RE: The famous Lancaster R5868 POS Sugar
Just realised, nobody said it was the blister that was needed apart from me!
While I’m on the subject of ranting away about ‘Sugar’, here’s a thought;
The tail was originally put on THAT pole, so I’m told, to bring the cockpit nearer the visiting public (yeah, right) and also to give the illusion of a Lancaster landing-hence the old back drop and moving sky projection that used to be behind it, and of course her ‘crew’.
Now, as this idea totally failed in any way whatsoever to convince anybody that this huge aircraft which is hemmed-in on all sides by a building and other aircraft was in any kind of movement, here’s another idea for making more of a ‘display’ of the old thing, while allowing it to retain some dignity-something Hendon bosses have been sadly forgetting about for some years now.
Why not lower the tail off the perch (please, I’m begging you!!!) and have a seven man crew posed about her rear door, ready for the ‘off’ as seen in so many photos? The door could be open, adding that little flash of green and a hint of interest to Joe Publiuc as to what she’s like inside, but there can be a crewman in the doorway and another part-way up the ladder to prevent anyone too keen from jumping in! The rest of the crew can be stood there carrying kit bags, homing pigeons, that kind of thing.
The overall scene would not detract from the display of the aircraft as a whole-the mechanics figures on the Wellington are a good idea of this sort of idea done simply but well.
What about access to the interior for museum staff? Well, it would surely be much less hassle to move, say, two mannequins aside than it is currently to climb up to where the door is now!
Also then, her cockpit would again be accessible to visiting veterans etc, who must currently feel slightly put-out to arrange a ‘pilgrimage’ and get over that main spar, just to discover two stuffed loons sat in the best bit!!!
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