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Midlands mixture

Dave Eade reflects on some differing standards near Warwick

While a visit to the Midlands Air Museum is to be thoroughly recommended, it is sad, then, to report of our brief foray to the Jet Aviation Preservation Group collection at Long Marston.

Here on the edge of an airfield devoted today almost entirely to microlight flying sits the collection, fenced off from a space apparently dedicated to a regularly held local car-boot type of sale. The fence, as well as preventing vandalism has served to catch a vast amount of flying litter and one had the feeling the nobody had been here in a while.

Easily seen from outside is a collection of very scruffy remnants that, let's say, have seen better days and deserve a better fate - even if that is the dignity of a scrapman's axe. This is a collection that has visibly failed in its intention - comparing more with a scrapyard of Coventry than the Museum.

Not far from Long Marston is the airfield of Wellesbourne Mountford where the XM655 Group keep their Vulcan B2. Surrounded by enthusiastic workers who regularly spend free time keeping her ticking, we were soon hearing of the taxi-runs planned for the year. A superb Vampire T11 (XK590) and Provost (WV679) are also to be found by the gate to the airfield - along with the front fuselages of Sea Vixen XJ575 and Vulcan B1 XA903 - restoring our faith that day in the preservation business.

As always, Air-Scene UK acknowledges the use of Ken Ellis's Wrecks and Relics in compiling this article.

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