Duxford Diary 2012

[8674planes]

What does WIBAL mean again... my brain is dead today!!!

It will probably come again to me tomorrow.

[Roobarb]

Actually ~ I was at home toiling away on the computer

You should lay off those types of websites Peter, they'll make you go blind...

[ZRX61]

What does WIBAL mean again... my brain is dead today!!!

It will probably come again to me tomorrow.

Will It Be At L......

[DCW]

With little happening at Duxford over the weekend, I can only offer another archive shot. With Sally B is C-47 G-AKNB, in RAF marks for the filming of 'The Dirty Dozen-Next Mission'. Unusually the marks carried, FD789, are correct for the airframe. (Edit, marks may not have been applied specifically for this film). I believe it was used to drop Lee Marvin and his Hollywood stereotypes into France and kill the German General plotting to kill Hitler.
Photo taken at Duxford 29-5-85.

[Black Knight]

Shame they don't repainted Sally back into those markings but with all over silver

[Dobbins]

Shame they don't repainted Sally back into those markings but with all over silver

and replace the top turret!

[Black Knight]

Whats the issue re the top turret? I was under the impression that for we'll meet again she had a Perspex lump fitted & for Memphis Belle it was a working turret???

[B-17man]

Whats the issue re the top turret? I was under the impression that for we'll meet again she had a Perspex lump fitted & for Memphis Belle it was a working turret???

Not quite, perspex lumps for both films, but for Memphis Belle it was an F style turret dome.

Neither had any guts to them and they do not move.

[DCW]

Duxford Tuesday March 6th:

First stop today was the American Air Museum, where Spring cleaning is well under way:



The extra lighting was a big help:



In Hangar 5, finishing touches are continuing with Vampire T.11 WZ590. The ejection seats will be among the last additions to the cockpit before next Tuesday's roll-out:



But my luck really kicked in with Hangar 2. Just when I thought I had run out of new angles on 'Snafu', I was offered the chance of a closer inspection. After a lengthy climb, I found myself at the rarified altitude of the P-47 office.

It is BIG

The panel is very close to wartime specs, just a couple of mods. Everything needs SatNav these days:





The gunsight is prominent and reminds us of the original purpose of the beast:



View forwards:



View behind:



The wing gunbay access:





I took advantage of the altitude to get another angle on the Fiat CR.42:



The Wildcat seemed different:



The TFC Art Department is busy again:



Many thanks to TFC for a fascinating look at their masterpiece.

[8674planes]

this seems a bit strange but I've never noticed the invasion stripes before! But i cant see how it appears 'different'?

Also noticed that the Spitfire 22 winmgs have been moved.

The P-47 must be nearing undercarige retraction tests soon and hopefully some taxi tests later this month if we are lucky. (i'm not hinting anything just speculating)

[markstringer]

Great photos as always! You lucky sod.

Any update on the TFC Corsair?

[jimbob1194]

Wow that spring clean was needed! The SPAD looks good as new there with that lighting on it!

Excellent work DCW keep it up!

James

[pagen01]

Surprising the difference that 'spring clean' makes!
Excellent pictures as usual.

[Easyrider5258]

Nice work there! like the shots from inside the Jugs cockpit, I noticed how dusty some of the exhibits appeared last week, glad they are spring cleaning in preparation for opening fully shortly


.

[Rigga]

Is it me, or my ignorance, in noting that the Wildcat's Ailerons seem to both be 'up'?

Is this some sort of "Flap" arrangement? (a la Buccaneer)

A slightly confused Rigga!

[David Burke]

Rigga -I am going to work on the basis that whatever arrangement operates the ailerons is disengaged when the wings fold and that means they move where they want when stowed.

[8674planes]

Is that a sea fury cowling above the Wildcat wing?

[bentwingbomber]

Is that a sea fury cowling above the Wildcat wing?

Its the nose ring off FB 11 VR930.

Has birdstrike damage to it.

Came with the T.20 VZ345.

[8674planes]

Talking of sea furies is the T.20 VZ345 still in Storage with Precision Aerospace or is it being restored? The last pics i saw it had the centre wings attached to the fuselage but that was shortly after it had arrived in Australlia.

[ZRX61]

But my luck really kicked in with Hangar 2. Just when I thought I had run out of new angles on 'Snafu', I was offered the chance of a closer inspection. After a lengthy climb, I found myself at the rarified altitude of the P-47 office.

It is BIG

To quote a friend who has flown one: "I'd like this is combat, if anyone starts shooting at me I can just unstrap from the seat & run around the cockpit dodging the bullets"

[Stevie90]

[QUOTE=markstringer;1865142]Great photos as always! You lucky sod.

I will second that!!!!

[Melvyn Hiscock]

Wow that spring clean was needed! The SPAD looks good as new there with that lighting on it!

Whilst the 'SPAD' may look new it will never look good.

[Trak-Tor]

I've been visiting this forum for months now...
Always astonished with the information, knowledge and pictures I keep finding here.
No posts, since I have hardly something valuable to add...
But these pictures are just great. Thanks, David (and all others / contributors).
I can't wait to visit Duxford this summer.
Keep posting...

[Howard500]

Looks like the Wildcat is next in line For restoration.

[Robbo]

Whilst the 'SPAD' may look new it will never look good.

The real thing looks so much better

LFA_5268 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

[Bob]

Also noticed that the Spitfire 22 winmgs have been moved.

Migrating from one end to the other by the looks of it...

[8674planes]

8674, Hey, that is interesting about the centre section, where did you see those pics? How long ago was that?

It's not my own Image. Sadly I don't know when it was taken

[Robbo]

It's not my own Image. Sadly I don't know when it was taken

I don't know where you got the impression that this photo was taken in Australia from. That's at Yeovilton, I should know, I was there at the time and Lee took the shot with my camera.

[8674planes]

oops my bad

SO does anyone have any recent images or updates of it in Australlia?

[Archer]

The real thing looks so much better

What, the real Melvyn??