CONCORDE IS STILL IN THE NATION’S HEART

Save Concorde Group launches public appeal to return Concorde to flight.

Concorde, winner of the Great British Design Quest, scooped the most votes in a public poll by the BBC Culture Show to find the most popular British Design classic. Amongst the icons of British Design were the red phone box, the London bus and the Aston Martin DB5.

Despite being retired over two-and-a-half years ago Concorde is still the nations firm favourite.

Out of the original 100 nominations, Concorde was a finalist in the veritable company of the Supermarine Spitfire and the London Tube Map. “It just goes to show what Concorde still means to the British public” said Spokesman Ben Lord, for the Save Concorde Group. The Group believes it is possible to return one or more Concorde’s to flight without it costing BA a penny.

The group has many ex-Concorde personnel working alongside them to offer their expertise and knowledge in the predicted work needed to make Concorde airworthy again. Most experts agree that work to secure the aircraft for future flight should be started as soon as possible.

SCG Chairman, Ross Mallett said “This is a perfect opportunity for the public to join us in our Fight for Flight. We believe this poll shows the immense support of the nation and if enough people registered their support with us, we believe we can return our national icon to the skies.

Oh god not another multi million pound pie in the sky money drain!
Wasn’t there another bit that had something to do with manufacturers still being responsible for their design and manufacturers support and that this was the real reason that Concord (sorry I missed the French ‘e’ bit off the end so not exactly a wholly a British Icon), stopped flying in the first place.
Something to do with big airliners, also assembled in France, I believe?

The great British unwashed are far too easily directed into being told what to believe, just look a the Labouring Party!!!!!

FLAME SUIT ON & IDGAF

I work as an agency driver in transport,and my controller at the office,knows someone who has an interest in WW2 aircraft,his love being,yes you’ve guessed it,the Lancaster.

Now a bit of background on this guy……..

He is in his early 30’s,and when he was 18,he was involved in a car crash,which affected him to the degree that some time after,he had a stroke,and more recently as a result of this,he fell out of his upper floor window at home.

His injuries were such,that the hospital managed to relieve the pressure in his brain by way of an operation,but however,within the last week,his condition has deteriorated to the point,that his time on this earth,may be very short lived.

Hopefully,this is where you guys on the forum come in.

His wish is to have a flight in the mighty Lancaster,which,would probably fill the ambition of thousands of people in this country,me included!!!

I know the flight are undergoing winter maintenance at the moment,and are not due out yet for the public to see,but are there not test flights coming up,where this ambition could be realised?

I have suggested a taxi ride in the Panton Lancaster,but a flight is what he would like.Not very choosy is he? 😀

Failing that,what about a flight in the 2 seater Grace Spitfire?

I know this is a very long shot,but hopefully you guys on the forum can help a guy in,what could possibly be his final days.

If you think that you could genuinely help,then please either e.mail me,pm me,or ring me on 07900 563117.

Thank you.

Ken.

Ken,

I wish you all the luck in your quest, but to be realistic, I think you have an impossible task here.
The reason I say this is that I would find it doubtful that anyone would let someone, you describe as almost on his last legs, go for a ride.
One of the reasons is that he could actually become a liability and you may even find that for reasons of an authoratitive nature, will not allow it anyway.

The suggestion of the Panton Bros Lanc may not sound as bad an idea as he may think it is.

Bomberboy

Janie, Mike Hunt disappeared from public view some time ago after a rash deal. I believe that several police forces are looking into Mike Hunt and his business dealings. Many of his assets, including the Dakota were transferred to his brother Isaac.

Kin Funny!!!

If you look at the C-47 in this picture, it seem to be sitting very tall on its landing gear, and I think ( but not 100% sure ) that this was a 2D aircraft.

Somewhere I have one not a million miles off that…..which I took!
It’s probably in my loft out of my hair with all the other Belle odds n sods.

My only regret was dumping my burnt jacket, which I now could have put on e-bay for some muppett to pay me a fortune for it, after all it would be a genuine artefact.
I could even have saved it for a Planet Hollywood restaurant.
Oh well I’ll just have to settle for the nice painted A2 that the film company gave to a wannabe hanger on like me.
Oh dear It was all such a long time ago, eh B-17 man?

Bomberboy

“After the Battle” magazine puts the crash wreck as a Pembroke, which was modified by the arts department to look more B-17 like.
Steve

Too a very good degree and with a latter ‘incident’, they wern’t far off the mark?

In the first shoot, the fire got out of hand and they had to rebuild it for a second take.

Steve

Did they now?

All this talk of vandalism etc prompted me to remember of a few incidences.
There was the time in the mid eighties when one of those ‘quality’, “I can’t read, I can’t write, but I can drive a tractor” drivers, was cutting the grass at DX and rather than cut around Sally B, the pillock decided that it was much easier to drive straight under the wing.
Clearly leaving a several feet long depression in the wing was far less important than cutting every inch of grass near the old girl.
Needless to say it was a wing of and repair job.

Then ther was the visitor that decided that they really fancied one of the access doors off the Pucara and set about helping themself to it by tearing it off literally.
The story didn’t quite end there as I recall, the ‘individual’ now armed with their spoils, decided that the only way to get it back to their car, was to just walk out with it.
Talk about Big B******s!

Sometimes the problem comes from within.
I seem to recall a number of years ago that the museums Swordfishes Control Column was err, Pilfered by a ‘site user’ and there have been a number of occasions in the past that instruments have gone missing,

Some ‘organisitations’ tool themselves up by pilfering others property and then applying their own organisations marks or logos all over them ,aking it difficult to retreive them back.

This is all said completley tongue in cheek and without substance, but this will sound more than familiar to a great number of you.

Bomberboy

Nice Piccy,

Some other faces that have not been around for a while either!
Young Mr Brown still looks like a naughty little schoolboy and Dave R looks like he even has a tuft of hair even though he didn’t have much anyway!
PR still has his usual big grin.

Bomberboy

Jules,

It’s nice to hear form a veteran and I wish you a very happy new year.
Over the years I have met many thousands of veterans
I read a book some while ago from another veteran based in italy with the 15th AAF.
The book is entitled Crew Umbriago and the authors name was Daniel P Carroll who was stationed at Foggia with the 463rd BG in B-17s.
If memory serves me right, I think the group marking was a Y in a pie shape but I am not able to check my books until later.
In it he describes many of the things you have described in your account, particularly in relation to the tents.

In 1996 B-17G Sally B went to italy for an airshow at a place called Forli.
which Is not far from San Marino.
One must not forget, it is very likely that it had been a long time since a B-17 had returned to Italy.
I remember speaking to one particular older man who said to me “During the war I am seeing these come and bomb us, but I am very glad to see this one here today”.
I found that very touching.

How many ops did you yourself complete?

Regards

Bomberboy

Steve (Hatton)

It’s funny how sometimes you think you have heard of something, but up to a point it’s only ever appeared to be a tale which might always be surfacing, but with no actual eyewitness evidence, documented or otherwise.

Then along comes someone that, gives you that evidence and for me one example that has always been a ‘tale’, is the Lanc doing a loop the loop.
Then during this programme, along comes a German fighter pilot who gives his own first hand eyewitness account of a Lanc doing a loop right in front of him to his amazement and subsequently to mine as well.
But I could never say that it never happened, even up to the point of hearing his account because I just didn’t know.

I have found over the years that if I have heard the same story over and over again, but told by completley different sources, then generally there is an element of truth about it.

I suppose what I am trying to say that, just because you have not seen or read about a particular thing or event, that does not mean to say it could not have been possible.
I have read another thread here about russian fighters supposedly shooting down german helicopters during the war………..well that’s all news and a surprise to me, but I couldn’t say it never happened, just because I didn’t know.
You never stop learning!

Merry x-mas to all

Bomberboy