I think all you have to do is watch ‘Guy Martins Spitfire’ to answer this. They showed the actual wreckage and they was pretty much nothing incorporated in to the ‘replica’. Lets face it the only ‘new’ Spitfires (not mentioning Burma) are going to be wrecks that have been in the ground for many years. If you use those I doubt if anybody has a issue. I have always wonderd if you got hold of a 100% complete Spit (think Southampton, Potteries museum etc) how much would be discarded to restore it to flying condition?

I am shocked by this news but thinking about it the BofB halls needs a revamp. Although the BofB was the RAF’s finest hour, and it needs to be featured,does it make sense to have a 1/4 of the museum(not floor space but buildings) dedicated to a conflict that lasted a few months out of a hundred years of history? I’m at the younger end of the enthusiast visitors (46) and for those younger they will have little personal reference to WW2 let alone the BofB. My dad was bombed out in the blitz ,aged 1 but people in their 20’s/30’s and younger are unlikely to have living relatives from WW2.
So how about a BofB corner rather than a whole building? This may sound like heresy but why not return the likes of the CR42, He111 (not a BofB aircraft after all) to their home land? This would leave Spitfire, Hurricane, Gladiator, Me109 and JU88 in a Bob exhibition? In return the RAFM would have funds to fill some of its gaps.
Away from the BoB collection Hendon completely omits Transport Command. Foe me a Dakota is a must for any revamped Hendon. Would also been good to see more of the non-European theaters of WW2. If only somebody knew where we could get a desert air force survivor?!

Im pretty sure Hamilcars were disposed of at Brize, Thruxton, Broadwell and Weathersfield. I think the last one was withdrawn in 1949?

Would be great to see this historic aircraft back in the air. Far better looking than the ugly PR9!

The jumble element is definitely in decline. I have been a Popham fixture since the early 80’s and been to every one of these events. Personally I am there for the aircraft, full stop. Im a spotter, and so were 2/3rds of those arriving by road on Saturday and Sunday. This year was ‘good’ on Saturday, but not quite the ‘excellent’ we had 2 years ago, because of the weather. Management has changed a couple of times at popham recently and hopefully this event will improve in future? Trouble is it always seems to be bad weather on the Monday!

The CAA could have also issued a restricted permit to test and ferry, happens sometimes with various types. They know, as well as we do, the Hunter is not a inherently dangerous aircraft so test and ferry is no more dangerous than any other aircraft until the final AAIB report is out