Hoping this one can be saved and remain in one piece, as over the years we’ve lost several Javs to the scrap man’s axe.

Rob

I’m not sure, the Seahawk hasn’t flown much in the last 20 years or so has it?

Mike, I think the Sea Vixen has been flying since 2000, with the Sea Hawk flying at some point since then as well, so I think the opportunity has been there!

Rob

I doubt that the manpower is available and it would follow that a Tristar would in a few years share the fate of the late lamented Cosford BA aircraft.

Christ B, Bruntingthorpe seem to be pretty good at recruiting former ground crew and aircrew alike to help maintain the fleet that they have there, not to mention the volunteers who chip in with all sorts of tasks. At the end of the day I’d say that if a group wants an aircraft then let them have one. Even twenty years extra longevity is better than nothing at all.

I went to Bruntingthorpe earlier this year and was horrified at the condition of the Comet. Also, to extend the thread a little, I’ve just come back from Newark where I found the condition of the Dove and Heron to be pretty desperate. Both are near to scrapping condition.

Very saddening!

Regards

Orion, just out of interest what was it that “horrified” you so much about the Comet?.. An aircraft I might add that had Bruntingthorpe not acquired it in 1997 it would probably not be still around now!

Unfortunately the British climate is not kind to airframes kept outside. Whatever the rights and wrongs we will see mass scrappings in years to come . Having large numbers of airframes outside at Bruntingthorpe and entertaining the crowds with taxy runs is great – however the long term can only be addressed how the Lightning
Preservation Group has – with buildings .

That’s a fair point, DB, and one you have made several times. But in my opinion it’s better to preserve them now for as long as possible even without hangarage. Just look at the amount of visitors who go to each open day at Bruntingthorpe and still enjoy seeing and hearing them. Something that we wouldn’t be able to do if they were all scrapped years ago just because of a lack of immediate undercover storage space. Creating enough hangar space for all of the aircraft based there would cost a heck of a lot of money, and I’m not totally sure if even they could foot the bill for that.

I’ll also point out the fact that the DAS Bristol Britannia G-AOVT will of been at Duxford for forty years next year – and to the best of my knowledge without ever having been in one of their hangars!!

Rob

Binbrook01, The thread is about the Tristar, ZD952 in particular, and not a general consensus of what we should and should not keep.

If a group such as the Cold War Jets collection at Bruntingthorpe are willing and able to accommodate a type in its collection – regardless of what people may think of its relevance to the UK, then surely that answers the question of where we are going to “stick one” without expecting other museums with less resources to do so !

Rob

I have to say that sounds like good and bad news. Hope she can stay airworthy.

Rob

I wish they had relocated all the exhibits to the former RAF Bicester. Aircraft could have been brought out of the hangars for open air days, seeing the aircraft in a historic setting with re-enactors and period vehicles, which would help to bring the exhibits to life. Perhaps an annual airshow, fly-ins etc

If we’re talking about a complete move then I have to agree with that from an historical point of view. The only problem being there is no hard runway for larger exhibits to arrive on, so not really improving on what is currently available at Hendon or Cosford. Personally I don’t like the current location at Hendon as despite the superb aircraft on display to me when I visited last year the site didnt feel enough like an aviation museum.

Although abit out of the way I think West Raynham would of made an excellent site for a relocation, before it lost its runways. A unique opportunity of an unrestricted and beautifully preserved RAF airfield missed considering it had been empty since the 90’s.

Rob

And let’s hope that’s exactly where it goes – unrestored!!

Rob