Classic British Flight Sim

Not sure how many of you know about this. I've just noticed the latest news about the company closing.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk ... php?id=160 more photos on the links.

Background is basically, some people wanted to buy it and restore it but the price was too high due to the previous Spitfire being sold cheaply, restored and sold for a substantial amount and the owner not liking the profit margin. (Allegedly)

I noticed as well that WK198, another survivor, has recently arrived to Brooklands.

Y E S.. none of us (erks) are quite sure why WK198 ended up at Brooklands Links to parent companies of old are there of course so Brooklands is becoming/has become a depository for all such artifacts

ATB
DaveB

In one of the Aircraft monthlies I think the connection was Mike Lithgow. Very tenuous.

That Swift has been at Sheppards for 33 years that I know of, first saw it in 1978 and it it had been there for a while before.

Posted to Hereford as a recruiter Shepphards was a regular visiting place for me in the 20 years I stayed in Hereford, he had MOD surplus stuff that frontline regiments could'nt get or was very difficult to get hold of.

With Sheppards closing though I wonder what will hsppen to the Swift.

I'm sorry to hear about Sheppards closing. They owned a pub on the site called The Spitfire. It closed in about 1984, but the bar, which was furnished with old airline seats, and the ceiling which was covered in model aircraft, remained intact for many years after.
I know this, because in 1986, I bought the pub just down the road in Bush Bank. Many of our locals had been Spitfire locals before it closed, and the Sheppard family became regulars of ours also. We heard many tales of the late night shenanagins in Upper Hill, and they became a regular feature in The Bush also. Wonderful years!!
I never saw the Spitfire aircraft, because the pub had closed before my arrival, but I know that it was sold to somebody in the states. There was some acrimony concerning the sale, but I was told that it went to the highest bidder. No sentiment, just a good business deal.
It wasn't just the Swift they had on display, there were also two helicopters and several tanks and other army vehicles. All in general disrepair unfortunately.
We moved back to Surrey four years ago, but I saw the Swift again last year when we returned to see old friends.
The site can be clearly seen in FSX with GenX scenery. Just south of Shobdon airfield, in the village of Upper Hill. I might post a shot later.

D.

511Flyer, The Spitfire aircraft had gone long before my arrival in 78 the story I got it had been sold to be used in the Battle of Britain film ??? That Tank I think is the Abbot 105mm self propelled gun which was delivered on a low loader in a drivable condition, Mr Shephard wanted to unload it by Bush Bank but a bobby pointed out it had no tax insurance or MOT, he had asked me to drive it from your place to his empire as I held a tank licence, in the event it went all the way on the low loader.

Hi Rich. That must have been a tight squeeze up the lane from Bush Bank. But then again, getting to Upper Hill from any direction with a low loader would be tight.

I don't know exactly when the Spitfire aircraft departed, but I was told that The Spitfire pub closed "a couple of years" before we arrived. In Hereford years, that could have been anything! It was like being in a time warp in that area. The farmers in their best clothes on pig day, was a sight to behold. Getting them out of the pub before 3.00 am was darned near impossible.

In deepest Herefordshire, where you would least expect to find an aircraft parked beside the road, you find one!



It's on my wing tip, but the shot isn't terribly clear. The old pub building is on the right of the car park.

D.

It's a bit clearer on GE