Which was the 2nd east-west trans atlantic crossing of a Mossie in a matter of a few years, as B.35 RS709 had been bought by the USAFM from Doug Arnold and flown over to Dayton, by IIRC, again George Aird a few years before.

And now we have none........

GR - with my lottery win I'm buying/restoring a Mossie and a Sea Fury. So it'll be sorted :ok:

If I ever got a HUGE win, I would buy a Mossie as well.

However, to fly it here, you would be restricted to having to waving shed loads of cash infront of either Bob Jens (Can) or Kermit Weeks (USA), as it's likely that these are the only two in private hands that could be operated in the UK under CAA as BAe have withdrawn DA on the type, so that means any of the 'new build' Mosquito restoration being undertaken in NZ would not meet CAA/BAe requirements.

I had the pleasure(!) of flying the last Halifax (now at YAM Elvington). Actually, I should say part of the last Halifax, as a Chinook usl from a crofters' back garden near Stornoway. It flew like a pig and probably did the journey the other way on a horse drawn cart quicker.

But it would be nice to see another 4-piston in the UK again. Come on WL790 where are you?

Oscar Tango
 

There is a Mossie (or most of it) in good, dry, safe storage in Norfolk...in bits. Could this be the Suffolk one moved slightly North/North East?
.
Although I'm not associated with it, I don't think it is very high up the list of restoration projects for the folks concerned. There are too many 'interesting' projects ahead of it, to put it on the active list...just yet.

Oh, I'm not talking about restoring one to operational condition. The problems you mention were only due to the neccessity to withstand extreme heat. Airshow passes wouldn't involve M3+ flight. Tank sealants, oil etc, would not need to withstand high temps, therefore alternatives could be used (and have been in the past). A restored SR-71 wouldn't even need to use JP-7, as J-58's could happily drink JP-4 or 5 (limiting the aircraft to M1.5).
Thats what some folk said about the Vulcan. The only limit is the mind... well, and dosh, and US gov. :ok:

Realistically, I think we've all accepted that the CAA isn't going to permit a Lightning to fly again in the UK. As I've said many times before, I think the CAA's attitude stinks, and I wish an MP would make an effort to ask some serious questions about the CAA and how they are able to create their own rules and regulations, without any honest attempt to base their views on practical experience and technical expertise that would clearly indicate to anyone with less cynicism that a suitably-capable team would be perfectly able to safely operate an aircraft like the Lightning.

Having said this, I think from a financial viewpoint a Lightning would be a very difficult aircraft to support even if the CAA's rules were different. For example, a Canberra and Meteor F8 went overseas largely because of insufficient interest in the UK, and the Sea Vixen is still struggling to find a future down at Bournemouth. Practically-speaking, I think the best we could hope for is that sponsorship for the Vixen will be found and that Coventry's two Canberras will enjoy a more secure future.

My real gripe though, is that the CAA seem to have a problem with the Shackleton which could have been back in the skies over here by now. It's hard to know what ludicrous excuses even the CAA can find to prohibit a relatively simple four-engined piston from operating here, especially when aircraft like the Connie and DC6 seem to be regarded as acceptable. Surely, a contra-prop doesn't suddenly render a piston type as being complex, otherwise even the poor Gannet (okay it's not a piston) would remain grounded (which it seems to be managing to do even without the CAA's help).

My vote would be for supporting Avro's second-greatest aircraft, and persuading the miserable, blinkered CAA mandarins to get real, and respect Air Atlantique's abilities, and let the Shack come home.

Then again, there's all that Vulcan expertise at Bruntingthorpe now and another airframe sitting down at Southend...:)

Well, there's this:

Government Strategic Review of the CAA 2007

Major non conforming re-engineering to the design (thus astronomical cost)




And the FAA and Lockhead Martin as DA.

The Vulcan will hopefully be blessed with corporate sponsorship now. However they have struggled, even with lottery money and rich benifactors.

Handley Page V/1500

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...age_V-1500.jpg


Handley Page Heyford

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/images/h197.jpg

If I win the lottery, which is unlikely..........................as I don't buy the tickets.

I'll put an F-105 up.

Now there's a thankless task.;)

Surely with more carpenters in this country than sheet-metal workers, a mossie wouldn't be that expensive to put back in the air when compared to a metal airframe.
In fact-if anybody has any plans for a mossie, I might just put a team of Polish chippy's together myself. :ok:

How about a Mk3 Chinook?

WM

:ugh:

Now thats just absurd WM, you've more chance of seeing the Spruce Goose flying.

Wish list:

Lightning
TSR2
Concorde
Mosquito

Reality:

Scampton Bucc
Just Jane
Re-engineered Mosquito

I can't see the CAA permitting a Lighting to fly in the UK under anything other than RAF or BAe control.

I as understand it, the reason the CAA are saying no to the Shack is purely because BAe have said the spar's are time ex'd, and if it's resparred then it would likely get a permit:confused:
I believe since AA have done the work on the BBMF Lanc they have would have BAe approval to do the work (if there's enough material left over after PA474's respar a few years back). It's been reported that the CAA have agreed to a one flight only ferry of the Shack back into the UK from the USA, and it's just a matter of logistics vs. cost and all that other financial stuff as to whether it happens or not.......:confused:
Thankless because the US Govt/DoD won't let it happen regardless how much you may win......
The Collings Foundation have recently tried to do exactly this and instantly an order went out to butcher the likely restorable F-105's so they would never fly again.....:ugh:
Sadly that's not the case. And in terms of the UK CAA and BAe DA consent, a new build isn't the same as the glue laminates etc are different today.
Glyn Powell in NZ has spent several decades:eek: building the moulds and now is building new build Mossie fuselages for several restoration projects.
For an indication of what involved in a Mossie rebuild, see here for the rebuild of Jerry Yegans FB.26 using Glyn Powell's new builds.
http://www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html#ka114
But you would have a real problem getting one of these past the CAA/BAe.

The Campaign Against Avaition is a powerful and belligerent body indeed.

How about the VC10, with an accident safety record in service second to none, soon to be replaced by the FSTA!!

Define 'soon', haltonapprentoid - it still hasn't been decided...:hmm:

Now 13 years since I first worked with MoD DFS civil serpents looking at 'Future Tanker Aircraft' - whilst enjoying teaching people about the mighty Vickers FunBus with you, mon brave!

The Mossie has a special place in the RAF's history

The Light Night Striking Force of Mosquitos during one phase of the war made bombing raids to Berlin on 43 consecutive occasions without a break. Sometimes the same aircraft would make a second raid on the same night. The Light Night Striking Force flew 553 sorties during April 1943 for the loss of only one aircraft.

The LNSF used to operate in the most appalling weather and one night Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett was visited by Mrs. Ogden Reid of the New York Herald Tribune. She had asked to witness the start of a raid. This distinguished lady of the American press arrived with a member of the British Government and was immediately driven to the end of the runway by Bennett. Fog caused heavy bomber raids to be cancelled but as the mist swirled around the signal caravan at the end of the runway Mosquitos could be seen taxying on from both directions to save time, lining up and taking off for Berlin in quick succession. She turned to Bennett and said, "I see they have got a bulge - they’re carrying a “Blockbuster” aren’t they?" She asked what it weighed and Bennett told her 4000 lbs which was 500 lbs more than a B-17 Flying Fortress could carry to Berlin. In any case, he pointed out, a Fortress would not accommodate a 4000 lb “cookie” because it was too large for its bomb bay. The famous Press lady pondered for a few moments before replying "I only hope the American public never realises these facts."

One young Mosquito pilot of those days was Wing Commander 1. G. Broom (later Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom DSO, DFC and two bars, AFC). “We did 25 nights to Berlin. You could fly there and be back in the mess before the bar closed. We could carry more to Berlin with a crew of two in a Mosquito than could a Flying Fortress with a crew of ten. They had to fight their way there and back in daylight. We went fast at night, at 28,000 ft.”

As an ancestor of the Mozzie, it would be good to see the DH88 Comet fly again. I always admire the old girl when I visit Old Warden, and I enjoyed seeing her fly during her last spell of airworthiness.

Speaking of De Havillands, I've always had a soft spot for the DH2, but a replica is the best we can hope for there.

With over 100 posts on this topic, it's time for the scores on the doors.
In no particular order, and including the comedy entries and types still flying we have,

TSR2 4 votes
Mosquito 14
B36 1
Hornet 1
Concorde 10
SR53 1
Mk 3 Chinook 2
Lightning 12
F-4 3
Jaguar 2
Bucc 3
Shackleton 3
Argosy 1
Hunter 2
Hornet 1
Hastings 1
Victor 8
Halifax 4
Beverley 2
York 1
Wellington 4
SR-71 1
Valiant 5
HP42 1
Canberra 1
MR4A 1
Whirlwind 3
MB-5 1
Typhoon/Tempest 5
Meteor 1
Swift 1
Sea Harrier 2
Stirling 2
An Airship 2
Javelin 2
Sunderland 2
Hart 1
Beaufighter 2
Belvedere 1
Wyvern 1
Walrus 1
Defient 2
Wessex 1
Avro Arrow 1
Sea Venom 1
Sea Fury 1
HP V/1500 1
Heyford 1
F-105 1
Lancaster 1
VC-10 1
DH88 1
DH2 1

Looks like its the Mossie by a nose :D
Now........ do we have a volunteer for rose bearer and a lottery grant application form?

Tombstone? :D

I would LOVE to see the Javelin fly again. There's a nice one at Staverton for inspiration. I did hear that it was a bit of a pig to fly though!!!!!!!

As a taxpayer i would be happy for money spent on an expanded BoB memorial flight to include some examples of britains aviation heritage. Im sure if the MOD wanted to return a lightning to the sky it could persuade BAe to back it... If not only as a lasting memorial to the service men and women then to the british engineering heritage?

Imagine seeing a pair of lightnings in formation with XH558, or performing their stupidly overpowered take offs....

How i wish i could have visited Binbrook in the mid 80's ;)

I was lucky enough to get one visit to Binbrook's crash gate in about 1986 I think. I've never seen so many spotters and photographers in my life!

Living fairly localy i have passed the place a few times recently, cant imagine it being a major front line station now, even the runway has gone. Must have been a great 'spotter' location, as i hear my local base Leconfield was.

All gone now though:{

Anyway, a Victor would be good to see also, though the Vulcan took so much effort and hard work to get back into the air i cant see its slightly lesser known cousin doing the same.

Got to be TSR2 - The BASTARDS!!


Oh that made me feel better . . .

. . or the Argosy :)

I trust one is not, perchance, mocking my operational type :*

Well I have to admit to buying a Euromillions ticket the other day, you know when the jackpot might have been £88M. Why did I buy it? Well my thinking was that with £88M I might stand a chance of getting de Havilland and Rolls-Royce to join me in building a new Mosquito.

And after that? A Beaufighter and a Typhoon/Tempest, and perhaps getting Just Jane a full major and get her back in the air. But for now my vote goes to the Mosquito.

Avro Arrow

Another Vulcan. :)

&

Avro 707A
Avro 707C

i seem to remember a mossie for sale in canade 2 or 3 years ago, under restoration. looked fairly advanced . dont know what mk it was. any further info ??

More like 10 years ago.......:)
This was an ex-Spartan Air Services B.35 VR796 which was part restored and was put up for sale by owner Ed Zalesky, for about a million plus IIRC. It was eventually bought by Bob Jens and has since been gradually worked on at Vancouver International. I think it's probably still a couple of years away from taking to the air again. The structure is complete, and it's a case of systems fit, plumbing, engine overhaul and fit etc remaining to be done.
Unless you are thinking of the false rumour of another Canadian Mossie (IIRC B.35 RS700 belonging to Calgary Aerospace Museum) that was falsely reported as being up for sale a year or two back on various net forums.

Cold War Memorial Flight
 

When the BBMF gets to be unsupportable, wouldn't it be great to have a CWMF? A couple of F-4s in AD/FGA colours respectively, a Frightening, Bucc, and perhaps a Jag to fly in formation with the Vulcan, perhaps getting a refuel from a Victor!

Only a dream...

That would be when the devil calls in a heating engineer because it's getting a bit chilly. Aren't the BBMF kites the only ones with no planned OSD in the RAF Management Plan? The way we are going as a country and an air force, BBMF will be all we have left!!

Then again a Lanc fitted out with LGB or small diameter bomb might be quite useful in Afghanistan. Long endurance and large payload!!!

The Lightning :)

My choice would be the Defiant

As a matter of interest how much work would be required to get Hendons Defiant out and airworthy?

IIRC, there's three Mossie airframes at Salisbury Hall, including the Prototype. One is static, the rest are in various bits and states of completion but there's a small stockpile of parts and frames too. Absolutely no idea what state any of it is in though.


Edit:

Actually, scratch my last there's four at SH. Bit of googling also turned up this useful site. Survivor list

Nice link :ok: Pleased to see that there are at least 2 being restored to flight status around the world. Just a shame none of the U.K. airframes are getting the treatment.

Back in post #51 WEBF mentioned a Canberra. This is good. :cool:

It's easy to forget that it wasn't only the V's that were nuke bombers, the ubiquitous Canberra also stood that role - in Germany. The B(I)8s of the RAFG Strike Sqns stood QRA loaded with a tac nuke each. And all this while the V Force was "working up".

Is there an example of Britain's least known nuclear bomber in the UK? Well, no. Except for the cockpit of XM279 and the burnt out wreck of WT339 (Barkstone Heath).

There was one though, at Cosford, WT346.

But then someone (at Cosford) decided it wasn't a fit exhibit for some lame reason and sold it on the New Zealand, the RNZAF Museum at Christchurch in fact. It was dismantled and moved out there in 1993 - and there it still is!

Fourteen years later it is still in a dismantled state, unregarded and covered in the rubberised goo of transport protective coating. (NZ did have B(I)8s but sold them all on to the Indian Air Force.)

Isn't it about time someone considered bringing this venerable airframe back to the UK to take it's rightful place amongst the few examples we have of the Cold War era?

Brief history here.



:(