Save this Hurricane!
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Discussion

motco

Original Poster:

17,595 posts

275 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
quotequote all
The last airworthy Hurricane that took part in the Battle of Britain is in danger of being lost to a foreign buyer. All you need to know is on the Facebook site (link above) including a link to a petition for HMG to step in to save it.

cobra kid

5,579 posts

269 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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When you say "lost".....are they going to break it down for spares or look after it?

soad

34,632 posts

205 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Put it on a twitter too?

v8250

2,747 posts

240 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Crikey, that's Peter Vacher's Hurricane. Didn't realize it was up for sale. With the level of restoration completed when crated back from India there's no chance the aircraft would not receive air worthiness. The issue is whether the aircraft remains in the UK or not; hence the request to sign the e-petition.

Interestingly, I and others spent an evening with Peter back in 2005 where he gave a personal presentation of the find and its restoration. Shame the aircraft's being sold. One assumes the capital value has increased significantly to want to bank the £2.5M

PanzerCommander

5,026 posts

247 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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cobra kid said:
When you say "lost".....are they going to break it down for spares or look after it?
This and do the BBMF not have a Hurricane that is airworthy?




LordHaveMurci

12,336 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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PanzerCommander said:
This and do the BBMF not have a Hurricane that is airworthy?
Sounds like the BBMF one is not a BoB veteran?

Fishtigua

9,786 posts

224 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
quotequote all
Wiki says of the BBMF...

Hurricanes

There are two Hurricanes. LF363 is a Mk IIc and the last Hurricane to have entered service with the RAF. She appeared in the films Angels One Five, Reach for the Sky, The Battle of Britain and a TV series The War in the Air. PZ865, is a Mk IIc built six months after LF363; she is the last Hurricane ever to have been built. She once wore the inscription "The last of the Many" on her port and starboard sides - the original fabric with this inscription is now located in the BBMF Headquarters at RAF Coningsby

ecsrobin

18,643 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
quotequote all
Fishtigua said:
Wiki says of the BBMF...

Hurricanes

There are two Hurricanes. LF363 is a Mk IIc and the last Hurricane to have entered service with the RAF. She appeared in the films Angels One Five, Reach for the Sky, The Battle of Britain and a TV series The War in the Air. PZ865, is a Mk IIc built six months after LF363; she is the last Hurricane ever to have been built. She once wore the inscription "The last of the Many" on her port and starboard sides - the original fabric with this inscription is now located in the BBMF Headquarters at RAF Coningsby
LF flew shipping protection when in service at the end of the war.

I'm sure the RAF BBMF would be very grateful if someone wants to purchase and then donate the hurricane. And probably a bit of extra cash for the maintenance and engineers.

Simpo Two

92,670 posts

294 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/69283



I wonder how many Hurricanes we could get for 10% of the housing bennyfit bill?

aeropilot

40,528 posts

256 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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I would happily see the BBMF sell one of it's Spitfires to pay for R4118, as it deserves a home at BBMF more than any other Spit other than P7350.

soad

34,632 posts

205 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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Signed, every little helps (hopefully).

I can't see the Government shelling out, unfortunately.

ecsrobin

18,643 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th November 2014
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aeropilot said:
I would happily see the BBMF sell one of it's Spitfires to pay for R4118, as it deserves a home at BBMF more than any other Spit other than P7350.
Whilst I know BBMF have in the past sold an aircraft Spitfire PS853 to pay for the repair of Hurricane LF363 I just dont think they would be able to do simmilar now.

You'll have a lot of difficulties with that these days such is the way with social media you would have people arguing for why a particular spitfire is being sold for example why should they sell PS915 for me that aircraft holds significant memories as potentially my grandad did the panel beating as it was built at Southampton. Likewise why should they sell TE311 because not only does it look amazing but the effort by the BBMF engineers to get it airworthy over 11 years, alot of it in lunch breaks and spare time is a credit to them and the men that flew them.

ETA - Of course though I would love to see another Hurricane with BBMF especially a Battle of Britain aircraft. Lets just hope it stays in the UK.

Edited by ecsrobin on Thursday 6th November 22:08

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Friday 7th November 2014
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Warbirds travel backwards and forwards to various countries during their lives. Just because an example is sold abroad does not mean

a) we won't see it displaying in the UK

b) it won't come back to the UK at a later date

I used to get a bit upset if a well liked UK based warbird was sold abroad. But over the years, I've seen many of them come back again. So, for me, it's not that big an issue. The important thing is that any new owners value and cherish the heritage they are currently the custodians of - which most of them do.

probedb

824 posts

248 months

Friday 7th November 2014
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Eric Mc said:
Warbirds travel backwards and forwards to various countries during their lives. Just because an example is sold abroad does not mean

a) we won't see it displaying in the UK

b) it won't come back to the UK at a later date

I used to get a bit upset if a well liked UK based warbird was sold abroad. But over the years, I've seen many of them come back again. So, for me, it's not that big an issue. The important thing is that any new owners value and cherish the heritage they are currently the custodians of - which most of them do.
Indeed. Surely the main thing is that they're preserved?

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

290 months

Friday 7th November 2014
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Nobody worried too much about Kermit Weeks buying a Sunderland and a Mosquito to park in a hangar in Florida. At least there are other Hurricanes flying in the UK.

aeropilot

40,528 posts

256 months

Friday 7th November 2014
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Dr Jekyll said:
Nobody worried too much about Kermit Weeks buying a Sunderland and a Mosquito to park in a hangar in Florida.
Plenty did at the time, just not anyone in a financially strong enough position to do anything about it.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

277 months

Friday 7th November 2014
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If I had a spare 2.5m I would happily put it on permanent loan to the BBMF but as others have said there are other types I think the BBMF would benefit more from owning.

Elroy Blue

8,839 posts

221 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
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Dr Jekyll said:
Nobody worried too much about Kermit Weeks buying a Sunderland and a Mosquito to park in a hangar in Florida. At least there are other Hurricanes flying in the UK.
Both these aircraft have deteriorated since Kermit Weeks got them. I don't think they'll get restored anytime soon as he's gone a bit 'far out' now and is 'finding himself'.

Still, when you can afford to buy them, you can do what you want with them.