CALLING ALL AVIATION PRESERVATIONISTS WHO WERE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE 'HISTORIC AIRCRAFT PRESERVATION SOCIETY' (HAPS) AND / OR 'REFLECTAIRE LTD' (REFLECTAIRE PRESERVATION GROUP) DURING 1960s / 1970s - BIGGIN HILL / LAVENHAM / RAF HULLAVINGTON / BLACKPOOL (SQUIRES GATE) :
A number of us who were actively (and very personally!) involved with the preservation of Lancaster NX611, together with other famous historic aircraft and military vehicles, during the 1960s - 1970s, are currently in negotiations with the present owners (the Panton Brothers) in order to organise a memorable reunion event at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire.
This reunion event is scheduled to take place on
SATURDAY 14th MAY 2005
at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire (Website:
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/home.cfm ).
As part of the day's commemorative celebrations it is promised that Fred and Harold Panton will be putting on a very special treat for us, in the form of a 'Taxi Run' by NX611 "Just Jane".
THIS 'DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY' EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED TO COMMEMORATE LANCASTER NX611's 60TH ANNIVERSARY (FIRST ROLLED OUT APRIL 1945 AT 'AUSTIN MOTORS' LONGBRIDGE, BIRMINGHAM WORKS) TOGETHER WITH THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'HER' RETURN TO UK SOIL (ARRIVAL AT BIGGIN HILL, KENT ON 13TH MAY 1965 AS G-ASXX "SPIRIT OF SURFERS PARADISE").
If any 'Forum' member reading this thread was involved with active support / membership of 'HAPS' and / or 'Reflectaire' Preservation Groups during the 1960s/1970s, or knows somebody who was, and would be interested in joining us at East Kirkby on the 14th May reunion celebrations, will you please register your interest by initially replying to this 'Forum' thread and providing a contact e-mail address or send me a confidential 'Forum' Private Message (PM) with your details and where / when / how you were involved with these Preservation Groups.
Because of the need to get some idea of numbers hoping to attend on 14th May, I would be grateful for early responses.
I AM THEREFORE HAVING TO SET A CUT-OFF DATE OF SUNDAY 3RD APRIL 2005 FOR REGISTERING INTEREST.
We look forward to hearing from you and re-awakening memories (good and bad!!).
Last edited by
R. J. A. Taylor on Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:15 am, edited 3 times in total.