Southend Belfast Update.....not good

[Garry Russell]

:-(

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2159

Garry

[Chris558]

Hi Garry, yeh saw those pics earlier. The only good thing is, if the spares go to keep the flying one going for longer.

[Garry Russell]

That is true Chris

In fact seeing only ten were built and only five went civil and at best there were three of those, usually two flying, after all these years it's amazing it's still around

Shows how useful it is.

I saw the two stored at Southend in 1989 and apart form one low pass in the early seventies it's not something I've seen :-(

Chances of me seeing the flying one are pretty remote now :-(

Garry

[Chris558]

Indeed! How they have managed to keep those engines going - when so few were made - is astounding.

I've seen one about twice, though not low.

Just wish they'd modelled the A400M on it, rather than on the (ugly) C-17!

[Garry Russell]

Now scrapped :-(

THose of you of a nervous disposition best not look

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... ost1314965

Garry

[Chris558]

No one cares about preserving these lesser known types. :-(

[Garry Russell]

I don't think it's that no one cares

There was a lot of interest in saving this but it comes down to money

As for the owners they were paying a lot of money every day to have it sit there so what else were they supposed to do?

They gave it a little while for someone to come up with something but in the end they had to get rid of it

How on earth do yo move a thing that size anywhere with out it costing a lottery grant?

Sad but real I'm afraid :-(

Garry

[Garry Russell]

I posted this link at the top of this page

A lot more pics on that now

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2159

Garry

[jamesstables]

They were supposed to be preserving the cockpit but even that was a big lump at 14ftx14ftx10ft.

Unfortunately theres very few museums with the space for larger aircraft, or the finances.
Even if they have they can't neccesarily accept it if it doesn't fit a collecting policy.

[SkippyBing]

Just wish they'd modelled the A400M on it, rather than on the (ugly) C-17!

True, what were they thinking modelling the A400 on an airframe that's sold ~200 copies instead of one that managed 10....