Victor1,

in the old days (damn do I feel old now!) the best way of helping at Duxford was to join the Duxford Avaition Society as a working volunteer. You could be put onto the project of your choice under the guidance of a Professional IWM Technician. I am not sure if this still happens. I know that DAS is still crying out for volunteer help, but I’m not sure if the Victor is currently a project with a crew allocated. It used to have one of the best DAS crews of all, led if I remember correctly, by Roger Brooks. Enthusiastic and hardworking, not just looking good on a Sunday, but actually achieving things this crew looked after the Victor and Vulcan. But I think that when the Victor was repainted (badly!) and left outside the crew had no opportunity to carry out further work.

With the onset of the new ‘Super Super Hangar’ which will see the Victor back indoors, a restoration will hopefully take place.

Contact DAS and give it a try. I started there when I was 12 and still go now (although not as often as I’d like). I’ts good fun, you learn a lot, make a lot of friends, feel like your really helping, and you can even grab a career in aircraft restoration out of it if you play your cards right.

While my own experience is with Duxford, if you have museum more local to yourself give them a go. They may not have the particular type that you wish to work on, but it doesn’t take long to become attached to any aircraft once you’ve spent a bit of time crawling around it.

Willow

Is this Mustang currently airworthy in the US then. If so, why is it going on display at Hendon? What’s wrong with the existing Mustang at Hendon (other than the colour scheme)?

I agree with DOUGHNUT. Tell us the whole story.

What possible usable parts are there from PL983. It just makes a mockery of the whole thing. Why not just build completely from scratch using ‘blackout block’ serials and save the heartache of a ‘killer’ aircraft.

Willow

An imaginery invasion of an imaginery country whose air force consists of 6 or so Hunters. This will be going on throughout the day, with regular ‘as it happens’ updates. Also with battle sequences as RIAT this year will also include the equivalent of the old Royal Tournament. The static display will include period costumes and vehicles (more clutter to the photographers delight!!).
There also seems to have been very little comment about actual aircraft.

Given last years show, together with perenial problems like the infernal Blue Cones, and and you see why I am not totally enthralled by the thought of this event.

And thats before you mention the words ‘security’ and ‘Traffic’.

Willow

RE: Allied ‘Mistel’ composites

Wasn’t there a plan to put 3 Gnats under a Vulcan as escort fighters?
The same could have been done with one Gnat to guide a Vulcan towards it’s target.

On a sillier note, what about a Walrus on top of a Sunderland!

Willow