BA Collection at RAF Cosford under threat (Merged)
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I don't know what to say....
G-ARVM. The VC-10 that did the low - low - beat up of White Watham? I think? Who cares, she's a unique survivor?
G-ARVM. The VC-10 that did the low - low - beat up of White Watham? I think? Who cares, she's a unique survivor?
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In my view, they have lost any right to call themsaleves a museum. Senseless, shortsighted and moronic vandalism by people who ought to and could have done much better. The sight of G-APRPH being destroyed is tragic. Fools all of them.
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If i learn anything from this thread it is to visit such places as Cosford and do not put it off. My son who is keen on aviation, I have been promising for years to take him to Cos, to late now and having flown on the SSC I promised we would do that and it beat me to it. Working at BA these actions are regretable but the a/c have been there a long time and I fail to see why BA should be expected to pay for them forever?
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B A Collection at Cosford
Have just returned from a day trip to Cosford,I can confirm that the forward fuselage of the 707 is on sleepers and surrounded by 2 of its engine pods and a few bits and pieces,the rest of the aircraft is gone,all that is left of the Trident is the bare cockpit section and it is in the staff car park near the Dutch Neptune,no other parts of the Trident where to be found,when I made an enquiry as to were the Trident was,I got a sarcastic reply from the guy I asked,he said "The Trident had been cut up into little pieces and was gone"
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Before clicking the link Snooky provided I took a few Dried Frog Pills to ensure calm: All I can say is Mark Sibley (the photographer) has provided an almost forensic record of the Crime scene. So sad so very sad
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This is awful news! I had been to Cosford so many times as a kid and as an adult, and the joy I had at looking around and touching these fantastic airliners will now be lost on the next generation of aviation lovers.
A very sad day indeed!
The Cav
A very sad day indeed!
The Cav
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Everyone is sad.
With respect, what does being sad achieve?
The Trident and 707 may have been destroyed but the VC10 still awaits the JCBs.
Have you communicated your views to the RAFM? Its Trustees? Chairman? BA? BA Heritage Director? Brooklands? (it wants some more VC10 parts) Sent Brooklands a donation so that they can afford more than just the cockpit?
With respect, what does being sad achieve?
The Trident and 707 may have been destroyed but the VC10 still awaits the JCBs.
Have you communicated your views to the RAFM? Its Trustees? Chairman? BA? BA Heritage Director? Brooklands? (it wants some more VC10 parts) Sent Brooklands a donation so that they can afford more than just the cockpit?
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Save a VC10
A D
Along similar lines to you, I have suggested that the British enthusiasts start lobbying their MPs. It is getting towards election time in Britain, and I think all members will be looking for all the help they can get to keep/win a seat. In spite of what people think of their MP, he/she is there to represent the elector's views. I think that there is a fair spread of constituencies represented by the people disgusted by the actions of the Cosford museum and BA over the fate of the aircraft that perhaps someone will listen and perhaps whisper in an ear somewhere to the good. Unfortunately, for those of us outside U K, I cannot think of any benevolent listeners who could help the cause. I just hope that England stops going the way of the U S disposing of its heritage.
Along similar lines to you, I have suggested that the British enthusiasts start lobbying their MPs. It is getting towards election time in Britain, and I think all members will be looking for all the help they can get to keep/win a seat. In spite of what people think of their MP, he/she is there to represent the elector's views. I think that there is a fair spread of constituencies represented by the people disgusted by the actions of the Cosford museum and BA over the fate of the aircraft that perhaps someone will listen and perhaps whisper in an ear somewhere to the good. Unfortunately, for those of us outside U K, I cannot think of any benevolent listeners who could help the cause. I just hope that England stops going the way of the U S disposing of its heritage.
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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I've been reading this thread with a mixture of disbelief and sadness as it has developed over the weeks, but I think Albert Driver makes a vital point. I'm not sad anymore, I am angry, and have communicated my thoughts to the powers that be at BA and Cosford.
But I think what we need to have is a longer look at what we want to store and what we should sacrifice. Do we really need three Vulcans? Do we need four Concordes? Or a dozen Spitfires? If resources are scarce, and space is limited, then surely it makes more sense to keep the last remaining, or single significant example, of a type. I would gladly lose all but one of the Concordes if the remaining one is properly preserved, and the remainder of the money and space was used to look after a VC10 (for example).
The motor industry does this way better IMHO. If you take a trip to the excellent motor industry heritage museum in Gaydon, you'll see the first Mini and the last Mini - not every colour and variation under the sun. They are clearly working to a (perhaps at first glance ruthless) policy that keeps the costs under control whilst maintaining things of significance. It's obviously a tough call, but the museum does give the impression of telling a clear story, rather than being, as sadly most aviation museums seem, to be a kleptomaniac's scrapyard. No strategy, just "if it has wings, grab it and park it in a field".
The old Department of National Heritage, long since wound up into Prescott's former megalithic department of Culture, Media and Sport, should be called to account as well. It cannot be right for items of such significance to be turned into coke tins and razor blades like this; if the National Gallery decided it was going to bin a Turner because maintaining it was getting to be a drag, fuses would blow (or at least I hope they would) in the Ministry. Why should our technological heritage be any different?
TA
But I think what we need to have is a longer look at what we want to store and what we should sacrifice. Do we really need three Vulcans? Do we need four Concordes? Or a dozen Spitfires? If resources are scarce, and space is limited, then surely it makes more sense to keep the last remaining, or single significant example, of a type. I would gladly lose all but one of the Concordes if the remaining one is properly preserved, and the remainder of the money and space was used to look after a VC10 (for example).
The motor industry does this way better IMHO. If you take a trip to the excellent motor industry heritage museum in Gaydon, you'll see the first Mini and the last Mini - not every colour and variation under the sun. They are clearly working to a (perhaps at first glance ruthless) policy that keeps the costs under control whilst maintaining things of significance. It's obviously a tough call, but the museum does give the impression of telling a clear story, rather than being, as sadly most aviation museums seem, to be a kleptomaniac's scrapyard. No strategy, just "if it has wings, grab it and park it in a field".
The old Department of National Heritage, long since wound up into Prescott's former megalithic department of Culture, Media and Sport, should be called to account as well. It cannot be right for items of such significance to be turned into coke tins and razor blades like this; if the National Gallery decided it was going to bin a Turner because maintaining it was getting to be a drag, fuses would blow (or at least I hope they would) in the Ministry. Why should our technological heritage be any different?
TA
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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Thanks HZ.. I was sort of expecting a flaming for daring to suggest we deliberately turn some airframes into beer cans, but I was serious.
East Fortune seems to be the up and coming civil aviation museum. What should we put in it? Duxford seems to be the natural home of the USAF, and perhaps Cosford for the RAF. Now we need a GA museum (for the sake of spacing, somewhere in the North of England?) and an industry museum, devoted to the people and companies that built the aircraft. Filton?
Thoughts?
East Fortune seems to be the up and coming civil aviation museum. What should we put in it? Duxford seems to be the natural home of the USAF, and perhaps Cosford for the RAF. Now we need a GA museum (for the sake of spacing, somewhere in the North of England?) and an industry museum, devoted to the people and companies that built the aircraft. Filton?
Thoughts?
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Anyone know when the BAC 1-11 will be moved up to East Fortune and what the mode of transport will be?
Also when was the aircraft painted "lothian region"? (and why?)
cheers
--Mike
Also when was the aircraft painted "lothian region"? (and why?)
cheers
--Mike
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Has been Lothian Region since before 1990. THis aircraft still carries the same paint as it left BA with. Flew GLA-CDG Dec 1992, in this just before it was retired. Now I feel old.......
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Originally Posted by Skipness One Echo
Has been Lothian Region since before 1990. THis aircraft still carries the same paint as it left BA with. Flew GLA-CDG Dec 1992, in this just before it was retired. Now I feel old.......
thanks for that
Originally Posted by mjtibbs
Also when was the aircraft painted "lothian region"? (and why?)
For a period BA named there aircraft by fleet. eg 757s were named after castles, 747s after cities, 737s after rivers, etc. The 111 fleet was named after counties (and their Scottish administrative equivalents). Hence, Lothian region.
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Scrapping of BA Collection at Cosford
Can anyone advise where we are with this? I know that the Trident and 707 were destroyed but what of the VC10?
Scandalous though the break up of this fine collection is, all is not lost. I understand that the forward fuselage and nose/cockpit sections of both the Trident and 707 have been saved by the Museum of Flight at East Fortune, near Edinburgh and are to be transported for display there. Additionally, the complete airframes of both the Viscount and 1-11 have been dismantled, (properly, not with a blowtorch) and are on their way to East Fortune too.
Not sure of timescales as to when the aircraft will be viewable though.
Not sure of timescales as to when the aircraft will be viewable though.