PAUL ALLEN 1953-2018
Seattle-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, who founded the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field, Washington, died on 15 October. It is thought that several restoration projects currently under way for the museum will continue until fruition.
’MAGGIE’ BACK TO RAFM
Miles Magister ‘T9707’ will soon leave the Museum of Army Flying (MAF) at Middle Wallop and be returned to its owner, the RAF Museum. The MAF was due to close for a major redevelopment at the end of October.
‘BLACK MIKE’ TO ST ATHAN
McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG1 XV582, known as ‘Black Mike’, was moved during October from RAF Cosford to St Athan, south Wales, where restoration work will continue. The machine is owned by Gary Spoors, the boss of GJD Services, and managed by the British Phantom Aviation Group. The Panavia Tornado Preservation Group’s Tornado GR1P ZA326 also recently moved to St Athan from Bruntingthorpe for restoration to fast-taxiing condition.
DH9 FIRES UP
The Historic Aircraft Collection’s de Havilland DH9, E8894, had its 200hp Siddeley Puma engine run up in the completed airframe for the ffirst time at Duxford on 21 October. When it flies, the machine will be the only genuine airworthy World War One bomber anywhere in the world.
