Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 22:25:33 GMT 1
I attended a 35th anniversary celebration of the first flight of the 146 at the flight sheds at Hatfield today. It is now the HQ of the David Lloyd Leisure Group and a very much changed site from when I worked there - unrecognisable in fact.
Since the de Havilland museum is nearby, I took the opportunity to visit:
This aircraft has a special place in my heart. It was based at Woodford for a while and we used it as the 'company car' and it was available to take us to meetings in places that were difficult to reach by train or a long way by car.
The interior is merely a representation. The seat covers were leather and there were more than three seats, though the seats (more like armchairs) seem authentic enough. I queried the covering and was told that the fabric was from several huge rolls they discovered when they were clearing out the Hatfield site. Just make sure you step over the wing spar!(just visible behind the rear-facing seats).
A Comet flight deck. An engineer and a navigator were required in those days. It's actually the simulator which was used by Dan-Air.
Dragon Rapide G-AKDW is undergoing restoration to flying condition, though it looks as though it will take a while.
The forward fuselage of Trident 2 G-AVFH
Aaah - flying as it used to be! Club Class on the Trident, restored to it's original config. In the days before seat allocations, there would be a scramble to get the six seats with the table on the left!
G-ADOT DH87b Hornet Moth
I always thought that most of DH's designs were pleasing to the eye, but there are exceptions to every rule!
This aircraft will be well remembered by those of us of a certain age from its visits to Speke on the 'THUM' flights, though curiously the plaque makes no mention of them. There is another plaque on the other side which details the aircraft's history, but again makes no mention of it being based at Woodvale, or what it did there.
I seem to remember seeing this Heron at Speke from time to time - but not as often as TA 634!
G-ARYC, the third 125 to be built and first aircraft into production from the Chester factory. It was used initially for test-flying and later as the 'Toulouse Taxi', flying between Filton and Toulouse in support of the Concorde programme.
What a graceful aircraft the Comet was. The interior of this one is slowly being restored and the work so far is very impressive. Having flown on the Comet on a number of occasions, I was struck by how small it seems, compared to what I remember.
I enjoyed the visit and I recommend a visit for anyone who is in the area. There are few museums where you can get on board the aircraft and see not only how they used to look, but also the restoration which is taking place. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. That said, I find it sad that such an important part of our aviation heritage is lying out, exposed to the elements, simply for lack of funds. They have applied for Lottery funding, and this is going through the selection process, but it takes a long time and there is, of course, no guarantee of funding. They plan to build a complete Mosquito exhibition if the money is forthcoming.
Since the de Havilland museum is nearby, I took the opportunity to visit:
This aircraft has a special place in my heart. It was based at Woodford for a while and we used it as the 'company car' and it was available to take us to meetings in places that were difficult to reach by train or a long way by car.
The interior is merely a representation. The seat covers were leather and there were more than three seats, though the seats (more like armchairs) seem authentic enough. I queried the covering and was told that the fabric was from several huge rolls they discovered when they were clearing out the Hatfield site. Just make sure you step over the wing spar!(just visible behind the rear-facing seats).
A Comet flight deck. An engineer and a navigator were required in those days. It's actually the simulator which was used by Dan-Air.
Dragon Rapide G-AKDW is undergoing restoration to flying condition, though it looks as though it will take a while.
The forward fuselage of Trident 2 G-AVFH
Aaah - flying as it used to be! Club Class on the Trident, restored to it's original config. In the days before seat allocations, there would be a scramble to get the six seats with the table on the left!
G-ADOT DH87b Hornet Moth
I always thought that most of DH's designs were pleasing to the eye, but there are exceptions to every rule!
This aircraft will be well remembered by those of us of a certain age from its visits to Speke on the 'THUM' flights, though curiously the plaque makes no mention of them. There is another plaque on the other side which details the aircraft's history, but again makes no mention of it being based at Woodvale, or what it did there.
I seem to remember seeing this Heron at Speke from time to time - but not as often as TA 634!
G-ARYC, the third 125 to be built and first aircraft into production from the Chester factory. It was used initially for test-flying and later as the 'Toulouse Taxi', flying between Filton and Toulouse in support of the Concorde programme.
What a graceful aircraft the Comet was. The interior of this one is slowly being restored and the work so far is very impressive. Having flown on the Comet on a number of occasions, I was struck by how small it seems, compared to what I remember.
I enjoyed the visit and I recommend a visit for anyone who is in the area. There are few museums where you can get on board the aircraft and see not only how they used to look, but also the restoration which is taking place. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. That said, I find it sad that such an important part of our aviation heritage is lying out, exposed to the elements, simply for lack of funds. They have applied for Lottery funding, and this is going through the selection process, but it takes a long time and there is, of course, no guarantee of funding. They plan to build a complete Mosquito exhibition if the money is forthcoming.
