If Moggy is commenting to invoke discussion on the terms and conditions of posting too forum with regard to accidents that involve the death of a crew member and any possible rule changes that the forum members would like too see regarding this aspect then maybe he should clarify this point.

In my own view posts offering condolences to the family of the bereaved are quite acceptable, as are discussions regarding the known information about the airframes involved but beyond that the line should be drawn as the ‘Facts’ on the incident will only be published once a full investigation has been undertaken and findings published and the two subjects should occupy different topic headings.

I watched the video with mixed feelings about it’s presentation, I also noted that several very basic airmanship rules were blatantly flouted from the perspective of the video but as too the reasoning behind the situation developing as it did or the final collision, that will come out in the accident report.

As too DamienB’s comments regarding this moderators fitness too preside, I too have issues with him on certain matters but have to accept that it takes all sorts to make up a forum including you and I.

Unfortunately the F4 is looked on as a embarrasment by some, a friend i have in the RAF who served on Phantoms said that the successive goverments of the time wanted rid of the Phantom as it was a admission that the british aircraft industry (with one hand tied behind its back) could not compete with what the Americans had and when the axe fell in the early 90’s none were going to be kept.

curlyboy

All to familiar is it not, the echo of the ongoing castration of the UK aircraft industry by Uncle Sam, ‘Doffs Cap and Wretches In Same’ But a contract is just that and the small print says it all,

Sadly the Uk will continue in this rut untill our government finally learns to tell the White House to get stuffed and rebuilds it’s aircraft manufacturing base once again. ‘Hastily studies small print to establish the dollar value that comment is about to cost me’.

Fill the thing with new or refurb parts, screw the life out of the functionals and wave sods law at it all you like on the day 558 will only be cleared to fly when the engineering team, the pilots and the CAA are convinced that it’s fit and gremlins or what ever you like to call em are the hardest thing too remove fully from any complex piece of machinery so expect them to pop out at any time of their choosing for sure, hence the reason no prior info will be published on first flight along with the already published reasoning that the TVOC team do not need thousands of members of the public flocking there on the day.

As for the Raffle, too right they feel they need to offer a reward to those who have supported this project throughout it’s up’s and downs over the years.

Don’t worry so, when it happens we will know all about it within hours.

Have many happy memories of Binbrook in far better days than it’s currently enduring, so very sad to hear that 724 has suffered the attentions of vandals and MJR is probably correct in his assumption that the rather careless attention brought about by those responsible for illegally trespassing on the former base and filming the location of the A/C were unwittingly advertising it’s vulnerable position to those with nothing between their ears but stupidity and malice, lets all hope that current site security levels will deter any more incursions and that repairs can be made and her current condition made good.

Interesting concept indeed and as has been noted one that often crops up as time passes especially when this or that airframe comes under the sights of the scrap men.

However it also highlights the hard facts about handing over ownership of large aircraft types to often under funded local museums that have grown organically out of the efforts often of just a handful of enthusiasts who are then expected to keep these treasured airframes in prime condition in detrimental open air storage for many years.

Would be great if all such could be flown into hangar sized exhibition halls for future display, but the costs of this are prohibitive, the difficulties with planning authorities well publicised and the organisational problems often not addressed, sadly not confined to UK shores either as those stored in the States fair little better.

While I have always been a supporter of the many small air museums in the UK, I find myself with the idea that more often than not the aspirations of these groups far out stretches there ability too make provision for the future preservation of such aircraft as the Vulcan other than cosmetic repaints when money can be found and the ever present Blackpool farce waiting in the wings lends weight too the proposal that some form of vetting process should be installed to ensure that the financial and technical resources are and will continue to be available for the future welfare of these historic airframes, if not then sadly they should be disposed of as quickly as practical with only spares salvage in mind for airframes that can be maintained in as near to stock condition as possible.

No one needs to see another Blackpool or for that matter the current 603 saga happen again, sadly a good number appear to be slowly approaching this end.

Wonders what condition it is actually in after all this time.

Should not be too difficult to obtain a decent profile from the remians of the original, the canopy forward and rear rails to have one pulled by a glider canopy vendor, still a few about, would think that £250/300 would see you with a good 4mm perspex replacement ready to cut and fit.

My dear Moggy, I am sure I do not know what you mean.:diablo:

Still the chairman’s announcement:

On the perennially difficult issue of finance, progress has been somewhat slower. We have, however, at last agreed a ‘not exceeding’ figure with our main contractors, Marshall Aerospace; and we have a handle on the amounts we need in hand to satisfy all our other creditors.

is a welcome surprise.