Not expensive for a Hurricane grip. I am not convinced this isn’t from a Canadian Harvard with the pneumatic pipes routed like that.

Can anybody confirm?

Mark

Not conclusively, but having handled one in my Swordfish grip search, that really looks like the dull, corroded magnesium casting of the Canadian (Harvard) version to me (as informed by this forum!), not the aluminium of the ‘proper’ Hurricane/Swordfish AH2040. Quite badly corroded unless my eyes deceive.

but Jonathan dont you feel the same about the level of care the aircraft at the museum get. And I dont mean the level of care the staff give them.

So you believe more needs to be done. What exactly? How? And with what? Constructively phrased specifics might help museums on their path to improvement (and that includes all of them), but you must bear in mind that there’s only so much the staff can do with the resources, time and manpower available. You seem to be aware of that, and draw a distinction between staff and ‘museum’. And of course, such comments do reflect on the staff and so need to be phrased carefully. By drawing that disctinction are you basically saying you’re dissatisfied with the funding and resources allocated from the National Museums of Scotland? They may be a national, but these suffer the same problems, multiplied by how many outstations they have to run and the expectations of government and visitors. Effectively, mo’ money, mo’ problems! And the outstations inevitably receive only a piece of the already tiny pie.

I am starting to grow tired of the museums inability to provide alternate planning and lack of enthusiasm to try and provide the proper care that the aircraft at the museum and the public require.

And the “I want the moon on a stick” award goes to….

The Germans bombed my Grandads chip shop!

A notoriously difficult target category to hit, second only to red telephone boxes.

Holy thread-resurrection Bat-man!

Hi Jonathan,

The headman is a guy called Dougy Robb, ex WO. He’s fighting a rear-guard action to keep the place going but chances are if it becomes untenable he’d be the one to talk to – he scrounged a lot of the stuff there himself. Another chap that’s been involved is Rab Bullers who just about pre-dates radar himself!

http://www.neatishead.raf.mod.uk/ is an old web-page that hasn’t been updated in a while but gives a few photos and contact number

http://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/ is another to try (Mr Robb is the chap in the white short-sleeve shirt)

Not trying to cut the ground out from under Mr Robb’s feet, I’d just like to think there was a back-up plan IF it had to close – And I want Kent’s 259 to survive! (Radar from the Falklands)

Oh, your mail box is full!

Yes, sorry about that. Thanks for the information though. My ear is to the ground!

Why has the Belfast hangar not been replaced on the old “Base” the amount of cash thats gone through DX in the past few years could have built quite a few, and a very expensive architect wouldn’t be required.

I just wish people in positions of responsibility would look at what they’ve got instead of going with trendy ideas and architects fancies.

This has been dealt with on this forum quite well already, but I also think you underestimate the expertise and cost of producing an accurate replica of such a complex wooden structure. Assuming a bid was put in and was successful, that hangar as you know was only a single bay construction – AirSpace will put many more aircraft under cover and has resulted in many airframes undergoing relatively exhaustive conservation work. Bids for smaller museums like Flixton are successful because on that scale, a hangar of any size is a high-profile project. When you get to National Museum level, funding bodies *expect* bigger things and inevitably there is an element of ‘flash’ in the final product. This should not detract from the positives, which in this case will also include up-to-date interpretation and educational displays that will engage many more people with the subject matter. This can only be a good thing. Keeping our heads down will only mean that fewer people take an interest, be they potential enthusiasts or historians, or potential sources of funding!

By the way, when something goes through connservation, thats only the begining, preservation is an ongoing proccess – anti-deterioration maintenance and if its done correctly its a very time consuming procedure.

I assume you’re implying that DX should have retained the temporary staff. Yes man-hours and money is required to conserve exhibits in the long-term, but this doesn’t change the fact that DX only had the money to employ the extra staff, restore the aircraft, put them under cover and create effective interpretation of the history of British aviation because of the AirSpace concept as pitched to the funding bodies.

I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks this way, it’s just that I’m probably the only one who will write it down for all to see.

Oh, don’t feel alone, I’ve noticed a few other more vocal critics on this board. What I really don’t get is that the museum is actually providing what all the AAM/LWH critics have been calling for; in effect an entire museum devoted to the history of British aviation. It’s not even been built yet and still you criticise.

And finnaly, when I was working at Duxford I did voice my opinions to several people who work for the museum, so, yes I have made constructive comments.

So those having failed you thought you’d make an online career of it? Fair play. I would suggest that a generally more positive and conversational attitude might help you see eye-to-eye with those museum types that take an interest in this board and the opinion of the enthusuasts in general (not me, ones that have actual power and influence).

There you have it, MY OPINION, and my opinion only. We all have them, but not many of us will voice them………………………………..

Fair enough. Personally, I always try to bear in mind what Clint Eastwood had to say about opinions.

Remember being buzzed by two Jags around that time

I didn’t realise John Prescott could fly…

Sorry.