Nina Plumbe has written to appeal for information about any mark II airborne lifeboats that may be in existence. If you have any information, please write to me at gmatkin@gmail.com and I’ll pass the message on.
Here’s what she says:
‘We are about to start a huge restore on an airborne lifeboat mark II, which is 30ft long. While we are aware of several mark Is (24ft long) we cannot find a single mark II.
‘The photos sho how she looked in the 1960s and how she is today.
‘Is ours the only one surviving? We know that they were built in a boatyard in Wales as well as in a boatyard at Potter Heigham on the Norfolk Broads.
‘Thanks for your help, Nina Plumbe’
Nina and her friends are setting up a trust to care for the airborne lifeboat.
Hello,
The french magazine Le Chasse-Marée has published in may, 2017 (issue N° 286) a story about Simon Evans, a french-based english collector of historic lifeboats…
This article features a Mark II airborne of his collection, with a plan, etc.
You can read the online version (not with full iconography) at
https://www.chasse-maree.com/simon-evans-la-folie-des-lifeboats/
The same magazine has published an article about the Mark I airborne lifeboats in the issue N° 189 (August, 2006).
You should be able to order all this directly from the Chasse-Marée in Douarnenez, France.
Jacques van Geen
Excellent – thanks Jacques. I have passed the message on.
Gavin
Thank you very much. I have made contact with Simon Evans and I think he will be very helpful. I am intending to see him in France in June. Great help.
Hello Gavin, I sent you an email last week, re the ABL . Can you confirm, is this the MK2 that was once at Duxford. If so I may have some information for Nina.
Regards, Nev.
Yes, this is the very one. The Duxford boat that you refer to…that has sinfully lanquished at Duxfird for many a year…is now with me. Nina