Classic Air Force (Coventry? Newquay?)
Discussion
...following on from a mention in the Mosquito thread, what the blue blazes is happening with Classic Air Force?
It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
Gone.
The Classic Air Force as was is no more. The collection has been or will be sold off as soon as it can.
Unflyable aircraft left at Newquay are forming the basis of a new local museum.
http://www.classicairforce.com/the-aircraft
The Classic Air Force as was is no more. The collection has been or will be sold off as soon as it can.
Unflyable aircraft left at Newquay are forming the basis of a new local museum.
http://www.classicairforce.com/the-aircraft
yellowjack said:
...following on from a mention in the Mosquito thread, what the blue blazes is happening with Classic Air Force?
It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
When the flying parts of CAF came back from Newquay, entrance was free unless theer was an event on (Vulcan Club day, CAF Takes to the Skies etc...) and that hasn't changed. They are now closed for winter, though visiting the Shackleton and Nimrod can still be arranged by prior arrangement.It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
Everything is for sale, but its anticipated that it will take a while, as the new owners/operators have to be able to prove that they're going to continue to operate the aircraft. They're not necessarily going to those people that have the biggest chequebook.
Newquay has been separate since the move, and are making great strides with being a museum in their own right.
Edited by richw_82 on Friday 27th November 12:06
Thanks for the responses!
So why did the airworthy stuff come back from Newquay then? It doesn't seem that long ago that there was much fanfare about the move down to the South West, and photos of a Canberra (I think) under restoration that was moved by road.
I'm just curious about why, and why so little fanfare, regarding the move back. Shifting the operation once can't have been cheap. Doing it twice must have been quite a strain. It seems such a shame that the collection will be split as well...
So why did the airworthy stuff come back from Newquay then? It doesn't seem that long ago that there was much fanfare about the move down to the South West, and photos of a Canberra (I think) under restoration that was moved by road.
I'm just curious about why, and why so little fanfare, regarding the move back. Shifting the operation once can't have been cheap. Doing it twice must have been quite a strain. It seems such a shame that the collection will be split as well...
The move back from Newquay was something to do with the costs levied by the local Council escalating rather too quickly. The Canberra is still down theer along with a number of other non-flying aircraft that were moved. (Varsity, Harrier, Lightning and some others).
It is a shame, but no-one came up with a viable plan to take over and operate the fleet as a whole. While it may be dispersed, at what flies will continue to do so.
It is a shame, but no-one came up with a viable plan to take over and operate the fleet as a whole. While it may be dispersed, at what flies will continue to do so.
yellowjack said:
...following on from a mention in the Mosquito thread, what the blue blazes is happening with Classic Air Force?
It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
You should register on the Flypast forum, it's been covered in great detail on there.It was renamed not that long ago. Then it upped sticks from Coventry to Newquay. Now it seems to be back in Coventry, but of the claimed collection of 30 aircraft, I can see 20 of them 'sold' or 'for sale' on their website.
I feel so out of touch, as I hadn't been aware of any of this moving about and selling off the collection, the last time I heard anything much about them was at the time of them moving down to Cornwall.
The banner on their website says "Closed for the winter. Reopening April 2016." It also says that entry to the collection is free now. Judging by how little of it remains (or will remain) it's a good job it's free to go along.
So does anyone know if they're keeping any aircraft? Presumably the passenger carrying stuff if they are. But how many? Will they still be in business next spring to reopen at all. It all seems a bit sad, really, to be splitting up a collection of quite interesting, and fairly significant aeroplanes, to be hoovered up by collectors and stuffed away at the back of obscure hangers away from public view, except maybe for high days and holidays.
Or have I got this all wrong? I'm mightily confused by it all...
...can anyone help to set me straight on the facts regarding both/either Newquay/Coventry ???
Eric Mc said:
Or buy "Flypast" or "Aeroplane Monthly" magazines - which both cover the aircraft preservation scene very well.
Far more detail on the forum,(about that particular subject) often written by the people directly involved. Having said that, like here, you have to put up with people and their opinions as well ! 
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff