Just a few things in the media lately and the post above have been overly negative that’s all.

Was there many in the naughty field or on the hill?

Hi Chris,

Have you consider joining the RAF as an aircraft technician? Then once your in you can put in your posting preferences on JPA for a position on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight? Although a sought after posting, someone has to get it! Even if you don’t you still get the apprenticeship in engineering and a good career! I managed to spend a couple of years as a volunteer on the BBMF as a Harrier maintainer in the Royal Navy at RAF Wittering! It’s amazing what can be achieved if you want to! Good luck!

C130 Hercules at 1230 today between Junction 25 and 26 of the M5! Carried out a tight right hand turn before following M5 southbound! Very low! Green but had 1 aux fuel tank under each wing. Green would suggest RAF but thought Only USAF C130’s carried aux tanks?

Flixton Remains

I don’t know if it has been mentioned but I remember when I was younger my family and I used to visit the Flixton museum whilst on holiday in Suffolk each year. There used to be substantial Wellington remains in the corner of the second field but I am unsure if they are still there but could be potentially used for patterns etc if they still exist.

Good luck with this project and I hope it gets off the ground…

Stewart.

Which military organisation do you feel fits the description of ‘mediocre’ as that’s kind of worrying! As for the operation of complex ex military types – its more to do with the type of aircraft -the age and the spares situation rather than any particular thing. Military aircraft are maintained effectively with an unlimited budget -unlimited manpower and are flown at frequent intervals by crew who have high levels of currency. Sadly no matter how well meaning – civil operators cannot compete with having that level of backing .

David,

I don’t know how long ago if ever you last worked on a military front line squadron but you are quite wrong. There is no unlimited budgets, unlimited spares or flying hours available. We were heavily reliant on cannibalizing aircraft, having to share test equiptment and GSE between Sqns even Stations. Pilots would maintain minimum currencies, sometimes only flying to remain current- quite commonly currencies were maintained in the Sim!!

I agree that flying the Vulcan on the military register would have been easier but in the modern MoD every penny has to be accounted for!

Why are you so negative about the project- it was always going to be expensive and if you want results you have to get the right people! Who have delivered! I was once a sceptic but they have delivered a displaying Vulcan back to the circuit for a later generation to see – you get what you pay for and millions have seen XH558 as a result. Please cheer up mate and say something positive like… ‘Every penny has been worth it just to witness that awesome take off on the Sunday of RIAT 2009!’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X98ZnZs-2ds

Hi NX611_1945,

I used to be a frequent visitor until I moved to Australia a couple of years ago now. I treated my wife to the taxi ride onboard Just Jane before we left the UK which she really enjoyed.

Last time I visited I spoke with Fred Panton who told me of the plan to lenghen the existing runway there and the restoration to flight. I keep an eye on the website but there is no mention of the restoration project. Is it still happening and what is the projected timescale so see her back in the air so I can plan a trip home maybe.

Sorry I cannot help with those particular parts i’m afraid, good luck and I hope to get back to East Kirkby again one day.

Stewart.

NX611

Slightly off the subject, but as there is a talk of a second airworthy Lancaster in Canada, what happenned to the plan to put Nx611 ‘Just Jane’ back into the air at East Kirkby?here seems to be no mention of it on their website or on any forum for a while. Thanks.