I certainly hope Cosford’s plans get the go ahead,some of thier airframes are running out of time in terms of being restorable,the Vulcan being a case in point.
Whilst I agree that prototype and development aircraft have thier place at Cosford,I don’t understand why atleast a few of them haven’t been incorperated into the Milestones of Flight complex at Hendon.From what I’ve seen the majority of the aircraft are basically production and service aircraft,rather than research and development prototypes,which surely count as having been at the forefront of development in thier time.Why dangle a target tug Tempest when you could loan it to Tangmere and get the record breaking Meteor and Hunter in return??Surelly they’d be more appropriate in a display about the evolution of flight, the pushing of new boundaries and the inevitable quest for speed.

Cheers Plazz,you’re a star mate.I’ll get something sent off to you shortly 🙂

Plazz,this may come as something of a surprise to you,but I want your babies!! lol You’re a star!! The last time I saw ‘275 was about five years ago,and in previous visits I’ve never been able to get decent pics (camera packed up the last time round-boy was I mad!).
As far as I can tell,she’s one hell of a lot worse than when I last saw her.There was some damage to the wingtip,but it looks like somebody has hit her again,and the rate of corrosion is a real worry.If I remember right,you could actually see daylight through that hole in the fuselage out to the other side and an equally large hole on that side,so I dread to think what it’s like now.There were also no holes in the wings.She seems to have an awful lot of her internal equipment still intact,including the engine,and while this is good news for anyone thinking about restoring her,it’s bad news when you consider the amount of strain that’s being put on the corroded structure.
As for BAPC,I don’t think they have any legal clout.As it happens,one of the key players in BAPC actually lives in Leominster,5mins drive from this Swift.I wrote to him some time ago,and he replied that various museums and organisations had tried to negotiate a deal to purchase the Swift,but the asking price was either unrealistic or the proposed swap wasn’t followed through.She came close to being moved a few years ago when a Whirlwind was offered as a swap,but having agreed to it,the owners then went back on it and decided to keep the Swift.
Plazz,when you say ‘just down the road’,where exactly is that? Despite numerous efforts,I’ve never actually managed to contact the owners in person.The business doesn’t have an email address,and I live in London,so it’s quite a trek to get up there. If I emailed you a letter of some sort,would you be able to pass it on?
I’ve got my fangs deeply embedded in this one and I’m determined not to let it go.That Swift HAS to be saved,ASAP! Anyone have any ideas?? Perhaps Seafury could come along in his Chinook and heli lift it away while the rest of us form a diversion?? 😉
Seriously,does anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks again for the pics Plazz,even if tehy aint much to look at.:(

I’d agree that the condition of the IWM Shack is a crying shame,but the Victor looks alot worse than she actually is.I had concerns about the Victor’s condition for a long time,but it seems that her untidy appearance is due to the matt finish which was applied in the early 90’s.Even though it was known that this matt finish would eat through the layers below,the IWM decided it was still a good idea to apply the stuff.Hmmmmmm…
It’s reassuring at least that the majority of her problems are cosmetic rather than something more serious.It’s planned to begin restoration on her sometime in the very near future or so I’m told,so things are looking up…:)
One outdoor airframe which does concern me is the Supermarine Swift in Herefordshire.She’s one of only three intact Swifts,and the only complete surviving Mk.4.To add to her unique status,she was also used as the testbed for various improvements which were later incorperated into the FR5,the most successful version of the Swift.As such,she’s a Swift Mk.4 and a half!
She was last used by deHavilland at Hatfield as a chase plane,and after retirement she was put on display outside DH’s offices.She was moved to her current location in the 70’s,but apart from some badly applied sky blue on her undersides,she’s been completely unpainted all her life,and it’s really starting to show.Her owners would apparently be willing to swap her for something like a Harrier,but I can’t see it happenning.I have had hopes of going to see the aircraft and perhaps chat with the owners,but my plans have been frustrated for the last couple of years.I may get another oppertunity to visit the area again in June or July,but to be honest I’m not sure what I could do to save her even if I did manage to have a word with them.It’s pretty frustrating to watch something like this rot away to a point where it will be nothing more than scrap in the not too distant future.
Damien’s thunder and lightnings site has some info and a pic of WK275.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk

LOL Steve! 🙂 Think we’ve all had some experience with the good looking wierd ones (aeroplanes ofcourse…;))

If the RAFM sold the Mustang,all those responsible would get for it would be a prison sentence! lol The Duck is on a two year loan,rather than as a permenant exhibit,so they don’t actually own the aircraft.
With regard to the Stirling wreckage,I agree very strongly that the remains should atleast be displayed.I often find that looking at bits of wreckage is actually more moving than actually looking at the complete aircraft.The wreckage and it’s associated displays tell the stories of the lives that were lost-a crumpled and bullet-holed piece of metal can often have as much power and presence as the complete machine would once have done.

Firstly,who’s been handing out the wacky-baccy,and secondly,why didn’t I get some??!
In answer to the original queery,try the link I’ve posted below.There’s plenty of info and even a picture to go with it. Heston is only just down the road from me,and my brother worked until recently in the old Heston Aircraft hangar,where the Phoenix was built.
The Phoenix wasn’t a great success largely due to the economic depression in the 1930’s even though it was an excellent and luxurious design by the standard of the day.One aircraft,G-AESV, was based at Hendon during WW2 and was used as Douglas MacArthur’s personal transport.

http://www.vintage-aviation.8m.com/aero09.html