Snoopy bites the dust
Discussion
Snoopy was the sole Hercules W Mk 2 serial no XV208.
Converted by Marshalls from a 48 Sqn a/c in the early 1970s it was operated by the Meterological Research Flight at Farnborough (and later by DERA at Boscombe) conducting airborne experiments.
After retirement the airframe was used by Marshalls as a test bed for the A400 engine.
Given that it was the only W2 in existence I am rather saddened by the fact it wasn't preserved in a museum.
Converted by Marshalls from a 48 Sqn a/c in the early 1970s it was operated by the Meterological Research Flight at Farnborough (and later by DERA at Boscombe) conducting airborne experiments.
After retirement the airframe was used by Marshalls as a test bed for the A400 engine.
Given that it was the only W2 in existence I am rather saddened by the fact it wasn't preserved in a museum.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
Snoopy was the sole Hercules W Mk 2 serial no XV208.
Converted by Marshalls from a 48 Sqn a/c in the early 1970s it was operated by the Meterological Research Flight at Farnborough (and later by DERA at Boscombe) conducting airborne experiments.
After retirement the airframe was used by Marshalls as a test bed for the A400 engine.
Given that it was the only W2 in existence I am rather saddened by the fact it wasn't preserved in a museum.
I know which ine you mean now. That is a great shame. Converted by Marshalls from a 48 Sqn a/c in the early 1970s it was operated by the Meterological Research Flight at Farnborough (and later by DERA at Boscombe) conducting airborne experiments.
After retirement the airframe was used by Marshalls as a test bed for the A400 engine.
Given that it was the only W2 in existence I am rather saddened by the fact it wasn't preserved in a museum.
Snoopy, as was.
Repurposed as A400 engine test aircraft.
Testing over, Snoopy was quietly led away to a place of execution.
Future certainly doesn't look bright.
The end is nigh.
It is quite sad, as a Farnborough resident and aviation fan, to see it broken up like this. At least one poster on an aviation forum has suggested that, for now at least, the forward fuselage is still intact. It's a shame that a home couldn't be found for Snoopy, perhaps at FAST in Farnborough. Even the nose section, with the radome and barber's pole reinstated would be a significant addition to their collection. I'm well aware that "we can't preserve everything", especially in light of the many externally stored collections that have eventually been scrapped due to corrosion and lack of maintenance, but it was Snoopy's 'one of a kind' status that made it worthy of preservation...
I'm in two minds about this. Whilst she is clearly a unique aircraft, I'm not sure she serves much in the way of historical value to society outside of rather esoteric aviation circles. I consider myself to be an aviation enthusiast but have never heard of Snoopy until now, which in my mind indicates one of two things: (1) Snoopy isn't actually that important; or (2) I'm a rubbish aviation enthusiast.
In my view, best to save the small amount of money available for preserving A/C of real historical significance - next on the list, Bravo November.
In my view, best to save the small amount of money available for preserving A/C of real historical significance - next on the list, Bravo November.
I'd go for Option 2) 
Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
Eric Mc said:
I'd go for Option 2)
Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
30 years young... although my formative years were spent in the pax seat of an Auster AOP5 so I like to think my knowledge extends a bit beyond 1984! Aside from being a one of a kind, what else marks Snoopy out as special? Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
This is sad, as an RAE apprentice I worked on that many times. At one point it did a landing with one of the VHF aerials wrapped around the rudder! The pilots comments were none too polite either! We had to remake it & reconnect it. The wing end was easy, the other end at the top of the fin was bloody hairy, I was not good with heights in those days. A howling gale & having to get a stretcher tool to a certain number which took a fair bit of muscle.
Also used to service the ultra intercomms & some other kit off of her.
Also used to service the ultra intercomms & some other kit off of her.
b14 said:
Eric Mc said:
I'd go for Option 2)
Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
30 years young... although my formative years were spent in the pax seat of an Auster AOP5 so I like to think my knowledge extends a bit beyond 1984! Aside from being a one of a kind, what else marks Snoopy out as special? Or maybe you're just too young to remember her in her heyday.
I first heard of Snoopy back in 1973 when there was a picture of her featured in (of all places) the Dublin Evening Herald newspaper.
She was a very prominent member of the Hercules 25 Anniversary line up at Greenham Common in 1979.
Right up until the 1980s, RAF aircraft were involved in weather related work. There were even Met Squadrons and Flights at various RAF stations. The advent of satellite weather coverage has rendered specialist weather aircraft less necessary.
As far as I know, there is no British military weather aircraft preserved as such - although the Spitfire PRXIXs still airworthy survived long enough for preservation because their final RAF duties were weather related.
It would be nice to have one aircraft - or even part of an aircraft - such as a nose, preserved to honour that part of the RAF's history.
Eric Mc said:
"One of a Kind" might be good enough on its own - especially now that we have two museums in the UK dedicated to research aircraft (FAST and Boscombe Down Collection). There is also a substantial research aircraft collection at Cosford. Let's hope the nose - with its barber's pole - is preserved somewhere.
Pedantry, but AFAIK the BD collection isn't dedicated to research aircraft. I think most of the core exhibits were just bits and bobs which they got their hands on as aircraft got scrapped. Though they do have some firsts and research versions of course by virtue of BD's function.It's very good though, a real change to have a museum where things are powered up and you can get in (almost) everything. Even the missus liked it.
Edit - depedantry - I suppose all the aircraft at BD could be called research aircraft really. So I'm just wittering
Edited by CrutyRammers on Thursday 16th April 13:32
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