Phantom Phixer

Try the ‘preservation bible’ – Wrecks & Relics. Experience suggests that the latest edition [20th] would have most things covered. I’m sure the MAM shop will have a copy on its shelves!

Not answering your specific question re SE-LAL, but related to the Norwegian Safirs the following may add to your information search.

The Newark Air Museum guide book lists the 91B version – 56321 at their museum as being “flown to the museum from Norway on 14th July 1982 by two serving Norwegian Air Force officers, Lt Stig Halvorsen and Lt Peter Reymert”.

The airframe is displayed inside and I understand that the airframe is on loan from Norway. It is also pictured on the top of the aircraft list page on their website.

http://www.newarkairmuseum.co.uk/aircraftlist.cfm

From pictures I’ve seen that were taken at Cosford, summer 1981 [Control Column magazine] both the MAM Javelin Mk.5 and the FAW.8 that went to Newark Air Museum both had sections of their rear fuselages missing.

Although the FAW.8 at Newark is now inside the reheat section on this airframe still seems to be missing. At least MAM have managed to secure a replacement ‘nib’.

Judging by the MAM pictures they seem to be having a lot of work to do on the wing air brake sections [think that’s what they are], I saw similar work under way at Newark earlier this year.

Pledges are one thing, but it’s hard earned cash that will pay the bills.

I seem to recollect a lot was pledged before but turning those pledges into cash in the bank has always been the problem!

Hi TwinOtter – no, I will be off to Washington, Cleveland and Reno at the end of August for 3 weeks, and probably next visit my family around Christmas – but almost always visit the Newark Museum when I am there.

It will be a bit cold cycling along the back road through Coddington at that time of the year!

Hopefully the Viggen will be complete by then and officially handed over by the Swedish Embassy.

Over the last three or four year’s I have personally ‘encountered’ various members of the VTTS, VOC and their various associated groups / supporters; these ‘encounters’ are well documented and relate to several aspects of the project and would make interesting reading once the inevitable dust has settled.

Having carefully considered the most recent appeals, reviewed their various press statements, read their accounts / auditor’s reports etc the politest overall description I can muster is “naive arrogance!”