Post by acklington on May 14, 2013 17:51:22 GMT 1
As mentioned elsewhere on this section of the forum, I called in here on the 10th May, mainly to see if the access had changed since the closure of "Airbase".
I only took two photos as the weather was very dull;
ATP LX-BPS with modified "Air Gone" titles! It is apparently making slow progress towards airworthiness.
In contrast, nearby Electra G-FIJV was looking very sad on its belly, with the outer wings & nacelles, and tailplanes removed.
The weather brightened up late morning, so I went back again to get better photos, but ATP LZ-BPS was back in the hangar, and the Electra's registrations had been removed by a man with a chainsaw!
Even the Union Flag behind the cockpit had been cut out! The aircraft had been dropped on its belly the day before (9th May), and was expected to be all gone within a week. It was severe corrosion that led to its demise, but nevertheless a sad end to a magnificent flying machine.
However there seems to be better news regarding the UK's (and Europe's?) sole remaining Electra G-LOFB, parked close by. An employee told me that they were assessing it for a return to flight, and it was generally in good condition, apart from the fuel tank that had failed a pressure test, and led to its grounding and use as a spares source.
Elsewhere on the airfield the usual five stored ATPs were still present;
G-MANC and G-BTPJ seen from the DC-6 Diner compound.
G-JEMC parked on the southside.
Together with G-BTPL;
and G-OBWP.
There was little of interest active on the airfield, other than this unusual and attractive looking twin, Tecnam P2006T G-LEKK
Finally, the Midland Air Museum is always worth a visit, if only for its excellent shop! There were three newish exhibits worth photographing;
Air Inter 700-series Viscount F-BGNR (ex Perth), looking very smart after being re-assembled;
Westland Scout XR635, still owned and used by Coventry University for instruction;
And an annonymous Electra cockpit, presumably having survived the last cull of stored Electra airframes.
Thanks for looking!
I only took two photos as the weather was very dull;
ATP LX-BPS with modified "Air Gone" titles! It is apparently making slow progress towards airworthiness.
In contrast, nearby Electra G-FIJV was looking very sad on its belly, with the outer wings & nacelles, and tailplanes removed.
The weather brightened up late morning, so I went back again to get better photos, but ATP LZ-BPS was back in the hangar, and the Electra's registrations had been removed by a man with a chainsaw!
Even the Union Flag behind the cockpit had been cut out! The aircraft had been dropped on its belly the day before (9th May), and was expected to be all gone within a week. It was severe corrosion that led to its demise, but nevertheless a sad end to a magnificent flying machine.
However there seems to be better news regarding the UK's (and Europe's?) sole remaining Electra G-LOFB, parked close by. An employee told me that they were assessing it for a return to flight, and it was generally in good condition, apart from the fuel tank that had failed a pressure test, and led to its grounding and use as a spares source.
Elsewhere on the airfield the usual five stored ATPs were still present;
G-MANC and G-BTPJ seen from the DC-6 Diner compound.
G-JEMC parked on the southside.
Together with G-BTPL;
and G-OBWP.
There was little of interest active on the airfield, other than this unusual and attractive looking twin, Tecnam P2006T G-LEKK
Finally, the Midland Air Museum is always worth a visit, if only for its excellent shop! There were three newish exhibits worth photographing;
Air Inter 700-series Viscount F-BGNR (ex Perth), looking very smart after being re-assembled;
Westland Scout XR635, still owned and used by Coventry University for instruction;
And an annonymous Electra cockpit, presumably having survived the last cull of stored Electra airframes.
Thanks for looking!