the answer, so bluntly pointed out, is no!

Sorry (it was fair question though) 😮

Has Grumpy come home?

Nearly!

is Eyetech just a company name to enable him to work on his ‘Toys’ full time, then?

I don’t think you could over-estimate the level of specialist engineering support Eyetech offers other operators, from the smallest item to a complete Merlin re-build. The quality of their products is second to none.

That news report says that there are 18 airworthy Hurricanes in the world. I thought the number was nearer 10. Would anyone like to clarify this for me?

Colin

There are twelve (if you include the incident aircraft):

1. LF363 – BBMF, RAF Coningsby, UK.
2. PZ865 – BBMF, RAF Coningsby, UK.
3. G-BKTH – Sea Hurricane – Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, UK.
4. G-HURI – HAC, Duxford UK.
5. G-HUPW, R4118 – Mk 1 – Peter Vacher, Didcot ,UK.
6. P3351 – Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka, NZ.
7. Former G-ORGI, Ed Russell, Niagra, Canada.
8. KZ321 – (Mk IV) Vintage Wings of Canada (Michael Potter), Canada.
9. RCAF 5667 – Fighter Factory, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
10. AE977 – Tom Friedkin, Chino Ca, USA.
11. Former G-KAMM – Flying Heritage Collection, Paine Field, Washington, USA.
12. NX96RW – Lone Star Flight Museum, Texas , USA.

Need to fill in the current registrations of one or two of those.

do you think that the developers want us to know that anything historic will interfere with their plans, I’ve seen it all before, I can assure you.

Pete – if its any solace to you I can tell you that the architects appointed, Robert Adam Architects are one of the most historically informed and sensitive firms anywhere in the world. I worked for them as an associate for seven years and I know that Robert and his team will be very concerned to protect and enhance all aspects of this historic property and its site. Robert is a great admirer of Sir John Soane and is one of the worlds foremost classical architects. Hope that is of some encouragement.

I’m curious about one thing though. Is it the type of film used back then because the code letters look sky on the original and yet they’re Medium Sea Grey on the aircraft now?.

The photo was taken following the camou change to Ocean Grey (replacing Dark Earth) and code letters changing from Medium Sea Grey to Sky in August 1941. The applied scheme represents the aircraft shortly after delivery to 57 OTU in July 1941 so the code letters as orginally applied would have been MSG.

Its also interesting to note how the red and blue on the roundel and fin flash seems to have been reversed.

I suspect that is more to do with the film stock used then.

Very nice shots and shows the colours off very accurately too 🙂 Been waiting to put these two views side by side for a while (PS: the historic Hawarden shot has been posted before but I’m not too sure who to credit for it):

Right folks here we go with some questions.
1) Are there any Boulton – Paul Balliol airframes still in existence?

1.) One complete Sea Balliol T.21 (WL732) is on display at Cosford and two further airframes in Sri Lanka.

2.) Have a look at http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/69-A-626%20Sea%20Balliol%20WL732.pdf

3.) Can’t help you with that one I’m afraid.