Merely a thought – no factual basis to found the idea on!:confused:

Aren’t most of the Vulcans in the independent museums likely to be of a similar configuration?

The logic being that the original disposal to museums was delayed by the Falkland’s Campaign and weren’t all the airframes surveyed to identify the ‘Skybolt’ hard points for external missile fits?

Is there any correlation between these ‘Skybolt’ airframes and ‘Blue Steel’?:confused:

According to their Virtual Museum CD ROM – Newark’s XM594 was a Blue Steel airframe being originally allocated to 27 Squadron with the RAF Scampton Vulcan Wing.

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/aircraftlist.htm

They also currently have a blue steel missile carcass under the airframe, which I believe was ex-RAF Newton Missile Collection.

Not sure about the markings.

The main part of the site described in the report is behind the airfield, where there is already an existing gravel extraction facility – doesn’t sound like airfield will be affected too much to me. [Edit: re-visited some original local media sources from early September and despite poor punctuation in the text it seems that some parts of the airfield may be at risk, but perhaps not the runway area adjacent to the A46, where several new buildings have recently been built??]

That having been said my understanding is that the airfield could eventually become housing. [Edit: not sure about the housing plans I have seen!!]

A quick comment about the lighting in the two hangars at Newark

The new hangar 2 has the best natural lighting as can be seen on the picture on the top of their web page http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/

Hangar 1 also has reasonable natural lighting, but the exhibits in there are more cramped.

If it’s a sunny day outside you should get away with out flash or a tripod; although you wouldn’t need a pass or anything to use one.

Hangar 2 is also slightly less cramped that hangar 1 and when I’ve taken pictures in both I’ve never used a flash.

Next Saturday they have a memorial re-dedication with Lancaster flypast at 2.30pm http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/newsItem.php?id=38

Or you could use your tripod if you went on one of their Photo Shoots http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/newsItem.php?id=43

If you search on here I’m sure that you’d find some pictures taken there. I hope this helps. 🙂

Some other interesting non-in-flight-refuelled ‘Cold War’ sorties in the two Shackleton books on the bottom of this weblink

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/shop.htm

Excellent news!, as soon as a date is set I will be there,

The date is Saturday November 22, 2008 – easier to spot here!http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/news.php :confused: 😮