It was 20 years ago today

[JohnH]

Black 6 flew at last!

[Pat Carry]

I thought the next line was, "Sargeant Pepper taught the band to play"

[the330thbg]

I thought the next line was, "Sargeant Pepper taught the band to play"

[Warbird Kid]

lol

[SPANNERmkV]

IT's been flying in and out of clouds

But the engine's sounding really proud

So let me introduce to you

The one and only

BUT SERIOUSLY... Happy Birthday and here's to 20 more years AT LEAST!

[steve dickey]

If your talking about this(how come its not on the WIX Warbird registry?)

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/A ... alk365.htm

It hasn't flown since the 1900's

[CDF]

John Elcome (right) and myself on the wing - Duxford 1994 -


Pics signed for me by Bobby Gibbes RAAF

[Airlift48]

Isnt this the one that did the gear up at Duxford in 98?

[JohnH]

The crash (since rebuilt of course) and last flight was October 1997.

[CDF]

Few more

Russ Snadden & John Elcome working at Duxford


Damage


Primer


Hendon

[JDK]

Nice pics, CDF. I have some nice pics and fond memories of Black 6, although perhaps less 'close to' than yours!

Russ' book on the restoration is one of the books to have on restorations - and politics relating.

[warbird2]

Is this the one that crashed because the cooling door was not in the right position and it overheated? Was it on the delivery flight to a museum or something like that?

[JDK]

That'll do as a crude summary.

A very historic machine, remarkably original and carefully restored in a decades long restoration by a team led by Russ Snadden. Owned by the RAF, operated at IWM Duxford, it flew between 1991 - 1997 as the only original, genuine, ex-Luftwaffe fighter airworthy in the world. Unfortunately, after a completely successful second flying career, it was overturned on landing, due to pilot error. It was on its last flight before transfer to the RAF Museum for grounded display. Despite being trapped in the inverted aircraft, the pilot instructed the rescue crew not to cut him free, but to wait for the crane to lift the aircraft to minimise damage to this invaluable airframe.

The damaged machine was re-restored by Russ' same team, and replacing very little (see the post-crash section in CDF's shot). It is now complete, again, on display at the RAF Museum's Milestones of Flight.

See the latter part of: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/coll ... 206%27.pdf

Russ' book is 'Black 6' by Russ Snadden, published by PSL. Essential reading for serious warbird enthusiasts.

Regards,