No, that’s true. Do you know if she is being kept in airworthy condition in case the financial situation changes. It is a shame for continental Europe but good for us here I suppose that Sally B is the last flyer this side of the pond.

Indeed – many people forget that thousands of people have to work through our “holiday” seasons, but I am intrigued by Pagen’s post – are these reducing hours following the cut-backs or just MoD inefficient management of its resources?

The VAT rise will soon be forgotten, in itself, as the impact will be negligible on the majority of purses. What will not be forgotten is by how much actual prices on the high street will rise under the guise of the VAT increase in the weeks to come. A £300 TV will cost £8 more…items under £40 will cost pence more.

Dangerous words or wishful thinking? The 5th test could yet be snaffled from us or drawn, and although we have retained the Ashes we will not have won the series and that is just as important.

Never bothered with them……if you really want to do something you do it, regardless of the date on the calendar.

….meaning both Dassault and the government are bound to deny it?

Yes, but what was the point of the exercise, I wonder? A Spitfire would never be powered by a DB engine unless there were still those apart from Hitler, in May 1944, who thought Germany could win the war. Was the 109 ever engined with this particular power plant?