USAF out to potentially destroy RAF museum loan bomber

[Tim Savage]

If you don't get up to Barksdale, be sure and go by and check out the Florence SC Museum. I think you'll especially enjoy the A-26K and the WB66.

And the Connie...

[Jollygreenslugg]

HGUCSU/Sabredriver is back. Check his profile and posts. Collects flight suits, posts links and talks about lobbying politicians.

[A2C]

This is silly! It's pure gossip..

[Mike]

No. The RAF have nothing whatsoever to do with the aircraft at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford's American Air Museum.

Not strictly true. The B-52 was gifted to the RAF, as a quid pro quo for the Vulcan donations to several US museums. It ended up at Duxford as the Cosford runway was too short to accept it, IIRC.

I think the British have a plate full of Vulcan at the moment anyway, not to mention the recent scrapping of a UK based example after many years of neglect.

And the Woodford one to go next, reportedly.

Incidentally, does anyone remember the immaculate Convair VT-29 flown into Duxford in 1975 as a gift to the IWM from the USAF? The bulldozers got that one too.

[mustangdriver]

If you don't get up to Barksdale, be sure and go by and check out the Florence SC Museum. I think you'll especially enjoy the A-26K and the WB66.

Wow Shocker, so even if it is dumb gossip, as long as it bashes Dayton you are cool with it. That is dedication man.

HGUCSU/Sabredriver is back. Check his profile and posts. Collects flight suits, posts links and talks about lobbying politicians.

As Gary Cooper would say " Yupppp"

[JDK]

No. The RAF have nothing whatsoever to do with the aircraft at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford's American Air Museum.

Not strictly true. The B-52 was gifted to the RAF, as a quid pro quo for the Vulcan donations to several US museums. It ended up at Duxford as the Cosford runway was too short to accept it, IIRC.

And the RAF aircraft at the IWM were, previously also, um, RAF...

I'd be interested to know who holds title to the B-52 and the F-15 et al. IIRC, they remain USAF 'on loan', don't they? So even if the RAF haven't passed on the loan arrangement to the IWM, it's still a USAF machine.

Which is all moot, because only one person is going on about tit-for-tat scrappings.

Incidentally, does anyone remember the immaculate Convair VT-29 flown into Duxford in 1975 as a gift to the IWM from the USAF? The bulldozers got that one too.

Ooo you stirrer. I thought it was scrapped due to it's unredeemable dullness, but I can't say that, can I? Like the Comet Mk.I I don't think it was 'immaculate' by the time it was scrapped, although certainly many volunteers could have been happily occupied trying to stop the last slide to oblivion as well.

Duxford's steady expansion of buildings to being more and more aircraft under cover, while hosting private operators is, IMHO, unmatched in area and aircraft numbers / size elsewhere in Europe. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than most.

I'm still curious as to how you 'dismantle' a Vulcan to move it.

Cheers,

[Mike]

I'm still curious as to how you 'dismantle' a Vulcan to move it.

Probably the same way they got the one into Hendon. I seem to remember there were pics of it arriving on a fleet of lorries* in the comics at the time.

*See, I even called them lorries rather than trucks, just to prove I haven't gone completely over to the dark side!

[A2C]

The RAF should claim ownership to all British planes in the USAF Museum. Then if they refuse to give it back, the Brits can close Lakenheath! Might as well.

[JDK]

Probably the same way they got the one into Hendon. I seem to remember there were pics of it arriving on a fleet of lorries* in the comics at the time.

As Firebird said earlier, top of page 3 or second last post:
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=25877

Moving a Vulcan anywhere isn't an easy task - full stop.

The design doesn't allow them to be broken down and put back together again.
It's only been done once as far as I know, and that was the RAFM Hendon example, which was done immediately after RAF retirement with access to 30 years of RAF Vulcan know how from the 'crash n smash' teams.
The design also doesn't allow them to be easily sawn up into bits and welded back together again.

Wherever Vulcans were flown to is generally where they will stay till being scrapped after corrsion of the u/c support structure see them collasping onto the ground or it can be towed under cover and looked after properly provided they arn't already a lost cause.

*See, I even called them lorries rather than trucks, just to prove I haven't gone completely over to the dark side!

Still partly bilingual then? What does cheese taste of?

'Dark side'?! Your term, not mine.

The RAF should claim ownership to all British planes in the USAF Museum. Then if they refuse to give it back, the Brits can close Lakenheath! Might as well.

[Randy Haskin]

I'd be interested to know who holds title to the B-52 and the F-15 et al. IIRC, they remain USAF 'on loan', don't they? So even if the RAF haven't passed on the loan arrangement to the IWM, it's still a USAF machine.

The Eagle, at least, is not owned by the USAF in any way.

Recently we at RAF Lakenheath have been trying to figure out a way to give it a re-paint and make it look better, but since it is no longer owned by the USAF, we've found that is illegal for us to do so officially.

[Randy Haskin]

Then if they refuse to give it back, the Brits can close Lakenheath! Might as well.

Please, make the pain stop.

[JDK]

Thanks.

Recently we at RAF Lakenheath have been trying to figure out a way to give it a re-paint and make it look better, but since it is no longer owned by the USAF, we've found that is illegal for us to do so officially.

But even if you paint it, it'll still look like an F-15!

Joking aside, it needs it. Could you get a team to become the DAS (Dux Av Soc) Lakenheath Wing?

Please, make the pain stop.

[Randy Haskin]

Joking aside, it needs it. Could you get a team to become the DAS (Dux Av Soc) Lakenheath Wing?

It will probably end up being just a volunteer effort off duty hours. Who knows how the paint will be purchased or where it will be painted, but I'm sure it will work out somehow.

Lakenheath has a very good relationship with Duxford all ready. Mr. Ashton is my squadron's "Honorary Commander" and attends many of our official and social events.

[Randy Haskin]

But even if you paint it, it'll still look like an F-15!

I was trying to figure out a way to make it look like the greatest fighter aircraft of all time -- the Mustang -- but couldn't make it work.