Dominies for sale

One related point – having been parked out at Kemble for some nine months, surely these six aircraft are accumulating parking fees are a rapid rate?

Could it end up with them being, in effect, “abandoned”, and seized by the owners of Kemble airfield in lieu of unpaid parking fees? (Not the first time that has happened to airframes parked out for long periods…)

Although it has not happened, yet, the owners of these six Dominies could be, one day, put under pressure to shift them, to prevent them “taking root”.

As stated above, the longer they are sat out in the open, the more they will deteriorate, making them ever hard to sell on. These six airframes are a “tough sell” as they are now – probably impossible to sell on once they’re encrusted with weeds/moss/bird droppings

As for being “parted out”, as I said, because these are very early Series 1 airframes, few, if any parts would be re-useable in any other later HS.125s. I’m sure that very few 1965-66 vintage HS.125s are still flying, and in need of parts.

A prospective buyer may have have to buy at least three (plus the engines) just to keep one flying: one as a flyer, and two as spares hulks to keep the flying one going!

Dominies for sale

Executive Jet Support Ltd is pleased to offer 3 Hawker Siddeley HS125 / Dominie for sale along with 5 spare Viper 301 engines. The aircraft can be brought as whole package with the spare engines or individually. These aircraft have been in service with the RAF until January 2011, when they were retired from service. The aircraft until retirement were used as military Navigational Trainers.

Price:$ 120 000.00

Is the price EACH aircraft – or all three? These must be “the pick of the bunch” of the six Dominies currently stored at Kemble:

XS702 – d/d 28/08/1965, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19CQ 13/05/2011
XS728 – d/d 23/11/1965, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19CU 13/05/2011
XS730 – d/d 30/12/1965, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19UG 13/05/2011
XS731 – d/d 19/01/1966, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19XY 13/05/2011
XS737 – d/d 09/05/1966, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19EK 13/05/2011
XS739 – d/d 01/06/1966, w.f.u. 01/2011, to N19UK 13/05/2011

Frankly, they’re being a little optimistic if they think that they will find a buyer. Notwithstanding the current state of the economy, anyone in the market for a HS.125 “biz jet” or its derivatives would probably not be looking at an airframe that is a) high hours b) some 47 years old and c) non-standard with any other HS.125s…

…and that is before you factor in the cost of converting the interior from a military trainer spec to something resembling a luxury biz-jet.

There are plenty of more modern alternatives out there in the market place, plus the sheer age of these airframes means that most parts are incompatible with more modern HS.125s. So they’re no good as spares hulks either!

Chippie died at prestwick in the high winds..

Chipmunks are pretty hardy machines -I would like to see a good picture of her before calling her ‘dead’ !

Whilst I’ve yet to see photographic evidence, the description of the Chippie as it now looks doesn’t sound too hopeful

“Received a report of a Chipmunk blown over at Prestwick, which collided with parked Cessna 150 and a fence in the process. Chipmunk and Cessna 150 flipped over on their backs, plus a Cessna 172 sustained a crushed wingtip, and a Bulldog minus a rudder. Lastly, a Bolkow Junior with flaps and ailerons at jaunty angles…Chipmunk’s a write-off. Bent at the firewall, behind the cockpit, fin & rudder crushed, wings now Stuka-like (bent where the flap ends and the aileron begins). Heartbreaking to see – especially as I’m one of the shareholders too.”

Winds at Prestwick reached 84 mph overnight (Jan 3rd/4th): presumably the Chippie was parked with no-one aboard. Which means at least no-one was killed or injured, but the insurance assessor is going to be very busy for a while!

(source: http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74462)

Chippie died at prestwick in the high winds..

Would the Chipmunk in question be G-AORW of the Prestwick Flying Club (see here: http://www.prestwickflyingclub.co.uk/the_aircraft.htm).

If so then it used to look like this http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-AORW&imgname=G-AORW003&imgtype=jpg and started off life as WB682

Supermarine Swift on E-bay

I think you are being a little ‘tight’….with a reasonable cockpit from a Hunter being at least £3k….and a Bucc cockpit around £4k, Lightning 6k…..I think its value is around £10-12k

Tony – this Swift has been, to its owners, little more than an interesting and unusual advertising hoarding for their business. It had stood out in all weathers, totally neglected, for over 40 years.

For what it has been used as since the early 1970s, they could just as well have used a tank or a combine harvester!

If the aircraft were a less rare type (say, a Hawker Hunter or a Jet Provost) we would not be having this conversation. As a case in point, Hunter T7 XL623 is currently mounted on a pole in the middle of Woking town centre – but no-one thinks it is worth £50,000, or is setting up a preservation group for it.

As has been posted upthread, this Swift needs £50,000 spent on it – but that would be £5,000 to buy it, and £45,000 to dismantle, transport, and restore it.

The more we talk about it, the more its owner will think it is made of solid gold, instead of crumbling aluminium…

RAF/FAA Grumman Goose history needed

Talking of a Grumman Goose in unusual markings, Channel 4 is currently showing the 1967 movie “Tobruk” (starring George Peppard and Rock Hudson)…

The connection to this thread is early on in the movie, which features a Grumman Goose in overall light grey colours, and fake Luftwaffe markings.

Wonder which aircraft was used? It is probably meant to be HK822 (although it probably is not that actual aircraft) which would have been “in the right place and time” (North Africa, September 1942).

So, which Gooses (Geese?) were airworthy in 1967, at the time this film was made? Could it be FP511, which started this thread?

See the “seen on ebay thread” – still being listed on ebay, albeit in a “Dutch Auction” fashion – the price stated high, and had been dropping ever since!

Currently asking £50,000. See http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=111079&page=18 and post #517 onwards. Still either not serious about selling – or VERY optimistic as to the value of this airframe

IMO the Swift will be sold, once the owner has realised its “true” value. Last I heard was that he wanted £50,000 for it, but it is really only worth about £5,000 or less in its current state, regardless of its alleged rarity.

Price could also be dictated by the current market rate for scrap aluminium (which it may be all it is fit for…)

Falklands we told you so ??? a vintage deterrent

Posted without comment – other than to say that you are NOT going to like this (if it ever happens): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2077813/Falkland-Islands-Prince-Harry-captured-600-soldiers-killed–imagined-Dominic-Sandbrook.html