IIRC, the Weeks Lysander used to be owned by Wessex Aviation rather than ARCo (although ARCo operated it)? Fondly remember Lee Proudfoot’s sprightly displays in it back in the 90’s. It hasn’t flown since leaving the UK.

Congratulations again to everyone on V9312!

Great to see the Lysander airborne, huge congratulations to everyone involved!

As far as I understand it, previous efforts by RAFM to find any original Typhoon spinner/prop/cowlings have proved fruitless, hence the “best attempt” nose with approximate cowlings, Shackleton prop and modified Hastings spinner. ‘235’s originals were lost many moons ago while in the US.

Have to say I like the current scheme, it’s good to see it in operational colours and the black nose does a good job of toning-down the slightly over-size spinner. Just my tuppence-worth.

Interesting vid, just goes to show what a challenge it can be removing aircraft that have been mounted for several years. Not a job for vertigo sufferers!

As others have said, a very sad month. There’s no escaping the inevitable, but losing three key figures so close together makes things all the harder to take. Lives lived to the full, and I’m sure all three will be talked about for many years to come.

RIP Mary Ellis.

Here’s hoping the airfield stays open in some capacity even if the RAF leave. Does anyone know if any of the site has any kind of protected or listed status?? The only thing keeping the site from housing and commercial use would surely be a preservation order.

As for moving RAFM, it sounds like a pipe dream to me. Far too much investment has been made in infrastructure at Cosford and Hendon to just shut up shop at those sites, and they are both historic sites in their own right.

Any ideas where HAA would go if Scampton closed altogether?

Also in Kent, and going back to the earliest days of UK aviation, is the Isle of Sheppey. Shellbeach/Leysdown was the first home of the Royal Aero Club and there is a rather good statue of Maurice, Eustace and Oswald Short on the site. Just a couple of minutes away is the former Eastchurch airfield, with several listed buildings and now a new museum on the site too. This was another important early aviation site and a former RNAS/RAF airfield. There’s also an aviators’ memorial in Eastchurch village.

https://eastchurchaviationmuseum.org.uk/

Not too far from there is Rochester Airport, home of Medway Aircraft Preservation Society. Current projects are a Short Scion and a Spit. Open to visitors only on select mornings, check ahead before travelling.

https://www.mapsl.co.uk/

Very sad news, I never had the pleasure of meeting him but he always came across so well on TV and media, a proper old school hero. A very full life well lived.

RIP, and many thanks.

How few of The Few are still with us?