DocStirlingAppearance timings
Hi,
Other than continually pestering a contact (thanks mate:) ) is there an ‘official’ way of finding out the timings of these appearances? For instance, the Dak is listed as appearing in May at Rickmansworth. This must be the Rickmansworth Festival – just a stones throw from Stirling Mansions. As it is a canal boat event I assume they are not landing!
Googling reveals that the RAF Falcons will be dropping in, so I assume the Dak is their transport. I could get information from the organisers, but for other events it is a bit more difficult, such as if it is a private booking. Are the flights listed in any way elsewhere (such as ‘NOTAMS’ – whatever that is!!:confused: )
Thanks
DS
DocStirlingSo we still don’t know for sure how many Doc Sterling Doc Martin lengths the plastic Mustang is?
Actually, they were Manolo Blahnik Campari slingbacks, dahling.
DocStirlingI couldn’t see a description board for the repro P-51 in the AAM – did I miss it? I tried to pace out its dimensions, but it is at an angle so I gave up when people looked at me (even more) oddly (than usual).
The Spad is a repro as well – but there are both so good you would not know.
DS
BTW – cheers to the FOD team for a nice evening squeezing into the B-17.
DocStirling..snip ..In America the FAA allow the aircraft to operate on on an experimental category as long as you keep a close eye on the spars and dont fly over populated area’s etc. snip…
I read the FP article on Mr McH last night and was impressed by the fact that a group of guys got into an aircraft that had not flown for years, ran the engines for a bit then took off in it (OK, not quite that simple, but you get my drift).
I know us Brits are a bit Health-and-Safety-obsessed, but I am surprised the Yanks allow you to fly something that might crash – just as long as you don’t fly over someones house!!!
I take my – virtual – hat off to the crew – you guys got b@llz:D 😀
DS
DocStirlingI’ll stand corrected on this but it looks a bit smaller than full size to me. Anyone fancy measuring it next time they’re at DX?
By a coincidence I’ll be at the FOD AAM photoshoot tonight. I’ll see what can be done:o
DS
DocStirlingHello all,
XM173 has left Bentley Priory and is loaded up ready for a road move north through Sunday night/Monday morning.
She is presently at South Mimms in a secure holding area with a view to moving out up the M1/M6 starting out from South Mimms at 21:00 Sunday night arriving at its final location in Lancashire by 09:00 Monday.
The strong winds have caused problems for this ‘all weather fighter’ (to quote Damien… Ha,Ha ..nice one matey!) with regards to the crane lifting involved so, weather permitting, it will be waggons roll and another Lightning takes to the road comming home to the North.
Cheers all, fly safe.
Good luck – even on a Sunday night the M1 roadworks may be too much for a Lightening!
DS
DocStirlingDid XM173 move at the weekend, or what’s the latest?
Ditto. I am not far from BP so would love to see the move – even prepared to lend a hand (and a spanner/lump hammer:D) if needed over the coming weekend?
DS
DocStirlingWell, it might not be the greatest film ever mdae, but if BoB was re-released on the big screen (forum night out anyone?) I would certainly go. I’d sleep through the non-flying stuff though!
And by the way, I think ‘Brief Encounter’ is one of the greatest cinematic treats, wooden accents, but not wooden acting. 1940’s values, not cheap hollywoodising.
DS
(Russian Hanger…!)
DocStirlingBurn me as a BoB heretic
I’m gonna set myself up for a flaming here:diablo: , but I was singularly underwhelmed when I recently saw BoB. I recorded it from Xmass and was really looking forward to seeing it again – last time was yonks ago.
OK – the flying/organisation/restoration/logistics etc. of putting this together was great…….but……the dialogue was terrible, the plot cliched, repetetive shots of planes taking off (sometimes mirror images)/gunners shooting, things exploding or falling out of the sky got quite irritating. The very weak plot was not helped by the wooden acting.
(The Spitfires were lovely though.):D
When PJ finishes remaking The Dambusters……….
DS
DocStirlingHampden restoration
How complete is the Hampden?
Any news on the one at East Kirkby? Little seems to have happened to it for a while. IIRC the chap involved passed away?
DS
DocStirlingGentilmen, please do not throw your teddies out of the pram over this. The two of you (doc and scopion) have different opinions, ok. It has been civilized so far:D.
I can assure you, sir, I remain teddus in situ. I just like to see some evidence given in support of claims.
Reading this thread, I think the best post so far has to go to Mark_pilkington.
Aw, and I thought I was doing so well:p But yes, he does make a balanced opinion.
DS
DocStirlingHmmmmm..
The Solomon Star Online:
“Home
Ballalae warplanes shipped to Australia
Submitted by drupal on Mon, 2008-01-07 14:39. Headlines
BY EDNAL PALMER
WARPLANE remains controversially removed from Ballalae Island then held in a Ports Authority shed in Honiara have been quietly shipped to Australia.
The four World War Two Japanese planes were removed from Ballalae in the Shortland Islands but trouble then erupted.
Ninamo Otuana, who claims registered title over the island, said he was pursuing the matter in court. He said he had sought an injunction to stop the planes being shipped overseas from Honiara.
Mr Otuana alleged a small group of high profile people benefited from the deal under the name of the FAMOA trust board.
However, a Solomon Islands Ports Authority source confirmed the warplanes were shipped to Australia last month in two containers.
SITE
Ballalae was the site of a big Japanese airbase during World War Two. Hundreds of British prisoners of war were used by the Japanese to build the Ballalae runway and then massacred there.
After the war the island was said to contain one of the largest collections of Japanese World War Two planes still intact.
The latest removal stirred anger amongst people who said the continuing removal of planes from Ballalae is stealing the area’s heritage. It was also taking tourism benefits away from future generations of Solomon Islanders.
The then Opposition – now the Sikua Government – also voiced concern about the deal and whether it benefited the country. However, the plane removal is believed to have had support within the Sogavare Government.
An Australian by the name of Craig Turner is the person reported to have been spearheading the project to get the war relics overseas.
In 2003 Mr Turner was said to have been appointed senior advisor and director of the project by the then Tourism Minister, Alex Bartlett.
LICENCE
As part of his remuneration package, he was said to have been granted an exclusive licence to remove 11 World War Two aircraft from Ballalae.
He was said to have been required among other tasks to assist with the development of a satellite museum at Ballalae and to train Solomon Islanders in conservation techniques.
A reliable source said Mr Turner said he had been director of an aircraft salvage museum. But the source said there was no evidence that this place existed.
The source said that the appropriateness of granting an exclusive license to export items of national heritage to an advisor as part of his salary should be questioned.
The source said the planes and plane parts removed from Ballalae have been used in aircraft restoration overseas. This has generated millions of dollars for the overseas restorers when the planes are bought and exhibited.”
And:
“http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/16369
Home
Aliens fined $4,400 for entering illegally
Submitted by drupal on Wed, 2007-12-19 11:33. Headlines
By DOUGLAS MARAU
FOUR foreigners were each fined $4,400 for illegal entry under the Passport Act and Immigration Act at Gizo Magistrate Court over the weekend.
The accused are Rodney Lochore from Australia, Daisy Elaih from Papua New Guinea, Justin Richard Taylan from USA and Yoji Sakaida from Japan.
They pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court heard that on 3 November, the foreigners arrived at Ballalae, Shortland islands on board a vessel called “Barbarian”.
At Shortland harbour, outside Nila Station, the court heard that the accused snorkelled and dived the World War Two relics.
The court heard that after that they also went to Balalae and tried to smuggle pieces of the relics on the island.
The court heard that it was then that the immigration, Custom and police officials at Gizo were alerted and flew over by a RAMSI plane and arrested them.
Chief Magistrate Leonard Maina when sentencing the four foreigners said Solomon Islands is a nation with laws governing and protecting its resources and people.
“The country has laws that protect its resources and historical things such as the World War two relics,” Mr Maina said.
He told the foreigners that like any other countries, foreigners who wished to enter the country must have proper traveling documents and must be cleared out from the last port of departure.
The foreigners during the court proceedings told the court that when they went to the port of entry on 3 November, there were no customs officers there to clear them.
However, Mr Maina said in such cases, the foreigners should have proceeded to the next port of entry.
“I warn foreigners who wish to come into Solomon Islands that it is an offence to enter the country without proper clearance,” he said.
“Failure to comply with the country’s immigration laws will result on heavy penalties imposed on you.”
The prosecution was represented by Crown Prosecutor Malaki Ungui.
Public Solicitor Ms Paulson appeared for the accused.”
Not quite a 108,000USD fine…..
DocStirlingWithout wishing to descend into the usual flame war, you have not provided any proof that Justin is lying:
1)Just because the project has been going to 20 years does not mean it is legal. The Swamp Ghost saga might have been legal, until another court decided it was not.
2) Some one is not telling the truth about the size of Justin’s fine. Impossible to know from the information provided.
3) The chief is quite plainly unhappy about the removal of the planes – there is very good evidnce of this from the video. The second cheif is choosing his words very carefully, being wary about openly criticising the government, but doing so. He was also unhappy.
4)Your point about Swamp Ghost is well taken.
5)I would be very happy for all the facts to come out about this recovery. So far we have none, except for the youtube video, which I have interpreted quite differently to you.
6)Justin’s website and associated activities have made an incredible contribution to bringing the history of airwar in the Pacific to a world wide audience. He is respected and admired by a good number of people. He obviously cares passionately about the subject – and this might lead him into rash actions at times, even threatening his person safety, and in doing so he has obviously made some enemies, and is at risk of alienating his friends. This is unfortunate.
DS
DocStirlingRumour has it that some bloke form the Solomons wants to buy them…….:dev2:
DS
DocStirlingSo who want to know the truth about the whole mess, just ask away since I know most of the inside items. If you care to read some of the stuff that Jungle Bob put up on Wixs and I put up here about the Aircraft that were recovered and how long this project has been in the works and how Justin is lying thru his teeth just ask away.
OK: Just where is Justin lying through his teeth? I have read the WIX thread and there are only two posts that are apparently from him, both quoted and read like news articles.
I have my reservations about whether the group realy did ‘stumble’ across this salvage. It seems clear to me that they objected to the removal of the wrecks, as he/they did to the Swamp Ghost affair. As to the legality of the sale, well I think we can all guess how laws can be interpreted by the wealthy and powerful.
Watching the YouTube video really took me back. As someone said, you need some translation – ‘Stacka’ = lots (apparently after the stacks of Coka Cola imported for the GI’s in WWII); mefella/himfella – me or him; lo = on.
What did not need translating was that the chiefs are not happy about the removal of these airframes, which they consider relics of the war. The argumement that they are valuable tourist attractions is nonsense to me, this is such a difficult place to get to and move around in that the number of foriengers visiting must have been minimal. However, I agree with the sentiment that the complete removal of the items robs the island of evidence of a war the cost the locals very dearly.
I have gone out on a limb in the past (over the Swamp Ghost) and aligned myself with Justins feelings that these wrecks should be left in situ for the locals and future tourists to enjoy. However, in the case of these planes I believe that there is a valid arguement for their removal and restoration. They would just rot alone in the jungle where they were, and they are not common aircraft. BUT the local population MUST be compensated both financially, and with some form of memorial in place of the planes. The government should not be the only ones to benefit. Although I am sure that the money raised will be ploughed back into healthcare projects for the islanders….:o
DS
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