RAF Museum at Hendon..

[Tiger_mate]

Tiger Mate, are you suggesting Scampton because the Dog is buried there?

Not so much the dog but clearly that is a factor re RAF history. More to the fact that I have seen (eyes on) the ambitions that the RAFM has for Cosford which were written in the expectation of DSAE moving south and vacating the airfield in toto. That has not happened, and I am not sure it will. For sure the real estate at Hendon is priceless, though in fairness I do not know if any buildings are Listed, nor am I aware of any covenents on the site. I do know that there is a lot of infighting within the RAFM dispersed sites and given Lincolns proximity to the central line of England, a single, substantial site that is compatable with the RAFM aspirations to colocate the collection with a GA compatable airfield that itself will permit the likes of C17 deliveries to take place would be a positive step forward. Scotland has East Fortune which ideally would enjoy a better relationship with the RAF Disposals folk than anybody presently does.

The RAFM are effectively contracted by the RAF to display each type of aircraft in RAF Service, yet the disposals authority make it very difficult for this mutual aspiration to suceed. There is presently no room for expansion on the Cosford site or realistically Hendon. Nimrod, C130, and VC10 are likely to remain outside with the Dominie and Neptune. They cannot stay outside forever if preservation is to succeed.

In three years we have RAF Centenary. Everybody in service takes their environment for granted and most wish that a few more photographs had been taken along the way when issued with the Std Rose tinted specs. The RAF deserve a focal point for education and historic archives and IMHO, this is better served at one central location with room to grow than anything presently in place. Scampton, if cared for, could also host a Midlands Air Show that would be self-sustaining and benefit the RAFM as well as Service Charities.

[Tankertrashnav]

Does Helston not have the Aeropark at Flambards anymore? That'll save a few hours on the M5.

Its been years since it was referred to as the aeropark and I doubt if one visitor in a hundred realises the significance of the name. (Flambards was a TV programme of the 1970s about the very early days of aviation). As to the aircraft - all gone, apart from the Shack cockpit and forward section which is still indoors. Where the aircraft were is now devoted to rides, roller coasters and the like, which are no doubt more profitable.

Glasgow- Cosford 286 miles

Dave - fair point, but I was banging my usual drum about the perception that England consists of "the South" (ie London and the bit inside the M25, and "the North" (ie Yorkshire and Lancashire, and occasionally Tyneside).

All that bit full of funny people with strange accents down in the SouthWest is generally ignored when national assets are being allocated.

[Tankertrashnav]

And one week after I posted the above, Classic Air Force have announced that they have closed with immediate effect. Not surprising since Cornwall Council have been charging them £250k p.a. rent for the Nimrod hangar - this for an asset they received free from MOD as part of the St Mawgan wind down. Terrible news, and another nail in the coffin for Cornish tourism.

[Martin the Martian]

The council may have received the hangar for free from the MoD, but they still have to maintain it, along with the rest of the site. Furthermore CAF moved in on the basis that they would have a very reduced rent for the first year due to the Aerohub scheme, but that it would rise afterwards. They knew that, and I rather think that they moved out of Coventry because of the uncertainty affecting the airfield at the time. Now that the situation has settled it's 'as you were'.

I know several of the volunteers at CAF, and the general opinion is that the organisation doesn't know its backside from its elbow, with a revolving door policy for those in positions of responsibility, and in effect has abused much of the goodwill and enthusiasm its presence has generated in its time at Newquay.

I'm sad to see them go for all that, worried for the future of the larger airframes at Newquay and sorry for those who will lose their jobs, but I do think that Cornish tourism will manage without. Attractions come, attractions go.