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S
pectacularly windy weather is buffeting the UK
from Land’s End to John o’Groats as I write.
Given the start of 2018, I hope those urries will
usher in some freshness to the nation’s heritage
aviation scene, and that we’ll see some exciting
projects and developments emerge as the year
progresses.
There are some positive signs already, with the excellent news that the
Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) has completed the rst stage in creating a
permanent and secure home for Vulcan B.2 XH558. It’s an aircraft that seems
to have garnered more support than any other I can think of in this country.
In 2016 the Vulcan was moved from the Doncaster Shef eld Airport hangar
it occupied for several years and its future seemed uncertain. But now
planning permission has been granted for a new Heritage Hangar and Visitor
Centre close to its former home. As well as the giant V-Bomber, it will house
Canberra B.2 WK163, which is the subject of a restoration to ight project.
I think I speak for many historic aircraft enthusiasts in saying there has
been a collective sigh of relief at this announcement, and that XH558 – which
came close to becoming a re training aid after its initial retirement by the
RAF – will continue to be appreciated for generations to come.
It’s not all great news though. Many of you will also be aware of the recent
unveiling of Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk ET574 at the El Alamein Military
Museum in Egypt. This is the same aircraft that was found in the desert
during 2012 in surprisingly intact condition. It had been lost in June 1942
while being own by 260 Squadron’s Flt Sgt Dennis Copping, who remains
listed as missing.
Most of us are aware of the protracted negotiations to return this aircraft
to the UK, which ideally would have resulted in it being preserved as a ‘time
capsule’ in tribute to Dennis and the others who died in the Desert War. Sadly,
these efforts have come to nought and the aircraft has been quietly ‘restored’
by the Egyptians, with little apparent consideration for such an historic
airframe. An initial glance shows it painted in garish, incorrect colours with
an erroneous shark’s mouth design on the nose. Finally, the placard on display
underneath the ghter makes no mention of Dennis, or of its provenance.
In fairness, it’s good to see ET574 has been preserved and not picked clean
by thoughtless souvenir hunters at its crash site, but surely it deserved
a better fate than this. One can only hope that in time it is given more
sympathetic treatment, and appropriate conservation, be tting the memory
of pilots like Dennis who made the ultimate sacri ce.Chris Gilson
EditorGroup Editor
Nigel PriceDeputy Editor
Steve BeebeeBelow
After its ‘restoration’ by the El Alamein Military Mueum,
Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk ET574 stands on display.
VIA R PERRIE