Save Raf Bicester

Anybody who has not been to Bicester, should take the next opportunity to visit. It is a wonderfully atmospheric pre war RAF experience. Personally, I would move the RAF Museum there in a flash, so that they could fly, but I doubt that there is enough enlightened vision for that to happen.

Bicester is of such national importance, it requires a big push on behalf of the entire aviation community to secure it’s future, and needs all aspects of the preservation and aviation world to get involved and enthusiastic.
It could also incorporate the historic vehicle and re enactent community into the mix.

In my view, next year, Bicester should be treated as something special, and a national preservation project. Why not assemble the largest aviation community event on site, with fly ins by all aspects of aviation on different days.
Old Warden could fly in for the day. BoB Flight day. Duxford day. Who knows what RAF squadrons might participate. Moth/Tiger clubs, LAA Rally, Red Bull, Gliding competitions, viintage car clubs, motorcycles, Morgans, aerojumble, autojumble the list is endless.
Take a month over it. Get the other hangars opened up, and be a venue, for every concievable club meet for that month with undercover facilities.
Have each major museum and individual contribute something on a charitable basis to the event, and the result could be a truly stunning one off.

So stunning that a whopping entry fee/landing fee could be charged, to everybody, and for all the right reasons….saving Bicester. I for one would gladly pay a £50 entry fee for such an event, if I thought that the money would be used in such a way. What it needs is a buzz, and lots of buy in for people to realise that if everybody worked together with a will, we could all collectively make it happen.
If one dramtic event could be staged, that was bigger and better than say Goodwood Festival of Speed on Acid, and if thousands could be attracted on such a basis, then Bicester’s future could be secured in one go.

Guy

Wellington Rear

We rescued this one from Brownhills scrapyard in about 1977.
There was an enormous pile of them, and ours was picked by accessability as opposed to condition.

It went on display at Southend, and was sold in the sale/auction.
I heard it went to a night club, but am not sure, and don’t know where it is now, but hopefully it still exists.

They were off very late training Wellingtons, and the underside of the remaining rear fuselage was yellow.
Guy

Prototype Kite

Dave,
I was chatting to the owner of a later Kite 2B at Lasham, in the Vintage Glider Club.
He recounted the story of the first Kite’s having a wing design fault, which caused many crashes, and required the wings being re designed by Slingsby’s.

Just thought I should mention it, and perhaps this should be researched if you are not fully aware. (just thinking of you aiming to fly it)
I can find out the guy’s name for you if you need it through the Vintage Glider club.
My apologies if you know all about it, but I am only thinking about your kneck.
Guy

All that Daz, will be great for washing your smalls!

WT874

What c/n number did you find in the end to confirm it as WT874?

Prior to sale, seller provided number from paper fuselage square to be SSK/FF/ 13?9
(He says the ? is unreadable)

From my fuselage number research, this would correspond to WT874 1389

There are no other serials in this range.
(I own WT873, which is SSK/FF 1388 which helps prove it)

Guy ( Rapidly aproaching T31 anorak status :D)

First Woman to fly the English Channel

16th April 1912
Harriet Quimby became the first Woman to fly the English Channel in a Bleriot monoplane, landing in Calais.

It was not to last. Ten weeks later Harriet’s life would end in a tragic accident over Boston Harbour.

I thought about a Channel crossing re enactment in drag! But it probaby wouldn’t work. :diablo:
Guy