hoppy posted on the dambusters lancs thread about possibly not even 1 stirling remains in existance .
how many other british complete WW2 aircraft are completely extinct ????????

Most of the weird Fleet Air Arm aircraft, for a start.... plus oddities such as the Blackburn Botha.

But among the 'important' ones, the Handley Page Hampden, Halifax, and AW Whitley immediately come to mind. For sure, there are either replicas or salvage rebuilds in progress with all of these, but complete examples - no [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img] .

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is there a BP defiant still in existence ???? . i believe they were not very effective planes , at least as day fighters but i always thought they looked the part with the turret behind the cockpit

Theres a Defiant at Hendon. Its in the Black night fighter colours.

Martin is quite correct. As sad as it is, it would be far quicker to list the aircraft that survived, than those which have been scrapped.
Of all the heavy bombers, only the Lancaster is airworthy. The Wellingtons and halifaxes are only static examples (most of which are incomplete)

Hi,
A couple of years back, the last surviving Blenheim flew over my home city to honour its designer, who was also born there.
Regards,
Gordon

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Gordon
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FortressScotland-http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/Historian/

...and then crashed. However, the rebuilding of the Blenheim is well under way.

so I believe!

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Gordon
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Even today, I do not see the British government making a large effort to preserve it's historic aircraft. Of the V Bombers, I do not think any Valiants are left and I have not read of any preservation projects for the Victor Bomber. A few of the mighty Vulcans are being saved. I have not read much on saving the Avro follow up on the Lancaster and nothing on saving Bucceneers or early Harriers. I can't remember how much of the great TSR-2 was saved, but it was not a whole aircraft. Also I have not seen any of the "rasberry ripple colored " aircraft of the test squadrons of the 70's and 80's being saved from the scrap heap. [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

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You need to get over here and have a look around the museums Ta - you'd be surprised !

Harriers and Buccaneers ( plus prototypes ) can be seen at Cosford, Duxford and Hendon and as for the elusive TSR-2 the following complete examples of this rare bird can be seen at :

XR220 - Cosford
XR222 - Duxford

There's a 'raspberry ripple' Hunter by the entrance of RAF Halton, etc etc....

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Good morning Martin ! I am glad to see some of the TSR's are still around. That was a great bird.

How about the Valient ?

Are there any Short Sunderlands left ? Or a Supermarine Walerus ?

I am planning to retire in April and the UK is on my " to do " list !!!!

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There's a Valiant at Hendon, Sunderlands at Hendon and Duxford, Walruses at The FAA Museum, Yeovil and Hendon....

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Hi,
As I remember, the Museum of Flight at East Fortune, Scotland, has quite a few rare types. Can't remember which ones, though either a Vulcan or a Canberra springs to mind. Place is run by the Museum of Scotland these days.
Just remembered-they've got an ME 163 Komet.
Regards,
Gordon

[ 10. November 2003, 04:41 AM: Message edited by: The_Historian ]

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Gordon
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??? !!! When did this happen? I got heaps of great closeup pics of a Flying Blenheim at the Duxford airshow 2 years ago...

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The Blenheim suffered an engine failure on approach to Duxford and belly-landed 18th August.

No-one was hurt and skilful flying meant that damage was minimised- even so, we probably won't see it flying again until the 2005 season...

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Back in the early eighties when the Blenheim was first rebuilt, it crashed not long after its first few airshows.
The second time was as Martin has mentioned, in August.
TA, read the thread 'Guy Gibsons Lancaster' on this forum. I gave a brief description of how the Valient was saved.
Martin also tells of how the Prototype Mosquito evaded being turned into the contents of an ashtray !!!

i remember seeing the TSR-2 at duxford a couple of years ago . it was looking a bit sad sitting outside next to a HE-111 . have they put it indoors yet ???????

Breathe easy, hatch - it's now fully restored and sitting in No. 1 Hangar. You can see it at ; -

http://www.johnmullen.org.uk/aerospce/pics/tsr22.htm

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ahhhhhhh a quick lick of paint and in the warm...........sorted.

The 'HE-111' is actually a Spanish built CASSA.
Not being pedantic, just thought you might want to know !!
Duxford is a great place to go, especially when theres a few aircraft flying, it all adds to the magic !!

duxford is a great place to go as long as you dont take the missus cause all you get is cmon , cmon , hurry up !!!!!!!! you really need to go on your own though or with someone like minded who isnt in a rush and can slowly stroll through the hangars and really soak it all in . then its a great day and a long one !!!!!!!
i must go soon myself . its been to long..........

yea hoppy , tell ya when i first saw it i straight away knew it was a HE-111 but did notice slight differences about it which i hadnt noticed before ....engines etc.....
still a 111 though !!!!!

Thanks for posting the picture of the TSR-2 link Martin !! I did not realize how big the aircraft was until I noticed the person standing under the left wing. Boy, the UK beancounters really messed up when they cancelled building the aircraft. It was really nice I think. I am glad the Bucceneer is inside also. It is anouther great from the UK. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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