As I’ve been told,F-BEEA suffered a loss of power on one engine on take off which lead to it swinging off the runway to it’s destruction.As has been said above,it’s incredable that nobody was killed.
The machine did indeed burn to a crisp,although IIRC a substantial section of the right wing survived along with the tail.If it were a P51 it would probably be flying again by now!

“5) Is the French B-17 ‘Pink Lady’ still airworthy? A recently updated IWM caption board for ‘Sally B’ states she is the only airworthy B-17 in Europe…’Pink Lady’ is a B-17G like ‘Sally B’, isn’t she?”

The statement that Sally B is the only airworthy B17 in Europe is true at the present moment.Pink Lady is undergoing some serious maintenance work,which includes checking the mainspars for fatigue cracks (all B17 operators have been issued with a directive from the FAA and Boeing advising them to check the mainspars for fatigue-Sally B had this job done about 18 months ago,and passed with flying colours.)There is a pic in one of the mags this month showing her in the hanger with her wings off and all sorts of things going on around her.I’m not sure when she’s due to return to flight,but Sally was only out for the winter (as normal) when she had her checks done-I suppose it depends on whether they find anything wrong with Pink Lady.

This is very sad news indeed,I’ve enjoyed many of his pieces in Flypast and other publications over the years,he was a top notch author and journalist.Having heard all of the positive things that people have had to say about him,perhaps the saddest thing for me is never having met him.
My sincere condolances to his family and friends.

Hi Doughnut,
Although my memory tells me that the aircraft hasn’t flown for a while,I don’t know why it hasn’t,and I didn’t say that it was to do with engine trouble.Sorry,just thought I’d better point that out.

“was a triplane (as opposed to Pilcher’s quadriplane)”

The original Pilcher design which the machine in the prog was based on WAS a Triplane design,Pilcher having evolved it from the quadroplane himself,rather than being a modern elaboration.
I would agree however that they did deviate quite a bit from Pilcher’s original ideas in the other areas,and I personally doubt that he would’ve been first to achieve sustained powered flight.Would he even have survived the 3:1 descent of his machine with the huge notches in the wings??I think the powerplant is also a big issue,the engine used last night was simply too light and compact for any direct comparison to be made with the possible performance of the original mahine.
Having said all that,it was still a good programme,and it was good to see that Pilcher’s design was correct in it’s basic concept.

“Funny, I always had an idea for a Battle of Britain movie – with Griffon Spitfires…!

(ducks the teddies)”

*Refuses to rise to the bait* :p 😀

Sadly that’s not the Comet Duxford have now.She was Comet C.2R XK695 which got the chop about ten years ago now.The cockpit was saved and is now at the DH Museum at London Colney.The Comet 4 at Duxford these days is G-APDB.