Bruntingthorpe Super Guppy has been moved to the scrapping pan to be cut up

[NutLoose]

Sad and so much for no plans to scrap anything, worse is the way those that looked after it have been treated.

https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-...d-brunty-guppy

[treadigraph]

That's a great shame.

I recall gazing at her in wonder as she passed westwards over Purley in the mid 1970s. Presume she was going to Filton. Also either she or her sister ship F-BPPA doing a low pass at a Hatfield open day some years later...

[DHfan]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Sad and so much for no plans to scrap anything, worse is the way those that looked after it have been treated.

Is that fair? Presumably Cox (?) wanted it moved and there was no way it was going to fly out so what other options were there?

[Akrotiri bad boy]

Those beasts are part of my adolescence and the reason why I never got to Oxbridge. They used to grumble over my school on finals into Ringway causing me to forever gawp out of the window instead of applying myself to educational achievements.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by DHfan

Is that fair? Presumably Cox (?) wanted it moved and there was no way it was going to fly out so what other options were there?

Exactly.
The fate of the Guppy was pretty much this from the day Cox issued their notice letters, as will be the fate of the Vicky Tens and all the Tristars as well before too long, as they won't be flying out either.
And anything else not owned by David Walton and which can't be moved from site.

[Krystal n chips]

Originally Posted by Akrotiri bad boy

Those beasts are part of my adolescence and the reason why I never got to Oxbridge. They used to grumble over my school on finals into Ringway causing me to forever gawp out of the window instead of applying myself to educational achievements.

Would that be 24 or 06 ( as was ) ?.....fascinating aircraft to take apart, well at least to unlock and then secure the nose...the lower securing bolt was easy, the upper involved hanging on to a ladder / structure / torque wrench.....all at the same time. Also had an original porcelain sink in the toilet.....obviously weight was never an issue in a different era as they say.

[Quemerford]

Luckily there are well-preserved Super Guppies at Hamburg and Toulouse. Large aircraft like this are always going to be vulnerable.

Any news on the Comet?

[Akrotiri bad boy]

Krystal. I was constructed in Stockport beneath the approach to 24, Guppys were an almost every day occurrence. I was fascinated that these beasts were a direct descendant of Enola Gay.

[SpringHeeledJack]

How big is the parcel of land the previous owner has to put aircraft on ? Could the exhibits not be slotted together in some fashion to fit into the space ?

[N707ZS]

Has the 747-200 been cut up. Fancied that spiral staircase to go up to my loft.

[Krystal n chips]

Originally Posted by Akrotiri bad boy

Krystal. I was constructed in Stockport beneath the approach to 24, Guppys were an almost every day occurrence. I was fascinated that these beasts were a direct descendant of Enola Gay.

Thanks for that. Two locations on the A6 opposite each other spring to mind as does one beginning with A directly under the approach.

Another interesting feature was the control cables quick disconnect / re-connect performed by the F/E....lets just say there was no faffing around with turnbuckles and wire locking.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Krystal n chips

Another interesting feature was the control cables quick disconnect / re-connect performed by the F/E....lets just say there was no faffing around with turnbuckles and wire locking.

I would have thought that the idea of letting a F/E loose on turnbuckles during a turnround would strike fear into the heart of any pilot.

[treadigraph]

Originally Posted by Akrotiri bad boy

Those beasts are part of my adolescence and the reason why I never got to Oxbridge. They used to grumble over my school on finals into Ringway causing me to forever gawp out of the window instead of applying myself to educational achievements.

I blame the late John Farley and his Dunsfold colleagues for distracting me during maths and French. Though to be fair, the view of the girl's netball/tennis courts were also a distraction during maths when the senior girls were playing...

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Quemerford

Any news on the Comet?

The Comet is one of the aircraft owned by David Walton, so it will be moved to the new hard standing area being created/prepared by David Walton next to the LPG QRA building on the land still retained by D.Walton.

[Quemerford]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

The Comet is one of the aircraft owned by David Walton, so it will be moved to the new hard standing area being created/prepared by David Walton next to the LPG QRA building on the land still retained by D.Walton.

Good to hear - thanks. Recent events must point towards a move elsewhere though.

[Compass Call]

Is there any news on the fate of the Sea Vixen?

[DHfan]

Originally Posted by Quemerford

Good to hear - thanks. Recent events must point towards a move elsewhere though.

Quite apart from where - how? I gather it was originally bought with the intention of keeping it airworthy but after so many years as a research aircraft, despite outward appearances it wasn't really a Comet any more in the eyes of the CAA or whoever's responsible.

[DHfan]

Originally Posted by Compass Call

Is there any news on the fate of the Sea Vixen?

Yes, and sadly not good.

https://navywings.org.uk/sea-vixen-update-5/

I quite understand the reasoning, and it's pretty difficult to argue with but personally I think it's a shame.

It was the last big (ish), loud, fast, all-British jet still flying and had some serious display presence.
Accusations of bias will be cheerfully accepted.

[Jhieminga]

Or was that a question about XJ494 at Bruntingthorpe?

[treadigraph]

You are just biased...

I guess in retrospect it was poignant to have both the Sea Vixen and the Vulcan overfly Shoreham in the wake of the Hunter accident - last time I saw either fly.