Dave HomewoodThanks Mark,
That bumps the number of survivors up significantly.
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodCheers Tony, well that’s 1 and a 1/2 more to add to the survivors list I guess. Photos would be good to see, just when you can get round to posting them.
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodThe Fleas are horrid little aircraft, but they have an interesting history.
There is an interesting piece about the Flea’s history in episode 10 of this season’s Making History, click here to listen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/making_history.shtml
Apparently after they were banned some were adapted to take the dangerous tendancies out of them. Has the Shuttleworth one been adapted? Is it actually theoretically able to fly? Or is it an original deathtrap?
Dave HomewoodStunningly beautiful photos.
Where is that golden sand beach and emerald green sea? Surely that cannot be England, can it? 😉
I love the first one of the lone Spitfire in the sunset, very, very moving.
Dave
Dave HomewoodA nice film related collection of aircraft there – two BofB film Heinkels, a Mossie from 633 Sqn and a M*A*S*H* helicopter.
That chap in the tweed suit smoking looks awfully familiar. Not sure where from.
Dave HomewoodNot that easy when you live in another country and you eek out an existence on a student’s budget. 🙁 Otherwise I would love to. Only thing is, I’d probably want to bring it back here with me!
Dave
Dave HomewoodHi Neil,
Fantastic photo, what an amazing opportunity. I hope you don’t mind but I have adjusted the original a little to get over the darkness.
Dave
Dave HomewoodHi Lancman,
I’m very sorry to read about your loss, your Grandad was obviously quite an inspiration to you. Please accept my condolences.
Dave
Dave HomewoodIf we burn al the planes who have had a fatal crash, there wouldn’t be much warbirds around. Some of the planes who fly today might have had a accident while they where in service.
J.V.
Indeed this is true. The P40K restored by the Alpine Fighter Collection still had the remains of the pilot in it when recovered from the Aelutian Islands. The lovely restoration featured here this week of the Halifax in Canada is another example – no-one has shown shock that a plane in which six men lost their lives is being rebuilt. I think this is because of the rarity factor and the need to preserve our heritage.
A big issue however with some of the recent crashes mentioned is that they occurred at an airshow where thousands witnessed it, and millions more saw it on the TV news, unlike the crashes mentioned above. These airshow crashes are very traumatic for everyone involved, from the familes, to the owners to the public who witnessed them. I’m halfway round the world but I still get a chill thinking about the Firefly crash, the RR Spitfire crash and even Mark Hanna’s fatal crash, among others.
Sure, such an event is shocking to all, but I don’t think that it is a good idea to hastily dispose of the wreckage, if it can later be rebuilt or incorporated into a restoration. As I said, warbirds aircraft are an important part of our heritage and serve as ‘living’ history. If they can be rebuilt or used after a crash, I say please do. One it is destroyed, it’s gone forever.
Mark12, you make a good point about the insurance angle. But in the case of the RNHF, would their aircraft be insured? I don’t think the military insure their aircraft in the regular way a civilian owner would. Or am I incorrect?
Dave HomewoodWell said Hairyplane. I completely agree. I was stunned when I read yesterday that the wreckage of the RNHF Firefly is to be smelted simply because the crew’s families said so on emotional grounds.
The Firefly is an extremely rare aircraft, and one that was obviously loved by those who flew it and who died in that dreadful accident.
If the wreckage was able to help rebuild another example to fly, or even form the basis of its own rebuild (as in the case of the RR Spitfire), then those who sadly died would surely have felt some satisfaction in this if they’d known. After all, their life was dedicated to the preservation of old aircraft, wasn’t it?
I doubt that many operators of warbirds would want to see their potentially useful aircraft wreckage destroyed completely simply because of an emotive family decision, who, let’s face it, in many cases may not even be that connected with the plane as the deceased pilot/operator was.
I feel the RNHF have got things wrong by allowing this to happen, even though I understand their gesture from an emotional angle. But in five years time if they purchase another to rebuild and fly, they will surely regret this decision.
Dave HomewoodThis idea of grounding the Lancaster for that reason is utterly stupid if it is true. I don’t believe that PA474 has ever dropped a bomb in anger.
If the “politically correct” want to ground bombers to further world peace they should start with America’s modern day bomber fleet!
Dave HomewoodA few years back I thought the RAF Museum should indeed restore the Halifax back to its former glory when it was the only one in existence. But now that there is a very good representation of a Halifax in the north of England, and also this superb looking restoration in Canada, I feel that yes, the RAFM machine does serve a very good purpose as it is as a memorial.
When I visited it in 1993, I was certainly more impressed with the Halifax and the Wellington there than I was with the Lancaster. I guess because I’d seen a few Lancs before, but this Halifax was special, and has a special significance in the way it is displayed.
I think the plan for the bay window hangarage sounds fantastic – what a great advertisement for it to be seen from the road.
Regarding the costs involved in such a project, may I enquire how NA337 is being funded? Is it Government money? Or is a group of veterans and enthusiasts having to raise funds through donations, stalls, etc?
You mention it will be displayed at CFB Trenton. I assume this is a Royal Canadian Air Force base? Does the plane belong to the RCAF Museum? Sorry, I am not too familiar with the details of the plane. Did the aircraft have any connection with the RCAF? Were any of its crew members Canadian? Or was this just an opportunity that came up and was snapped up by RCAF Museum?
Was it raised from the lake bed by Canadians? Or was it bought from a salvager?
Thanks for the great pictures of both Halifaxes. I’m surprised no-one has posted a photo of the third one at Elvington for a comparison.
Dave
Dave HomewoodI agree that the BBMF might consider those Campbell helmets, I was thinking of suggesting it last night when I saw the photo but didn’t get round to it. I’m glad someone brought it up. The bonedome helmet looks so big it makes the plane look like one of Daz’s scaled down replicas. 😉
What I really want to know is, what’s the vintage aircraft being built in that Campbell hangar (see the hangar on the website). When Warbirds over Wanaka was on earlier this year Mr Campbell was interviewed because his products were selling like hotcakes at the airshow. They showed his hangar in South Canterbury, and in one shot of the news item they wheeled out a skeletal wooden aircraft that was near complete but awaiting fabric. It was a biplane of a 1930’s fighter/trainer type, and had a distinctively Hwker style tail, like a Tomtit, Hart, Hind or something. I’d love to know what it is, and whether it’s real or a fake.
I recall Campbell stating that he invented the helmets in 1996 after seeing the result ot Sir Tim Wallis’s crash. Funnily enough a group of us who’s trade involved servicing helmets and upholstery in the RNZAF once discussed making exactly the same concept with Phil Murray, RNZAF pilot and warbird pilot. This was in 1992. I think my workmate was going to build one for Phil as a trial piece, and I know other operators had shown an interest too, but I don’t know what became ot the whole thing. Imagine, we could have patented that idea and have been getting all that business now. Damn!
Dave HomewoodThis sounds like another excellent airshow coming up that I shall be missing. 😡
I notice two B17’s listed. Is there another one flying in the UK other than Sally B? Or is it flying in from abroad? Two together in the air, that’d be a sight in itself to see. I’ve only ever seen B17’s on the ground, never flying (Sally and Mary at Duxford).
Having asked this question, I have to say it makes me giggle at how people read the multiple numbers attending and need to know which ones are coming, like the Rapides, etc. You lucky Brits are so spoiled for choice. Here in NZ if an aircraft type is listed you generally know which one it is because there’s usually only one – unless it’s Harvards, Tiger moths or the ‘time-filler’ suedo Warbirds like Nanchangs and Yak52’s.
What’s all the hype about surrounding the P39? Hasn’t the Fighter Collection previously operated one in recent years? I’m sure it cannot be something new to your warbird scene is it? I think I saw one at Duxford in their hangar in 1993. And let’s face it, is it really an ‘important’ warbird? They were badly designed, dangerous, ineffectual aircraft hated by most people who flew them.
(That’ll no doubt get some blood boiling 😉 Sorry if I offend any P39 lovers)
Dave HomewoodYes, that crash was indeed a great loss. Thankfully it did not have any detriment to the sales.
I read that one is now in Switzerland and will act as a demonstrator to European airlines. I saw one fly over recently, it was heading straight at me, and seeing the wings I assumed for a while it was a Fletcher or Cresco. But as it drew closer I was concerned that I couldn’t hear the engine. Fletchers and Crescos fly over every day here, and the Fletcher is as noisy as a Harvard. Crescos are quiter, but nowhere near as silent as the PAC 750XL. Wow it was quiet. Make a good stealth bomber!
I hear quite a few are being used for parachutists now. They have used Crescos for the same job in the past, they simply take the hopper out and loads of space! Some don’t even fit a side door, just drop out the bottom!
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