Dornier 17 - Goodwin Sands to be raised on 4th May 2013

**big ned** · 06-10-2013, 07:10 PM

by Lenny Warren

So, without starting a bun fight, what's the opinion on the best way to display? Halt any degredation and preserve what's there as a wreck, or partial or full restoration??????

Good question Lenny. IMO, it should be at LEAST a part resto, something like the Loch Ness Wellington is what i'm thinking, if only to give today's pretty clueless generation what the real thing actually looked like. That's the least they should do considering it's the only surviving example anywhere in the world and is a genuine BoB combatant, that's not something you'll find everyday.

Hang the expense...!

**António Fragoeiro** · 06-10-2013, 07:36 PM

by big ned

Good question Lenny. IMO, it should be at LEAST a part resto, something like the Loch Ness Wellington is what i'm thinking, if only to give today's pretty clueless generation what the real thing actually looked like. That's the least they should do considering it's the only surviving example anywhere in the world and is a genuine BoB combatant, that's not something you'll find everyday.

Hang the expense...!

Sadly, Its pretty beat up. Expectation was very high.
If the other engines, propellers etc.. are still there, i think they should bring them back up.

**Lenny Warren** · 06-10-2013, 07:47 PM

Agreed about the partial restoration, IMHO... I'm already excited about seeing this historic aircraft...

**Lenny Warren** · 06-10-2013, 07:52 PM

by big ned

Good question Lenny. IMO, it should be at LEAST a part resto, something like the Loch Ness Wellington is what i'm thinking, if only to give today's pretty clueless generation what the real thing actually looked like. That's the least they should do considering it's the only surviving example anywhere in the world and is a genuine BoB combatant, that's not something you'll find everyday.
Hang the expense...!

It's such an important aircraft, considering the guff that money is spent on in this country, we should as you say hang the expense, preserve it...

by NunoGTI

Sadly, Its pretty beat up. Expectation was very high.
If the other engines, propellers etc.. are still there, i think they should bring them back up.

I think she's in pretty good condition considering how fragile the original aircraft was, the fact it's obviously ground looped and the years that have passed. I'm excited to see what she looks like once the corrosion has been treated...

I wouldn't like to see it looking pristine, with a high percentage of replica parts and modern paint, she's a grand old lady that's had a hard life, sympathetic preservation and display IMHO...

**big ned** · 06-10-2013, 07:53 PM

by NunoGTI

Sadly, Its pretty beat up. Expectation was very high.
If the other engines, propellers etc.. are still there, i think they should bring them back up.

Hi Nuno,

It's actually far better than I was expecting, I was thinking it could possibly disintegrate or at least break apart in several places as the thing was not a particularly robust design. As for all the bits that dropped off before and during the recovery, I can guarantee that they'll pick up every last bit they can find.....But not today!

**Adrian Stevenson** · 06-10-2013, 07:56 PM

Great to see.

I am of the same opinion as Ned. She does not look too bad considering. Like Lenny, I would like to see the sympathetic preservation and display route followed.

Cheers, Ade.

**NickW** · 06-10-2013, 08:04 PM

Condition is really about as good as could expected - afraid it will look even worse as all that undersea flora and fauna dies off as the skinning is usually the first to go, but it must still have some structural integrity not to have broken up, especially with the weight of the engines still attached - I understand plans are well advanced for the conservation, but like the Mary Rose it will be a while before we see the results - lets hope the money doesn't run out and we end up with another like the Halifax

**António Fragoeiro** · 06-10-2013, 08:29 PM

**Adrian** · 06-10-2013, 08:48 PM

Looking at it I agree a partial restoration would be the best way to go. Straighten out the fuselage, attach any pieces that have fallen off, remove the aquatic growth and corrosion etc.

That's about as far as I would like to see it go in all honesty. Looking at the integrity of the skin, the airframe I don't think it would be worth doing any more. You can't rebuild it and paint what's left to make it all new and shiny again because so little of the original aircraft is usable you might as well build a new one from scratch.

Mend what's left as far as possible. Strengthen, preserve, stand back and admire.

Obviously because it's the only one maybe a full size model could be displayed alongside it to show what it did look like or even parts thereof but it's easy to speculate. It's not my money..........

**CARL** · 06-10-2013, 09:07 PM

I am pleasantly surprised to see the condition that she is in. Well done to the salvage crew, great work!

Regarding "what to do next?", I agree with Ned - at least partial reconstruction. Or, preserve her as she is (once cleaned up) and build a new one from scratch to sit next to her - money obviously is no object in my imagination

Great to see it though, simply great.

Regards,

Carl

p.s. Ned, hope you made it to the lav mate!