Blimey, where do I start with this one! As for Merlinmagic thinking of them as expensive, last I heard there were two airworthy Austers for sale for around £14,000 – not many other historic aircraft you can buy airworthy for that price.

As well as the very low price, there’s also fairly good spares support, superb short take off and landing characteristics, plenty of room inside for you and a friend or significant other to go away for a few days with a big tent and baggage in the back, or even take the kids. Very interesting history, especially if you buy an ex-military Auster, they usually create a lot of interest whenever they go somewhere, the International Auster Club, at least the UK section, is very active and friendly getting you in to interesting places.

For those wanting to know more about T6’s used as counter insurgency aircraft by the French, there’s a good page on it here

http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v3/v3n1/frcoin.html

The Beech Restorations AT-6 ‘Texan Tomcat’ served with the French Air Force as a COIN aircraft, and the Italeri 1/48 kit depicts ‘Texan Tomcat’ as she was in French service

I still reckon the Red Bull Sea Vixen was the best paintjob i’ve ever seen.

Although as for the accurate paint markings debate, I don’t care – it’s the owners property, therefore he/she can do what he likes with it

Cor, a double decker sports plane? How many can you fit in that?!

I hope the brand new Fee wasn’t damaged, seeming as it’s right by the doors

The real fun is when you put it back together, complete it, and there’s bits left over

Then there’s ebay 😉

Out of interest Moggy, how did you gain access to the control tower at East Kirkby when the centre is closed on Sundays?

Be Fair!!!! VTST/TVOC, Marshalls and the CAA have not entered into blaming anyone. The blame game has almost entirely been based on rumour and speculation and has largely been played out by armchair ‘experts’ and keyboard warriors on forums such as this.

I suppose you missed the commentator on Sunday from the Vulcan side of things (can’t remember if it was VTST or TVOC) blaming the engineering company for not getting it done in time then….