I’ve always classed a Warbird as any ex combat aircraft being operated in civilian hands.

By “Combat” I mean a machine designed to take the fight to the enemy and equipped with the means to do so – so in my mind, the C47 isn’t necessarily a Warbird (although the “Puff the Magic Dragon” Gunship version is) but is a Vintage or Classic.

That’s how I personally define these things, and not saying it’s right!

JC

Just heard it on the news..

Another icon of my past gone. I used to tape the Friday Rock Show (I would normally be out on the P**s) and listen to it in the car over the following days.

*sigh* 🙁

JC

I think we need a Sticky for “handbag” threads, such as this one 🙂 Anything with “Vulcan” involved appears to ruffle feathers (along with a few others).

Personally I’d love to see a Vulcan in the air again. I’d rather see a Lightning or a Buccaneer but that isn’t going to happen in the UK. But it just might if the Vulcan proves a successful project (ok, a VERY optimistic view, but one can always hope!). If it makes a smoking hole somewhere then there will be investigations and inquiries and life will continue on much as before. The odds are that a complex aircraft will be unable to operate without manufacturer’s support – so no great change there then.

If the project fails, then enthusiasts will be able to get involved again to screw XH558 back together as a taxiable airframe, so the scrapping option will never come to pass in my view.

Anyhow, a flying Vulcan will raise the profile of historic aviation and in all likelyhood attract more visitors to museums, increasing revenues and enabling more restoration to be carried out.

Let’s see what happens.

JC

You really have to leave Norfolk to appreciate it fully 🙂

JC

And then there’s the unnofficial names:

Fat Albert
BUFF
Flatiron
Whistling Wheelbarrow
Sled
Toxic Time Bomb

Loads more but I can’t be bothered to remember them 🙂

JC

Good Luck for Saturday if all goes ahead, weather and paperwork permitting!

We shall be v.busy on the Dak (apparently nearly everything we’ve been waiting for returns from overhaul and NDT tomorrow [1]) so there’s no chance of coming over.

JC

[1] That’s a lot of bits – elevator and rudder hinges, tail and tail wheel fork, port engine, one of the 2 props, mainwheels and 2 fuel booster pumps. There may be even more than that and it all needs to go on next weekend.

Ok so I’ll need the regulator then 😀

JC