current owners would rather have it rot and disintegrate than let anyone (including the RAFM ) get their hands on it. This airframe I feel is also beyond the realms of aquisition and restoration. Its a crying shame but sadly we cannot force owners of historic aircraft to part with them or maintain them.

Well why not? (mutter mutter)

It’s rare you come across something that’s not for sale for any price, there doesn’t seem to be any sense in it at all. If it wasn’t such a rare type it would still be a shame, but as it’s one of four complete examples of an aircraft that served the country well, was the last Supermarine type operated by the RAF, the first swept wing aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier and former holder of the world speed record, it’s bordering on criminal. If it were a building it could be compulsorily purchased, if it was an animal it could be siezed.

There’s no sense in hanging around, having one’s bluff called over XL391. Sad though it is, if the current owners are insistent on taking the p1ss then the best course of action would seem to be to take our money and find another worthy (and manageable) project.

I am still smarting over the abuse of the Swift in the other thread. Those of you more in the know that I – what would the chances be of interesting, say, the RAFM in exchanging something from their reserve collection for this piece of history? Or am I crackers?

Anyone mentioned Flight of the Intruder yet?

What about Stealth? 😀

From The Guardian:

‘I’d say that Stealth was basically Team America: World Police without the puppets, but in the case of Josh Lucas that is debateable.’

Appointment in (SARO) London

(It IS an aviation film…)

Things to Come

t

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot…