Cheers PapaL,we learn something new everyday.:) Glad it wasn’t adopted as standard,it looks hideous!

I know there were problems with European display aircraft taking part in UK shows a few years ago,but I think things were sorted out 2 or 3 years ago.There was still a decent French presence at Legends last year with the Corsair and Yak ‘thingy’ in attendance.
I think one reason we get fewer european Mustangs at Legends is because there aren’t any active examples in France these days-Jumpin Jaques is now UK owned and ‘Nooky Booky’ is grounded and up for sale.The only active P51’s on the continent that I can think of are ‘Double Trouble Two’ in Switzerland and ‘Damn Yankee'(Dutch?).

This is good news. 🙂 IIRC,she was last flown a couple of years ago and then put back into storage.She seems to have spent most of her time in storage since she was rebuilt.It’s worth noting that she retains some of her B of B movie mods,including the fake machine gun ports on top of the cowling and the subtly clipped wingtips.
As an aside,I believe she is the only surviving Buchon never to have suffered a serious accident,all other survivors have had to be rebuilt atleast once after an accident-not a great record. :rolleyes:

“Great photos…’Sunsetter’ never looked better (the Corsair)…wish they would drop the flaps and set her up like she was landing on a carrier…”

I believe she already is set up this way,the Corsair pilots always had to make a curved landing appraoch so they could see over the long nose.

“SteveYoung wrote:
Rob, I wish I could share your enthusiasm, but I’ve got mixed feelings about this one. Yes, it looks fabulous, and yes I’m sure it’s been restored to the same exacting standards that all HFL’s birds have. But less than four years ago it crashed fatally. It’s just not something I’m entirely comfortable with.”

I’m in agreement with Steve here,the machine does evoke mixed emotions for me.That said,I believe the relatives of those killed gave thier blessing to the rebuild before it was undertaken and to my mind it is the berieved relatives who should have the final say.If they’ve said she should fly,then she should fly.

Nice one Daz,I’d be chuffed too if I were in your shoes.:cool: I finished First Light a few weeks ago and I reckon it’s one of the best aviation biogs of all time.Despite all the vivid accounts of dogfights and the like,I have to say my favourite part of the book was the chapter ‘Convoy Pair’ in which he flies through atrocious weather,loses radio contact with the ground and his leader and yet still manages to engage the Ju88 they were sent up to intercept.I won’t spoil it for you by relating what happens from then on,but when you consider what he was up against on that day you realise what a good pilot the bloke really was.

“last year I went to the anniversary of Neville Dukes air speed record and met the man himself,they also had most of the external aircrafts cockpits open ,I got to sit in the lightning and a couple of the others.”

By coincidence,I visited on the morning of the same day,although I couldn’t hang around for the afternoon with Neville Duke. If I’d known I’d have arranged it differently,but hay ho!
:rolleyes: