And to Andrew O:

Finding them is one thing. getting permission, financial backing getting them out of the ground and out of the country is quite another. Be patient!

Agree with Damien B,

The raw material for re-builds is still out there, much of it untouched but not considered feasible or ecconomical 20 years ago. May I also suggest that whilst there have been some unfortunate incidents in the last decade it has become increasingly likely that an aircraft suffering major damage or even considered ‘destroyed’ will now and certainly, to an increasing extent in the future, be re-built to fly. The facilities and expertise to do this grow more numerous each as each year passes.

Undoubtedly there will be some virtually new aircraft on the scene in the future but today, in the case of certain aircraft types, we need only a small percentage of original structure to accept an aircraft as a re-build rather than a re-construction or replica. Future Mosquitoes, for example, will probably be ‘new’ wooden airframes with original engines, oleos and metal fittings but still considered original aircraft restored. No self respecting historic aircraft collector persues ‘replicas’ if something accepted as original can be obtained in flying condition. I cannot see this changing in the near future.

And yes RobAnt, we do need the ‘Real McCoy’!

P-51 ‘Twilight Tear’ – gorgeous!

Hi Mark 12,

Interesting photo. Shows a very unfavourable setting for historic aircraft (the US museum), poor old Spit looks much happier at Halton.

Doug Arnolds son is actually called David! Peter Arnold is a well known Spitfire historian and aviation forum contributer and no relation to the Warbirds of Great Britain/Flying A Services Arnolds.

Modern military jets, but you knew that.

The Hurricane was not ‘hidden away’. I saw it very plainly in the TFC hangar on both days with the engineers working ceaslesly to fix a problem. It looked like it was something to do with the undercarriage and I would guess that this meant that it could not be wheeled on to the flightline. As they were working up until the last minute i would suggest that they hoped it could be in the show but that there was simply not enough time. TFC would obviously not take a risk of any kind with this wonderful aeroplane so it had to stay up on the jacks.

Those guys move mountains to ready the fleet for the legends show each year and it must have been a huge effort on their part and that of Hawker Restorations for there even to have been a chance of it flying. At least it made it to Duxford so we could all see it, albeit earth bound for the moment.

Hi Mike

This was in response to Grants first message