Hi Biggles1049,

I’m sure these pictures are much appreciated by everyone who’s seen them, many thanks for sharing them. Forums can be misleading sometimes, it’s one of those cases where the forum could really do with a “Like” button as a means of showing interest.

As Andy mentioned, it’s intriguing to see nose art semi-obscured by cockpit armour. Does anyone have any info on when the extra armour was introduced? It seems to have been applied on all 2nd Air Division Libs after a certain date.

I can’t help thinking a “Gathering of Hurricanes” theme would work well at a Dunsfold show, what with all the Hawker/Brooklands connections.

Following TN’s invitation to elaborate a bit, here goes.

The basic problem is that it affects everyone, not just the person or groups of people directly ‘freeloading’. There are problems with trespass, damage to crops, gates, fences and so on, clogging up local roads/lanes with people and parked cars making life difficult for locals, loitering on public footpaths (technically a criminal offence I’ve been told) in addition to the previously stated risks of pilot distraction and so on.

All of these effects ripple back to the event and its organisers, who do their level best to minimise the negative effects on the local population and ensure a safe show for all. It can also give the decent airshow goers a bad name; I well remember being told where to go and what to do with myself when I got there when I asked directions from a local on leaving a Biggin show about 15 years ago. He’d had freeloaders in the road and even standing in his driveway on and off all afternoon, and he was sick of the sight of us enthusiasts. I bet the organisers have fun trying to win local support after things like that.

As for people watching from their back gardens, why shouldn’t they? Built up areas are a fixed feature which can be taken into account when drawing up display plans, and a view of the show is the least the locals deserve for putting up with the noise and extra traffic on local roads. They’re not being unsafe and they’re not dodging anything.

As for the freeloading term, is it really that derogatory? It’s a general description of someone who gets something without paying. You could even argue that the extra risk and fuss freeloaders cause makes them worthy of something even stronger.

In summary, I didn’t want to hijack this thread but some of things that were being said were just barmy and I couldn’t let it pass without comment. With freeloading already being a problem, it’s important to counter any suggestion that freeloading is normal or to encourage any increase by shrugging shoulders at the problem.

I had a squint in the cockpit a coulpe of months ago. At the time the stick top was missing, the original harness was still fitted, as were most of the instruments. Still intrigued that its an unarmed variant ?

As far as I’m aware, almost all the Mistel 190’s had guns removed in order to save weight as there were early problems with the Ju88’s suffering tyre bursts because of the combined weight.

I can’t add any specific identities to the Rocs earmarked for Finland, but the July/August 2001 of Air Enthusiast states that all the aircraft were to come from stocks held by 20 MU, Aston Down. It might be possible to chase up the identities and other details if you (or someone else on the forum) can get access to 20 MU’s ORB’s.

Hello Jim,

It’s a bit of a long shot, but there was an issue of Air Enthusiast published several years ago which carried an article on the air component of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force of Japan. I have a copy of it somewhere which I’ll try and dig out, I’m pretty sure there’s a photo of RN135 in it. I’ll check and get back to you!

Edited: I’ve had a look and it seems the picture of ‘135 is the same as that found on the SM832 thread elsewhere on the forum.

Well I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d love to see ‘336 stay in the same colours. What scheme is planned for SX300? Perhaps ‘336 could stay as she is and ‘300 could have the lower demarcation, earlier roundals etc?

I wonder if there’s anyone reading this with a few million quid to spare who might fancy purchasing the Mk.XV PR503 from the US? We can but dream…