CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE LANCASTER - 2014 UK TOUR

[k5083]

This is a terrific effort and I see it has quickly stopped the griping (I believe they call it whinging over there) about them giving up their Typhoon to Canada for a while.

Kudos to CWH, safe travels, and I look forward to seeing the pics/vids of some of the amazing formations FM213 no doubt will be in the middle of.

Even though you'll miss Legends, I wonder if IWM can be persuaded to roll out KB889 for a 3-Lanc lineup at Duxford.

Although I doubt we would ever see MoD return the exact favor as some have suggested, there's no telling what kinds of goodwill dividends this can pay.

August

[Warbird Kid]

Where does Just Jane's status stand? Do you think they'll try and get her flying for this year?

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/news/lancaster-nx611-return-to-flight/

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mike]

Even though you'll miss Legends, I wonder if IWM can be persuaded to roll out KB889 for a 3-Lanc lineup at Duxford.

Highly unlikely, as it would involve a major reorganisation of AirSpace. They had no interest in pushing their Bristol Fighter out to make a unique, 4-aircraft line up a few years ago, so I really can't see it happening. Never say never though.

[k5083]

They did push their Bristol out to make a 3-Bristol lineup in 2000, but I realize that was some time ago.

Still, I've seen the facility and have some sense what it would take to get the Lanc outside, so I agree I'm more wishing than hoping.

August

[Mike]

In 2000, there was a Director at the helm who was actually interested in aeroplanes. He was succeeded by an administrator, who had no knowledge of, or interest in, aircraft. Fortunately, he was recently "given the opportunity to take voluntary exit" (his own words), but not before doing irreparable harm to the place (particularly the Luftwaffe collection). May he burn in he11 for all eternity for the damage he did.

[Warbird Kid]

What did he do?

[k5083]

Just going out on a limb, it appears he may have made some curatorial decisions with which Mike disagrees.
August

[Mike]

[JDK]

Where does Just Jane's status stand? Do you think they'll try and get her flying for this year?

Long-term plan. & No.

I'm waiting for the comments from the UK that the Lanc duo wasn't worth it because the colours don't match.

Regards,

[JDK]

Viewpoint soon to be made available in the UK...



However that's Toronto to your 2 O'Clock, in this image.

Regards,

[David J Burke]

The director got rid of a French built post war ex Portugeese Air Force AAC.1 (Ju52) painted in Luftwaffe markings and a French built MS.500 (Storch) similarily pretending to have been with the Luftwaffe as opposed to with French forces in Indo China. The important aircraft he got rid of in my book was Sea Venom FAW.22 which wasn't pretending to be anything !

[JDK]

And a Messerschmitt Me 163 from under the resto team, IIRC?

[Pat Carry]

Fantastic news! Wish old FM212 was ready to make the trip too!

[Steve Nelson]

Will the CWH Lanc still be wearing her sharkmouths when she crosses the pond, or is that scheme just being applied for the June event?

SN

[Mike]

And a Messerschmitt Me 163 from under the resto team, IIRC?

At last count, some 15 airframes (per my list) have been disposed of, some of them for as little as a three-figure sum. However my main beef has been a general lack of vision for the site, no expansion plans announced since AirSpace (which was the brainchild of his predecessor) and a stagnation of the restoration programme. They seem more interested in quilt fairs and hairdressing conventions than, for example, getting the existing airframes in from the weather and restoring them. Coupled with an almost total lack of any interaction with the specialist aviation press and, from what I was told on a recent visit to another national collection, a complete lack of credibility in the preservation movement in general. A sad era for a museum that I love dearly, which thankfully is now over. I hope they show more circumspection in chosing his successor. At least they should look for someone who has a degree of interest in and knowledge of the subject - the RAF Museum have done very well in that regard.

Last edited by Mike on Thu Feb 27, 2014 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.