Noticed that the Forbes Vampire was surrounded by scaffolding and fencing during the latest flood coverage.

This is the reason why

Forbes' iconic De Havilland Vampire jet to come down after 50 years, amid public safety risk

The future of a Royal Australian Air Force fighter-bomber is up in the air due to concerns its deteriorating condition has become a public safety risk.

The De Havilland Vampire jet, which flew during the Korean War, has sat perched up on a pole in Forbes since 1971, overlooking the town's lake.

After it crash-landed just west of the town in the 1950s, it was retired to become a training aircraft before the Forbes Shire Council purchased it for the 50th anniversary of the RAAF.

The Australian-made De Havilland jet survived conflict but has not been able to withstand the weather conditions or wear-and-tear from pigeon droppings, with the acidic mixture causing the nose to crack and separate from the body.
Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said it would be remiss not to take it down.

"It's quite dangerous," Cr Miller said.

The question was whether it would return, but the council planned to do all it could to fix the "icon".

"I'm pretty certain the people of Forbes don't want to lose it altogether," the mayor said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-20/forb...-risk/101161230