Airscene 2009 Calendar competition sponsor Anne Millbrooke’s latest publication has now been released.

For more info visit: http://www.airscene.co.uk/Abbreviations%20Acronyms%20and%20Alphabets%20of%20Aviation.htm

The book is now available for purchase from any of the following locations:

http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=38579

www.Amazon.com

www.Borders.com

www.Barnesandnoble.com

or from your local bookstore.

ISBN13 Hardcover: 978-1-4363-1317-9

Fifteen years ago, on the 25th November 1993, the Handley Page Victor XL231 was flown into retirement to the Yorkshire Air Museum, after a long and distinguished service career with the Royal Air Force. It was saved from the scrapheap by Andre Tempest, a Leeds businessman, after the aircraft was offered for purchase. The Yorkshire Air Museum was approached as the new ‘home’ for the aircraft, and this arrangement has secured the long-term survival of this still futuristic looking aeroplane.

As Andre recalls; “My Father and I bought the Victor mainly due to the 1993 Flypast magazine feature on the final operational days and a mention in there that no museum or collection had shown interest (to date) in preserving one due to the daunting task of looking after one. It seemed quite probable that every example except the one destined for Cosford was to be scrapped. We approached the Yorkshire Air Museum, who were in the process of restoring the Handley Page Halifax, and there was support for the idea of bringing the Victor to Elvington. Air Vice Marshall ‘Johnnie’ Johnson sent letters of support to the RAF on our behalf as he had commanded RAF Cottesmore when it housed No10 Squadron with its Victors and despite being a fighter ace he was a competent Victor captain.”

XL231 ‘Lusty Lindy’ is the only complete example of the distinctive HP Victor remaining in the world and is kept in ground operational condition, by the hard work and enthusiasm of Andre and his team, with the museum’s support. Only one other Victor is still capable of running, but is not complete, making ‘ours’ very special. (The flight to Elvington 15 years ago was scheduled to be the last ever flight of the Victor series, but a delay saw another one taking this honour, although it was duly dismantled for scrap!)

Ian Reed, Museum Director, comments: “The spectacular arrival of the Victor at the Yorkshire Air Museum was thus a significant occasion, as the type had rarely been seen in the north, although XL 231 had appeared on display at RAF Finningley for the Queens Silver Jubilee Review of the RAF, in July 1977. It is fantastic that this aircraft found a home back in Yorkshire and Lusty Lindy is far from ‘retired’, as she regularly entertains thousands of visitors to the museum and has in fact become something of an icon, with a global fan base.”

XL231 first flew on 28th December 1961 and went into service with 139 Squadron in January 1962 in conventional bomber role, but was upgraded to carry the Blue Steel weaponry, as part of the V-Bomber nuclear force. She was later to become the prototype for the K2 Tanker conversion, for the type’s later role in air to air refuelling. It was in this role that the aircraft played a vital part in the Falklands War, with 55 Squadron, firstly to train crews in this vital skill, and then in the Airbridge role from Ascension Island to the Falklands, in support of the Task Force, only finishing these duties in 1985. It then saw action in the Gulf War, in 1990/91, during Operation Granby, again in the refuelling capacity and it was here that it was given the nickname, ‘Lusty Lindy’. She finished her Service career on 15th October 1993, arriving at Elvington just over a month later.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

At last night’s glittering award ceremony, Yorkshire Air Museum came out as top Tourism & Hospitality venue for 2008.The judges recognised the extraordinary diversity of activities undertaken at the Museum, the growth and success of its businesses and the national and international recognition which it has developed.

In accepting the award, Museum Director Ian Reed, said

“to win the top Tourism & Hospitality Award 2008 within the current “European Tourism City of the Year” speaks volumes, and I thank everyone involved in helping us make this one of the most dynamic and loved museums of its kind in Britain – it is certainly more than just an “air museum”.

The Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial is a nationally registered museum, memorial and charity and the largest independent museum of its kind in UK. It employs 150 staff paid and unpaid and is currently undertaking a wide range of projects throughout Britain and Europe.

* The first phase of the Museum’s “Reach for the Sky” project launched by the Minister of State for Transport in London this year and supported by Yorkshire Forward, British Airways, Virgin UK and European Aerospace EADS is delivering the first History of Aviation, National Curriculum educational resource to all 26,000 Primary Schools in UK during 2008.

other projects include:

* A DEFRA supported project aims to make the Museum the first environmentally self-sustained museum/attraction in the North.

* An internationally recognised butterfly and moth conservancy, supported by the Environment Agency is planned to be completed during 2009.

* a £1.5 million project to construct new 28,000 sq ft hangar to house the increasing collection of internationally important historic aircraft.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

The final results for theme 10 “Hover” are now in and the results table is complete. The judges were almost totally unanimous this month; awarding the winner a total of 35 points. This will be slightly disappointing as that 1 extra point would have tied the winner in 3rd place overall.

Congratulations go to Adrian Glazzard who wins a ThinkTANK Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket courtesy of Snapperstuff.With the close of theme 10, comes the close of this competition, and I am please to announce that the Airscene Aviation Photographer of the Year 2008 is:

Neil Darby 179 points

Neil wins the following:

Limited edition print ‘Black Hawk – Special Delivery’ (UK) (value £85) courtesy of Skipper Press (www.skipperpress.com)

Icom Document Bag, Icom hip flask and Icom Swiss Army Knife (UK) (total value around £76) courtesy of Icom UK Ltd (www.icomuk.co.uk)

20″ * 16″ print of any of your submissions + £25 voucher courtesy of Togsprint (www.togsprint.com)

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Lens Drop in Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff (www.snapperstuff.com)

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Pixel Racing Harness courtesy of Snapperstuff

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Pro Speed Belt courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network (see below for details) + Showcase on Airscene

2nd place:

Dean Feltimo 178 points

Aviation History by Anne Millbrooke (Jeppesen Publishing) – courtesy of Anne Millbrooke

16″ * 12″ print of any of your submissions + £10 voucher courtesy of Togsprint

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Bum Bag Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene

3rd place:

Ian Hews 146 points

16″ * 12″ print of any of your submissions + £10 voucher courtesy of Togsprint

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Lens Drop in Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene

3 runners up all win FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene:

Adrian Glazzard 145 points

Simon Thomas 145 points

Gergely Grosz 130 points

I would like finally to thank the wonderful sponsors, without whom this competition would not have been possible.

The stunning and spectacular aircraft action scenes in the latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace, has sparked a surge of interest in the legendary Douglas Dakota DC3, with visitors clamouring to see inside the Museum’s example of the amazing DC3 aircraft.

As more and more people see this record breaking 007 film, the Museum is expecting this trend to follow over the coming weeks.

The Dakota is open to the public most days and children in particular are fascinated and excited at getting inside and being able to imagine 007 wrestling the controls as the Marchetti fighter tries to shoot it down amongst the mountains of Bolivia.

Over 15,000 examples of this revolutionary 1930’s designed American transport aircraft were built, and over 400 are still flying around the world today.

The Museum’s example entered service with the Royal Air Force in January 1945 and went on to see wartime action in Malaysia, before returning to Europe as a passenger aircraft after the war had ended. From the aircrafts log book, it is estimated that it has spent over 11 years in the air!

Museum Director, Ian Reed, said, “the new 007 film is excellent and the DC3 shows what an amazing aircraft it is. I can understand youngsters (and the not so young) wanting to imagine what it is like inside this exciting old warbird in action, and I’m pleased we can provide the service”.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk