Significant missing types from the RAFM (and generally too).

The Short Stirling and AWA Whitley must rate at the most significant RAF WW2 types missing from any collection.

They both had operational careers in WW2, and a physical example of each would be the best way to form a long lasting memorial to those crew who lost their lives while flying in them.

Partially extinct:
DH Hornet
Bristol Brigand

Now I read this again, it is clearly an optimists view, so clearly my cup is “half full”. 😀

…So entirely the right frame of mind to take on such a rebuild.

missing types

Hi Cees

This is an interesting point that you have raised.

Just sticking to the remit of the RAFM at Hendon for a moment, and their wish to display as many examples of types operated by the RAF, then there are several notable ones absent.

Just off the top of my head here are some 40’s era types:

Extinct:
Supermarine Spiteful
Westland Welkin
Westland Whirlwind
Bristol Buckmaster
Bristol Buckingham
Vickers Wellesley
Short Stirling

Partially extinct:
DH Hornet
Bristol Brigand

The trouble is many of these now extinct types were few in number in the first case, and many did not see combat use. This second point really drives the desireability of recreating a type from scratch. A post war type with little or no combat use ends up an interesting footnote in history, with little money to realise a professional recreation.

Your idea of recreating a Supermarine Spiteful is a sound one based on some of the common parts that could be gleamed from the spitfire industry, and the wing of the Supermarine Attacker could be measured in detail, but the desire and money to do it would have to be considerable. If they really wanted to do this I suggest they could sell or trade one of their spare (stored) spitfires to raise the funds, but I cannot see this happening at the moment. To be honest, they could do exactly the same to raise funds to restore the Halifax properly instead. I bet you’d support this more! 🙂

Why you should come to Cockpitfest 2009!

I have been to the past 4 years events with a cockpit or an instrument panel display. Based on these appearences I welcome anyone who has anything to show to come along. With the rapidly dissapearing Aerojumbles, it is often the only time when restorers can make new friends, compare notes, and sometimes trade, en-masse. There are a lot of skilled and clever restorers and knowledgeable people who attend, and I find myself coming away having learned something new most times.

There is a great atmosphere notwithstanding the usual attempts by the weather to dampen the mood. Had I had something to display at earlier shows I would have happily attended them too.

Instrument panels or personnel kit are often the most accessible way someone can get involved. They also add extra flavour to the many larger displays. There are far more of these smaller displays which could attend, but don’t. It would be good to see them increase in number.

Full cockpits in variing degrees of condition or completeness represent more of an investment for financial, storage, and transportation reasons, but where else can you sit in anything from a Spitfire cockpit to a Hunter or Tornado, with a resident expert to guide you through it all. Many of these are wired to be “live” these days too, which adds another dimension to otherwise static exhibits.

I can fully appreciate why trailering a cockpit around the UK is a costly excercise, but it is often the only way for an individual who is not involved in a museum can show his/her exhibit to the general public, and media (Flypast).

This years event was open to all and also had a special themed display of Hunters. I for one would like to see next years event, being its 10 year anniversary, to be the biggest yet.

Thats not the remnants of the Supermarine Type 544 cockpit is it?

Harrier GR.3

Congratulations

It was a cracking two days, and I have to say how welcoming everyone was for a newbie participant. It was great to meet and chat with everyone and I had a wonderful time.

I want to thank Mark Gauntlett, Richy Doel(?), Mike Rolfe and his dad and Graham Sparkes who all helped unload/load and cover stuff up when the ‘showers’ hit!

Was also very stunned and humbled to win a prize, considering the variety, size(!) and absolute quality of the other cockpits participating.

A brilliant weekend, and I will try and get there next year!

Oh, the only downside was the price of the tea! 😮

Mark.

Hunter F.4 XF940

Hi Mark

Well done on your prize. I look forward to seeing how your Hunter develops over the coming years.

Thanks for posting.

My dad attended the college in the mid to late 60’s and took several BW photos of some of the collection.

I will dig these out over the coming weeks, scan and post them here.

With all the hype lately about the high gas prices, I was wondering if there were any projects on the go to convert some of the piston engined warbirds to burn a cleaner type of fuel similiar to what is happening in the Automotive world?… Thoughts??

Its unlikely to happen don’t you think? The calorific value of alternative fuels is just not enough for these high octane warbirds. We currently live in the era where gasoline burning vehicles are common place. At some point its going to end, and different synthetic “fuels” or electric motors will be common place. I’d rather appreciate an original “static” Spitfire well looked after in a museum, than a re-engined turbo-prop version burning some vegi oil based goo.

The numbers of warbirds around the world are insignificant compared to the millions of “dirty” fuel burning cars. There would be zero return on investment in developing something for them alone.

I design car engines for a living – there is a lot of hot air surrounding this issue in the media, but the fact of the matter is, there is no such thing as a “green engine”. Even if you make a zero emissions car, you have already made its pollution contribution in advance in its design/testing/manufacture, that far outweighs its actual use.

Warbirds are owned by millionaires in the main. If fuel prices keep going up I’m sure they will just sell one of their Ferarri’s to compensate… 😉