Posted recently to the ‘Save Our Shackleton’ Facebook page……

” Dear All, I think I need to put some clarity to some statements posted here.The aircraft has NOT been bought by a private collector with loads of money in the bank – so it’s NOT a case of no one needs to do anything but can feel good about liking this project! My name is Gary Perkin and I saw that the aircraft had been put up for tender by the MOD after many years of rumours and inaction. This tender gave 16 days to come up with a bid and a full movement plan out of the RAF base at St Mawgan. That tender had to be put in with a price offered and was a competitive bid process i.e. the highest price won ( there was interest from a breaker!) Now, as there was no time to fund raise sufficient money to win the aircraft, we needed to come up with a plan that would make this work so we put our name and money on the line as well as many hours of work and expense behind the scenes – our house is on the line! Once in the process we had to wait to see if we had been successful and that is where we are now. When we started this journey we had 2000 Facebook followers in 5 days and this has now gone up to over 3400, so I felt from postings etc that we had a good level of support to proceed. The whole project from the beginning has been stated at £50K to £60k and that we would need to fund raise this. When the Charity is official from the Charity Commission we can go for the Big Lottery and other funds but they will need to see that there is sufficient community interest if we want to go for the funds we need. Once she is in her new home then the annual running costs will be about £2500 per year, it’s now we need everyone’s help to make this happen – even £10, because they all add up.This is a great project to keep Cornwall on the map and the Charity, as well as heritage and preservation will be providing education and encouraging young people to look at STEM (Science,Technology,Engineering and Maths) to develop our own workforce for the future If nobody is really interested in the project then she might have to go! “

Hmmm.

Sadsack are you proposing a merger between these organisations, just so you can see three aircraft together?

Some context: the latest status for the Charity behind CAF from the Commission website

http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1146379&SubsidiaryNumber=0

and for full transparency latest status for the Midland Air Museum

http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=508326&SubsidiaryNumber=0

I think the statement made in msg #33 is very valid…….

Oh and you can see all three aircraft, you just need to visit two locations at the same Airport…..

A bombed up Aussie aircraft in front of a UK hangar. My bet is that its being tested by the A&AEE at Martlesham Heath

From, ‘British Flight Testing, Martlesham Heath 1920-1939’ by Tim Mason,published by Putnam (ISBN:0 85177 857 7)

In April 1936 the Australian version of the Hawker Demon A1-1 completed trials.

Duly replied!

Rob, from your picture on page 1 the section of TS480 doesn’t look that bad. I certainly wouldn’t advocate stripping it for the reasons you state, but adding to it would enhance its opportunity to remember this forgotten type. Anyway you are doing a grand job anyway and its in safe hands.

http://www.demobbed.org.uk/image_view.php?a=28388&s=zj515.jpg

That is all airframe wise.

There is a sim which has featured on here previously at a University and lots of unused parts on ebay!

David, the Museum has not been afraid to move aircraft on which fall outside its remit. The Whirlwind Prototype went to the Helicopter Museum, the Anson to the Gloucester Collection, parts of the original Museum Vampire T11 to East Mids, the Fox Moth to a museum member. Others were the Cessna 152 and Aztec, not sure if that is an exhaustive list. I wonder what the list for other collections looks like?
I’m not active within the collection anymore, but I am still a member and keep a keen eye on what is going on. I would not suggest the collection is static in terms of goals and objectives and believe the collection is regularly reviewed regarding its continued relevance. That said, just because its not on display, should not be a good enough reason to dispose of it immediately as there maybe a potential swap move just around the corner (hypothetically speaking) I’m sure the sabre tail is now very much ‘reserve collection’ given the collection obtained the F86 from Duxford, so who knows?

Regarding the original post, the thread title is simply wrong as is the premise regarding the rationale for any actions on the spares ship F4.