Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

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NAM Updater
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Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

A news release text from the Leicestershire County Council has just been just added to the NAM website that contains some exciting news about the Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft G-AGOS, VZ728.

It is still work in progress but we will provide updates as and when we can:

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/RS_Desford_News
Howard Heeley - Newark Air Museum Trustee
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8674planes
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by 8674planes »

A shame that it's unlikely to appear flying at any public events. Newark will be a good home for it though :)
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

The flying point is something for the council.

Hopefully in the fullness of time we will be able to provide it with an appropriate home.
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TEXANTOMCAT
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by TEXANTOMCAT »

Good for Newark👍 Weird that the Council spent money on getting it flying only to bench it shortly afterwards following no public displays!

Ah the wonders of local authority Museums!
TT

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

Hi TT, again the flying aspect would be something for the council to comment on.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by 5944 »

TEXANTOMCAT wrote:
Mon 07 Dec 2020, 6:31 pm
Good for Newark👍 Weird that the Council spent money on getting it flying only to bench it shortly afterwards following no public displays!

Ah the wonders of local authority Museums!
TT
That'll be the same Leicestershire council that shut Snibston Discovery Centre a few years ago then sold the land off for housing.

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by PeterR »

I for one would much rather the aircraft is kept in flying condition, and not put into the Museum. :neutral_face:

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

I am not going to get into the emotive subject about the rights and wrongs of whether aircraft should be flown or not; but I do respect everyone's opinions and views. That said I would like to add that NAM was approached about the Desford, not the other way round.

Also, for the sake of openness, I have been the main point of contact for NAM on this particular project, which arose just before Lockdown One; and it is still very much work in progress. Most of the key aspects are covered in the full news release text and notes.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by Mike »

That would be a great outcome. Currently there seem to be no plans (or funding) to fly it at the moment, and it languishes out of sight on a private airfield. I for one am looking forward to the opportunity to see it on public display at Newark, so I hope it comes to fruition.

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

Thanks Mike, I for one am looking forward to the outcome of the meeting next week.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by DOUGHNUT »

It is very nice to be donated (loaned ?) this unusual aircraft, and one assumes it is in very good, recently restored, condition so will require little work before going on display.
But I would be interested to know how this aircraft is related to the NAM collecting policy you refer to and more importantly what else will have to be moved outside in order to display it ?
I sincerely hope that NAM do not invest any funds or manpower in caring for this aircraft unless suitable agreements are in place with the aircraft owners.
I can only assume that the accountants at Leicester Council have tried unsuccessfully to sell the aircraft and are looking for somebody else to pay to maintain and care for it.
However the day may come when the Council want it back and funds and effort invested will be lost.

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

Evening Doughnut, here’s some feedback.

In terms of the Collecting Policy the Desford, fulfils a number of the criteria in Newark Air Museums collecting policy, notably:

“The trustees will seek to acquire items to illustrate the history and development of aviation both military and civilian with specific interest in the following areas:
- Aircraft used in a Training role, this because of our local connections with Flying Training;
- Aircraft which show the development of the Jet Fighter / Bomber from the Post War period;
- Aircraft flown privately if they are significant to the development of the type and represent unique examples which otherwise would be”


In addition to these criteria, the Desford also has strong local manufacturing connections via the Nottinghamshire / Leicestershire county border.

That Policy is covered in here http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Museum-Profile

Rest assured that appropriate agreements will be in place to cover the acquisition of the aircraft, (assuming it is approved) and these will be in accordance with our Accredited Museum status.

There are no plans to put any aircraft outside to accommodate its display in Hangar 1; the layout will be adjusted and some loaned exhibits e.g. microlights may go into store.

Council matters are exactly that, and are not for me to comment on.

As for assumptions, I try not to make too many.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by Hammy »

Should anyone be interested, here's where the Desford is up to.

To receive a permit to fly, it requires ten hours of flight testing. Nine hours and five minutes of that has been completed.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

Evening Martin, as I said in my emailed reply to you yesterday - "....I don’t doubt your information, but any specific questions can only be answered by the County Council"
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by Hammy »

NAM Updater wrote:
Tue 08 Dec 2020, 9:24 pm
Evening Martin, as I said in my emailed reply to you yesterday - "....I don’t doubt your information, but any specific questions can only be answered by the County Council"
It’s not a question.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by DOUGHNUT »

Howard. Thanks for the NAM policy info. Not read that before.

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

My pleasure Doughnut, it forms part of the transparency expected from the Accreditation process and it does genuinely guide part of our decision making process, especially when dealing with third party/external exhibit offers.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by Mike »

Just for clarification, as there seems to be a lack of clarity at the moment, is the proposal for Leicestershire County Council to loan the Desford to NAM for display, or to transfer ownership altogether?

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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by NAM Updater »

At this point in the process Mike, that is something for LCC to comment on.
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Re: Reid & Sigrist RS4 Bobsleigh Desford aircraft

Post by Spotty_Jag »

Posted elsewhere, but there is a petition in action for LCC to reconsider their course of action and give the aircraft to an operator who can keep it flying! :thumbsup:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ ... desford-2?

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