I can understand your train of thought Tim, but as far as the Varsity goes I really don’t think any blame can be levied towards CAF regarding its future. To have paid for a badly corroded and neglected aeroplane to be dismantled and transported over three hundred miles to a new museum shows to me the upmost best intentions, but as we all know “best laid plans” don’t always go as planned.

For me the condition of the Varsity and its somewhat unsure future has to lay at its previous owners at Duxford. Yes I realise the storm damage it received plus the passing of stalwart and pilot Don Selway didn’t help matters, but it was essentially a near airworthy and near pristine aeroplane that was allowed to fall into a shocking state. Why it was allowed to happen I cannot answer as I’m not privy to that sort of information. But when you look at the condition and treatment of airframes such as the Shackleton and Victor at Duxford it does make you wonder!

Rob

Who would have thought that Don Selway’s beloved Varsity would end up in such a predicament.

Its the only aircraft my dad got to fly in when he was a member of the DAS so its particularly special to me. But I wouldn’t knock the Classic Flight for saving it and at least having a go at attempting to give it a secure future – because it certainly didn’t have one at Duxford.!

Rob

Lovely bit of film – thanks for posting it up.

Rob

But do you have the clear plastic ‘bubble’ top to the box – as it adds heaps to the value? If not then repros are available!

Rob

And surely that’s the whole point :). If it had been scrapped because of a fear of flying it in safely then the forum would of gone into melt down – but it hasn’t.
A lot of care and expertise has resulted in a carefully dismantled and transported airframe going into preservation.

So surely it’s more a case of congratulations rather than questions!

Rob

Yep one of the two 😉

Rob