Radleigh Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I'm not surprised one bit, moving to the middle on no-where, where an area only attracts large numbers during summer months. I just hope to god the VC-10 & Bac 1-11 are saved some how let alone the Canberra that was stripped down recently... Gutted. Taken off Facebook As Airbase gets airborne for 2015 we have to announce another side to the coin with the closure of our Newquay site. This has been an incredibly hard decision, but the costs of maintaining two attractions are too much to justify, given our status as a charity. Our focus now is on our traditional home here in Coventry, where we'll be doing more flying, more events and adding more to see and do than ever before. Our task now is to maintain the fantastic visitor reputation our Cornwall guys achieved as the number one attraction on TripAdvisor. Thank you guys, you've done a truly outstanding job. We'll still be offering pleasure flights and aerobatic experiences from airports in the south west, so everyone with a Classic Air Force voucher - or who just wants to fly in one of our old birds - will have a choice of where and when to take a flight. We'll be posting up flights and locations in the next ten days. So from here on in this page will be all about our activities at our Coventry Airbase. 2015 is going to be a big year for us - the year when we really spread our wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Went there 2 years ago, it was very quite, I think it's understandable that's its closing, as you mention I hope the VC10 and BAC 1-11 will be ok, they have also a Sea Devon and the Vickers Varsity there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboydim Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 That's a shame. Is that with immediate effect? I took this photo of the Varsity last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Sad news indeed, took the family for a flight on thier Dragon Rapide, first ever flight for my kids, we enjoyed it very much and was looked after very well, good luck for the future for the remaining business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Bum. Was looking forward to a return trip in June and to worship the VC10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Cornes Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 That is really sad news and, as has been said already, I hope that the larger airframes can either be moved up to Coventry or found proper homes not involving scrap men. I have to say that I was sorry when the collection was split in two to start with but I have an idea there may have been issues at Coventry at the time? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Sad news. But I read somewhere that they were restarting pleasure flights from Coventry. Odd happenings going on....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy4624 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Sad, but predicted. Sort af a specialist attraction that was better left where it was. Even worse on top of the Duxford land warfare closure - not a huge 'target' fan ,but adds variety to the visit. After 10 or so airshows, the massive entrance fee for so little (airshow wise) is wearing very thin - I don't even bother with the main hangar any more, and when you see TFC's entire collection isn't going to fly, ehy bother any more. I hope that their next move will be more thought out - it probably will not be as you tend to fallow a big mistake with an even bigger one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Sad to hear this but as others have said I`m not so surprised. I just hope that the VC-10 can be granted a ferry permit to fly to Coventry as I cannot see it being moved from the South West along those roads. I went to Coventry Airport last year and the Air Atlantique area was very quiet indeed,.....so much so that it looked like it was closing down. Sad to hear about the Land Warfare Hall at Duxford too,.......what was the reason? Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I'm quite concerned about what will happen to the airframes especially the VC10, not sure how long that airframe will survive as I would imagine they get a lot of salt driven in by the wind from the sea, as its not far from the coast, and who is going to wash it, its such a big plane This was taken 2 years ago when the museum acquired it, still with its engines in, could not get any closer at the time as it was still owned by the MOD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evalman Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I attended a volunteers meeting at Newquay yesterday. They are trying to find a way of keeping some of the airframes at Newquay but it looks like one of the Hunters, the Sea Hawk and possibly the Harrier (which is still owned by the Navy) will be going. Realistically the VC10 will not be moving off the airport site. What happens next is anybody's guess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwh Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Even worse on top of the Duxford land warfare closure - not a huge 'target' fan ,but adds variety to the visit. Are you saying that the Land Warfare hall is actually closing down permanently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrovian Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Are you saying that the Land Warfare hall is actually closing down permanently? On the website it says it is open as normal .... American Air Museum is closed for a year long redevelopment http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wafu Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I attended a volunteers meeting at Newquay yesterday. They are trying to find a way of keeping some of the airframes at Newquay but it looks like one of the Hunters, the Sea Hawk and possibly the Harrier (which is still owned by the Navy) will be going. Realistically the VC10 will not be moving off the airport site. What happens next is anybody's guess? Worst scenario would be Apple Aviation would break the VC-10. Not a massive surprise as Radleigh said, I went last year with my kids, the layout wasn't freindly and the hole experience left me feeling dissapointed. The staff were nice and I wish them all well, volenteers and full timers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Batt Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 It's a real tragedy because it meant a lot to a great number of people, but I can't help but feel that someone somewhere should have been a bit more objective about the whole project. For me it was only an hour's trip each way (call it a 90 mile round trip) but the abiding memory of my single visit is thinking "How much!!?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Went past there a couple of weeks ago - forgot it was even there! The wife and I would have popped in but there was nothing advertising it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coors54 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Well there are plenty of signs on the roads around the airport, can't imagine how you missed them. I'm not in the least bit surprised the Newquay site is closing, Mr C****tt has a habit of changing his mind every couple of years - keeps the troops on their toes, and I'm sure there is probably some sweetener at CVT or the withdrawal of one at NQY that has prompted this. But as ever there is no consideration and little thanks for those that have put in time and effort to get the place up and running with no reward, and of course there is always a willing band of volunteers to take advantage of wherever the collection makes it's home. It will be all change again in a couple of years. Mark it in your diary. And yes, I've been there which is why I steered clear of the place when it opened, once bitten and all that. Best of luck to those that want to raise a Phoenix from the ashes at NQY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 If somebody does want to rekindle something at St Mawgan then good luck to them and I hope that the VC-10 is gifted to them if they agree to look after it. Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Canberra stripped down recently?? That's news to me...and I'm her unofficial crew chief/plane captain! It's true coventry are pulling some aircraft back, at time of posting we think it's going to be the single seat hunter, varsity and possibly the sea hawk. Not heard the harrier which is indeed only on loan from the navy is going back. Canberra, vc10, 1-11 and sea devon are the subject of a Phoenix like rebirth which is still on very early planning. I'll update you good people as I get more news Steve, Classic Air Force (Newquay) restoration team member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 There's NO chance of the vc-10 being ferried out...she's 3 engines short and her hydraulic systems have been inhibited so she won't be flying anywhere. As I say watch this space..will update when I can Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Canberra stripped down recently?? That's news to me...and I'm her unofficial crew chief/plane captain! It's true coventry are pulling some aircraft back, at time of posting we think it's going to be the single seat hunter, varsity and possibly the sea hawk. Not heard the harrier which is indeed only on loan from the navy is going back. Canberra, vc10, 1-11 and sea devon are the subject of a Phoenix like rebirth which is still on very early planning. I'll update you good people as I get more news Steve, Classic Air Force (Newquay) restoration team member The Canberra T.4? Correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't it stripped down for restoration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 she was stripped down to move her down to newquay but re assembled straight afterwards. the cockpit is still undergoing restoration though steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Apologies then, I wasn't aware. I thought I read somewhere it was still in a stripped state as of recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 apologies not needed mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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