dhfan,

the Mossie that had it’s undercarriage deliberately raised for filming 633sqn was later burned for another scene during the film.

I understand the the fire/accident damage caused to TA719 was not entirely deliberate. If you get my drift.

While the intentional destruction of 2 potentially Mosquitos seems unbelievable now (remembering that the third one destroyed was due to an accidental undercarriage collapse during a taxiing scene), back then the aircraft were only just out of service and worth comparitively little. They may well have been scrapped anyway.

Without the interest generated by films such as 633sqn, we may not have had the glorious variety of airworthy historic aircraft that we have today.

Willow

Many thanks to everyone above, and thanks particularly to DOUGHNUT, for starting off this thread.

Everything went very well on the day (which mean’s we both got there on time!!) and the weather was kind to us. We both had a great day 🙂

We’ve just got back from a fantastic honeymoon in the Carribean (there, that should make everyone jealous!! 😀 ) and I’ve just got back to work today to be confronted with the derailment at Kings Cross 🙁 (it’ll be on the news later) so it’s back down to earth with a hefty bump!!!

Anyway, thanks again.

Hopefully get to meet you all at Duxford on the 4th.

Alan and Rachel Wilson (now you see where ‘willow’ comes from!!)

Originally posted by DOUGHNUT
All civil aviation exhibits are housed in the “Willow Annex” and are also included in the ground running days. Duxford’s unique location accent to Stansted Airport allows the sight and sound of ‘Doughnut Regional Airways’ fleet of 30 newbuild Concorde’s to be seen departing on their regular flights to Cambridge and other regional destinations. It is hoped that by the end of the year the newbuild DH Comet’s will also return to service with ‘Doughnut International Airways’.

DOUGHNUT

As a CAMRA member, I would have thought ‘Real Ale-lines’ a more appropriate title. Might improve on board service.

Can the Sunderland be in the Willow Annex please. It should just be approaching the end of it’s restoration by then:)

Willow

Well you’ve got me interested now, so I’m still going to have a root about. You never know!

For a short sequence like that, a Spit could have been moved in to any location, filmed, and moved out, all within 2 or 3 weeks. As the time period for the film is 1956/57, a fairly generous length of time, I still feel that it could be a known example ‘off it’s perch’ for a short while.

Although, of course, that doesn’t explain the Tyres, exhaust stubs, and paint.

Hmmm…….

Can you tell from the film whether it’s a high or low back variant?

Willow

Interesting question, this one.

Do you know any more about the film? Have you actually seen it, or just these stills?

If you’ve seen it, did the Spit fly?

My immediate reaction would be to suggest the aircraft still on the books of No1 Squadron RAF (I forget the serial) which is now at Cottesmore. This would be more ‘mobile’ than an aircraft on a stick at a gate.

The other ones to check would be the Hendon and Southampton examples.

Then, prehaps, the one from Waterbeach, as that wasn’t on a stick either.

This is all assuming that the aeroplane was brought in specially for the filming. In this case, it may well have been partly repainted as well (although it looks a bit tatty in the photos). It may have been repainted directly after filming, before being placed on display elsewhere.

Tyres are easily changed, maybe exhausts as well.

I suspect that you have already done/thought all this, but I’ll check out a few things tonight and see what I can drag up.

Willow

Vultures:mad:

No, not the engines, those are Mercurys. I meant the BBC

Willow

The ‘debate’ above leads me to an interesting point, on a slighlty different tack.

LF363 was clearly rebuild to modern warbird standard, ie very, very good, and using as many original parts as possible. I assume it was rebuilt to a standard that would allow it to get a British Civil ticket from the CAA in the future, if required.

How does this standard compare to the other aircraft in the BBMF fleet?

I know that servicing and repaints have recently been done privately, and to the same high standards, but I remember seeing a BBMF aeroplane (I’m not saying which) on maintenance at Coningsby a few years ago, and thinking that I had never seen a ‘civil’ warbird that appeared to be in such a poor state under the covers.
Note I have said ‘appeared to be’. I am not an aircraft engineer, although I have been involved in static restoration work and have some appreciation of what’s right and what’s not.

Are the BBMF aeroplanes still maintined in exactly the same way that thay would have been when built?

If so, how does that compare with the maintenance of a privately operated warbird?

Willow

Mini drivers do it in tight spaces