As said in another thread Bruntingthorpe would make an excellent location if XV408 is ‘homeless’, I assum if the aircraft came from Halton it is still owned by the MOD and will thus be disposed of to the highest bidder in the usual fashion. As this will probalbly be the last oppertunity to obtain an RAF Phantom every effort should be made to secure it for a long and healthy future.

DOUGHNUT

Well lets hope that Branson can save at least two of the BA Concorde’s from overseas retirement. I think the aircraft for Seatle Museum was agreed several years ago and at least they look after their exhibits. I raised the same question on 15th October, does anybody on the Forum have expericance of such lobbying? Concorde needs our help.

“As has already been said New York and Barbados both seem odd locations, so how can we change the situation, as it needs to be done quickly. It is common knowledge that the Governement of the day paid for the Concordes and passed them over to BA for a nominal sum of £1 each. Therefore should the Government not be able to influence the final destination of these aircraft. If a peice of ‘fine art’ were to be sold abroad, an export liecence would be required, and in the national interest it could be refused. Why can the same principles be applied to the Concorde.
Has any body on the Forum got expericance of this sort of thing. Do you try to lobby your local MP’s or go direct to a Government department ? How about the national press ?”

DOUGHNUT

Radar makes a good point, a preserved and well presented AEW3 nose, cockpit and fusaluge section would make an impressive exhibit. Althought not very pretty to look at the technology and the ‘black boxes’ still require recording and preserving. Just because the RAF did not want to spend the money to make it work, its like burning the books because you don’t like the story.

I belive a bigger mistake than breaking up the AEW Nimrods, was not saving the Comet test bed that used to fly from RAE Bedford.

DOUGHNUT

Fairford 1987

Would one of the experts like to give a quick summery of what operation ‘moked’ was about ?

DOUGHNUT

The only preserved Andover is the ex 115 sq one at Cosford. Most of the ex RAF aircraft were sold overseas, some went to New Zealand in the 1970’s other have gone to various African civil operators.
The real shame is that no HS748, the civil version that became the Andover are preserved. I know that some 748’s are still working for airlines so all is not yet lost but I fear that a similar fate awaits them as did the last UK Viscounts. Due to a their value on the second hand market they will be sold overseas and probalbly stripped for spare parts. The CAA used a 748 for many years as a flight systems checker, when replaced its spent some time at Staverton, I always felt that this aircraft could have been added to the DAS airliner collection. A chance sadly lost.

DOUGHNUT

If the story on the concordesst.com web site is correct onlt two of the five airworthy BA Concordes will be presreved in the UK. Their delivery dates are thus

27th Oct Concorde G-BOAD is retired to the Intrepid Air and Space museum in New York

31st Oct Concorde G-BOAC is retired to the Manchester Airport viewing park

Nov 3rd Concorde G-BOAE is retired to the Museum of Flight Seattle

Nov 10th Concorde G-BOAG is retired to Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados

Nov 17th Concorde G-BOAF is retired to Filton, her place of birth.

As has already been said New York and Barbados both seem odd locations, so how can we change the situation, as it needs to be done quickly. It is common knowledge that the Governement of the day paid for the Concordes and passed them over to BA for a nominal sum of £1 each. Therefore should the Government not be able to influence the final destination of these aircraft. If a peice of ‘fine art’ were to be sold abroad, an export liecence would be required, and in the national interest it could be refused. Why can the same principles be applied to the Concorde.
Has any body on the Forum got expericance of this sort of thing. Do you try to lobby your local MP’s or go direct to a Government department ? How about the national press ?

DOUGHNUT