The people behind the decision wouldn’t know Concorde from a conker. It’s really not that.

For the second time in 24 hours I have to say ‘don’t get me wrong’ – this is all very good news. I’ll stick to old aeroplane matters from now on.

Election soon, and Stow Maries is in a formerly safe (gerrymandered) Tory seat now under threat from UKIP, being in Essex. The MP just happens to be Chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee. The stars were aligned indeed.

Already discussed here – http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?134062-Whirlwind-Fighter-Project-March-newsletter

By a nice co-incidence, the artist’s grandson is “Reckless Rat”, who is on this forum. We are just waiting for a response from him. One of the WFP has contacted the journalist behind the article, and has contact details to pass on to Jeff when he sees our messages 🙂

So not so untraceable, really 😉

Just remembered that Jeff is also on this forum, as ‘Reckless Rat’. If anyone is in touch with him at the mo, please give him the heads up – no reply to my messages as yet.

Collis, thanks for that well-placed post – the funny thing is Jeff is very interested in his grandfather, and the history of 263 generally. He is the chap behind this site, and all the research behind it: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/laurieburley/jeff/

It always amazes me how easily such connections are missed, with the Dorset researcher thinking Beaumont’s relatives were untraceable, and his family tree a mystery.

Reading it again.. yes, I would propose drilling all the rivets out.. that is certainly something I have done in my limited experience, and I did think that was a fairly normal thing to do.

I suppose the last scenario, getting into every area, was what I was thinking.. no more of a ball-ache than building a new whatever-it-is. With the bonus that this isn’t a new whatever-it-is, if that is what is important to one, (rather than restoration at best, or helping a millionaire to play Biggles at worst). But I do take your point about bare aluminium, and about treatment destroying the ‘original’ appearance of the item. As I say, I am a touch naive, but not ignorant as to the ways (and inevitability) of corrosion. After all, I do own a thirty year old VW van 🙂

Edit.. That was tongue-in-cheek. I have also been around bits of corroding aircraft aluminium since I was 12. My naivety comes from never having been faced with the proposition of a whole one!

Thanks Circus. I think the one question on any younger enthusiast’s lips would be.. how did you get to work on historic aeroplanes at 18? I would have sold my Granny for that! (Matt, 45)