Hello

Does it have to be an aircraft hangar? We are in the middle (?) of a recession, with plenty of empty business units and even shops. Perhaps you could secure a good deal to help you along the way until you need something bigger. Talk to your local council and Business Link – Just a suggestion.

Well, as most of the work is in the labour, NOT materials, about the same.

Bruce

Hello Bruce, so a static Spitire around £1m? OUCH! No wonder there aren’t that many original Spitfires on display in museums (apart from the main national or a few regionals).

Then again, if I had a £1m, I’d rather spent it on a number of airworthy replicas (DH4A, Avro 504N, Miles M1 Saytr, Westland-Hill Pterodactyl, etc).

Must stop having these silly day-dreams.

Edwards AFB, AF Plant 42 & a few places that *don’t exist*

Oh, please do tell…

I’m still trying to find out where the USAF/CIA operate their stealth V/STOL tactical transport aircraft from in the UK? You know, that black triangle that flies only at night and when over populated areas it switches on these bright lights so that those below think it’s a UFO, flown by ET.

Apparently it was designed in the wake of the failed rescue attempt to free US hostages in Iran 30 years ago.

Accordingly to their website:

In keeping with common practice (?), on grounds of both security (?) and copyright, we regret that no cameras, video recorders or any other types of recording equipment (including notebooks) are allowed in the Museum.

VERBAL ABUSE of any kind will NOT be tolerated. [SNIP] We have had occurrences where rude members of the public have sworn, committed criminal damage and threatened physical harm to our members. These people will not be tolerated and they will be ejected, using reasonable force if applicable. Please accept it is also our right to eject you from the museum if you do not abide by our rules regarding photography etc. without a refund as you will have already entered with the understanding that you have accepted our conditions before you purchased a ticket. We are glad to say that 98 per cent of our visitors are courteous, understand our rules and a as consequence have an enjoyable trip to the museum.

—————————————————————

Firstly, not being able to take photographs is no excuse for verbal abuse. EVERYONE should abide by the rules.

That said, I don’t know of any museum that posts such an irate TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY on its website. But you have to ask yourself why would members of the public want to verbal abuse the staff of this museum (which they paid good money to enter) and also, what constitutes verbal abuse? Does this message constitute written abuse? Making a discreet complaint, does that constitute abuse? The Kent Battle of Britain Museum has a serious problem regarding it’s paranoia over people taking pictures. This is Hawkinge NOT Area 51!!!

Copyright Issues? Unless you plan to publish your own illustrated guidebook and sell it directly outside their entrance, I don’t think anyone is going to make any money out of this museum or its exhibits. Maybe this negative attitude is why they haven’t secured any external funding? Any information displayed should be openly, freely and publicly disseminated (names and dates, etc), and to prevent the taking of notes goes against the ethos of educating future generations of what happened in Kent during 1940.

I guess this issue has been raised before, but I don’t know of any aviation museum in the UK that doesn’t allow photography or is so obsessed with people with cameras.

Also, according to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum website, “We are glad to say that 98 per cent of our visitors are courteous, understand our rules and as consequence have an enjoyable trip to the museum.” Does that mean that 2% are not courteous? Not sure how many visitors they attract, but if the figure is 10,000pa then that’s 200 people who’ve been rude and obnoxious. I don’t know of any museum that attracts so many naughty visitors…!

Another question for you: how easy would it be to start manufacturing the Gipsy Moth (to buy complete and ready to fly) – perhaps utilising a welded steel fuselage frame (less parts = lower price) and a new engine? Would there be a market for such an elegant aeroplane, though? And would you buy an aircraft that although looked and flew like the original, contained parts probably manufactured in China and America (again to keep costs to a minimum)? One idea to reduce manufacturing costs perhaps would be to make each wing rib out of a single sheet of plywood cut my laser, or have them properly made in China, but not out of bamboo :o)

And how much would you be prepared to pay for one?

Great shots everyone, We have over 8000 images in our archive, I will sift through some and post them up when I have more time.

Hello, do you have any photographs of Buccaneers taken at RAF Driffield or being towed there from Brough (this circa 1968 while HOSM was having its runway resurfaced)?

Best Wishes

Phil Rhodes

Dismantle EVERYTHING and make a new museum in the country 😀 :diablo:

Dismantle EVERYTHING and make a new museum in the center of London – enlarged to take in civil airliners (Heathrow’s Concorde and Duxford’s VC10, etc). 😀 :diablo: