Terrible tidings...

[ozzy72]

A VE Day flypast in Southampton by a second world war B-17 bomber has been cancelled because insurance for the flight is too expensive.

Is this the beginning of the end of Warbirds in the UK?

[Hagar]

I heard a snippet about this on the radio yesterday but couldn't find anything online. The B-17 is the Sally B. The figure of

[Hagar]

I just found this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4513817.stm
[quote]Bomber grounded by high insurance

[ozzy72]

The EU strikes again
I'm just wondering how this is going to affect all "old" flying machines such as early jets, WWII and earlier planes etc. This could prove to be something of a final kick in the teeth for a lot of airshows around Europe
Then the question occurs of WHAT will happen to these planes? Will they just be consigned to museums? Sold abroad?

[Hagar]

I haven't seen the regulations & don't know if they originate from the EU or JAA. From what I've seen so far it will mainly affect large privately-owned multi-engined types like the B-17 so it might not apply to the smaller single-engined types. I'm quite certain a way could be found round these regulations if the powers-that-be were interested in preserving our heritage - & going by their past record they couldn't care less. In this case the timing is immaculate, conveniently preventing the aircraft flying to commemorate the liberation of Europe 60 years ago & all the brave US airmen who lost their lives in doing so. If there are enough protests they will have to do something. Unfortunately I'm not confident there will be too many protests.

PS. It will be interesting to see how the French based B-17 Pink Lady is affected by this. Knowing how much notice the French take of EU regulations they will probably simply ignore them.

[Craig.]

From what i have seen so far on tv. It seems to have been completely ignored anyway.

[jordonj]

That's insurance for ya!

[Wing Nut]

Little by little, GA is being whittled away until there will be nothing more than state-sponsored airlines flying in the air...  :(

[flyboy 28]

That or the rich people.. Which is why I'm hoping to get my lessons in before long so it's less expensive..

[C]

Ahhhh, Sally B's finally reached these forums...

The long and short of it was that its going to cost around

[Hagar]

This also leads on to the subject of the Vulcan project. If a B-17 is in the same category as a 737 I dread to think what that will be classified as.

From what I can make out this is an EU directive. These directives are not mandatory & there is room in the legislation for debate. There is also an exemption clause which is vague enough to treat display aircraft as a special case. "Mandatory insurance should not be required for State aircraft and certain other types of aircraft" What these certain other types of aircraft might be does not appear to be defined so it would seem this has been dliberately left open for discussion & even different interpretation by different countries in the EU.
Unfortunately the British authorities seem to fall over themselves to comply with these directives as written & without proper consultation with the industry.

This is the directive if you wish to read it. http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_138/l_13820040430en00010006.pdf

PS. Elly Sallingboe is a very determined & formidable lady. She's had to be to get sponsorship & support to keep her beloved B-17 in the air for all these years. I have a sneaking suspicion she might have used this opportunity to publicise the stupidity of this legislation to full effect. If so I hope her ploy works.

[C]

PS. Elly Sallingboe is a very determined & formidable lady. She's had to be to get sponsorship & support to keep her beloved B-17 in the air for all these years. I have a sneaking suspicion she might have used this opportunity to publicise the stupidity of this legislation to full effect. If so I hope her ploy works.

She is indeed and I hope she does.

I shall be giving them a little cash this weekend. I  may just give them the full