The Buzz

摘要

On June 30, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Avro Lancaster B.Ⅱ (PA474) completed this year's first post-winter maintenance flight from its base at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, in the hands of Flt Lts Seb Davey and Neil Farrell. Shortly after the sortie, it was announced the aircraft was in fact carrying a set of pilot wings previously owned by Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC. Seb commented: "Although every flight in the Lancaster is a total honour, today's first flight was extra special!" In other BBMF-related news, the team provided Spitfires Mk.Vb AB910 and Mk.IIa P3750 - flown by Flt Lt Andy Preece and the flight's CO Sqn Ldr Mark Discombe respectively - for a flypast over the funeral cortege of 'Forces Sweetheart' Dame Vera Lynn on July 10. A unique collection of four V-bomber cockpit projects is being offered for sale by Nigel Towler of The Cockpit Collection, who spent nearly 40 years gathering the needed parts to complete them. The sale comprises the nose sections of Valiant B.(K)1 XD826, Vulcan K.2 XH560 and two Victor forward fuselages (B.2 XH670 and K.2 XH669). Nigel explained to FlyPast: "This is believed to be the only collection of this type currently under single ownership. Each of the aircraft has its story - XH669 took part in the first Black Buck raid of the Falklands Conflict, XH670 is the last surviving major section of a Victor B.2, while XH560 was one of just six Vulcan B.2s converted into an air-to-air refuelling tanker. However, XD826 is the real jewel as it is the largest surviving section of Valiant in private hands."