Lancaster fire

[CrutyRammers]

ash73 said:

These birds should be wrapped in cotton wool in museums, for future generations.

Couldn't disagree more.

[IforB]

ash73 said:

If people want to see a Lanc flying they should build a replica.

What nonsense.

An aircraft in a museum is a relic, a dust covered shadow of it's former self.

They are built to be flown and that is the only way you can truly experience them.

You also can't just make a replica, even if in reality, any aircraft of considerable age is for the most part made up of non-original parts.

There are many warbirds around where the only original part is the data plate. Would you say that these are alright to be flying? Or is it just rarity that you have an issue with?

[jamieduff1981]

CrutyRammers said:

ash73 said:

These birds should be wrapped in cotton wool in museums, for future generations.

Couldn't disagree more.

And I'm with CrutyRammers on this. If you want to look at one sat inanimate doing nothing, build a model.

[AlexIT]

Waynester said:

This is a risk when flying any old Warbird, but an acceptable risk in my opinion.

Considering that brand new F-35 have the same problem... keep the old birds in the air

[Mojocvh]

the fire I know about but that UC scares me! [please NO]

[Mojocvh]

dr_gn said:

Mojocvh said:

the fire I know about but that UC scares me! [please NO]

Is that a joke, or is it a serious comment?

I can only comment on what I see on the screen, if you can advise differently, that would be exceptionally fantastic.

[dr_gn]

Mojocvh said:

dr_gn said:

Mojocvh said:

the fire I know about but that UC scares me! [please NO]

Is that a joke, or is it a serious comment?

I can only comment on what I see on the screen, if you can advise differently, that would be exceptionally fantastic.

What do you see on the screen?

[Tim-D]

ash73 said:

These birds should be wrapped in cotton wool in museums, for future generations.

Totally disagree too! Yes this a/c is a national treasure - but it was built to fly and is doing so is seen by millions of people every year rather than a few thousand...

Yes it's mightily rare and priceless and it would be tragic should anything happen to it - but it's lovingly and exceptionally professionally looked after and operated to exacting and safe as possible standards....incidents happen, and from what limited info there is one this , initially at least it was effectively dealt with and here's hoping any damage is minimal....

I love the lanc - my grandfather was a nav on them........ it should fly as long as it can! - and sincerely hope the Panton clan get theirs airworthy too....

[deadtom]

ash73 said:

These birds should be wrapped in cotton wool in museums, for future generations.

absolutely 100% not this

[Dr Jekyll]

In any case most historic aircraft are privately owned. Often restored by their owners at vast expense specifically so they could be flown. They wouldn't even exist otherwise. If they were banned from flying in the UK they would invariably be sold abroad. Unless of course some kind of state confiscation is being proposed.

[kurt535]

Slighty asides to the fire, a Mk1 Spitfire will shortly be offered at auction for £2.5m. Given the amount of Mk1's in the world, this feels postively cheap compared to the auction price of many Ferraris, etc, so I'm not sure there would be a market for continuation aircraft due to the lack of pilots with big cash to buy them. If i had both money and choice, Spitfire every time although I knowingly won't make money in the long term like some cars increase.

[dr_gn]

kurt535 said:

Slighty asides to the fire, a Mk1 Spitfire will shortly be offered at auction for £2.5m. Given the amount of Mk1's in the world, this feels postively cheap compared to the auction price of many Ferraris, etc, so I'm not sure there would be a market for continuation aircraft due to the lack of pilots with big cash to buy them. If i had both money and choice, Spitfire every time although I knowingly won't make money in the long term like some cars increase.

Buying an airworthy Spitfire with the intention of using it means considerably more than a £2.5m investment, much less so than with a £2.5m car bought with the intention of using it.

[ecsrobin]

Plus that mk1 is newer than most operational Eurofighters. Which could affect the price.

[kurt535]

dr_gn said:

kurt535 said:

Slighty asides to the fire, a Mk1 Spitfire will shortly be offered at auction for £2.5m. Given the amount of Mk1's in the world, this feels postively cheap compared to the auction price of many Ferraris, etc, so I'm not sure there would be a market for continuation aircraft due to the lack of pilots with big cash to buy them. If i had both money and choice, Spitfire every time although I knowingly won't make money in the long term like some cars increase.

Buying an airworthy Spitfire with the intention of using it means considerably more than a £2.5m investment, much less so than with a £2.5m car bought with the intention of using it.

Of course it does: dependant on hours utilised but easily £5,000p/h. However, watching rare cars go well in excess of £2.5m, I'd tather use money not spent on flying hours in something so rare!

[aeropilot]

ash73 said:

If people want to see a Lanc flying they should build a replica.

Quite a lot of PA474 isn't what came down the production line - as is the case with many of the 'warbirds' flying today.

And yes, I'm in the fly it camp as well, I HATE seeing any aeroplane gathering dust in a ruddy museum...

[aeropilot]

Mojocvh said:

dr_gn said:

Mojocvh said:

the fire I know about but that UC scares me! [please NO]

Is that a joke, or is it a serious comment?

I can only comment on what I see on the screen, if you can advise differently, that would be exceptionally fantastic.

Nothing wrong with the u/c......you're just looking at a distorted screenshot.

[glasgowrob]

things like this really need to be in the air.


theres nothing more spine tingling than hearing something like this or in my most recent experience the spitfire buzzing the forth rail bridge.


simply amazing. And much more of an experience of seeing one covered in dust in a museum

[fatboy b]

Doesn't look good for any displays this year....

http://www.horncastlenews.co.uk/news/local/update-...

[aeropilot]

Given some of the comments elsewhere on forums posted by those within the vintage aviation industry, the view is that it's probably unlikely we'll see Thumper back in the air for quite a while, probably out the whole season. Engine bearers look like they've seen quite a bit of heat, not to mention the fire/heat damage trashing all the engine ancillaries.
Firewall looks to have done the job it was designed to do though.

Given that only a few days ago, she flew across the channel to Holland for a display, it was extremely fortuitous that this happen in sight of home base allowing the crew to get her and themselves back down as quickly and safely as possible

[kurt535]

Sorry to hear she will be out but very pleased it's not the end. Hate to think the price of a Merlin rebuild but am guessing 6 figures plus damage to airframe. However, if my tax money is spent on such a project I for one am very happy to see it go to such a worthy cause.

Asides, I flew into Duxford today and was lucky to catch sight of various fighters and bombers in the air and felt privileged to be able to still see a Spitfire on full take-off throttle whilst Sally B was on short finals. They do, genuinely, belong in the air, despite the risks and money that comes from flying them.