C130 "Snoopy"

[Doughnut]

Instead of the scrapman getting hold of her,why don't Duxford Museum display her.

1)
Because Duxford will not pay to buy the aircraft from the MOD, when the MOD can and remove any usefull spares and be paid a (small) sum for the scrap weight of what is left.

2) Duxford has no space to display it under cover.

3) Why does Duxford want an unrepresentive 'test' airframe, surely better to wait and hope to receive a 'standard' model when the time comes.

It is a shame that national collections do not have a 'hit list' of significant airframes, not just aircraft types. For the Hercules XV196 or XV200 are both still current and sould be preserved. Why ? XV200 was the first C-1P converted by Marshalls, in double quick time, to have a probe for in flight refuelling, a vital requirement in resupply during the Falklands in April 1982, XV196 is the only other surviver of the six aircraft used in the South Atlantic.

[PR9]

Would have thought if anywhere Snoopy would be more at home either at Boscombe Museum or Cosford with the other modified or "test" airframes.
I was lucky enough to see her in the flesh as "Snoopy" a couple of years ago at RIAT. Pretty funky looking machine with the Met gear on.

[teeonefixer]

It's a shame but we have to be practical with preservation and concentrate on preserving properly the most relevant specimens. XV208 is more valuable as a source of parts I'm afraid. I heard that the RAF Andovers were not cost-effective to return to service only after a few years in store, as updating the essential mods equivalent to the last ones in service was prohibitive. This would be even more difficult for XV208.
I have a spot for this aeroplane. In the very early part of my career I was involved in ordering and fitting the improved Urinal mod at the RAE, then had the chance to flight test this mod a few years laterwhen doing some trials at Marshalls. It's not all glamour in the world of aviation !

[Sheff]

Why does Duxford want an unrepresentive 'test' airframe

Indeed, Duxford is probably the last place I'd want to send the aircraft. Look what happened to the magnificent Varsity (which 208 directly replaced with the MRF)... sat there for a few years, chugged along the runway a few times, then it was abandoned and left to slowly rot until Duxford decided that they didn't want it any longer (presumably they wanted more space for some more Spitfires). Okay, Duxford are obviously entitled to take the view that the aircraft was duplicated by the DAS Varsity also located there (not that they've exactly showered attention on that airframe either), but it really is a disgrace that a unique research aircraft is supposedly accepted for preservation only to be dumped when someone comes along who evidently isn't interested in it. Seems to be the case at some of our museums that some aircraft only survive depending on the personal tastes of those in control - it's no way to handle aircraft preservation.

It's probably just as well that Snoopy hasn't gone to Duxford as it would doubtless go the same way as the Varsity once Duxford got bored with it. It is a shame that it isn't being preserved though. One would assume that when Marshalls have removed anything of any great value, it would be suitable for museum allocation but I imagine the problem is that museums either don't want it, or couldn't afford to have it transported and assembled? Shame that it can't go back to Boscombe Down and be left there - it's not as if they're short of space!

[lrv890]

Here's a quick update on Snoopy , as many of you know it was used as a testbed for the A400m engine , it now sits rather sad and unloved near the control tower . What will be it future , time will tell !!!


C130 "Snoopy" by lr v8 90, on Flickr

[Tim Holden]

She it sitting on the ramp next to the tower devoid of engines. She is not going anywhere soon.

[hydealfred]

Seen in happier times at an 80's airshow -

[Supra]

Anybody know the significance of the 'red nose' (11th May 2013 picture)... aside from the obvious backdrop to some scatty fund-raising? The retro black radome (fitted for flight when the 'barbers pole' empennage got chopped!) seems to be on ground below the test-engine location.

[lrv890]

Hi I don't think the black thing is the dome in this photo it looks more like another nose cone to me


C130 "Snoopy" by lr v8 90, on Flickr