Erm, I say…… I appear to have locked my keys inside!

Oh dear. It seems many here are as hazy about the facts as the media they love to deride.

Pot, meet kettle.

I will apologise for my ignorance, not a huge follower of the younger members of the royal family who seem to rise the in ranks of the armed forces that would leave most of us in a spin! its just that when they kept showing photos of the young Hewitt, sorry Wales in the cockpit of modern military hardware I obviously thought he was still ‘IN’. I was a staff cadet in the ATC til they chucked me out at age 19 but I don’t wear my yellow lanyard when I go to the shops! or show photos of me sitting In a hawk at Brawdy circa 1983.

I don’t suppose those boots are for sale are they? I bet they could tell some tales!

My daughter was 3 years 10 months when we bought her first kit, a Revell Red Arrows Hawk. From an early age, she was very arty, and precise, so I figured I’d give it a go. We worked in 30 to 45 minute stretches, picking times when her mood and concentration was right. With some help, she made a brilliant job of it.

Just before her 5th birthday last November, we bought the Airfix Spitfire diorama, but building it as a Pink PR Spit; little at a time.

It’s worth spending a bit more for a proper kit, and just taking it slow, while allowing them to do as much on their own as possible.[/QUOTE]

well I think the writing has been on the wall for a long time, the Canberra has been long forgotten and the Twin pin was destined to be a hangar queen for ever as no one seemed interested in sourcing the vital wing attachments, I will take my hat off to MC, he could have wound it all up down at St Mawgan and cut his losses .but to be fair he dragged the biggest part of the collection back up to Coventry where in fairness it has the best future regardless of what happens. lets hope the collection stays together but I can’t think off the top of my head anyone with the right mind to take it all on. or the premises to house it properly. all very sad.

But it wouldn’t be undercover at Elvington David and cover for these large machines is vital for their long term preservation.

Well there you are then…..We are all wondering what to spend our money on once she stops flying, How about a ”ROTVH” yes thats right the Roof over the Vulcans head campaign. and just think of what else could sit under her wings once shes got a solid home!.

If not tragic, it’s certainly sad that of the three Vulcans capable of making ground runs, Wellebourne’s is under threat and XH558 is to be housed in an airport where the public isn’t going to be allowed access to see it move. There’s also the worry that the “academy” might turn-out to be a big, fat white elephant (not that I’m a cynic, ahem), and that it simply will not last. There’s also the likelihood that if it does stay in business, they will soon become annoyed by the presence of a huge machine that has no relevance to their engineering and technology mission, and might suggest that it be removed so that the space can be used more profitably. Or then there’s the other possibility that the hopelessly under-utilised airport might close, leaving XH558 stuck in a building inside a housing estate.

Whatever way you look at it, Finningley is the last place XH558 should be retired. But as has always been the case with XH558’s activities, the folks that support the aircraft aren’t even consulted.

I would be fairly happy to put next months salary on this being a fairly accurate outcome! VTTS do yourselves a favour and give the lady a chance, give her to Brunty or Elvington, i once met a chap who trained his pigeons by cutting their flying feathers off their wings so all summer they could only walk around, it was a pretty sorry sight and i took an immediate dislike to the man who did it. i can see me taking the same attitude to the powers that lock the old girl up in a shed til she’s no longer wanted.

I would love to see one fly. Especially an early one without all of the pods that the later ones gained.

Stunning machine.

Every bit as stunning as the Vulcan IMO.

Its actually directly head on that Victors look most impressive, menacing is probably the better phrase.