It is a shame that the Hastings wasn’t kept in better condition – I recall that Jacko Jackson occasionally used to run-up her engines therefore it seems sad that the aircraft was eventually allowed to deteriorate. When I’ve asked NAM guys about this before, they claim this was because it was given to an ATC Squadron to “look after” and they eventually just got bored with it?
I guess there’s no chance of ever getting the magnificent machine flying again after having sat there for so long. Shame though – would make a great cargo aircraft strangely enough! I only ever saw one in the air and that was over Ladybower when they flew one as a camera ship for a Lancaster flypast over the Derwent dams. Everyone was looking at the Lancaster but I was looking at the magnificent Hastings roaring round the hillside with the cargo door open – just brilliant!
I hope NAM get this hangar project moving soon. Be great to get the Hastings indoors, along with a few others. One big hangar and they could get all of the remaining outside exhibits under cover at last! Oh well, maybe folks will be more inclined to donate to such a project when they finally stop sending all the money to Dr Pleming’s retirement fund…
Or was that the para/entrance door that was open? The outwards-opening cargo door(s) were not flyable when open – we had to remove them both for large cargo drops which was a bit of a pain: this left a very large hole in the port side of the aircraft. However, it was good fun to stand at the rear of the aircraft (behind a curved barrier) to watch a load rolling down the tracks and then smartly disappearing through the aforesaid hole:D – a bit draughty though!!
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