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Since no ones started one yet! There seems to be quite a few plane photos in here already as well! Spotted this beast yesterday on a quick visit to Bembridge airport;
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5175734414_925cecaa65_z.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175732154_3816a31321_z.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5175123269_8e140e5771_z.jpg)
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What's the great big tube thingy?? Exhaust pipe??
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What's the great big tube thingy?? Exhaust pipe??
Yep!
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Nice!!
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What is it? It looks like a Stearman.
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What is it? It looks like a Stearman.
N.A.F. N3N-3
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Ah, thanks.
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What's the great big tube thingy?? Exhaust pipe??
You'd think they'd make better use of it. On a Spitfire (not a radial engine, but same principle) the six rear-turned exhaust pipes made a non-trivial contribution to total thrust.
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Yes, you'd imagine it would provide an amount of rotational force.
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Simple answer - the Naval Aircraft Factory was effectively a Government run organisation. Supermarine were part of Vickers-Armstrong.
Nationalised industry compared with private enterprise. ;)
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What's the great big tube thingy?? Exhaust pipe??
You'd think they'd make better use of it. On a Spitfire (not a radial engine, but same principle) the six rear-turned exhaust pipes made a non-trivial contribution to total thrust.
On the Spitfire, the radiator ducts also made a contribution to thrust - there was some research into taking the propulsive effect of the cooling ducts further by adding a fuel jet and glowplug to make a form of ramjet, to be mounted between the radiator ducts, but bench tests indicated that the speed increase didn't warrant continuing with the project.*
Proof perhaps that you take things too far with radial engines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSC_Zvezda_M503
The Zvezda M503 was a maritime 6 row, 42 cylinder diesel radial engine built in the 1970s by the Soviet Union. Its primary use was in Soviet missile boats, which used three of these engines. :o
* Source British Secret Projects - Hypersonics, Ramjets & Missiles (http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Secret-Projects-Hypersonics-Missiles/dp/1857802586) by Chris Gibson and Tony Buttler. A fascinating book...
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Simple answer - the Naval Aircraft Factory was effectively a Government run organisation. Supermarine were part of Vickers-Armstrong.
Nationalised industry compared with private enterprise. ;)
It is an issue of nationalised industry versus private enterprise, but not how you might think. NAF was created towards the end of WW1 because the private companies could not reliably produce the number of machines needed for the war. However, the nationalised factory supplied the gap where private enterprise failed ;)
I suspect many of the differences are related to the fact that the N3N entered service in 1935, and was a trainer, whereas the Spitfire went into production in 1938, and was a fighter. Worth noting, too, that the Spitfire was created to an Air Ministry Specification.
Our trainers in the mid-30s were mainly Avro Tutors and De Havilland Tiger Moths - arguably more elegant, but not more sophisticated.
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Liquid-cooled radials are pretty unusual. One of the advantages of the air-cooled radial was that a cylinder could take a bullet and you wouldn't lose the whole engine. They were also good for carrier aircraft because the engine was physically shorter, making it a bit easier to see the flight deck on a tail-dragger.
Cooling wasn't necessarily better; the Huns had all sorts of problems with the back row of the FW190 engine and ended up wedging a liquid-cooled engine in the last version.
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Simple answer - the Naval Aircraft Factory was effectively a Government run organisation. Supermarine were part of Vickers-Armstrong.
Nationalised industry compared with private enterprise. ;)
It is an issue of nationalised industry versus private enterprise, but not how you might think. NAF was created towards the end of WW1 because the private companies could not reliably produce the number of machines needed for the war. However, the nationalised factory supplied the gap where private enterprise failed ;)
I suspect many of the differences are related to the fact that the N3N entered service in 1935, and was a trainer, whereas the Spitfire went into production in 1938, and was a fighter. Worth noting, too, that the Spitfire was created to an Air Ministry Specification.
Our trainers in the mid-30s were mainly Avro Tutors and De Havilland Tiger Moths - arguably more elegant, but not more sophisticated.
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Aircraft_Factory), it was created "due to a decided lack of interest among aircraft manufacturers in the Navy's requirements for a comparatively small quantity of aircraft" and "and to have under its own control a factory capable of producing experimental designs".
Plus of course, the Spitfire was based on the S6B racing seaplane.
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... the Spitfire was based on the S6B racing seaplane.
Loosely. And the engines were completely different.
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Interesting, I didn't know the US went in for nationalised aircraft production.
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Less chat
Moar plains!
;)
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I was reminded by talk of the Naval Aircraft Factory, that the US War Department sponsored early experiments in heavier than air machines.
Langley Aerodrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley_Aerodrome)
It looked like this.
(http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/images/flight/langley1.jpg)
The engine was vastly better than the Wright engine,
Manly-Balzer engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly-Balzer_engine)
It could have beaten the Wrights to the first manned flight but it was scaled up from a successful quarter-scale model without allowing for the increased stresses and it broke up.
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Yebbut, the Wrights were bicycle engineers :D
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I always though the Do 335 was interesting.
(http://www.world-war-2-planes.com/images/Do_335_prototype_550.jpg)
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I've always thought it was an amazing bit of luck that the Nazis never seemed to push as far ahead with their experimental aircraft as they could have done.
They didn't put funding into developing the turbojets used by Heinkel for the HE 280, nor the Messerchmitt Me 262 (which was a very advanced design for the era), plus they dithered and changed their minds as to exactly what they would use the new aircraft for. In the case of the Me 262, there was nearly 3 year delay in equipping them with a half decent engine, as the airframe itself was ready in 1942.
If the Luftwaffe had started equipping squadrons with those by early 1943, rather than March 1945, it probably would have changed the war.
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Never been sure about the idea of German jet fighters changing the war. The allies also had jets developed by 1943 and the Meteor went into service in 1944. The allies made a conscious decision to not put large numbers of jets into services as it was easier cheaper and faster to build lots of piston engined aircraft as they were good enough for the task at hand. Had the Germans started to deploy jets in large numbers then one would presume that the allies would have modified their plans and done the same thing.
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The German's problems in the air were caused by lack of fuel and lack of pilots. They found it difficult to secure supplies of 100 octane Avgas, so they ended up building expendable one way vehicles such as the V1 and V2 and jets that could run on paraffin. The allies had so much fuel that by the end of the war they were running pointless bombing raids to use up fuel and ordnance. When the jets and turboprops took over there were still vast amounts of high octane fuel under airfields around Britain.
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I always though the Do 335 was interesting.
Yes they produced some interesting aircraft but I think this is so cool!
(http://www.youngeagles.org/wallpaper/bugatti_wallpaper1280.jpg)
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Never flew AFAIK
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There's been numerous Flickr posts of this about turn seen over Edinburgh last weekend. I assumed that it had been told to turn around because the airport was closing but others have suggested that it's too high for that. (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5215099996_790d195108.jpg)
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I always though the Do 335 was interesting.
Yes they produced some interesting aircraft but I think this is so cool!
(http://www.youngeagles.org/wallpaper/bugatti_wallpaper1280.jpg)
I guess there is an engine in the middle somewhere. There must be a driveshaft from there to the propellor. Wouldn't that get in the way of where the pilot would normally have his joystick?
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It looks like a very supine position, but the mid-engine approach was adopted for the Bell P-39 Airacobra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-39_Airacobra).
There were several experiments with supine and prone pilot positions with the aim of narrowing the required fuselage.
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Indeed the pilot was in a recumbent position (what's the difference between supine and recumbent? Is supine flat on the back?). It had twin engines driving contra rotating props with the prop shafts running down each side of him. Conventional joystick. Note the radiator inlets on the tail planes - I believe the air entered in at the rear flowed forwards the front the exited at the wing roots.
Interestingly it is a pre-war design which was hidden from the Germans thoughout the war.
More pix and info here:
http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=683 (http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=683)
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Fascinating. :thumbsup:
Mind you, if it flew, the pilot would be deaf, with their head being right up against the firewall for the engine.
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Just read this thread and it pointed towards listening to the sound of a Spitfire on YouTube.
Is there any better sound than that ????
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Only a Lanc . . . Or a formation ;D
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Only a Lanc . . . Or a formation ;D
An interesting thought. I believe that Lancs, Spitfires and Hurricanes all had the same RR Merlin engines. Does the engine sound different in each one ?
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Different versions of engines, different superchargers, altered exhausts. Also bear in mind the first Merlins installed in the Mark 1 Spitfire developed just over 1,000 horsepower, whilst later models were 1,700 hp and by the end of the war, 2,000 hp.
If you listened to 2 one after the other, they'd possibly sound a bit different. But both marvellous. :)
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I quite like the sound made by an Allison V-1710 near the ground. They were fitted to the early ground attack P51 Mustangs, and to the Tomahawks that were also used in the desert war. They were alright at sea level, but the lack of effective two-stage supercharging made them poor at altitude, until they were fitted with turbochargers. However, they were designed for mass production and had half the parts count of a Merlin. They are fairly interesting, but not as interesting as the Napier Sabre.
Allison V-1710 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_V-1710)
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I've been interested in the Hawker Typhoon, since reading about the fear they engendered in the German Army, especially at Falaise. They were the most feared of the Jabos. The Tempest variant had the same Napier Sabre engine, there's an identification film which gives an idea of what they sounded like, which is mildly terrifying.
YouTube
- Hawker Tempest
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKq51LdJ-ZU)
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If you want a scary noise then there ain't much that makes a more distinctive sound than a Deltic on startup . . .
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If you want a scary noise then there ain't much that makes a more distinctive sound than a Deltic on startup . . .
Oddly you're not off topic there, Napier made the Deltic engine, it was essentially three Culverin engines joined together in a Delta formation, hence the name. The Culverin was a version of the Junkers Jumo 205 diesel aero engine. That powered the JU 86, without much success, as the engines were heavy and unsuitable for combat. The JU 86 was also an airliner, and the South Africans bought 17, mainly with Pratt and Whitney Wasp engines. Those were converted to bombers in WW2, so the JU 86 fought on both sides in that conflict. Which is both interesting and unusual.
Junkers Ju 86 (http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Junkers%20Ju%2086.htm)
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24 cylinders in an H pattern, sleeve valved, supercharged and all in an aircraft that nobody expected to last more than a few days in combat.
A fantastic engineering concept let down by poor execution. Napier made a beautifully engineered product but they weren't suited to mass production. Early Sabres seized with alarming frequency. A friend worked on Tempests in Egypt in his National Service and told me the later marques were much more reliable but he thought that was because they could spend more time fettling them.
I know there's one or two Sea Furies knocking about but does anyone know if any Typhoons or Tempests are still around?
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IIRC there's a Typhoon still flying in the midwest. Most likely near Reno, which seems to be a magnet for such things.
Beautiful machines.
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Bearing in mind the removal of the Harriers from the air, I recently came across a comment about an American privately owned AV8B (http://www.airventure.org/news/2010/100407_harrier.html).
I bet his fuel bills are a bit higher than average...........
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I was reminded by talk of the Naval Aircraft Factory, that the US War Department sponsored early experiments in heavier than air machines.
Langley Aerodrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley_Aerodrome)
It looked like this.
(http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/images/flight/langley1.jpg)
The engine was vastly better than the Wright engine,
Manly-Balzer engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly-Balzer_engine)
It could have beaten the Wrights to the first manned flight but it was scaled up from a successful quarter-scale model without allowing for the increased stresses and it broke up.
Percy Pilcher very nearly made the first powered flight in Leicestershire in 1899
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Pilcher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Pilcher)
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The first International Space Station??!
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24 cylinders in an H pattern, sleeve valved, supercharged and all in an aircraft that nobody expected to last more than a few days in combat.
A fantastic engineering concept let down by poor execution. Napier made a beautifully engineered product but they weren't suited to mass production. Early Sabres seized with alarming frequency. A friend worked on Tempests in Egypt in his National Service and told me the later marques were much more reliable but he thought that was because they could spend more time fettling them.
I know there's one or two Sea Furies knocking about but does anyone know if any Typhoons or Tempests are still around?
The story was that a squadron of the early Typhoons had had the engine management tinkered with, so they were being run at full boost and full coarse pitch at sea level, so the engines blew up.
Napier never had any chance of making large numbers of the Sabre, so the government had English Electric take them over. The Air Ministry was keen on encouraging new ideas, especially as jets were on the horizon. EE had dabbled with flying boats at Freckleton on the River Ribble, so they had some aviation experience.
It put the wind up Rolls Royce, whose lobbying power made them a bit complacent. The Merlin was developed so readily because it was largely craftsman built. Like the Spitfire it was very poorly designed for mass production. Packard did a lot of good work in productionising the Merlin in the US as the V-1650. But the best input came from Ford at Trafford Park, who built a lot of Merlins and knocked a lot of the awkward edges off the process of making them.
Having an abandoned factory in Trafford Park, Ford of Britain was approached about the possibility of converting it into an aircraft engine production unit by Herbert Austin, who was in charge of the shadow factory plan. Building work on a new factory was started in May 1940 on a 118-acre (48 ha) site, while Ford engineers went on a fact finding mission to Derby. Their chief engineer commented to Sir Stanley Hooker that the tolerances used were far too wide for them, and so the 20,000 drawings would need to be redrawn to Ford tolerance levels, which took over a year.[63] Ford's factory was built with two distinct sections to minimise potential bomb damage, it was completed in May 1941 and bombed in the same month. At first, the factory had difficulty in attracting suitable labour, and large numbers of women, youths and untrained men had to be taken on. Despite this, the first Merlin engine came off the production line one month later[64] and it was building the engine at a rate of 200 per week by 1943, at which point the joint factories were producing 18,000 Merlins per year.[25] Ford’s investment in machinery and the redesign resulted in the 10,000 man-hours needed to produce a Merlin dropping to 2,727 in three years, while unit cost fell from £6,540 in June 1941 to £1,180 by the war’s end. In his autobiography Not much of an Engineer, Sir Stanley Hooker states: "... once the great Ford factory at Manchester started production, Merlins came out like shelling peas. The percentage of engines rejected by the Air Ministry was zero. Not one engine of the 30,400 produced was rejected ...".[65] Some 17,316 people worked at the Trafford Park plant, including 7,260 women and two resident doctors and nurses.[64] Merlin production started to run down in August 1945, and finally ceased on 23 March 1946
Rolls-Royce Merlin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin)
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I know there's one or two Sea Furies knocking about but does anyone know if any Typhoons or Tempests are still around?
The only surviving Hawker Typhoon is the one preserved at RAF Hendon (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/hawker-typhoon-1b.cfm). For the Tempest, 11 survive (http://www.hawkertempest.se/Summary.htm) although none are currently airworthy. The Kermit Weeks (http://blog.kermitweeks.com/?cat=33) one is the most likely to get in the air.
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Dear Santa . . .
. . . I have been a very good boy this year
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This guy in Leicestrshire has got the right idea :thumbsup:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9005000/9005829.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9005000/9005829.stm)
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Just found this thread - and was gravely disappointed as I anticpated discussion of antique wood-working equipment!
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This guy in Leicestrshire has got the right idea :thumbsup:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9005000/9005829.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9005000/9005829.stm)
Am I alone in thinking he could pass for an older version of a gentleman of this parish?
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I forgot to mention the other day I had a Piaggio Avanti (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti) fly over me on approach to Luton Airport.
Lovely.
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They put the engines on the wrong way round.
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Back in the 1960s, the Piaggio P166
http://www.p166.com/
was another one that had its engines on the wrong way round. One of them was in the ownwership of Charrington United Breweries, and it used to be a regular visitor to Leeds/Bradford airport in the early 1960s when I was a pimply plane-spotter.
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Piaggio did quite a few like that; maybe they should have stuck to scooters ;)
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They are amazingly efficient. It's just a shame they've only sold 200 or so, although there's renewed talk of a jet version.
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Not too unusual, I saw a Jaguar today, it's just that the setting was a little unusual
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3a8mQ6kkehU/TSJMCrSRNUI/AAAAAAAANKo/Y7h8gxJcXVs/s800/D7K_0976.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nZqU_6krn2OvAFldfF4A8vy2OeYYej5JPvt8wJnL2LE?feat=directlink)
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GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!
:o :o :o
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Is that the British Museum? And is that not umop ap!sdn?
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It was at the Tate (Tate Britain Duveens Commission 2010) (http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/duveenscommissionseries/fionabanner2010/default.shtm).
It was just before closing time yesterday (we had gone to see the Muybridge exhibition), and I had thought about going back to photograph it in daylight, but I see that it finished yesterday.
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It was at the Tate (Tate Britain Duveens Commission 2010) (http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/duveenscommissionseries/fionabanner2010/default.shtm).
It was just before closing time yesterday (we had gone to see the Muybridge exhibition), and I had thought about going back to photograph it in daylight, but I see that it finished yesterday.
The artist says that the planes remind her of the age of the dinosaurs and a time before words.
They remind me of making Airfix models without the paint to make them look like the one on the box. If you got the paint, what where the chances of you ever using up the flesh colour that was needed for the pilot's face, unless you bought a pack of the Afrika Korps and 8th Army soldiers?
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It has been re-displayed?
Aeroplane Art (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=35048.msg663425#msg663425)
I saw the planes there the day I last met you. :thumbsup:
Not too unusual, I saw a Jaguar today, it's just that the setting was a little unusual
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Another unusual setting rather than the plane.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4365690144_6b2fa16af6.jpg)
Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery
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Another unusual setting rather than the plane.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4365690144_6b2fa16af6.jpg)
Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery
I don't know, Griffon engined Spitfires were never that common.
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They remind me of making Airfix models without the paint to make them look like the one on the box. If you got the paint, what where the chances of you ever using up the flesh colour that was needed for the pilot's face, unless you bought a pack of the Afrika Korps and 8th Army soldiers?
You'd need a darker shade for them, because of the suntans.
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They remind me of making Airfix models without the paint to make them look like the one on the box. If you got the paint, what where the chances of you ever using up the flesh colour that was needed for the pilot's face, unless you bought a pack of the Afrika Korps and 8th Army soldiers?
You'd need a darker shade for them, because of the suntans.
I'd just mix some of the brown in, it's the arms and legs on the 8th Army that would use the flesh paint up.
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I'd just mix some of the brown in, it's the arms and legs on the 8th Army that would use the flesh paint up.
Surely you need a nice bright red for that ?
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Reference to the Griffon engined Spitfire upthread means I can link to another 'plane that usually had a Merlin in it. The Allison engined Mustang that served so well in support of the 8th Army in North Africa.
(http://www.hyperscale.com/images/mustangmk1a32tb_2.jpg)
A very different beast from the later escort fighters.
(http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/wonder_of_flight/images/p51mustang_500.jpg)
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Wish I'd had got my camera with me yesterday at Shoreham. There was a Chipmunk in the red/white RAF training markings, and a US-marked two seat radial engined trainer, such as a Texan or Harvard.
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Wish I'd had got my camera with me yesterday at Shoreham. There was a Chipmunk in the red/white RAF training markings, and a US-marked two seat radial engined trainer, such as a Texan or Harvard.
It's a T6 Harvard (I've flown in it)
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Oh cool. I don't like the look of them myself, but I understand that they are good to fly. A curious find on the South coast.
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£320 for 20 minutes. (http://www.thunderprop.co.uk/briefing2.htm) :demon:
Go on.........
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£320 for 20 minutes. (http://www.thunderprop.co.uk/briefing2.htm) :demon:
Go on.........
Ouch, it's gone up a lot since I flew in it (but it was quite a while ago)
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No photo, but yesterday morning, whilst cycling over Putney Bridge in London at 10.45, there was what I thought was an Airbus, either A340 or A380 descending towards Heathrow. I was only seeing it from the rear, which is why I couldn't really tell what type it was.
However, that's not the unusual bit. Inboard from the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing was another engine pod although it was definitely smaller than the working engines. I know airlines do sometimes ferry replaced engines in this way, as about 20 years ago I saw a 747 in a similar configuration, but I thought it was odd that it was clearly a smaller engine.
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And as a neat encapsualtion of the complete world of aviation, here's a 5 minute summary of the 2010 Oshkosh event (http://www.flixxy.com/airventure-2010-worlds-greatest-airshow.htm) - 10,000 planes. :D
I see that for next year, as it's the 75th anniversary of the DC3, they plan to have at least 40 airborne in a mass flypast.
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Anyone got twenty grand burning a hole in their pocketses (http://www.buyplanesforsale.com/aircraft/details/1955-dh-112-venom/945/)?
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What's the great big tube thingy?? Exhaust pipe??
You'd think they'd make better use of it. On a Spitfire (not a radial engine, but same principle) the six rear-turned exhaust pipes made a non-trivial contribution to total thrust.
They do make better use of it as it is. Not only is it an exhauts, it doubles as a leaf/ grass blower and clears the strip on take off runs.
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Couple more from yesterday;
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199793_10150121245302080_512382079_6488611_643929_n.jpg)
CMC Leopard 4 seat private jet
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/183683_10150121248712080_512382079_6488677_1326523_n.jpg)
F+W C-3605
"mercedes vito cleared for immediate takeoff"
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/190624_10150121248537080_512382079_6488674_1293138_n.jpg)
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Sorry, sorry, no pics, but today we saw (at Wellesbourne Airfield Museum):
De Havilland Vampire
Percival Provost
Yakovlev Yak-52
and, astonishingly, a flippin' Vulcan! I must admit I hadn't expected to see that as I rode past the corner of a commercial airfield.
There was also a Vulcan front end (taken from a Mk1 testbed aircraft) to demonstrate the cockpit. I believe that I looked at this set up in the 80s at Farnborough.
Oh - and the front end of a Sea Vixen! Wonderful.
The museum contains a great deal of memorabilia, most of which is salvaged from wrecks, including a Merlin and a section of Wellington airframe.
Wish I'd had longer to go round it.
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The pub in Elvington used to have the valve gear of a Merlin engine along the top of the backrest of one of the bench seats. Not sure if it still does as its years since I have been in there.
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Oh yes, I just remembered. They have a Spitfire cockpit with the HUD sight, and a whacking great Wellington wheel. That's a sod of a lot of rubber.
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But not quite as much as a Brabazon (I think). Though as that never flew, I guess it doesn't count.
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But not quite as much as a Brabazon (I think). Though as that never flew, I guess it doesn't count.
Oh yes it did fly (http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=59134)!
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It did! But it pretty much bankrupted Bristol Aircraft.
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But it was really pretty :)
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A Spitfire, flying above the Forest of Bowland. Twice.
I was with a school group, and the children were a bit bemused by my bouncing up and down in excitement.
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No photo, but yesterday morning, whilst cycling over Putney Bridge in London at 10.45, there was what I thought was an Airbus, either A340 or A380 descending towards Heathrow. I was only seeing it from the rear, which is why I couldn't really tell what type it was.
However, that's not the unusual bit. Inboard from the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing was another engine pod although it was definitely smaller than the working engines. I know airlines do sometimes ferry replaced engines in this way, as about 20 years ago I saw a 747 in a similar configuration, but I thought it was odd that it was clearly a smaller engine.
A bit of a late response, but ...
Some 747s can indeed carry a fifth, non-operational engine, for transport to an unusual location. The engine has to modified slightly for transport, fan blades removed, and covers over some of the inlets, and the aircraft has to have been built to support this load, and only some airlines have ever had this facility.
It's use has fallen away, with increased ease of getting large cargoes to locations, with generally better transport infrastructure to many parts of the world, and the availability of things like the An124 to transport oversized loads, relatively easily.
I've never heard of an Airbus having this facility. It's possible that it was some sort of testbed, since it's not that unusual for aircraft to be modified either with an additional engine pylon, or an existing engine being replaced by a prototype for testing. In essence they're flying wind tunnels!
Obviously these aren't passenger aircraft, so you can do something like replace one of the four engines of a 747 with an engine which could quite possibly be non-functional at take-off and landing, and only operated in flight, when it would be heavily telemetered to onboard data collection equipment. Since they generally won't be flying long distances over water, and so forth, and may not be near the aircrafts maximum payload, missing an engine (or having the additional weight of an extra engine), isn't necessarily a problem.
Assuming there's space on the wing, an additional engine can be fitted, but it's obviously a complex exercise, since the engine has to be fitted somewhere that has the clearance, can take the loading, and the aircraft likely has to be balanced with something acting as a counterweight on the other wing (this could be something as simple as additional fuel).
Another approach is to have the extra engine mounted adjacent to the fuselage on a pylon extending out from there. It's relatively easy to do this, compared to hanging it off of a wing, mechanically, and it has similar characteristics in terms of the airflow, when you're just trying to test an engine in a (sort of) realistic flight configuration.
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After some more hunting around, I can't find any suggestion that Airbus aircraft can ferry an engine, like the 747s can.
The Tristar (L1011) can also carry an additional engine, interestingly on it's right wing, whereas the 747s carry the spare engine on their left wing. The 747 also has to carry seven tonnes of fuel in the right hand wing fuel tank to compensate for the weight of the extra engine.
Apparently another reason why this used to be far more common than it is today, is that the older 747s would only operate very poorly when flying on three engine alone, whereas more modern aircraft only have their range, payload, and speed moderately compromised when an engine is non-operational (or even missing!). Hence, with a modern 747, an acceptable approach would just be to fly an aircraft with a damaged engine, out on three engines only. If two engines have been damaged by a more exceptional event, then you have to find some way to get an additional engine to the aircraft, but that's a much rarer problem.
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Just got back in to Bournemouth today in time to see a sea vixen and what I think was a gnat come in for a couple of low approach and go arounds, very impressive. Didn't realise quite how big the sea vixen is, looks pretty imposing in the air. Shame I don't own a zoom lens, the light this evening was pretty good too.
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Did however manage to get this;
Login to a private Photobucket.com album (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/ailienated/?action=view¤t=seavixen.mp4)
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:thumbsup:
Nice - haven't seen a Sea Vixen for years.
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(http://jakal.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/SeaVixen_And_What.jpg)
I think that's a Red Arrows Hawk, rather than Gnat. The wing on the Hawk is relatively low on the fuselage, whereas it's pretty much at the top of the fuselage on the Gnat.
The Gnat is also about half the length of the Sea Vixen, and the Hawk is a couple of metres longer. In that shot, the other aircraft looks to be longer than half the length of the Sea Vixen.
That's a bit of a guess, since from that perspective and that size, the two aircraft would look quite similar.
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This very Phillips Speedtwin (doing loop-the-loops and low passes over our house yesterday)
(http://bosphorus.f2s.com/speedtwin.jpg)
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Never heard of a Speedtwin before. Looks like an interesting lightweight aircraft (presumably with a good power to weight ratio).
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I'd never heard of them either. Just being doing a bit of digging and it seems it was a kit plane designed by an ex RAF pilot. It was fully aerobatic too. It was withdrawn from the market when he died about 25 years ago with the idea of doing some redesign work to make it more powerful but nothing ever happened. Nice looking plane though.
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Ah. A flying Maestro ;D
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Top speed was about 140 knots apparently. Better engines and retracing undercarriage and it would have been ace.
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That Hawk's a Gnat. Wings are swept too much for a Hawk. There's other clues as well.
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I think it's a Gnat, too, though it isn't very clear.
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I think it's a Gnat, too, though it isn't very clear.
It is a Gnat, they're both based at hurn.
De Havilland Aviation (http://www.dehavillandaviation.co.uk/Projects/projects.htm)
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I'll bow to your greater knowledge and identification skills, I don't know either aircraft well enough to make more than a cursory call!
Tony's comment about swept wings is spot on though, the Hawk's wings aren't anywhere near as far swept as the Gnat, and that image looks like it has quite swept wings.
It looks like there's something suspended from the wing as well, and that sort of thing seems more common on the Gnat than the Hawk (although it looks like both can have clean wings or various objects suspended).
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The Gnat often carries auxiliary fuel tanks. Although both aircraft are capable of light ground attack, so can carry bombs, missiles or cannon.
Today we saw a small plane with what appeared to be a personalised aircraft reg - G-SHAY (http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-SHAY) at an airfield somewhere in Essex.
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I'll bow to your greater knowledge and identification skills, I don't know either aircraft well enough to make more than a cursory call!
Tony's comment about swept wings is spot on though, the Hawk's wings aren't anywhere near as far swept as the Gnat, and that image looks like it has quite swept wings.
It looks like there's something suspended from the wing as well, and that sort of thing seems more common on the Gnat than the Hawk (although it looks like both can have clean wings or various objects suspended).
Steph posted a comment that she withdrew immediately, in which she said stuff about wing sweep and shoulder wings visible in the video. I worked on Hunters and Provosts, but Hawks were looked at as were Vampires and Argosies (we had some seriously old stuff...)
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not an unusual plane but owing to some fracas near the Med the RAF didn't have a Typhoon to spare for RIAT last weekend so BAe provided this tooled - up example;
(http://www.key.aero/central/images/news/3503.jpg)
I like this A10; only seen them on a flypast before. A bit like a one passenger airliner with a similar sound
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5947305370_8a2101a405_o.jpg)
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Just thought i'd slip this in; in no way unusual, but here's one of the latest additions to my logbook:
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/261869_10150238403077080_512382079_7296113_1919569_n.jpg)
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I'm ok with the plane - but what's going on with the half-car behind it ???
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I'm ok with the plane - but what's going on with the half-car behind it ???
It's the beaching gear, half car half forklift for moving the plane on terra firma.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2450484773_695b28f4cf.jpg)
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Wow. Odd.
I guess that one's an Otter - what's the first?
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Bog standard Cessna 172, with floats and the back seats removed.
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Wow. Odd.
I guess that one's an Otter - what's the first?
Very odd! I'm guessing that there is a reason, but why go to the trouble of cutting a pick-up in half? What would be wrong with a whole pick-up?
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Wow. Odd.
I guess that one's an Otter - what's the first?
Very odd! I'm guessing that there is a reason, but why go to the trouble of cutting a pick-up in half? What would be wrong with a whole pick-up?
Looking at it, I'd guess there are a set of wheels obscured somewhere under the floats. If you had three sets of wheels, with the steering ones in the middle, it wouldn't really manoeuvre. The back half of the vehicle isn't needed, so get rid of it, and you'll have slightly more oomph for moving the plane. With less stuff there, it also probably makes the whole thing slightly more manoeuvrable, you can reverse closer to something, by the distance of the bit of vehicle you've removed.
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(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3620412340_29a3b9d417.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/acf_windy/3620412340/)
P6101937 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/acf_windy/3620412340/) by windy_ (http://www.flickr.com/people/acf_windy/), on Flickr
The Isle of Barra plane that uses a beach as a runway.
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De Haviland Rapide, which flew over me one Sunday morning, so I continued on to Shoreham airport (Britain's Oldest Licensed Airport I might add) and took these:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/DH-Rapide2.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/DH-Rapide3.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/DH-Rapide1.jpg)
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Nice. :thumbsup:
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I like this A10; only seen them on a flypast before. A bit like a one passenger airliner with a similar sound
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5947305370_8a2101a405_o.jpg)
It's a flying gatling gun. When they fire they emit a parping sound akin to a loud fart.
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I've flown in a Rapide, a few years ago at Duxford. The seats were like small directors chairs with canvas seats and backs on a metal frame. Not fantastically comfortable but a very enjoyable flight. Particularly as I was at the front and could see into the cockpit, Which has a fairly unique control column if I remember correctly.
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N-315 (http://www.albapower.co.uk/latest-news/hunter-lands-at-alba/)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6063035792_13c479ae73_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/6063035792/)
IMG_4815 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/6063035792/) by The Pingus (http://www.flickr.com/people/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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I like this A10; only seen them on a flypast before. A bit like a one passenger airliner with a similar sound
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5947305370_8a2101a405_o.jpg)
It's a flying gatling gun. When they fire they emit a parping sound akin to a loud fart.
Apparently if they fire a long enough burst, they run a serious risk of stalling their engines.
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On Sunday, walking near Lewes, a Flying Fortress, a Spitfire, and a Catalina. Not at the same time.
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We visited Newark Air Museum on Thursday. Lots of interesting stuff, including MiGs 23 & 27 (no 25 :( ).
Someone there loves Canberras.
And they have a Vulcan.
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They also have/had a Lightning, on a plinth, near there, left to be vandalised. Dreadful.
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The Lightning is on the field now, but it is in a sorry state. :(
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/electropod/2604961161/
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Crikey! Well, the one we saw wasn't in anything like that bad a state. Could be being restored, as the paintwork was in a very sorry, half-stripped state, so possibly the same machine, but I doubt it.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/superlekker/2559042705/
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Last Wednesday, I finally got to go around Tangmere Military Aviation Museum (http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/). It's quite a compact museum, with only 2 small hangars, but in the old Mess buildings, they have crammed in loads of displays and bits of aircraft interiors and equipment.
They're especially proud of their Lightning and Hunters, including the Airspeed record holder as flown by Neville Duke in 1953 from Tangmere:-
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/IMG_0807.jpg)
However, what impressed me the most was the replica Spitfire prototype:-
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/IMG_0808.jpg)
The original was destroyed just before the war, but this is one of several reproductions made. Although this is a non flying version, it was built by a firm of aircraft restorers whilst they were working on a normal Spitfire, and it's supposed to be 99% accurate, and it certainly felt and looked very authentic to me. Even though it's not the real thing, it represents an iconic step forward by British aviation.
Pictures of the other aircraft they have are shown here (http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/).
If you find yourself out that way, I recommend you spend an afternoon there.
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When returning via Oxford from Shrewsbury, I saw my first VC10 in years on a landing circuit. Probably for Brize.
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Mrs B & I visited the Museum of Berkshire Aviation http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/ (http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/) at Woodley, on the edge of Reading, last September. A very small museum, but with some interesting stuff. A strong local bias, & therefore a few Miles aircraft.
Miles Hawk Trainer - replica built around the surviving parts of an an original. There wasn't enough left for a restoration.
(http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Bledlow/IMG_0210.jpg)
Miles Student - restored
(http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Bledlow/IMG_0208.jpg)
Fairey Gannet
(http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Bledlow/IMG_0218.jpg)
Fairey Rotodyne
(http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Bledlow/IMG_0212.jpg)
It has a Handley Page Herald outside.
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Unable to get a photo, but today I was having a crafty fag break at the side of US-95 and spotted a Predator coming into Land at Creech AFB, near Indian Springs, NV.
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Shortly after making this post, Mr Larrington was arrested as a suspected turrist, and has now been removed for extraordinary rendition.
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Last Wednesday, I finally got to go around Tangmere Military Aviation Museum (http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/). It's quite a compact museum, with only 2 small hangars, but in the old Mess buildings, they have crammed in loads of displays and bits of aircraft interiors and equipment.
They're especially proud of their Lightning and Hunters, including the Airspeed record holder as flown by Neville Duke in 1953 from Tangmere:-
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/IMG_0807.jpg)
However, what impressed me the most was the replica Spitfire prototype:-
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/IMG_0808.jpg)
The original was destroyed just before the war, but this is one of several reproductions made. Although this is a non flying version, it was built by a firm of aircraft restorers whilst they were working on a normal Spitfire, and it's supposed to be 99% accurate, and it certainly felt and looked very authentic to me. Even though it's not the real thing, it represents an iconic step forward by British aviation.
Pictures of the other aircraft they have are shown here (http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/Tangmere%20Military%20Aviation%20Museum/).
If you find yourself out that way, I recommend you spend an afternoon there.
Adam, was that Lockheed plane also knoown as the Shooting Star, as used in Korea, or a version thereof?
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Adam, was that Lockheed plane also knoown as the Shooting Star, as used in Korea, or a version thereof?
Not quite. At Tangmere, they've got a Lockheed T-33 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_T-33_Shooting_Star) which was just an 2 seat advanced jet trainer. That was a stretched version of the P-80 single seat fighter which is what served in combat duty in Korea. Both planes were known as Shooting Stars though.
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Shortly after making this post, Mr Larrington was arrested as a suspected turrist, and has now been removed for extraordinary rendition.
Let me out of this fish crate, you swine!
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Today we saw a small plane with what appeared to be a personalised aircraft reg - G-SHAY (http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-SHAY) at an airfield somewhere in Essex.
this isn't uncommon, I think. My Dad's plane, based at Southend, is G-UTSY.
(http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/3/9/1/1783193.jpg)
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I believe when registering an aircraft you just request whatever 4 letter reg you like, and unless its obscene or already taken its yours.
Saw a Piaggio Avanti at Bournemouth today, damn slick looking machine. Unfortunately no camera on me at the time.
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It's only £165 extra to have an out of sequence registration, on top of the standard fee (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=122&pagetype=90&pageid=138), which for a light aircraft is £62.
About 30 years ago, I registered a plastic bin liner* and got allocated G-BITY which is quite a good registration for an in-sequence mark. I've kept onto it, as I hoped at some point the CAA would allow registration marks to be transferred to other aircraft, so that if I ever bought a plane (ha ha, not likely now), I could switch it across, and then have it painted up with a really smart shark paint scheme. 8)
* Technically it's a free standing hot air balloon, but it was made out of a large number of bin liners. Around that time, there was a big craze for registering all sorts of daft things, just for the hell of it, as back then it was very cheap. I knew someone who registered a manhole cover and called it some obscure name which made it sound like it was a flying wing.
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Crikey that's interesting - like most Piaggios a pusher. Looks like a Burt Rutan creation.
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About 30 years ago, I registered a plastic bin liner* and got allocated G-BITY which is quite a good registration for an in-sequence mark.
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSS_PfwfQa5OJRc284nPQHd5ng0Y5U0nlzZzpZDijlyzIjL7kaz8wqYVn5u)
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I'd never thought of that - I could sell the registration to him for lots of cash. :demon:
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Shortly after making this post, Mr Larrington was arrested as a suspected turrist, and has now been removed for extraordinary rendition.
It wasn't me... (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/09/virus-infects-drone-plane-command)
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The Vulcan was over Silverstone during the last BTCC meeting of the year yesterday, though sadly I was only watching on the telly.
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Yesterday afternoon a Douglas DC3 Dakota resplendant in D- Day paint job flew over Marlow heading West.
Lovely sound as it passed.
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Yesterday afternoon a Douglas DC3 Dakota resplendant in D- Day paint job flew over Marlow heading West.
Doesn't the D Day paint job make it a C47?
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Nope. I do believe there was a strengthened floor etc on the C47.
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Technically, the Dakota is a C47 as that was the name the RAF gave to it, when the C47 came into service. Although a lot of the remaining civilian DC3's around the UK were converted from C-47's after the war (by simply putting seats in).
Generally, if it's got a large cargo door at the rear, then it used to be a C47.
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Whatever its' designation, it looked just liekt he jobs that Damian Lewis and his troops jumped from in Band of Brothers.
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The DC-3 was converted to the Dakota/Skytrain/Skytrooper/C-47 bu adding cargo door, strengthened floor, etc. Later ones were 'converted' back to DC-3, but retained the mods, as Adam says. There was a later super-Skytrain (US designation) that involved larger tail surfaces, engine mods and other changes. Watch "A Bridge Too Far" and look at the fins.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/electropod/2604961161/
My dad was the last Lightning station commander at RAF Gutersloh (1974-76), and I believe he has XN728 in his logbook. It's such a shame to see it in this state. I'd prefer it was destroyed than allowed to lose its dignity so.
Unable to get a photo, but today I was having a crafty fag break at the side of US-95 and spotted a Predator coming into Land at Creech AFB, near Indian Springs, NV.
Creech (Indian Springs) AFB is largely used in support of the 'Flag' exercises in the Nevada training ranges. I have been in there a few times in a previous life; with all the closures, it's surprising that such a relatively small base has survived!
N-315
That's a RNLAF (Dutch)-liveried Hunter T7, isn't it? They used to have about seven squadrons' of these! I flew them myself in the RAF in the late '70s, though they were (only just) out of front-line service by then, and were only used for training roles.
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Unable to get a photo, but today I was having a crafty fag break at the side of US-95 and spotted a Predator coming into Land at Creech AFB, near Indian Springs, NV.
Creech (Indian Springs) AFB is largely used in support of the 'Flag' exercises in the Nevada training ranges. I have been in there a few times in a previous life; with all the closures, it's surprising that such a relatively small base has survived!
Oooh, miss! TimC's been to Area 51, miss!
AFAICT all of central Nevada is pwned by teh USAnian Military-Industrial Complex so it's just a matter of where They decide to put the runway, and nearer a paved road is better unless you're reverse-engineering UFOs. The whole business is decidedly inconvenient should one wish to travel overland from, say, Utah to Stullifornia, because it might lead to unwanted proximity to Las Vegas, which is a ghastly dump and here is a picture to prove it:
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6131623136_7b485f3c0a_z.jpg)
And yes, the sky really is that colour.
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TimC, I have watched that Lightning deteriorate over the years, and you have to ask yourself what the mindset is, firstly of someone who takes such a wonderful beast and parks it like that, and secondly of the arsewits who feel such destruction to be 'fun'.
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As I remember, it was bought by the scrapyard owner as an original way of advertising his business. There have been many attempts over the years to persuade him to let someone take it away and restore it, but nothing's ever come of it. I guess it's too far gone now - and there are plenty of Lightnings in museums anyway (though not F2As - the most capable variant!).
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I like it how it is now. It has a character and drama that it wouldn't have if it was restored.
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On an exhausting excursion up and down (mainly up) the North & South Downs to Rye, we went past Biggin Hill today.
With all the TV programmes currently on, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire, it's nice to honour the other, supposed less glamorous, Battle of Britain stalwart, the Hurricane. Despite the fact it shot down more enemy aircraft than the Spitfire, it seems to get overlooked, which is a shame.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/FlyingDodo/2011%20rides/22%2010%202011%20Food%20ride%20to%20Rye/IMG_0995.jpg)
These Gate Guardians are in fact replicas (http://www.bigginhill-history.co.uk/gateguards.htm) but it's still an outstanding icon.
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There's been a Hurricane like that parked in the middle of York this week, alongside a Traction Avant, celebrating The French in York week. We think it's a replica. It certainly didn't fly in to where it was parked, unless they've developed one with VSTOL...
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I can remember stopping there to look at the Spitfire and Hurricane on a bike ride about 45 years ago. They were real ones then and you could walk underneath them and reach up to touch them.
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No picture I'm afraid but I have just seen a largish airship over Canary Wharf sort of direction. Or at least I thought I did - I was running and wasn't wearing my specs. Anyone else?
There should be more of these imo, and bigger!
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http://1000aircraftphotos.com/
Lotsa interstin' pics...
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You utter bastard Juan. That's 10 minutes gone trawling through that lovely site, damn yer eyes Sir!
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Don't know if this has been on here before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFjMl3FVrf0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFjMl3FVrf0&feature=related)
Hawker Hunter across the Alps - look out for climbing the Matterhorn at about 2.45
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Don't know if this has been on here before
<snipped very good video>
Hawker Hunter across the Alps - look out for climbing the Matterhorn at about 2.45
Blimey if anyone was in the Hornli hut or on the NE ridge they will have freaked!
I worked in the Val d'Anniviers in Switzerland as a ski bum ski host and the best weather forecast we could get was a pair of F-5 tigers playing silly beggars just as we had breakfast. We occasionally had some F-18 Hornets at Sion airbase too, the local spotters always gave us a clue before we ever saw one on approach, seemed to always be a Wednesday (shopping day) which was good for us me.
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While we're posting photos, someone sent me a link to this site the other day, some great shots;
Lower than a Snake's Belly in a Wagon Rut (http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/325/language/en-CA/Lower-than-a-Snakes-Belly-in-a-Wagon-Rut.aspx)
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Big thumb's up there Bombers. Good article! :thumbsup:
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Bomber
Thanks for an enjoyable 20mins, and I'm so glad the Spitfire Low Pass was included as iot saved me trying to find it!
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I'd love this on the wall, amazing photo;
(http://www.vintagewings.ca/Portals/0/Vintage_Stories/NewStories-C/Lower%20than%20a%20snake/Lowdown4.jpg)
Glad they included a shot of ray hanna, but they should've included this one;
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/MH434bridge.jpg)
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I'd love this on the wall, amazing photo;
(http://www.vintagewings.ca/Portals/0/Vintage_Stories/NewStories-C/Lower%20than%20a%20snake/Lowdown4.jpg)
:o 8) :o
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Bomber
Thanks for an enjoyable 20mins, and I'm so glad the Spitfire Low Pass was included as iot saved me trying to find it!
"Warning: constant high levels of fuck-me"
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B52 stratofortress spied in the pub, photo taken to convince myself the morning after I hadn't imagined it;
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/ailienated/IMAG0029.jpg)
Super-dooper bonus internet points if you can name the pub...
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That's a pub?? Looks more like a plane spotters bedroom.
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Now then people
I have just found this thread so I have to add some pics of the sights I see from my workshop and the immediate vicinity. For those who dont know I live next door to RAF Coningsby.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/044-1.jpg)
The Red Arrows "Enid" formation over the workshop.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/072-1.jpg)
A Red Arrow !!!
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/176.jpg)
Typhoon and Spitfire (PR19) display pair and a pigeon.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/bbmf.jpg)
BBMF over the house.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC00743.jpg)
Lancaster, very low ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC00974.jpg)
Vulcan departing after its emergency landing with a hydraulic problem. This was taken from the airfield boundary and was accompanied by the Vulcan "howl" as it passed overhead.
We get all manner of types here and as the house is about 600yds to the south of the runway we are right under the circuit which is always to the south for jets to keep the noise down over the village.
The past few years we have had the Typhoon display aircraft working up his display mainly south of the runway ;D ;D :thumbsup: Starts off at about 1000ft and by the time he has it sorted he is down to 200ft. A Typhoon going vertical with full burners immediately above your head is a sight to behold ;D A couple of years ago we had an F15 doing a PD, he came in very fast and broke left short of the runway end and came over the workshop at about 150ft in a max rate turn ie wings vertical, I am sure it moved the worshop on its foundations. Good job I am into aeroplanes !!!
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Ya lucky bugger :thumbsup:
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Ya lucky bugger :thumbsup:
Speak up, he can't hear you over the sound of the jets.. :)
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Ya lucky bugger :thumbsup:
Speak up, he can't hear you over the sound of the jets.. :)
Bicycle Repair Man,
I said YA LUCKY BUGGER! :thumbsup:
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Some nice photos there, Dave. :thumbsup:
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The sound of the BBMF flypast must've been one to set the hairs on your arms standing - and one of which I have noise envy.
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Ya lucky bugger :thumbsup:
Speak up, he can't hear you over the sound of the jets.. :)
Bicycle Repair Man,
I said YA LUCKY BUGGER! :thumbsup:
PARDON? cant hear you for the Merlins
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Lancaster, very low ;D
Lancaster, even lower:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0040KB5G4/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchen
That's my Dad. The crew bailed.
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The sound of the BBMF flypast must've been one to set the hairs on your arms standing - and one of which I have noise envy.
It always does, every time. The fighter display that they practice a lot usually starts to the east of the workshop with a fast shallow dive towards the notional crowd line ie the runway. They then do a left turn and into a climbing barrel roll which comes right over the top of me. It never fails to send a tingle up my spine ;D. The Lanc also passes right over on his practice displays at least once with the bomb doors open, similar result. I have more pics if anyone is interested and have just aquired a 120/400 lens for the camera so next year, hopefully, watch this space.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Lancaster, very low ;D
Lancaster, even lower:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0040KB5G4/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchen
That's my Dad. The crew bailed.
It looks like they weren't bailing fast enough.
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http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2894
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/274271-lanc-sands-pegwell-bay-kent.html
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Lancaster, very low ;D
Lancaster, even lower:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0040KB5G4/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchen
That's my Dad. The crew bailed.
That photo reminds me of a fantastic book I read as a yoof. 'Angels Without Wings' a book about the exploits of RAF Air Sea Rescue back in the days of the Whirlwind and Wessex :thumbsup:
I wish I knew what happened to my copy ???
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Here are some more ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04144.jpg)
Sabre at Duxford Autumn show 2010
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04059.jpg)
Sea Hawk as above
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04053.jpg)
Seafire, same place
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC03989.jpg)
Swordfish, same place.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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I love that shot of the Sabre. That was the first model aircraft I built.
I sooooooooooooooo wanted to be a Sabre pilot as a kid. It was part of the career plan- Lean to fly the Sabre as a dogfighting Ace then volunteer for Astronaut training ;D
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Bicycle Repair Man. I liked your Vulcan picture; it reminded me of a time many years ago. I was doing a SRA into Bitterswell, the controller vectoring me said “on finals second to a Vulcan bomber”.
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Bicycle Repair Man. I liked your Vulcan picture; it reminded me of a time many years ago. I was doing a SRA into Bitterswell, the controller vectoring me said “on finals second to a Vulcan bomber”.
What were you flying at the time? If it was many years ago, probably a real aeroplane 8)
Dave Yates
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It was an old PA-23 Piper Apache, nothing special. I was going into Coventry from IOM when CVT had an emergency and I had to divert. BT was giving a cloud base of less than 300ft hence the SRA.
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It was an old PA-23 Piper Apache, nothing special. I was going into Coventry from IOM when CVT had an emergency and I had to divert. BT was giving a cloud base of less than 300ft hence the SRA.
I used to go flying with a mate in exchange for bicycle bits. We were landing back at Newcastle, we were number one, our number two was a 757. The 07 runway at Newcastle requires a bit of backtrack unless you go right to the end. Air traffic got quite excited when we didnt do it quite quick enough for them and had to dive off and hold to the side whilst this bloody great 757 hurtled past.
Dave Yates
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Here are some more ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/178.jpg)
Typhoon over the stable roof
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/235.jpg)
Spitfire / Typhoon display pair again
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/188.jpg)
Spitfire PR19
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/242.jpg)
Typhoon
Lots of people pay money to see stuff like this at airshows, I get it for free ;D The minor downside is that they always seem to fly when I am on the phone and trying to hold a conversation with a Typhoon or Tornado taking off is just about impossible. Hey ho, it is a cross I will have to bear ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04081.jpg)
Pitts Special at Duxford 2010
Cheers
Dave Yates
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04087.jpg)
Same again but a bit lower :o
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I don't do envy but, be warned Dave, you can go right off folk you know ;)
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(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC04087.jpg)
Same again but a bit lower :o
It isn't proper low flying unless you come back with vegetation snagged on a part of the aircraft. :demon:
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(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6933532117_36d0e5625c_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6787376916_ef6cd9411b_z.jpg)
Some more from Seattle Flight Musuem here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/)
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Some more from Seattle Flight Musuem here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/)
That WW2 Yank one you're not sure about (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/6787468662/in/photostream) is a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40_Warhawk).
Oh, and whaddya mean, Concorde's ugly?! :o
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Good few to see there. Top photo Constellation
Lower photo:
MiG-15, F-4 Phantom, MiG-21, YF-12/SR-71, F-4U, Stearman?, Electra?, F-5, Cub?, some sort of Rutan design?
Not sure of some of the half-hidden ones, or the yellow one in the middle
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OK, now I've checked your link, that's a Super Constellation. Never been sure of the difference.
EDIT: Longer nose on the Super. Easy to tell the difference when you know :-[
And I'm guessing that the Harrier is an AV-8B
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Ooh, is that an Otter with the floats?
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And I'm guessing that the Harrier is an AV-8B
Nah, that's an AV-8A, which is basically the GR.1 in USMC colours - first-generation ground pounder Harriers had a low-set cockpit, no nose-mounted laser designators and the outriggers are at the wingtips.
The AV-8B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell-Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II) has a raised cockpit, different style forward exhaust nozzles, greater wingspan with additional stores pylons, and a bigger nosecone. They also tended to dispense with the Aden cannon pods and have larger ventral fences instead.
ETA, a quick Google of tail numbers (http://www.blackbirds.net/sr71/srloc.html) on the Blackbird says it's actually the surviving M-21 drone carrier variant of the A-12 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_A-12#M-21).
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The pusher prop on the right is a Lear Fan, with a DC3 behind it. Beneath them, it's a DHC Beaver (so the fore-runner of the Otter).
The USAF spotter plane looks like an Auster (but it can't be) so I had to google that, as I knew they were based on a US design, which it turns out is a Taylorcraft L2.
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Yep a Curtiss warhawk thanks. And it was indeed the drone carrying blackbird. The whole place was a plane spotters paradise including the tower cafe overlooking the boeing airfield.
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I think the spotter plane is an Aeronca L3
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The F-5 is an ex-USAF F-5E aggressor, used as the opponent for USAF front-line fighters in air combat training.
The MiG-21 has Czechoslovak markings.
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The F-5 is an ex-USAF F-5E aggressor, used as the opponent for USAF front-line fighters in air combat training.
While the F5E was indeed used as an Aggressor, this is (or is marked as) 94987, the first prototype (Y)F5A.
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The F-5 is an ex-USAF F-5E aggressor, used as the opponent for USAF front-line fighters in air combat training.
That is a captured MIG from Top Gun that they have repainted
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The F-5 is an ex-USAF F-5E aggressor, used as the opponent for USAF front-line fighters in air combat training.
That is a captured MIG from Top Gun that they have repainted
Ah, the MIG 28? With which you were, uh, 'communicating'? ;D
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The F-5 is an ex-USAF F-5E aggressor, used as the opponent for USAF front-line fighters in air combat training.
That is a captured MIG from Top Gun that they have repainted
Ah, the MIG 28? With which you were, uh, 'communicating'? ;D
I can comment no further
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And your Boeing trimotor is a Boeing 80
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Well spotted.
I think the WWI fighters are a Nieuport 17 and perhaps a SPAD XIII
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While we're on, the other part of the Main Hall contains:
Unidentified aerobatics plane (Extra?)
Douglas A4 Skyhawk
Unidentified USN aircraft (I should know this one)
North American F-86 Sabre
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (I think I said MiG-15 upthread, but that's not right)
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter overhead
Confirmation of identity of Lockheed Electra
Tails of RF-5, did someone say?, MiG-21, and the F-4
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Douglas F-9 Cougar is the carrier aircraft. I was confused because the F9F is a straight wing.
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Douglas F-9 Cougar is the carrier aircraft. I was confused because the F9F is a straight wing.
If it's named after a cat, it's a Grumman. ;)
Either you're thinking of the Douglas F3D Skyknight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F3D_Skyknight) (but that's a two-seat night fighter), or the early McDonnell jet offerings such as the original Phantom or the F2H Banshee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F2H_Banshee).
You were right first time about the MiG (http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft?page=2) - the way to tell a MiG-15 and MiG-17 apart is to count the wing fences. A MiG-15 has two per wing, a MiG-17 has three.
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It's a Grumman Cougar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_Cougar
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Now then Chaps
Seen over the workshop this afternoon ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC01752.jpg)
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Fantastic photograph.
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That is a wonderful picture Mr Yates
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Thank you gentlemen !! I have a new secret weapon, a 120 - 400 Sigma lens ( :o its not secret any more now.) It weighs a ton but as you can see, works quite well. I feel I can go and mingle with the "real" spotters at the end of the runway now ;D All I need now is the scanner and the stepladder.
Dave Yates
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Dear Mr Dave Yates,
I may have made this assertion before but, just in case I haven't, here it is-
You Sir are a GIT!
You spend your days in a workshop building velocipedes.
This workshop is located in the very near vicinity to an aerodrome of spectacular useage.
You rub it in.
GIT.
;D
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Seen yesterday, as I returned from Bradford, an Apache gunship landing at Dishforth. Nothing too unusual about that, apart from Dishforth is AAC and I didn't think they used such machines....
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Seen yesterday, as I returned from Bradford, an Apache gunship landing at Dishforth. Nothing too unusual about that, apart from Dishforth is AAC and I didn't think they used such machines....
The Army Air Corps has been using Apaches since 2004-5, I've seen them when I've been on the A34 near Winchester.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_Apache
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We have the "afternoon Apache" which flies over us (on its way to Colchester, I suspect) pretty much every afternoon. Looks a mighty fierce beastie!
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Dear Mr Dave Yates,
I may have made this assertion before but, just in case I haven't, here it is-
You Sir are a GIT!
You spend your days in a workshop building velocipedes.
This workshop is located in the very near vicinity to an aerodrome of spectacular useage.
You rub it in.
GIT.
;D
Alas Sir, I fear you are correct !!
But I dont care, so ner ner !!
Its a hard job but someone has to do it, fortunately it's me.
Those of a more generous nature would simply say I am sharing my good fortune with the great unwashed ;D
Cheers
Dave Yates
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We have the "afternoon Apache" which flies over us (on its way to Colchester, I suspect) pretty much every afternoon. Looks a mighty fierce beastie!
It's one of the forty or so based at Wattisham.
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This afternoon when I stepped out of the office for a break I heard an odd sounding plane inbound to London City. It was a small executive jet sized plane but not a jet. It had a canard wing and two pusher prop engines. Research suggests a Piaggio Avanti
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The beechcraft starship uses a similar layout, you can tell them apart by the shape of the fuselage, and the Piaggio has a conventional tail as well as the carnards at the front.
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The beechcraft starship uses a similar layout, you can tell them apart by the shape of the fuselage, and the Piaggio has a conventional tail as well as the carnards at the front.
Thanks, I reckon it was the Piaggio with the straighter wings
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Morning people
Seen over the airfield on Saturday last. It was part of the 3 Sqdn 100th birthday celebrations.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC01795.jpg)
Its a replica DH2, not sure about where it lives ar any detals. Pic is a bit rubbish but it was a long way off and it was only tiny on the original shot, had to crop most of it off.
cheers
Dave Yates
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Thanks to G-INFO: DH2 details (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=BFVH)
There are a couple of photo's linked at the bottom of that page but they don't really count as it is on the ground ;)
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Wow.
Just wow.
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Coincidentally, I saw the photo and said "wow". Twice.
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I have this sneaking suspicion that Mr Yates is slowly constructing a replica DH2 somewhere in his workshop..
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The Wright Brothers were cycle framebuilders.
Just sayin'...
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I have this sneaking suspicion that Mr Yates is slowly constructing a replica DH2 somewhere in his workshop..
Alas no, but the handle on the workshop door used to be the canopy jetison handle on a Vampire ;D I also have the Ejector seat warning triangle from the same aircraft that used to be on the back of my office seat at Steels. Sad or what !!!
Dave Yates
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I have this sneaking suspicion that Mr Yates is slowly constructing a replica DH2 somewhere in his workshop..
Alas no, but the handle on the workshop door used to be the canopy jetison handle on a Vampire ;D I also have the Ejector seat warning triangle from the same aircraft that used to be on the back of my office seat at Steels. Sad or what !!!
Dave Yates
The first part, definitely not. Sensible re-use I'd say.
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Seat at Steels? Considering how busy you must have been, I am amazed you had time to ever sit down!
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Seat at Steels? Considering how busy you must have been, I am amazed you had time to ever sit down!
I didnt do much, just sat in the office drinking coffee and supervising the minions ::-)
Back on topic, have a look at this chaps pics, absolutely stunning.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/last_lightning/7217592360/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/last_lightning/7217592360/in/photostream/)
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Seen in the vicinity yesterday
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Red-Arrow-3.jpg)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Red-Arrow-2.jpg)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Red-Arrow-1.jpg)
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Blimmin local hooligans! Scorching around in their machines, making noise, doing donuts, producing clouds of smoke... ;D
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How many are currently flying? Are they back to 9 or flying 7 at the moment?
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7 for this season.
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Once again no photo (too slow again)m but just the other day, flying over Northallerton, I saw a SAAB Viggen. Either that or it was a Eurofighter, I have only jusst realised that they both have a similar profile.
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Once again no photo (too slow again)m but just the other day, flying over Northallerton, I saw a SAAB Viggen. Either that or it was a Eurofighter, I have only jusst realised that they both have a similar profile.
I think all the Viggens have been retired by now. Its replacement the SA39 Gripen looks fairly similar though.
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I think some Viggens are in private hands now.
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Mebbe. Wiki reckons the last Viggen flew in June 2007.
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ISTR there is quite a difference in size between the Viggen and the Typhoon.
Having said that there is also the 'these are very small, those are very far away' factor.
I am a dickhead. :facepalm:
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The beechcraft starship uses a similar layout, you can tell them apart by the shape of the fuselage, and the Piaggio has a conventional tail as well as the carnards at the front.
Thanks, I reckon it was the Piaggio with the straighter wings
There was one at Bournemouth yesterday, missed it as it taxied past our apron but got a photo of it at the hold;
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/ailienated/IMG_0036.jpg)
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Goodyear airship low over Southwark this lunchtime. It came south roughly over Waterloo Bridge, turned overhead at the Imperial War Museum, and headed towards London Bridge, seeming to struggle in the wind, and drifting sideways. But it turned West again and seemed to adopt a rather nose-up attitude, drifting rather, before looping around at a slightly higher altitude, then towards the North, when I lost sight of it.
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VC10 tanker at Coningsby this lunchtime. Did a fast low (for a VC10) run, sharp climb to circuit height, full circuit, low approach then climb out. I was walking the dogs so no camera. :(
Dave Yates
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The military spec is interesting as its a mix of the VC10 and Super.
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The military spec is interesting as its a mix of the VC10 and Super.
Still got mucky engines !!! Huge smoke trail as it climbed out.
DY
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The military spec is interesting as its a mix of the VC10 and Super.
Depends which version. The original CMk1 was indeed such a hybrid, but the later KMk2 and KMk3 were converted commercial VC10s and stretched Super VC10s acquired from various sources - in fact, the RAF at one point owned 34 of the 56 VC10s ever produced!
They're down to just a handful now, and I'm not sure any of the original CMk1s (which were modified to become a 2-point combi tanker/freighter) are still in service.
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Have you ever flown one? I'm curious as to how they behave, being an (almost) unique layout.
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Almost unique? Saw an Ilyushin 62 at work a little while ago, with the odd tail prop extended to stop its arse hitting the tarmac when empty.
We used to have regular Tu154s here, speaking of dirty aircraft. Not only were the jet efflux nozzles caked in soot, and the planes as noisy as, but when they took off you could follow their passage by the smoke trails.
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I said it quite deliberately, as it's usually accepted that the Il-62 was a copy, though I'm not sure of the chronology.
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Have you ever flown one? I'm curious as to how they behave, being an (almost) unique layout.
Yes, I have. I was never a VC10 pilot but, as boss of Air to Air Refuelling teaching outfit at Lyneham, I had a great deal to do with 101 Sqn who operated the 3-point K2 and K3 tankers which we refuelled from after the Victor, Vulcan and Hercules tankers had retired. The aeroplane was a delight to fly, and had no vices within the normal flight envelope. It had relatively huge amounts of power, and was great fun at training weights! The passenger version, without all the bits sticking out into the airflow, was extremely fast by modern standards - able to cruise at M0.9. Mind you, it absolutely ate fuel! With a maximum load of 140-ish passengers and at about 150 tonnes, it would burn more fuel than my A340-600 - which is over 200 tonnes heavier! In the late '80s the RAF had brought the standard cruise speed down to M0.84, which both saved a lot of fuel and allowed the aircraft to be more compatible with modern airliner traffic in a procedural (speed-constrained) environment like the North Atlantic.
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Interesting. Thanks. It's a joy of this forum that there are people with all sorts of experience to draw on, and I thought it was a fair bet that you'd played with a VC-10. Magnificent beast to look at, but it sounds like it lived up to the promise in flight.
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Interesting. Thanks. It's a joy of this forum that there are people with all sorts of experience to draw on, and I thought it was a fair bet that you'd played with a VC-10. Magnificent beast to look at, but it sounds like it lived up to the promise in flight.
In the late 60s and early 70s I remember with great affection flying home from Ghana on both Ghana Airways and BOAC VC10s. I would have been between 5 and 8 years old and immensely proud of my BOAC young flyers log book which the captain would sign. You also had a badge; I’m sure both are still in the loft. If you were very lucky you'd be offered a brief visit to the cockpit. Viewed through the rose tinted specs of an aeroplane mad young lad I remember flying long haul being incredibly exciting and glamorous – not like it is these days.
I think the PLO blew up one of Ghana Airway’s VC10s in the Sahara.
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I said it quite deliberately, as it's usually accepted that the Il-62 was a copy, though I'm not sure of the chronology.
Not at all. The Il had features that the Vickers copied. I flew back from Singapore on a VC10, but two and a half years earlier I flew out on a Britannia. The actual aircraft, the very one, is at Duxford. I walked through it, looking for the patch of toilet cubical carpet that my ten-year-old knees spent most of the flight on.
Give me a VC10 any day over the Bristol
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I don't think so. Though I'm normally dubious about accusations of Soviet copying, in this case the VC10 was conceived in the 1950s and flew in 1962. Wikipedia says that the Il-62 was conceived in 1960 and flew in 1963.
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Interesting. Thanks. It's a joy of this forum that there are people with all sorts of experience to draw on, and I thought it was a fair bet that you'd played with a VC-10. Magnificent beast to look at, but it sounds like it lived up to the promise in flight.
In the late 60s and early 70s I remember with great affection flying home from Ghana on both Ghana Airways and BOAC VC10s. I would have been between 5 and 8 years old and immensely proud of my BOAC young flyers log book which the captain would sign. You also had a badge; I’m sure both are still in the loft. If you were very lucky you'd be offered a brief visit to the cockpit. Viewed through the rose tinted specs of an aeroplane mad young lad I remember flying long haul being incredibly exciting and glamorous – not like it is these days.
I think the PLO blew up one of Ghana Airway’s VC10s in the Sahara.
Those VC10s you flew on almost certainly ended up in the RAF, and may even be one of the few still flying now.
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I don't think so. Though I'm normally dubious about accusations of Soviet copying, in this case the VC10 was conceived in the 1950s and flew in 1962. Wikipedia says that the Il-62 was conceived in 1960 and flew in 1963.
The IL-62 did indeed come after the VC10, but the development was so close chronologically that it's likely the similar configuration was driven by two independent design groups answering the same problems the same way. Rear mounted engine configurations had already become popular due to the benefits of keeping a clean wing, and the engines available demanded four being used to drive aeroplanes of that size.
The Super VC10 did use some wing technology that had been developed for the IL-62, but that was after both aircraft had been flying a while. The IL-62 was a very successful aeroplane, indeed many IL-62Ms are still flying. It looks a bit agricultural compared to the prettier VC10, but it works!
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It's astonishing that (until recently), the RAF was flying aircraft derived from 1950s airliners. Mind you, the Shack was flying into the 90s, wasn't it?
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Once again no photo (too slow again)m but just the other day, flying over Northallerton, I saw a SAAB Viggen. Either that or it was a Eurofighter, I have only jusst realised that they both have a similar profile.
I think all the Viggens have been retired by now. Its replacement the SA39 Gripen looks fairly similar though.
Only in the sense that they're both deltas with canards.
Viggen
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P-dNpzKlWeI/S4fiF4cIPnI/AAAAAAAAAKc/4COdCkACGYc/s1600/37viggen.jpg)
Gripen
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lPK_SnLq9vE/Td1v0LqxHlI/AAAAAAAAEq0/XoYn-6xNeFw/s320/Saab+Jas+39+Gripen+Fighter+Jet+%25282%2529.jpg)
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It was a Viggen then, the wings and canards (I am guessing, not being up on these things, they are the smaller wings just under the cockpit) were not as wide but longer than on the Gripen.
It made a fantastic sound as it turned and thrust off away from town, I am guessing it was using NTR as it's turn point...
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Colour me sceptical, but the only info on Viggens flying in the UK this year that I can find is the rumour that the Jersey International Air Display (which isn't until September) may be looking to book the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight's Viggen, which they only started flying in March...
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40534&start=75
Recognition notes:
The Viggen and Gripen are both single-engined, with the canards mounted just behind the air intakes, which are either side of the cockpit.
Typhoon is twin-engined, and has lot more wing area relative to aircraft size than either Swedish type, with the relatively small and swept-back canards mounted on the nose, just ahead of the cockpit.
http://www.deroeck.co.uk/planes/Eurofighter-Typhoon-01.html
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It was most likely a Grippen. Some operate out of the UK as the Empire Test Pilots School based at Boscombe Down uses Grippens.
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It's astonishing that (until recently), the RAF was flying aircraft derived from 1950s airliners. Mind you, the Shack was flying into the 90s, wasn't it?
I think it retired about 1990. I held with 8 Sqn at Lossiemouth for a few weeks in 1979 while waiting for a Jetstream course. I never got to fly the Shack, but I flew in it several times. Wonderful fun! The AEW3 was around 35 years old when it retired. The C130K Hercules made it to 46 years. The oldest VC10s are 46 now, but are unlikely to make 50. Aircraft entering service now are expected to see 60 years or more.
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The B52s maiden flight was 60 years ago now, and that's not expected to retire until 2045:-O
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Once again no photo (too slow again)m but just the other day, flying over Northallerton, I saw a SAAB Viggen. Either that or it was a Eurofighter, I have only jusst realised that they both have a similar profile.
I think all the Viggens have been retired by now. Its replacement the SA39 Gripen looks fairly similar though.
Only in the sense that they're both deltas with canards.
Indeed - at the range and angle those photos are taken the aircraft are quite different - and much smaller than a Typhoon.
From a couple of miles away side on they may well look similar.
Add in the fact that the Gripen is a current production aircraft and that as Saab have a tie in with BAE one of them is quite likely to be swanning around North Yorkshire.
Not that it actually matters of course ;D
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Slightly off topic but may be of interest.
This is the view from Cairnsmore of Fleet, a seemingly innocuous hill of 2,300 ft overlooking the Cree Estuary in Dumfries & Galloway.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7385337962_061312469c_n.jpg)
A granite memorial on the summit records the deaths of no less than 25 airmen from 8 crashes on its slopes, 5 of which appear to have been of training flights from local airfields. I wonder what made the hill so hazardous ?
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/7385337330_5aacc9a4fa_c.jpg)
Transcription -
ERECTED IN MEMORY OF AIRMEN KILLED ON THIS HILL
CAIRNSMORE OF FLEET
First Crash:
LEUTNANT A ZEISS AGE 25
UNTEROFFIZIER G T VON TURCKHEIM AGE 31
UNTEROFFIZIER W HAJESCH AGE 21
UNTEROFFIZIER W MECHSNER AGE 23
FROM NG 1 STAFFEL OF KAMPFGESCHWADER 4 SOESTERBURG AIR BASE HOLLAND
THE AIRCRAFT A HEINKEL III H4 CRASHED ON 8TH AUGUST 1940
Second Crash:
AIRCRAFTSMAN D J THOM AGE 20
FROM NO 10 AIR OBSERVER SCHOOL RAF DUMFRIES
THE AIRCRAFT BLACKBURN BOTHA L6539 CRASHED ON 2ND MARCH 1942
Third Crash:
SERGEANT A C H ALLEN AGE 21
MISTER W PATERSON AGE 31
FROM NO 1 OBSERVER ADVANCED FLYING UNIT OF RAF WIGTOWN
THE AVRO ANSON AIRCRAFT W2640 CRASHED ON 17TH APRIL 1942
Fourth Crash:
FLIGHT SERGEANT B H VYE RCAF AGE 21
SERGEANT A W HAWKES AGE 29
LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN R D HUME AGE 22
LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN G A HORNE AGE 20
AIRCRAFTSMAN G O M RAWSON AGE 20
FROM NO 9 AIR GUNNERS SCHOOL RAF LLANOWROG
THE AVRO ANSON DJ126 CRASHED ON 22ND SEPTEMBER 1942
Fifth Crash:
PILOT OFFICER J M COOLEY RCAF AGE 30
WARRANT OFFICER J J M WARD AGE 23
FLIGHT SERGEANT M C SIMPSON RCAF AGE 19
FROM NO 10 OBSERVER ADVANCED FLYING UNIT RAF DUMFRIES
THE AIRCRAFT EG485 AVRO ANSON CRASHED ON 22ND FEBRUARY 1944
Sixth Crash:
SERGEANT W A EDWARDS AGE 23
SERGEANT H W G RENNISON AGE 31
SERGEANT R O BEGGS RNZAF AGE 29
FLIGHT SERGEANT B B HAYTOM AGE 21
FLIGHT SERGEANT A W WAUCHOPE RAAF AGE 27
FRON NO 4 OBSERVER ADVANCED FLYING UNIT RAF WEST FREUGH
ANSON AIRCRAFT N9589 CRASHED ON 12TH JUNE 1944
Seventh Crash:
FLIGH SERGEANT R S T HIDE AGE 22
PILOT OFFICER A A GOODILL RCAF AGE 26
SERGEANT T J MALONE AGE 24
FROM NO 1 OBSERVER ADVANCED FLYING UNIT RAF WIGTOWN
AVRO ANSON W5140 CRASHED ON THE 9TH JULY 1944
Eighth Crash:
CAPTAIN T J SEAGREN USAF AGE 26
CAPTAIN R V SPALDING USAF AGE 31
1ST TACTICAL RECONNAISANCE SQUADRON RAF ALCONBURY
THE AIRCRAFT A McDONNELL DOUGLAS PHANTOM RF4C 68 0566 CRASHED ON 28TH MARCH 1979
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About 15 years ago I went up Cairnsmore of Fleet early one morning. Got to the top about 9 am to find that someone had been up there already that morning to lay some fresh flowers on the memorial.
People still care.
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A granite memorial on the summit records the deaths of no less than 25 airmen from 8 crashes on its slopes, 5 of which appear to have been of training flights from local airfields. I wonder what made the hill so hazardous ?
I imagine it's because it's the first high ground you meet if you've flown from the SW across the Irish Sea. The Black Mountain at the western end of the Brecon Beacons is in a similar position in relation to the Bristol Channel and is also strewn with aircraft wreckage.
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It was most likely a Grippen. Some operate out of the UK as the Empire Test Pilots School based at Boscombe Down uses Grippens.
The EPTS Gripens are actually based in Sweden. The EPTS sends instructors & students to a SAAB facility at Linköping & the Swedish AF base at Såtenäs for courses.
http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Air/Gripen-Fighter-System/Gripen-for-ETPS/Gripen-in-operation/ (http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Air/Gripen-Fighter-System/Gripen-for-ETPS/Gripen-in-operation/)
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Now then chaps
Some more interesting pics taken at the RAF Coningsby "Enthusiasts Day" on Friday last that I managed to get a ticket for.
First is a line of Typhoons with a Tornado stuck on the end. A bit boring but not when you are standing next to them on the pan.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoons2.jpg)
Next a 19 Sqdn Hawke T2
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/HawkeT2.jpg)
Some Gate Guardians on the Station
29 Sqdn Lightning
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/29SqnLightning.jpg)
11Sqdn Lightning
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/11SqdnLightning.jpg)
Tornado F3 on the main gate
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/TornadoF3.jpg)
Phantom on the main gate
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Phantom.jpg)
3 Sqdn Harrier
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/3SqdnHarrier.jpg)
Tornado Role Demo
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/TornadoRoledemo1.jpg)
And again !
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/TornadoRoledemo22.jpg)
Two seat Sea Fury taken on Saturday during the "Friends and Families Day"
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/SeaFury.jpg)
And again a bit lower !
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/SeaFury2.jpg)
I missed taking pics of the Typhoon display and the Red Arrows cos it was hosing it down and the visibility was zilch ! (and I didnt want to get my camera soaked)
The VC10 was here again after doing the flypast at Buck House complete with drogues trailing and two Typhoons in close attendance.
Quite a good weekend really ;D
Cheers
Dave Yates
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I remember watching two Tornados taking off together from Farnborough, the day after the air show, presumably off on their way home, and that was a pretty dramatic sight. They seemed to do it with the "pedals to the metal", and you could easily see shock diamonds in their exhausts. It was probably more impressive than their displays the previous day!
It's nice to see those Lightnings, although it would better if they were flying. I saw, what I believe was the last Lightning flying in the UK, at the RIAT at Fairford a few years back, immediately before it left the country. In many respects a bit useless as a weapons platform, but insanely impressive doing a vertical climb.
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The spec for the Lightning was essentially for a way to get a limited amount of weaponry to high altitude as quickly as possible. So it's basically engines and fuel, with a little bit of wing. The pilot is almost an afterthought.
Just to say that I love Sea Furies. There's something about the proportions that make it just look 'right'.
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Just to say that I love Sea Furies. There's something about the proportions that make it just look 'right'
In the sky, yes, but sat next to a Spitfire (Mk9) on the ground it did look a bit of a brute !
Dave Yates
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Some good stuff there. The Lightning's story is quite interesting - the design was thought so radical that the RAE commissioned Shorts to produce a test plane to show English Electric where they had cocked up the configuration, only the test flights confirmed the concept. ;D
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/history.php
Some of the stuff that Flight Lieutenant Mike Hale got up to with the Lightning makes for fun reading, too.
http://www.lightning.org.uk/oct04sotm.html
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The Lightning was a successful plane, but the Canberra was the most significant aircraft to bear the English Electric name. Obviously I prefer their cookers and refigerators, but each to their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Canberra
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The spec for the Lightning was essentially for a way to get a limited amount of weaponry to high altitude as quickly as possible. So it's basically engines and fuel, with a little bit of wing. The pilot is almost an afterthought.
Just to say that I love Sea Furies. There's something about the proportions that make it just look 'right'.
My Dad might resent being described as an afterthought!
The Lightning was far from useless as a weapons platform, though it inevitably compares poorly with modern aircraft. The AI23 was a very advanced radar in its day, and the Firestreak was as good as IR missiles got at the time - the later Red Top was less wonderful compared to the then-new AIM9. The Lightning was also remarkably manoeuvrable - somewhere, I have gunsight film of an F16 being comprehensively waxed by a well-flown Lightning! The best of the bunch was the FMk2A, which was only used in RAF Germany by 19 and 92 Sqns.
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The Lightning was a successful plane, but the Canberra was the most significant aircraft to bear the English Electric name. Obviously I prefer their cookers and refigerators, but each to their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Canberra
Lasting until 2006 (in the RAF), it made the Shackleton's operation seem but a brief period. :)
That was of course the PR9, and I remember a tale of how a U2 pilot was annoyed, when he was told that he couldn't manoeuvre, because there was a PR9 descending from above him. ;D
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Some of the stuff that Flight Lieutenant Mike Hale got up to with the Lightning makes for fun reading, too.
http://www.lightning.org.uk/oct04sotm.html
I know Mike Hale of old. While I wouldn't believe everything he says (especially after a beer or two!), he does have some wonderful stories about the Lightning. He was a relative latecomer, though, who (IIRC) joined the fleet as it was in its final few years at Binbrook (as the RAF had planned for me too, but I had other ideas!). The stories from earlier times are at least as good - I should know; I have to listen to them regularly...
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The Lightning was a successful plane, but the Canberra was the most significant aircraft to bear the English Electric name. Obviously I prefer their cookers and refigerators, but each to their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Canberra
Lasting until 2006 (in the RAF), it made the Shackleton's operation seem but a brief period. :)
That was of course the PR9, and I remember a tale of how a U2 pilot was annoyed, when he was told that he couldn't manoeuvre, because there was a PR9 descending from above him. ;D
One of those tales that is more fun because it doesn't really give an accurate comparison of the two aircraft's capabilities! The PR9, great aeroplane though it was, topped out at around 60,000'. The U2 - as Mike Hale recalls - operated routinely considerably higher than that.
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Anyone interested on Canberras should visit Newark Air Museum.
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Now then Chaps
Seen over the workshop this afternoon ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC01752.jpg)
Cheers
Dave Yates
I always find it surprising that jet "fighters", such as the F4 Phantom, F15 Eagle and even the latest F22 Raptor are only about 6-8 feet shorter than a Lancaster. Not that much more that the tail-gunner pod really.
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One of those tales that is more fun because it doesn't really give an accurate comparison of the two aircraft's capabilities! The PR9, great aeroplane though it was, topped out at around 60,000'. The U2 - as Mike Hale recalls - operated routinely considerably higher than that.
Well, according to Wikipedia, the Canberra held the world altitude record of 70310 feet in 1957. Now, I doubt that was a typical Canberra, it was probably tweaked (if not heavily modified!) to achieve that, but it demonstrates that it was capable of going higher quite a few years ago.
According to some of the RAF bods I talked to (and I can't remember the exact details, but it wasn't down the pub!) the PR9 had been modified substantially from the older variants to increase its capabilities, including it's ceiling.
Of course, the exact performance characteristics of both aircraft were classified, and so no one knows (or is at liberty to discuss, yet) the exact ceilings, and I suspect even then it would be heavily caveated in terms of of payload and how willing you were to take the aircraft into a dodgy flight regime eg the oft discussed Coffin Corner of the U2. I doubt the PR9 was capable of exceeding the limits of the U2, given that the aerodynamic construction of the U2 is more suggestive of high altitude operations than the relatively short wings of the Canberra, but it may have been capable of approaching it under some circumstances.
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The RAAF used Canberras for extremely low level bombing in Vietnam. A very versatile and useful aircraft.
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One of those tales that is more fun because it doesn't really give an accurate comparison of the two aircraft's capabilities! The PR9, great aeroplane though it was, topped out at around 60,000'. The U2 - as Mike Hale recalls - operated routinely considerably higher than that.
Well, according to Wikipedia, the Canberra held the world altitude record of 70310 feet in 1957. Now, I doubt that was a typical Canberra, it was probably tweaked (if not heavily modified!) to achieve that, but it demonstrates that it was capable of going higher quite a few years ago.
According to some of the RAF bods I talked to (and I can't remember the exact details, but it wasn't down the pub!) the PR9 had been modified substantially from the older variants to increase its capabilities, including it's ceiling.
Of course, the exact performance characteristics of both aircraft were classified, and so no one knows (or is at liberty to discuss, yet) the exact ceilings, and I suspect even then it would be heavily caveated in terms of of payload and how willing you were to take the aircraft into a dodgy flight regime eg the oft discussed Coffin Corner of the U2. I doubt the PR9 was capable of exceeding the limits of the U2, given that the aerodynamic construction of the U2 is more suggestive of high altitude operations than the relatively short wings of the Canberra, but it may have been capable of approaching it under some circumstances.
The PR9 was capable in line fit of around a 65,000ft ceiling. I'm pretty sure that operations above 60k were rare as special pressure kit was needed. The 70k record flight was - as you suggest - fettled to get the desired result, and wasn't representative of the Canberra's daily capabilities. In a similar way, Lockheed managed to get the C130A to 52,000ft in a trial. The best I ever managed in it was 42,000ft, and that was a deliberate effort in a stripped-out, external tank-free, far more powerful C130K! A more realistic ceiling for a line aircraft was around 33,000ft, and normal cruise would be around 25,000ft. So records prove little about what the aeroplane is really capable of. I'm more than pretty sure the U2 has been up to 80,000ft or more, and that it operates daily at 70,000ft and above.
Edit to add: the U2B's service ceiling is given by Lockheed as 27,400m. That's 90,420ft!
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In the late 60s and early 70s I remember with great affection flying home from Ghana on both Ghana Airways and BOAC VC10s.
I, OTOH, hated the things. It took twenty-four hours and four intermediate stops to get from LHR to Kai Tak. The first 747s on that route were greeted with the fervour normally associated with liberating armies.
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Last night, I saw the Goodyear airship again. This time over Pimlico, and later over Fulham.
This evening, I saw three aircraft travelling slowly north in formation. Two were large dark coloured helicopters - about Puma sized. The third was different, but too far and at too shallow an angle to discern. It may have been a helicopter, but looked more like a small, fixed-wing. Though I couldn't see if it had wings.
They were flying parallel to, but east of the normal flightpath to Battersea heliport, somewhere over Wallington-ish.
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In the late 60s and early 70s I remember with great affection flying home from Ghana on both Ghana Airways and BOAC VC10s.
I, OTOH, hated the things. It took twenty-four hours and four intermediate stops to get from LHR to Kai Tak. The first 747s on that route were greeted with the fervour normally associated with liberating armies.
Akrotiri, Sharjah or Masirah, Gan and Changi? Before my time, but not really the fault of the aeroplane! If the RAF had had a couple of bases slightly differently spaced, they could have done it in three rather than five legs, and saved maybe four hours. I do remember doing HKG-LHR in the classic 747 and being very uncertain whether we had enough fuel to do it! Before Chinese airspace was liberalised, the route went north and east over Japan before making any westward progress. 15 hours or more wasn't unusual! No problem for my A340, but a B742 was a different matter...
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Accra to London could be done in one hop, over the Sahara. One Christmas I was lucky enough to get a pair of kiddy binoculars. The next time we flew home I insisted on taking them on the plane to see if I could spot any camels as we flew over. I didn't.
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I still look for them, OD, on my frequent crossings to/from Lagos and Accra. I'll let you know if I see any! ;D
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I still look for them, OD, on my frequent crossings to/from Lagos and Accra. I'll let you know if I see any! ;D
:thumbsup:
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The Canberra variant still in service is the Martin RB-57F. Nasa use them because they can carry a large payload at high altitude.
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/rb57.htm
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I mentioned Newark Air Museum. They have three Canberras, three cockpits, and umpteen models of various variants.
It must be something about the mid-wing engine. They have four Meteors, too.
http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/
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Last night, I saw the Goodyear airship again. This time over Pimlico, and later over Fulham.
Yeah, me too. I took a photograph of it with my big lens. Interesting - I've never been able to see the gondola before, it doesn't look much bigger than a large car.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/851ba721.jpg)
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Interesting tailplane detail.
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Last night, I saw the Goodyear airship again. This time over Pimlico, and later over Fulham.
Yeah, me too. I took a photograph of it with my big lens. Interesting - I've never been able to see the gondola before, it doesn't look much bigger than a large car.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b187/vicechair/851ba721.jpg)
At last some clever dick has managed to get round the Congestion Charge and London parking problems in one fell swoop!
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I didn't realise it would have ailerons. Makes sense, though.
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Not a plane I know but they are very beautiful in a sinister, form following function, sort of way.
The Apaches fly out of Middle Wallop near me and I never tire of seeing them "hedge-hopping" across the lanes.
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u249/freddered/Apache.jpg)
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We see them a lot round here too (near RAF Wattisham).
What's scary is that the front gun seems to track where the pilot looks so if he peers down at you (what's that weird bike?) he appears to be aiming his gun right at you!
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I didn't realise it would have ailerons. Makes sense, though.
Actually, they're elevators. It has rudders too. They are used effectively to pitch or yaw the envelope to vector the thrust so that the airship goes in the required direction. There's no need to roll the vehicle to give a lift vector into a turn - it has no lift vector!
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We see them a lot round here too (near RAF Wattisham).
What's scary is that the front gun seems to track where the pilot looks so if he peers down at you (what's that weird bike?) he appears to be aiming his gun right at you!
Yes, the gun follows the pilot's eye! (S)He wears a monocular thing.
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When we came back from HK to Brize Norton with the RAF they only stopped at Gan and Akrotiri - this was in 1974. However the first time I went out there we stopped at Rome, Tehran, Delhi and Rangoon. IIRC the 747s went something like LHR - Bahrain - Bangkok - HK.
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On the way home from school (apologies for rubbish phone pic)
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/295444_10150970201291839_706304573_n.jpg)
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Is it a plane? Is it Superman? No, it's geese!
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I like the pun here:
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8171/006sxk.jpg)
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Be warned people, I am going to the Waddington Air Show tomorrow. I am taking two cameras, five lenses, three batteries, several memory cards. There will be pictures !!!!!!!
Dave Yates
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Cool. Looking forward to those.
In the meantime, I can report several spots close to Headcorn.
There were two hollanda: One Tiger Moth, and one other. A Cessna 172 style aircraft, and a low winged monoplane with spats I couldn't identity.
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Here is a picture of the weird Bell Geospace BT-67 that's been flying over the Wolds a lot last week. Its a converted up graded DC-3. Check out the modern engines.
(http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/1/8/2042813.jpg)
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Be warned people, I am going to the Waddington Air Show tomorrow. I am taking two cameras, five lenses, three batteries, several memory cards. There will be pictures !!!!!!!
Dave Yates
"Here's one, you can just make it out in the mist. And another. Apologies for all the drops of rain on the lens!!"
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Cool. Looking forward to those.
In the meantime, I can report several spots close to Headcorn.
There were two hollanda: One Tiger Moth, and one other. A Cessna 172 style aircraft, and a low winged monoplane with spats I couldn't identity.
Hollanda? WTF? Silly phone, what's one of them? I meant biplanes
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Was that the Elvington Vulcan doing circuits over York at around 1315hrs today?
No pics as it was too far away .
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Was that the Elvington Vulcan doing circuits over York at around 1315hrs today?
No pics as it was too far away .
Could be, which is good, because she's been grounded since lunching two engines in May after an incident with a silica gel packet...
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/368/82/Initial-test-flight-completed.html
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Thanks for the link. I see they are planning more flights soon :thumbsup:
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Here is a picture of the weird Bell Geospace BT-67 that's been flying over the Wolds a lot last week. Its a converted up graded DC-3. Check out the modern engines.
(http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/1/8/2042813.jpg)
That was out over Kilburn and Coxwold this afternoon. We'd taken FiL for his first gliding lesson off Sutton Bank this morning too! He's 76 !
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An impressively close formation of Typhoons over Edinburgh for Armed Forces Day
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7566750442_83225dfc77_z.jpg)
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Be warned people, I am going to the Waddington Air Show tomorrow. I am taking two cameras, five lenses, three batteries, several memory cards. There will be pictures !!!!!!!
Dave Yates
"Here's one, you can just make it out in the mist. And another. Apologies for all the drops of rain on the lens!!"
Went on the Sunday and weather was OK initially then clouded over so all the big formation displays were flat. Got some reasonable pics which I will post as soon as I sort them out.
Dave yates
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The Crinkly pride went to the National Museum of Flight in Scotland and we saw this ;D
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/549659_10151181140403132_74742549_n.jpg)
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I saw one of them recently parked at Filton. That means there must be at least two of them left in the world! It looked surprisingly small in the metal.
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I saw one of them recently parked at Filton. That means there must be at least two of them left in the world! It looked surprisingly small in the metal.
I cycle past that quite often. They are small.
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As I left work yesterday afternoon, I could hear what i thought was a Merlin approaching. A few seconds later Iw as overflown by what looked like a Spitfire which had an unusual paint job- full length mid line split black or dark blue and white/ light blue (aircraft was displaying what looked to be allied rondels). This aircraft was accompanied by an Me 109.
Lovely sight and sound.
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As I left work yesterday afternoon, I could hear what i thought was a Merlin approaching. A few seconds later Iw as overflown by what looked like a Spitfire which had an unusual paint job- full length mid line split black or dark blue and white/ light blue (aircraft was displaying what looked to be allied rondels). This aircraft was accompanied by an Me 109.
Lovely sight and sound.
The colour scheme you mention does seem to be quite close to what was applied to Spitfires shipped to Malta on USS Wasp in 1942.
http://hsfeatures.com/maltabluesse_1.htm
By the way, the vast majority of airworthy Bf109 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Messerschmitt_Bf_109s)s are actually Hispano HA-1112 Buchóns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano_Aviaci%C3%B3n_HA-1112).
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As I left work yesterday afternoon, I could hear what i thought was a Merlin approaching. A few seconds later Iw as overflown by what looked like a Spitfire which had an unusual paint job- full length mid line split black or dark blue and white/ light blue (aircraft was displaying what looked to be allied rondels). This aircraft was accompanied by an Me 109.
Lovely sight and sound.
Possibly this?
(http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/image.php?src=/2009/reports/22_duxford-flying-legends/199_9998.jpg)
I'm not sure if it's in UK just now, but it is a fairly regular visitor. There was a Spitfire in a similar scheme (TD248), but I think that's back in camouflage now. BBMF has one Spitfire in plain silver, and a couple of PRXIXs in plain PR blue, and I have a feeling there was a two-seat Spitfire in a silver scheme with a black horizontal stripe, but I can't find it just now.
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Found this: RN201. Used to be at Duxford, but I think is in the USA now. Is this something like what you saw?
(http://www.airmuseumsuk.org/airshow/2003/Duxford030906/800/images/022%20Supermarine%20Spitfire%20XIVe%20RN201%20HF.jpg)
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I saw one of them recently parked at Filton. That means there must be at least two of them left in the world! It looked surprisingly small in the metal.
There are several. The East Fortune one (G-BOAA) that the CrinklyPride saw; G-BOAB at Heathrow awaiting placing on display at T5, G-BOAF at Bristol Filton, G-BOAC at Manchester airport, G-BBDG at Brooklands, G-BOAE in Barbados, G-BOAD in New York at the USS Intrepid musem, G-BOAG in Seattle, F-BVFF at Charles de Gaulle airport, F-BTSD at Le Bourget, Paris, F-BVFA at the Smithsonian at Washington Dulles airport, F-BVFB somewhere in Germany. Plus the development aircraft G-BSST at Yeovilton, Somerset, G-AXDN at Duxford and a couple in France.
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Found this: RN201. Used to be at Duxford, but I think is in the USA now. Is this something like what you saw?
(http://www.airmuseumsuk.org/airshow/2003/Duxford030906/800/images/022%20Supermarine%20Spitfire%20XIVe%20RN201%20HF.jpg)
Sorry Tim, my description probably wasn't good. The colour split was on the underside, full legth with a centre line split, so port wing was dark and starboard was light (I think it was that way round).
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Aha. That's a very early WW2 camouflage scheme, so it shouldn't be too difficult to identify...
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Spitfire Mk1a P9374:
(http://duxfordfotogallery.co.uk/communities/2/004/007/761/302/images/4553517978.jpg)
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Spitfire Mk1a P9374:
(http://duxfordfotogallery.co.uk/communities/2/004/007/761/302/images/4553517978.jpg)
That's the baby!
I think it had encoutered a rip in the time/ space continuinuinum and was escorting Fritz back to base to enable the boffins to examine his Me 109.
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I saw one of them recently parked at Filton. That means there must be at least two of them left in the world! It looked surprisingly small in the metal.
There are several. The East Fortune one (G-BOAA) that the CrinklyPride saw; G-BOAB at Heathrow awaiting placing on display at T5, G-BOAF at Bristol Filton, G-BOAC at Manchester airport, G-BBDG at Brooklands, G-BOAE in Barbados, G-BOAD in New York at the USS Intrepid musem, G-BOAG in Seattle, F-BVFF at Charles de Gaulle airport, F-BTSD at Le Bourget, Paris, F-BVFA at the Smithsonian at Washington Dulles airport, F-BVFB somewhere in Germany. Plus the development aircraft G-BSST at Yeovilton, Somerset, G-AXDN at Duxford and a couple in France.
One of my writer friends mentioned this place in one of her stories, and I google-mapped it. The Wiki link shows just a bit of what's there. I want to go! Check out the satellite view.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinsheim_Auto_%26_Technik_Museum
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Some sort of do on up the road at Headcorn airfield today. This morning the usual light aircraft plus a DH Dragon Rapide; I saw this several times so I assume that they were doing trips from the airfield. This afternoon at about 1600 a Spitfire, painted for PR I think and a (or rather the) Lancaster. Two or three low passes, a few hundred feet I guess, over the house brought my neighbour out - she wasn't happy. I was in the front garden enjoying the sound of the Merlins, she was bending my ear: 'John, can they do that?' Me: 'They're doing it', she: 'they're very low, isn't it dangerous?' Me: 'Well it's a big aircraft it's probably not as low as it looks'. I think she went off to phone the council or the CAA or whoever. But I would be perfectly happy to put up with that sort of disruption on a daily basis!
A little later when out on an early evening ride what looked (and sounded) like a Hurricane in the distance. I assume that the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster passed us and looked in on Headcorn on their way back from the Eastbourne show.
I apologise for the lack of photos but I was mesmerised.
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Juan I was riding by the airfield at about 4.30 something was up in the air, and diving over the airfield didn't think it was a Spit. do you know what it was?
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I didn't spot anything else of note around that time Moose, I must have missed the one that you saw. By the way, what are you usually riding? I am sure that we must often pass each other. Currently, I am usually the bloke on the tatty blue steel framed thing with brown bar tape.
Today, in the morning, what looked like a Harvard; later in the early another Spitfire. The sound of a low flying jet brought me out of the garage to see briefly between the houses what appeared to be to my un-spectacled eyes a Hawker Hunter with a decidedly un-military paint job, then a couple of Pitts type biplanes. Later on my late afternoon ride an unidentified aircraft with a radial engine and tapered wings. I stopped to look but really only caught a glimpse from the starboard quarter...looked like a wartime US aircraft but I don't know what. The DH Dragon Rapide was still trundling about the place in the late afternoon, providing joyrides.
I presume that most of these, especially the Hunter, were looking in on Headcorn on their way to and from other display - probably Eastbourne.
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Radial engine and tapered wings could well be a T-6, the Texan/Harvard.
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It had a radial and tapered wings so could have been a Harvard. Juan I saw the Hunter fly over my place in Bethersden. My ride this time of year is a Pinarello FP3, in winter a Trek Pilot. I ride with the "Rye Wheelers" we must have seen each other at some time, perhaps at the airfield cafe?
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Perhaps it was a Harvard but the canopy didn't look long enough for a two seater - of course that might have been down to the angle at which I saw it. I'll go with Harvard otherwise I won't stop puzzling over it!
I don't generally get to the airfield cafe as it's just too close to home! I'll keep an eye out for you at the weekends around Bethersden, it's on one of my standard loops so I am often passing through.
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Over Panshanger airfield today
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/markwilson9000/Other/DSC3274.jpg)
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:D
That's a bit different from their usual visitors!
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At Shoreham Airport. we saw (among others) a Tiger Moth, a Chipmunk, another Moth I didn't identify, and this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ado15/IMG_1716_zpsad0d7ce5.jpg)
Probably a Douglas SBD Dauntless
Oh, and this, which I think is a classic Piper Cub, just peeping round the corner:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ado15/IMG_1717_zps1cfc4e65.jpg)
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At Shoreham Airport. we saw (among others) a Tiger Moth, a Chipmunk, another Moth I didn't identify, and this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ado15/IMG_1716_zpsad0d7ce5.jpg)
Probably a Douglas SBD Dauntless
Oh, and this, which I think is a classic Piper Cub, just peeping round the corner:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ado15/IMG_1717_zps1cfc4e65.jpg)
That top one looks awfully like a faked-up Harvard to me!
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Found this: RN201. Used to be at Duxford, but I think is in the USA now. Is this something like what you saw?
(http://www.airmuseumsuk.org/airshow/2003/Duxford030906/800/images/022%20Supermarine%20Spitfire%20XIVe%20RN201%20HF.jpg)
I am a bit late but have the wing been shortened at the end? The ellptical wing seem too squared (well too me at least!) at the end for a spitfire. Or was there a different version with more trapezoidal wings?
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Long story short: wing shapes evolved (for a few reasons) as the plane developed, and later marks of Spitfires often had squared-off rather than elliptical wing tips. This started happening from about the Mk V onwards.
RN201 is a Mk XIVe, according to a quick Google. Doubtless Wiki would gives you chapter and verse on the specs.
[Edit: pretty sure it's Griffon engined rather than Merlin, for a start.]
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At Shoreham Airport. we saw (among others) a Tiger Moth, a Chipmunk, another Moth I didn't identify, and this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ado15/IMG_1716_zpsad0d7ce5.jpg)
Probably a Douglas SBD Dauntless
That top one looks awfully like a faked-up Harvard to me!
I might have thought so too, but I'd seen it earlier parked next to the Texan/Harvard, which is quite a bit smaller.
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Zooming in on the tail of the aircraft shows SNJ-5 above the four-digit tail number - a quick Google suggests that the aircraft pictured is indeed a Texan. SNJ-5 was the designation for ex-US Army Air Corps AT-6Ds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-6_Texan
So whatever you thought was a Texan/Harvard, was something else!
The two clues that it wasn't a Dauntless were that the tail plane position was too high, and there are no perforated dive brake flaps on the wing trailing edge.
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OK, that makes sense. I wonder what the smaller plane was? It had a cover over it, but it definitely had a long high canopy. I wonder if it was a Yak-52?
ETA: There are some Youtube vids of a Yak-52 at Shoreham, so that's a possibility. It's hard to gauge the scale when riding past.
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Long story short: wing shapes evolved (for a few reasons) as the plane developed, and later marks of Spitfires often had squared-off rather than elliptical wing tips. This started happening from about the Mk V onwards.
RN201 is a Mk XIVe, according to a quick Google. Doubtless Wiki would gives you chapter and verse on the specs.
[Edit: pretty sure it's Griffon engined rather than Merlin, for a start.]
Thanks!
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OK, that makes sense. I wonder what the smaller plane was? It had a cover over it, but it definitely had a long high canopy. I wonder if it was a Yak-52?
ETA: There are some Youtube vids of a Yak-52 at Shoreham, so that's a possibility. It's hard to gauge the scale when riding past.
Going by the specs on El Wiki, a Yak-52 is smaller than a Texan. If it was a "westernised" one with "tail-dragger" landing gear, it's a good bet for what you saw.
Specifications (Yak 52)
Length: 7.745 m
Wingspan: 9.30 m
Height: 2.70 m
Specifications (T-6G)
Length: 8.84 m
Wingspan: 12.81 m
Height: 3.57 m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-52
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Yes, a Yak52 is - and looks - a fair bit smaller than a Harvard which, in turn, is a good bit smaller than a Dauntless - though the Harvard and the Dauntless are quite similar. The giveaway is the Dauntless has a three-bladed prop.
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What I think was a Lightning, with clipped wings. Just off the A46 north of the junction with the M4. Parked up, obviously.
It was in what used to be a transport depot, with red and white wagons. Can't remember the name. I was going to stop and take a photo, but there was a car up my arse.
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Yes, a Yak52 is - and looks - a fair bit smaller than a Harvard which, in turn, is a good bit smaller than a Dauntless - though the Harvard and the Dauntless are quite similar. The giveaway is the Dauntless has a three-bladed prop.
Another giveaway is the position of the tail plane, which is a lot lower on a Dauntless.
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What I think was a Lightning, with clipped wings. Just off the A46 north of the junction with the M4. Parked up, obviously.
It was in what used to be a transport depot, with red and white wagons. Can't remember the name. I was going to stop and take a photo, but there was a car up my arse.
Ex-56 Sqn XM173. This (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=64124) thread reveals all.
I'll resist the temptation to comment on your last sentence... ;D
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XH558.
No photos, camera batts were dead. :facepalm:
Magnificent.
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Glad you saw it - what height was it flying and was it at one of its stop points today, or en-route?
I meant to go see it on the A38 south of Gloucester, but realised that I had messed the timing up and couldn't outrun it!
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Glad you saw it - what height was it flying and was it at one of its stop points today, or en-route?
I meant to go see it on the A38 south of Gloucester, but realised that I had messed the timing up and couldn't outrun it!
I saw it at Staverton - it did a low pass over the airport east-west, then banked round fairly tightly to the right and did another low pass north-south before gaining some height. I think it was heading for Wales afterwards.
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We rode near Duxford and saw a few interesting planes.
a Bulldog (http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acimages/bulldog_coffey.jpg)
a large single engined biplane like a Fox Moth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Fox_Moth)
a Tiger Moth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Tiger_Moth)
a Dragon Rapide flew directly overhead. I think it is one of the most beautiful aeroplaces ever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide)
and a pre-war trainer, something like a Stearman Model 75 Kaydet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75). Leastways, it had stubby, rounded-end wings, and an uncowled radial.
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The other one we saw, Clarion, was probably a T6 Harvard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-6_Texan).
I think you need to avoid clicking on this link (http://www.duxfordflying.co.uk/index.php?pageid=608). ;)
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Wobbly, I clicked the link. I am now vintage but when I flew in a Dragon Rapide from what was then London Airport, I wasn't. My first flight and heart in mouth stuff because of that. Excellent female pilot.
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Thanks, John, for reminding me.
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We rode near Duxford and saw a few interesting planes.
a Bulldog (http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acimages/bulldog_coffey.jpg)
Brings back many happy memories - I instructed on Bulldogs from 1987-91 at RAF Finningley (Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron). Wonderful times.
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It's a great little plane, and underappreciated.
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Great? Well, I'm not sure I agree with that. It was workmanlike and a reasonable instruction platform, but it was hideously expensive and had a horrible penchant for entering irrecoverable spins, and even with 200hp it struggled to outperform the Chipmunk it replaced. The Siai Marchetti SF260 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aermacchi_SF.260) was the same price and a lot more capable but, although it was considered for the Air Staff Target that resulted in the Bulldog, it was Not Made Here and thus didn't get bought. Interestingly, a derivative of it is still in production.
I did once get a look at the sole Bullfinch, a retractable-gear development of the Bulldog, which might have been an interesting alternative, but it was never put into production.
However, as a relatively simple GA aeroplane, the Bulldog has a lot going for it.
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The SF260 edges it in style.
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Most definitely - and was a whole lot more fun to fly!
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The SF260 edges it in style.
It's on my Lottery Win shopping list. 8)
My daughter was highly impressed when I identified the one used in the recent Plane Crash documentary, before it was name checked by the narrator.
I think most of those training aircraft designed from the mid 50's up to the recent Tucano and Pilatus types have at least sub-consciously mimiced the appearance of the P-51, because that's how a fighter really should look.
I'll go and hide now. O:-)
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Now then chaps,
Hereare some pics from Waddington Air Show. Sorry it has taken so long, I have been so busy over the last few months I never seemed to have the time to sort the pics.
First one is the Frecce Tricolori in their Aermacchi MB338s
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/FrecciaTricolore2.jpg)
next is their singleton that kept wizzing back and forth in all manner of strange attitudes.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Freccia-Tricolore-1.jpg)
A "Rivet Joint" full of electronic wizardry :o
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Rivet-Joint.jpg)
One of the "Saudi Hawks" team
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Saudi-Hawk.jpg)
and last for this morning a Tornado doing its "Role Demo"
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Tornado-Role-Demo-Wadd.jpg)
Pics are not brilliant as the weather was rubbish. More to follow when I get them sorted.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Seen over the workshop on Friday
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC05920.jpg)
The new Spitfire LF16e rebuilt by the staff at the BBMF on its third flight since rebuild complete. Brightened up an otherwise mundane day ;D
Picture is a bit rubbish but it was a long way off and I have had to blow it up a bit
Dave Yates
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That is interesting. And unusual.
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Clipped wing (for low level fast roll ability) and a Packard built Griffin. Fast and agile !
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Clipped wing (for low level fast roll ability) and a Packard built Griffin. Fast and agile !
First bit correct but I think you will find its a Packard built Merlin rather than a Griffon
{ switch "pedant mode" to off} ;)
Dave Yates
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Clipped wing (for low level fast roll ability) and a Packard built Griffin. Fast and agile !
First bit correct but I think you will find its a Packard built Merlin rather than a Griffon
{ switch "pedant mode" to off} ;)
Dave Yates
It looks like it's a tank-busting variant for ground attack.
The story of Ford Merlins is little known. They built 34,000 at Trafford Park. They completely redrew the plans to allow for their closer tolerances.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/67/a4628667.shtml
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Seen over the workshop on Friday
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC05920.jpg)
The new Spitfire LF16e rebuilt by the staff at the BBMF on its third flight since rebuild complete. Brightened up an otherwise mundane day ;D
Picture is a bit rubbish but it was a long way off and I have had to blow it up a bit
Dave Yates
Hadn't flown for 58 years before this rebuild! It's marked as 4-DV, the aircraft of Sqn Ldr Tony Reeves, OC No 74 Sqn at the end of WW2. 74 had received the aircraft for the tank-busting role in Egypt, but ended up using them supporting the D-Day landings in the fighter-bomber role.
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Clipped wing (for low level fast roll ability) and a Packard built Griffin. Fast and agile !
First bit correct but I think you will find its a Packard built Merlin rather than a Griffon
{ switch "pedant mode" to off} ;)
Dave Yates
It looks like it's a tank-busting variant for ground attack.
The story of Ford Merlins is little known. They built 34,000 at Trafford Park. They completely redrew the plans to allow for their closer tolerances.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/67/a4628667.shtml
Packard Merlins were built in America. The LFXVIE variant was basically a MkIX with the Packard 266 Merlin designed for low level operation ie single stage supercharger as opposed to two stage for higer altitudes, clipped wings to increase roll rate and the "E" wing, 4x20mm cannons and 4x.5 machineguns. As Tim says this one had the bomb racks fitted for ground attack.
I should see lots of this next year when the display season starts ;D
Dave Yates
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A bit too big for under the tree.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8235939357_31ac6e03f8_c.jpg)
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That is a lot of shrink-wrapping.
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That is a lot of shrink-wrapping.
True, but it's nowhere near as much packaging as what Amazon would use if sg37409 wanted a B-29 next to his Crimblemass tree house. :o ;D
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Well spotted.spesh it's a gift wrapped.b29. Gift.wrapped.for.only.3.99 from amazon. f you like planes and are ever in Seattle, the flight museum is a must. One of their volunteers called rex, an ex navy pilot took me round. His stories and commentary added so much to my visit.
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No photo. Sorry. A U2 inbound to Fairford about 10 minutes ago.
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That's a very rare one.
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A clipped Lightning.
I've seen it quite a few times, on the A46 south of the Cross Hands pub, north of the M4 jnct.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/lightning_bars.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/lightning_all.jpg)
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That's kinda sad.
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(http://www.avionslegendaires.net/Images/Gpc6-2.jpg)
Pilatus PC-6. Love these things. STOL so they can take off and land on a ridiculously small runway (like 150 yds!), and I spent a couple of hours watching one load, spiral up to about 10,000ft in no time, drop freefallers from a French parachute club, land, and repeat ten or so times, in Quiberon, Brittany a couple of years ago.
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(http://www.avionslegendaires.net/Images/Gpc6-2.jpg)
Pilatus PC-6. Love these things. STOL so they can take off and land on a ridiculously small runway (like 150 yds!), and I spent a couple of hours watching one load, spiral up to about 10,000ft in no time, drop freefallers from a French parachute club, land, and repeat ten or so times, in Quiberon, Brittany a couple of years ago.
Is that the same plane that they used on Air America, landing on a ridculously uphill short runway, allegedly in Laos/ Cambodia?
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Possibly, but it was likely meant to be a Fairchild Peacemaker, which was the US COIN variant.
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Is that the same plane that they used on Air America, landing on a ridculously uphill short runway, allegedly in Laos/ Cambodia?
Google is indicating 'yes'. Air America did in fact use them in Laos (possibly as the Fairchild variant á la Clarion), but as to what Gibbo or Downey (Jnr) was piloting in the film, I don't know.
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That's kinda sad.
It is like finning sharks
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That's kinda sad.
It is like finning sharks
Interceptor SOUP. Om nom nom nom!
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Looks like it's intended for display outside Dyson's at Malmesbury.
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/northwilts/10167914.print/
A clipped Lightning.
I've seen it quite a few times, on the A46 south of the Cross Hands pub, north of the M4 jnct.
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Is that the same plane that they used on Air America, landing on a ridculously uphill short runway, allegedly in Laos/ Cambodia?
Google is indicating 'yes'. Air America did in fact use them in Laos (possibly as the Fairchild variant á la Clarion), but as to what Gibbo or Downey (Jnr) was piloting in the film, I don't know.
In the book they mention Pilatus and Helio Couriers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helio_Courier
Tricky to fly though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6E4ectHNc
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Tricky to fly though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6E4ectHNc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6E4ectHNc)
Those take offs, and landings, are impressively short. Apparently it has a minimum-control speed of around 28 mph, so many of us could overtake one in flight, using our bikes. ;D
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Tricky to fly though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6E4ectHNc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6E4ectHNc)
Those take offs, and landings, are impressively short. Apparently it has a minimum-control speed of around 28 mph, so many of us could overtake one in flight, using our bikes. ;D
I read the book 30 years ago, I remember that the company sued the US government because the CIA were making the planes themselves for various reasons. There seems to be some doubt about the book, it may be based on bar-room tales more than anything else.
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(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8479834262_2b2a30b9f3_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74277693@N03/8479834262/)
Vulcan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74277693@N03/8479834262/)
by CrinkyUncle (http://www.flickr.com/people/74277693@N03/),
on Flickr
CrinklyUncle and I went for a hanger tour (at Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster) to see the Avro Vulcan XH558. We've seen it in the air at Goodwood and hope to see it in the air again soon :)
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Seen over the workshop on Friday ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-6_zps566bc968.jpg)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-5_zpsb5467042.jpg)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-4_zps3183a5c6.jpg)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-3_zps472d12b5.jpg)
The display Typhoon is working up his display routine, either 8.00 1nd 13.00, sometimes both most days when the weather is halfway decent. Getting lower and faster ;D ;D
Dave Yates
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Interesting. Assymetric in a eurofighter?
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Interesting. Assymetric in a eurofighter?
He did the whole routine on one burner. The last pic was actually taken on Thursday.
Dave Yates
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It's no good. I am going to have to buy a camera. Anyway...Antonov-124 (? - the one that makes a C-17 look like a tiddler) on final approach into Brize about midday.
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Yesterday afternoon while out on the Phoenix, the first Merlin of summer. The sound was unmistakeable and a couple of seconds later a P51 flashed over fairly low to fly past Headcorn airfield.
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Trip to Hendon Aircraft Museum last month (with m'boys) and just a tiny amount of their excellent selection:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon8_zpsbf92817b.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon8_zpsbf92817b.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon7_zpsb662e1c4.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon7_zpsb662e1c4.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon6_zps857591cc.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon6_zps857591cc.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon5_zpsbee1fd64.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon5_zpsbee1fd64.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon4_zpsb9acde6d.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon4_zpsb9acde6d.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon3_zpsd282e6bf.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon3_zpsd282e6bf.jpg.html)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/P1050914Hendon2_zpsb2f9e81a.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/Riggers_1956/media/P1050914Hendon2_zpsb2f9e81a.jpg.html)
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Some remarkable machines there.
What's the top one? Looks like a Bleriot from the rigging, but the pipes across the engine don't seem right.
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Some remarkable machines there.
What's the top one? Looks like a Bleriot from the rigging, but the pipes across the engine don't seem right.
It is a Bleriot - see here (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/85-AF-226-Bleriot-XXVII-433.pdf). Great spot on the engine! The notes in the link may explain.
Remember, this is the RAF Museum, not a museum of flight, so every exhibit is from, or relevant to, the RAF.
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I don't think we flew many Me262s ;)
I know, I know: ...or relevant to...
;D
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I don't think we flew many Me262s ;)
I know, I know: ...or relevant to...
;D
Actually, we had quite a few at Martlesham Heath (IIRC) after the war!
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Is that an F-35A or an F-35B?
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I didn't even know there was an A or B.
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I didn't even know there was an A or B.
Seems to be a mock-up of the A, we are getting the C, the B is the Harrier replacement. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/lockheed-martin-joint-strike-fighter-jsf-1-f-/
The F35 programme is the biggest defence contract in history. There was a certain amount of surprise when the contract went to Lockheed rather than Boeing. The Lockheed bid involved many of the countries allied to the US after 911 and its success was announced in October 2001.
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This is rumour control, here are the facts...
We were originally going to get the STOVL-capable B-model, the coalition government changed to the US Navy's C-model when the DoD put the B-model on probation due to various issues arising in the development program, and then rapidly changed back to the B-model when it was pointed out that to convert the QE2-class carriers from STOVL to CATOBAR ops would cost an absolute packet.
Situation normal...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Combat_Aircraft#2010_Strategic_Defence_and_Security_Review
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This is rumour control, here are the facts...
We were originally going to get the STOVL-capable B-model, the coalition government changed to the US Navy's C-model when the DoD put the B-model on probation due to various issues arising in the development program, and then rapidly changed back to the B-model when it was pointed out that to convert the QE2-class carriers from STOVL to CATOBAR ops would cost an absolute packet.
Situation normal...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Combat_Aircraft#2010_Strategic_Defence_and_Security_Review
That's one problem with running a museum. The past is more certain than the future. It's still easier than running the real world though.
The UK version - the F-35C, a developed version of the F-35A seen here - will be a stealthy, multi-role, all-weather, day & night, fighter/attack air system aircraft that can operate from land bases and both current and the next generation of aircraft carriers, two of which (Queen Elizabeth Class) are now under construction for the Royal Navy. When the JCA enters service, it will be able to conduct deep strike missions, against a variety of targets.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/lockheed-martin-joint-strike-fighter-jsf-1-f-/
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Brings back many happy memories - I instructed on Bulldogs from 1987-91 at RAF Finningley (Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron). Wonderful times.
Just checked my log book. We actually flew together I think!! I was a Nav student rather than UAS
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Excellent! I used to enjoy the nav courses, especially before they cut the Bulldog part right down. When did we fly? I'm in India at this moment, and can't check my logbooks (I will get them all on Excel eventually!).
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Was September '87, in XX621 - you also have the privilege of being the only pilot in my logbook because I dutifully completed it before being told we weren't supposed to as students until we'd completed the course!
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Ah. What happened?
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Got as far as the 7th Dominie sortie before the instructors finally twigged that I was as likely to bomb on of our allies as the enemy :D and we decided to call it a day. At the end of the day I couldn't take the level of 'cockpit pressure' :(
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Shame. Ah well, nav was a dying trade anyway! I hope you found something gainful to replace it.
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Today when driving back from the Rutland camping weekend and a little way South of Stanstead, what looked like a Rutan Long EZ; if not that, some other canard configuration light aircraft.
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It's me again! Late away from the office last night owing to a disasterette caused by a sprinkler head failure I was walking by Cannon Street station when a Fairey Swordfish passed over, very slowly or perhaps flat out, accompanied by an assortment of helicopters. A few minutes later, directly overhead and between the buildings what I took to be a PBY Catalina with US markings, although as I could only see the underside of the hull I was unsure. All were pretty low and I assume something to do with the commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic. It almost made it worth being late home!
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Staying at a friend's in Eltham after the trans seminar yesterday, and we heard the choppers. Five, plus a swordfish. Then we watched it live on the One Show. We missed the PBY, though.
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Many years ago, got to work, walked round the corner of the Town Hall to be confronted by a parked Swordfish, complete with (hopefully dummy) torpedo. They're bloody big, for a single engined plane. T'was there for commemorative purposes, which was fine by me! Not what you expect to find parked in front of the office, though.
At my previous workplace, there was an "unfortunate incident" involving a PBY catalina. They took the mayor up in it, and killed him when it crashed into the sea... Not quite how they intended to treat their "VIP" guest.
At the same place, I had a visitor in for a meeting. Half way through, several Spitfires turned up and started cavorting over the port. Meeting ran a little late.. ;D
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Something looking remarkably like an Airbus Beluga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Beluga) over Hamburg airport on Monday this week. Only 5 built, apparently.
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No pics, but saw many interesting planes today - including a proper display by the Vulcan, and another by the red arrows, and a pair of wing walkers - at Waddington with the Cubs, CrinklyUncle and CrinklyAuntie. My favourites weren't actually planes though - I liked the dancing helicopters best of all. EldestCub also got to play with the Vulcan simulation and, with a look of extreme concentration and not much help, managed to land it plumb down the middle of the virtual runway :D
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/s843x403/481062_10151656482556839_1689283984_n.jpg)
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http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2013/08/16/flying-boat-to-fly-over-tower-bridge/
Catalina planned to "fly over Tower Bridge at 10:50am next Wednesday (21st Aug) and then fly along the Thames to Kingston (10.55), down to Chessington then over to Weybridge (11am), before heading down to Southampton.
It returns on Sunday reversing the same route and passing over Tower Bridge at around 4:15pm."
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I'd love to see it reversing. ;D
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Some sort of do at Headcorn airfield over the weekend with much automatic gunfire and explosions from the battlefied fanticists. But more interestingly several interesting aircraft flew past - on Saturday a P51 (I think, I was without specs) and a Hawker Hunter with flashy paint - perhaps Red Bull. Yesterday, Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster; this went on for some time which made me think that there might have been more than one Spitfire involved, but I was alas, again specless.
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No photos, I am afraid, but since being down in Cambs I have seen, in no real order:
AWACS
a couple of C-17s (they are noisy bastards)
an odd, twin engined prop plane with really square wings
Several Apaches
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Some sort of do at Headcorn airfield over the weekend with much automatic gunfire and explosions from the battlefied fanticists. But more interestingly several interesting aircraft flew past - on Saturday a P51 (I think, I was without specs) and a Hawker Hunter with flashy paint - perhaps Red Bull. Yesterday, Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster; this went on for some time which made me think that there might have been more than one Spitfire involved, but I was alas, again specless.
The Eastbourne Air Show was on over the weekend I believe.
This Thursday and Friday it's the Clacton Air Show and the Vulcan is visiting. James (my husband) is going by boat, I'm going by trike and my Dad's flying down so we're a full Sea, Air and Land set!
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Some sort of do at Headcorn airfield over the weekend with much automatic gunfire and explosions from the battlefied fanticists. But more interestingly several interesting aircraft flew past - on Saturday a P51 (I think, I was without specs) and a Hawker Hunter with flashy paint - perhaps Red Bull. Yesterday, Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster; this went on for some time which made me think that there might have been more than one Spitfire involved, but I was alas, again specless.
I would just like to say that I have no idea why a spelled fantasists like that!
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an odd, twin engined prop plane with really square wings
I'll hazard a guess that what you saw there might have been a CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor - several of them have been deployed to RAF Mildenhall earlier this summer.
http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/25/first-u-s-air-force-osprey-egun/
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an odd, twin engined prop plane with really square wings
I'll hazard a guess that what you saw there might have been a CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor - several of them have been deployed to RAF Mildenhall earlier this summer.
http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/25/first-u-s-air-force-osprey-egun/
You could be right, the other thing I noted about it was the engine (or more precisely the prop) noise didn't seem right.
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As referenced in a different thread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=46587.msg1547279#msg1547279):
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bQskOyKfi44/UhZqEwJNfkI/AAAAAAAACHw/J09_5wBlS4c/s800/DSC_0089.jpg) (https://picasaweb.google.com/Bebchenko/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCLOEuI6Q1JPjuAE#5915031790473281090)
Following close examination, it's obviously... and aeroplane.
Specifically, it's a Catalina G-PBYA flying boat, which is currently based at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, starting a five day tour around the UK. Click on pic to take you to page where you can zoom in a bit.
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What I think was an Orion P3 on final approach to Fairford at about 5pm on Tuesday.
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crikey, are they still in service? :o
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Yep. Hit 50 years last year.
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Proper workhorse :thumbsup:
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Jacques Cousteau had one.
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Jacques Cousteau had one.
A Catalina, not a P3!
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My Airfix model of a Catalina was painted to look like Cousteau's.
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According wikipedia (I just checked) they're still operational ( P-3Cs ) but are being replaced by Boeing P-8A Poseidons.
Tell you what though, they're smokey old birds. It was approaching roughly head on and to start with I thought it was a clapped out Herc.
This might explain what it was doing hereabouts, edited extracts from wiki page.
"'...Since the start of the current war in Afghanistan, U.S. Navy P-3 aircraft have been operating from Kandahar in that role.[22] Royal Australian AP-3C Orions operated out of Minhad Air Base in the UAE from 2003 until their withdrawal in November 2012. During the period 2008 - 2012, the AP-3C Orions conducted overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks in support of coalition troops throughout Afghanistan.[23]
Recently the United States Geological Survey used the Orion to survey parts of southern and eastern Afghanistan for lithium, copper, and other mineral deposits."
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Tell you what though, they're smokey old birds. It was approaching roughly head on and to start with I thought it was a clapped out Herc.
Same Allison T56 engines. We regularly used to get reports from Wales and Scotland of 'a six-engined bomber crashing' as people saw a Herc disappear at low level over a ridgeline. From anywhere within 45 degrees of stern-on, the smoke would look pretty horrendous. The six engined bit was because people would mistake the wing tanks for engines.
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Jacques Cousteau had one.
A Catalina, not a P3!
Correct.
*My Airfix model* of the Calypso hat a calalina and a diving cage with sharks.
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Tell you what though, they're smokey old birds. It was approaching roughly head on and to start with I thought it was a clapped out Herc.
Same Allison T56 engines. We regularly used to get reports from Wales and Scotland of 'a six-engined bomber crashing' as people saw a Herc disappear at low level over a ridgeline. From anywhere within 45 degrees of stern-on, the smoke would look pretty horrendous. The six engined bit was because people would mistake the wing tanks for engines.
Given the vintage of the design, I'm not surprised. The T-56 first entered production in 1954, and it's derived from the T38 - which was first run in 1947! Combustion chamber development's come a long way since then.
Mind you,, the ultimate for smoke is several B-52s taking off using water-injection to boost engine power, in a minimum interval take-off exercise.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-52G_taking_off_from_Barksdale_AFB_1986.JPEG
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We cycled up to Lasham to have lunch yesterday and amongst all the glider lovelyness one of these landed. The way the propellor folds away is very neat.
Not my photo because as usual I forgot the camera!
(http://u.jimdo.com/www61/o/s4de3aeb0be30e095/img/i3785137c1461209c/1374564639/std/image.png)
Stemme S10
http://www.stemme.info/s10/ (http://www.stemme.info/s10/)
And then on the way back into Farnborough 4 monoplanes came over in formation and turned on smoke as they crossed the airfield and then a Spitfire flew over - no idea why though.
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We cycled up to Lasham to have lunch yesterday and amongst all the glider lovelyness one of these landed. The way the propellor folds away is very neat.
It may be neat but... it isn't a particularly good glider and I suspect it isn't a particularly good powered aircraft either. Fortunately when it noses over (which they seem to do regularly) the propellor blades readily shear which means that you don't have a prop shaft thrashing around in the cockpit with you.
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A couple of stonking pics from this bloke (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Aircraft-Photography/265224834712)
I bet you'll never see this again.
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/shedbike/lancmossie_zpsfc56840e.jpg)
And BBMF wouldn't allow this at all
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/shedbike/lowlanc_zps28e671cb.jpg)
Look carefully, the pilot has blue eyes 8)
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(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/9707969886_8e759515c1_c.jpg)
Slightly shop-soiled F111 at Battle Mountain airport
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(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/9707969886_8e759515c1_c.jpg)
Slightly shop-soiled F111 at Battle Mountain airport
Oh yes indeedie! do liek the Aardvark :thumbsup:
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(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/shedbike/lowlanc_zps28e671cb.jpg)
<Notes background trees and lack of wheels>
Rhur dams?
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Bit slow in posting the photos, but this pair paid a short visit to Plockton when we were there at the end of May
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2FOgH8kzWiU/Ui43q9wO0zI/AAAAAAAAHM8/EuiNGnveMkw/s640/DSC00173.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d0plPunMXFc/Ui43sbe87-I/AAAAAAAAHM4/QOekmhkcgBk/s640/DSC00169.JPG)
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Mongolian Yaks? How appropriate.
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I'm on a crowded commuter train rather than the quiet one I was hoping for. That's because, as I rounded the corner at Guys Hospital, I heard a roar of engines, and a trimotor aircraft flew by, tracked by a helicopter.
As I reached the concourse outside London Bridge station, I saw it completing the first of two passes by the Shard, and I waited outside to get photos of the second pass.
I don't have a good lens with me for aviation, and nor do I have the functioning shoulders which would have helped, and an achingly long shutter lag placed the aircraft behind a crane tower for the closest shot. But look out for some massively over-enlarged fuzzy dots later.
Not sure what it was, as there were a number of similar aircraft at the time. First thought was a Junkers Ju-52, but I don't think that's it. I think there were Fokkers and Sacchis too in the same format, but I suspect this was a Ford.
I'll gewgall later. But it was an exciting moment.
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Ah, that's what my co-workers must have been gawking at earlier. My window doesn't really have a view, and I was too busy to see what the commotion was about. :(
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I meant Savoia Marchetti for the Italian one.
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Here we go: As I say, not the right lens for the occasion, and the light was a bit low. As were the wings, which rules out a Ford or a Fokker:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/9719817040_2211655baa.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9719817040/)
IMG_5623e (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9719817040/) by TJ Clarion (http://www.flickr.com/people/93751227@N04/), on Flickr
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/9719817380_5f2d665bac.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9719817380/)
IMG_5622e (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9719817380/) by TJ Clarion (http://www.flickr.com/people/93751227@N04/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/9716591221_ca9b9c829a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9716591221/)
IMG_5625e (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9716591221/) by TJ Clarion (http://www.flickr.com/people/93751227@N04/), on Flickr
And playing hide & seek:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9716584359_da5fd0c14a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9716584359/)
IMG_5624e (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/9716584359/) by TJ Clarion (http://www.flickr.com/people/93751227@N04/), on Flickr
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Bloody hell, it's just flown past the window! :o
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Here's some information. It's a Ju-52 all right.
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85341
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Here's some information. It's a Ju-52 all right.
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85341
Technically, it's a CASA 352 (a licenced copy/locally-produced "Aunty Junkers")- see:
http://www.rimowa-in-the-air.com/en/ju52_daten.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airworthy_Ju_52s
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Both the plane and the chopper rumbled over me in Walthamstow at around 17:00 yesterday - at a guess I'd say heading in Duxford's general direction.
All a bit Where Eagles Dare, if you ask me.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVpOeJPQ1eI
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I heard the tri motor over Marlow yesterday afternoon- about 5:00 ish (or so I thought). Some considerable time later, it hove into view from behind trees and houses, heading towards that there London. No helicopter with it at the time.
Not a very stealthy aircraft but nice to see.
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Back in the day, a sighting would not have been so welcome.
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(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/shedbike/lowlanc_zps28e671cb.jpg)
<Notes background trees and lack of wheels>
Rhur dams?
This is the Canadian (privately?) owned Lanc. There's no way the RAF would be allowed to display theirs at such a low height.
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I don't have a pic.
Odd-looking plane over york last fri.
Wing profile like a glider.
Single engine in the nose (yeah, you are thinking 'powered glider').
But the body was wide-ish, about the size of an 'executive' jet.
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I was asked to wipe my deceased uncles old laptop prior to disposal and save any family pictures etc. He served in the RAF from WWII to the 1980s (see thread elsewhere on here). I found some nice pictures of planes. Unfortunately I dont have location or date info for them except the Burma ones which were taken at Seletar. Not such good quality but interesting I think:
Burma WWII
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/Seletar%201.jpg)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/Seletar%202.jpg)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/Seletar%203.jpg)
Air display somewhere
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/AS1.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/AS2.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/AS3.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/AS54.JPG)
Assorted planes
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/BD2.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/BH7.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/CF7.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/CF19.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F1.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F11.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F15.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F16.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F18.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/F19.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G4.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G5.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G6.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G7.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G10.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G12.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/G13.JPG)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/K1.JPG)
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Should this be in the bad parking thread?
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Some fantastic photo's there :thumbsup:
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I think the Hunter and Gnat in bare metal/orange must be mid to late sixties as this was the colour scheme for training aircraft then. It switched to white and red in the 70s. One I forgot to post. Low level Hunter !
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/X1.jpg)
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The last, additional, picture is a SOAF Hunter at (IIRC) Thumrait in about 1980. It's fairly widespread on the interwebs. Back in those days, SOAF was a pretty wild-west operation with much extreme low-level twattery.
In your group of earlier pictures, I think quite a few are Farnborough around 1966. The 74Sqn Lightning F1 (with P1127 in the background), Standard VC10, Trident, Avro 707, Bristol 188 etc.
I'd be interested to learn where the RCAF f86s and T33 were taken, alongside an RAF Hunter. And that Varsity in the same picture - what does it say above the windows?
Other aircraft pictured include Meteor F8, Vampire T2(?), Hunter T7, Gnat T1, F5, Fairy Firefly, F111. I can't help with the pre-WW1 types, but Old Warden is a definite possibility. The Spitfires are Mk XVIs, and may well be in Burma, though the 'Seltar' you refer to is likely to be RAF Seletar, in Singapore.
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Thanks Tim. Your right it is Seletar it was a typo on my part. Not sure if the photos are of Seletar or Burma though as they were in a directory labelled Burma but all the file names were Seletar.
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I'd be interested to learn where the RCAF f86s and T33 were taken, alongside an RAF Hunter. And that Varsity in the same picture - what does it say above the windows?
Just had a look at the original file and it seems the picture is reversed. After flipping it the right way arround and zooming I can reveal that the lettering on the Varsity says "Royal Air Force S..." anything after the S is out of shot.
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Some fabulous photos of some real rarities you added after the Spits.
I can't name them all, but I think there's a Bristol 188, a Fairey Delta 2?, and the ?Avro Triplane.
And that Meteor with a modified nosecone.
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:-[ Just looked up the reg, and what I thought was an FD2 was an Avro 707. I've got a Jane's Book of experimental planes somewhere with many of these in.
EDIT: I've reconsidered. I think the dark one is an FD2, after all. ;D
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Those Spitfires are interesting - they have the later bubble canopies, but still the pointy wings. I guess a Mk XVI or XVII?
I'd agree. I've looked up the XVIII, and that seems to consistently have a five bladed prop.
Hold on though. There's a reference on Wikipedia to all MkXVIs being LF variants with clipped wings. Seems unlikely, especially given the photo next to the text, but could be true, which might narrow it down to a XVII.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_%28late_Merlin-powered_variants%29#Mk_XVI_.28type_361.29
I looked up the 'lost' Spits, and it turns out they are LF MkXIVs made in Castle Bromwich.
"Air display somewhere" could be at Old Warden, it's got that sort of look of how it was when I was there as a teenager.
My thoughts too.
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Photo 8. A Tornado. But looking at the unusually pointy nosecone, I might hazard that's an MRCA prototype with one of the avionics variants they tried out (I was an avid reader of Flight in the days of the testing).
Yes, I know. I'm massively overexcited at these pictures :-[
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The Meteor is a standard F8. Behind it is and Avro 707, with its nose appearing to project from the Meteor.
The Spitfire FR XVIII is a Griffon-powered bubble-cockpit variant, so it isn't one of those. The 'Mk XVII' is a Griffon-engined version of the Seafire, so it ain't one of those either. I believe it's an LFXVI. LF varieties did not all have clipped wings - but they did have different radiator arrangements. Operators of the XVI in the Burma campaign included 11 and 17 Sqns. 17 was, I believe based in Singapore at the time under 226 Gp, but I'd have to do more research on that. 11 was based in Ceylon, so it's unlikely to be them. 81Sqn was a PR outfit based in Singapore, but they didn't have XVIs.
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Photo 8. A Tornado. But looking at the unusually pointy nosecone, I might hazard that's an MRCA prototype with one of the avionics variants they tried out (I was an avid reader of Flight in the days of the testing).
I thought 8 was an F-111 Aardvark.
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I can't see a 'Tornado' in any of these pictures. There is an F 111. These pictures predate even the MRCA by some time.
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Tim the Spits are almost certainly X1 Squadron as that was my Uncles outfit during WWII. They flew Hurricanes in Burma then Spitfire XIVs in Malaya and Japan after the armistice. I have some photo's not scanned as yet of them in transit on an aircraft carrier which must have been scary for non naval pilots.
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OK. I wasn't expecting US aircraft, but thinking of experimental.
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Tim the Spits are almost certainly X1 Squadron as that was my Uncles outfit during WWII. They flew Hurricanes in Burma then Spitfire XIVs in Malaya and Japan after the armistice. I have some photo's not scanned as yet of them in transit on an aircraft carrier which must have been scary for non naval pilots.
Ah, ok. Perhaps they did heavy maintenance or R&R at Seletar then. I can probably find out more - my Dad is (or was - I can't keep up!) president of the Xl Sqn Association, and he can probably dig up more info.
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Another view of the Aardvark:
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/BH5.jpg)
and a couple I think TimC might find interesting:
Squadron Leader Leo Hook:
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/BD3.jpg)
(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/B3.jpg)
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Ah! 207 Sqn? You'll be interested to know it's now a Reserve Sqn at Linton! I wonder if Leo's heritage had anything to do with that?!
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Tim the Spits are almost certainly X1 Squadron as that was my Uncles outfit during WWII. They flew Hurricanes in Burma then Spitfire XIVs in Malaya and Japan after the armistice. I have some photo's not scanned as yet of them in transit on an aircraft carrier which must have been scary for non naval pilots.
Ah, ok. Perhaps they did heavy maintenance or R&R at Seletar then. I can probably find out more - my Dad is (or was - I can't keep up!) president of the Xl Sqn Association, and he can probably dig up more info.
Further - as you say, XI operated LFXIVs in Burma. They never operated XVIs, according to the Sqn History and contrary to what I said earlier (which came from another good source, so there may be some doubt about this). Those in the picture are definitely not XIVs (which were Griffon-engined and hi-backed). So I reckon Leo was getting some schadenfreude recording the mishaps of other outfits at his base!
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There were both high backed and low backed XIVs. I am not sure which 11 squadron were issued with. I will have to look at some of the photos my Dad has.
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Yes, there were. There were also lo-backed IXs, and I challenge any of us to tell the difference between a IX and XVI! But I'm pretty sure nines didn't operate in that theatre. XI Sqn definitely operated Fourteens, but that picture isn't of any variant of the XIV. I have found some reference to them operating XVIs, but the Sqn History on the XI Sqn Association website doesn't refer to that. However, as I say, there's no reason why Leo's pictures should be of his own unit's machines - none of the others you show are (I assume)!
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I think they are just random pictures he took of aircraft over the years that he found interesting rather than any that are particular to his squadron. There are a load of pictures of aircraft that he flew but I don't have digital copies yet. There is one that says "my Spit" for example but I can't remember what mark it is. I will try and borrow the photo album off my Dad this weekend.
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It would be interesting to see them - and might help the detective work on the XVIs. I did try to make out the serial numbers, but the combination of the scan resolution and my iPad defeated that!
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Yes the scans arent much cop. I'm just amazed that he scanned them at all.
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Yes - good effort from him to do that. I wonder if I can persuade my dad to do the same. He does have a scanner...
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Is there any chance the original negs/slides/prints are still around?
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No idea. My Dad has chucked a lot of stuff as the house was cleared and sold a few months ago and he and my Mum have enough junk of their own without taking on anyone elses. I will find out.
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Tim the Spits are almost certainly X1 Squadron as that was my Uncles outfit during WWII. They flew Hurricanes in Burma then Spitfire XIVs in Malaya and Japan after the armistice. I have some photo's not scanned as yet of them in transit on an aircraft carrier which must have been scary for non naval pilots.
Ah, ok. Perhaps they did heavy maintenance or R&R at Seletar then. I can probably find out more - my Dad is (or was - I can't keep up!) president of the Xl Sqn Association, and he can probably dig up more info.
Further - as you say, XI operated LFXIVs in Burma. They never operated XVIs, according to the Sqn History and contrary to what I said earlier (which came from another good source, so there may be some doubt about this). Those in the picture are definitely not XIVs (which were Griffon-engined and hi-backed). So I reckon Leo was getting some schadenfreude recording the mishaps of other outfits at his base!
There are at least two marks of Spit in those pics, as one at least has the 'old' round fin shape and the first one shows a later more pointed and larger fin. Looking at the top of the cowlings, there are two longitudinal bulges that look like the cylinder-head shapes of the Griffon engine, but I can't tell if the spinner top line floes smoothly from the top of the cowling (Merlin) or is stepped down slightly (Griffon)
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None of those Spitfires has a Griffon engine, which was always fitted with a 5-bladed prop on the Spitfire and has a much longer engine cowl. They are all Mk XVIs or possibly, but very unlikely, lo-back Mk IX.
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The up ended one looks like a five-blade prop. What I am looking at is the cylinder-head fairings.
Oh, and love the pic of the HP 115s.
Edited to add:
Griffon
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Supermarine_Spitfire_F_Mk_XIIs_of_41_Sqn.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Spitfire_22.jpg
Merlin
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2001/12/images/detail_spitfire_ix_05.jpg
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The up ended one looks like a five-blade prop. What I am looking at is the cylinder-head fairings.
Only if it has an extra blade between the four at 90 degrees!
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The two bladea at the top of the shot look less than 90 degrees to me. It is the cylinder head fairings I am looking at.
Anyway, without a word from the source...
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(http://pictures.pcolbeck.fastmail.fm/Leo/Seletar%203.jpg)
I also suspect this may have been a 5 bladed prop, looking at it the outer two of the three remaining blades don't appear to line up.
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I'm sure this will be of interest to some of you lot: De Havilland Heritage Museum (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/20/feature_geeks_guide_de_havilland_aircraft_heritage_museum/?page=1).
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cool. Thanks for the link.
*thinks - St Albans should be rideable when I'm fitter...*
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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-plane-that-saved-britain/4od
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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-plane-that-saved-britain/4od
Can't watch it from France unfortunately.
As a timber engineer the most humbling (and maybe frustrating) thing is that apart from glues we haven't invented much since the Mosquito in term of structural timber. The ideas which were presented as new in the 90's were already there in the Mosquito. And the Mosquito plywood might be the strongest ever manufactured.
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(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2152/13043334494_75fece73cc_o.jpg)
Hoping my identification is correct - USAF KC-10 Extender refuelling a handful of F16's heading west over Exeter 25/02/2014
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Good spot!
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I know this is deadfully boring but seen above the workshop this week ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Red-Arrows-2014_zps3122f873.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Red-Arrows-2014_zps3122f873.jpg.html)
and
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-2014_zps7a4c2588-1-1.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Typhoon-display-2014_zps7a4c2588-1-1.jpg.html)
This years display Typhoon working up his display.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Yeah, Dave. Tedious. ;D
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shit! Dave. Life's a bitch, innit . . .
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Bit of a cheat, as it's a photo of an old photo, but these HP42s are just such wonderful things, I couldn't resist sharing.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/13363331994_b5116f4cd1.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/13363331994/)
P3220041 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93751227@N04/13363331994/) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people/93751227@N04/), on Flickr
I believe that's taken at Croydon Aerodrome, but I wouldn't swear to it.
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Correction: Wikipedia tells me that is an HP45 called Horatius.
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In the same vein:
(http://www.pbase.com/image/154952946.jpg)
Bristol Brabazon.
I saw this plane when I was thee or four years old. On its only flight outside mainland Britain (I think) it visited Sydenham airport outside Belfast for a display, and I saw it from my bedroom as it circled over the Craigantlet hills. Well, to be honest, I saw a threadlike line with five lumps on it, and my Dad said "that's the Brabazon".
The UK's Spruce Goose.
The photo was hanging in a gallery window and the best angle I could get was about 45° to the normal, so my perspective correction might be a bit off.
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Wow!! You actually saw it!
(And thanks to all the posters on this fine thread.)
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The right plane at the wrong time, but given some the technical advances arising from the project, a useful one as far as white elephants go. Had they gone for the turboprop version, carrying more passengers, the plane might have generated some interest...
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From what I just read on Wiki, the Britannia was the smaller turboprop version, and they were troubled by iced-up air intakes to the extent of losing two prototypes. If they had crashed a couple of Brabazons for the same reasons the publicity might have done for the line anyway.
It's nice to think of what it might have been like aboard one, though: 6 m² of personal space per passenger, berths, dining-room, cinema, bar and promenade. Instead we got Ryanair.
@tonyh: yup, I'm that old... :)
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
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RAE Thurleigh had the runway extended to accommodate this aircraft and was considered for a while as a candidate for the new 'London' airport. Is a regular fixture on local cycle runs.
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Now then chaps,
Osprey seen at Sculthorpe last week. We were staying at a caravan site nearby. The Americans Air Force use the disused airfield for training. Last time we were there a distinctly dodgy looking Hercules (no visible markings, loads of aerials and guns sticking out) was dropping parachutists and doing all kinds of low level stuff.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Osprey-2_zps1924553a.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Osprey-2_zps1924553a.jpg.html)
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Osprey-1_zpscbb49b67.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Osprey-1_zpscbb49b67.jpg.html)
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That's a butt ugly flying machine. Useful though.
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As I was returning home last night I saw a Hercules, nothing unusual about that (as I was driving along perpendicular to the flight path for RAF Leeming), but what did grab my attention was what it was escorting.
It was wide, but not very high, four engines, all on the wings.
Certainly didn't look like anything currently being flown by the RAF, but may have been flown in the past...
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Jet or prop and were the engines hung under the wings or embedded in the wing roots ?
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From what I could see, prop.
Didn't see enough to work out how the engines were mounted, too busy watching the road! :)
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Three Blackhawk helicopters flying circles and providing personal transport for Obama
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
The one I really wish I'd seen was the Sunderland. The chap across the road from me in Belfast used to build them during the war.
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Three Blackhawk helicopters flying circles and providing personal transport for Obama
I hope the pilots were sober!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26743893
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
The one I really wish I'd seen was the Sunderland. The chap across the road from me in Belfast used to build them during the war.
On his own? Mind you they were Short.....
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
The one I really wish I'd seen was the Sunderland. The chap across the road from me in Belfast used to build them during the war.
Seen one! One was restored a good few years ago (mid 80's maybe?) and was doing trials in the Solent. A friend and I were being idiot crew (Sigma 33 OOD) for my uncle and aunt who were undergoing their Inshore Yachtmaster exam, so we had to do as we were told, but exhibit no initiative. The examiner rubbed his hands with glee, and announced "I've never had the chance to ask this one before, but see that Sunderland hacking its way down the Solent towards us, who's got right of way?". It had extra amusement considering my uncle was an air accident investigator. We sensibly stayed put until it had thundered past us on its taxying trials, turned and went back. Sadly it didn't take off that moment, but I think it did later that day, or soon afterwards.
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
The one I really wish I'd seen was the Sunderland. The chap across the road from me in Belfast used to build them during the war.
Seen one! One was restored a good few years ago (mid 80's maybe?) and was doing trials in the Solent. A friend and I were being idiot crew (Sigma 33 OOD) for my uncle and aunt who were undergoing their Inshore Yachtmaster exam, so we had to do as we were told, but exhibit no initiative. The examiner rubbed his hands with glee, and announced "I've never had the chance to ask this one before, but see that Sunderland hacking its way down the Solent towards us, who's got right of way?". It had extra amusement considering my uncle was an air accident investigator. We sensibly stayed put until it had thundered past us on its taxying trials, turned and went back. Sadly it didn't take off that moment, but I think it did later that day, or soon afterwards.
:-)
I don't recall seeing anything about that in the COLREGS. Though I think I could hazard a guess. (And I know what I would do.)
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:) ahead of you by three years or so. But didn't see the Brabazon!
The one I really wish I'd seen was the Sunderland. The chap across the road from me in Belfast used to build them during the war.
Seen one! One was restored a good few years ago (mid 80's maybe?) and was doing trials in the Solent. A friend and I were being idiot crew (Sigma 33 OOD) for my uncle and aunt who were undergoing their Inshore Yachtmaster exam, so we had to do as we were told, but exhibit no initiative. The examiner rubbed his hands with glee, and announced "I've never had the chance to ask this one before, but see that Sunderland hacking its way down the Solent towards us, who's got right of way?". It had extra amusement considering my uncle was an air accident investigator. We sensibly stayed put until it had thundered past us on its taxying trials, turned and went back. Sadly it didn't take off that moment, but I think it did later that day, or soon afterwards.
:-)
I don't recall seeing anything about that in the COLREGS. Though I think I could hazard a guess. (And I know what I would do.)
Rule 18 - Responsibilities Between Vessels:
(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this Part.
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A Sunderland isn't a seaplane.
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As far as COLREGS are concerned it is.
(e) The word "seaplane" includes any aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water .
They also cover Wing-in-Ground aircraft which have the same rules as hovercraft
Shit! I'm having a COLREG argument on a cycling forum!
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A Sunderland isn't a seaplane.
Wikipedia describes it as a "flying boat" and the article for "flying boat" says that is one type of seaplane, the other being "floatplane". But that's only Wiki[pedia, so what's the difference between these types of aquatic aircraft, if I can call them that, and what is a Sunderland?
Edit: Wiki also says
The term "seaplane" is used by some instead of "floatplane". This is the standard British usage.[1][3] This article treats both flying boats[4] and floatplanes[5] as types of seaplane,[6] in the US fashion.
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Floatplane is a Yanqui word. ;D
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It is more descriptive though and makes flying boat more so by contrast.
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'Seaplane' I would imagine refers to an aircraft, the main hull of which bears upon the water, whereas floatplane is one where the undercarriage has been replaced with floaty things.
I've never come across the term floatplane before, but it does the job of distinguishing between the two types of plane pretty well.
And as for the COLREGs, I have really discarded that para from my memory. I've certainly never had cause to use it.
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A flying boat is one where the hull rests in the water. A seaplane's fuselage remains clear of the water.
But the Regulations seem to be clear, whatever.
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If I remember correctly, the Sunderland was hacking around Southampton in 1993, when I was working there. I may, however, be misremembering a visit by a Catalina.
On the other hand, there is a Britannia at Duxford. It is the actual aircraft I flew to Singapore on in 1968, spending almost all of the flight on my knees in the toilet.
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^^^My wife flew to Cape Town on a Britannia in the early 60s, and loved it.
I have seen the Short Sandringham in the Le Bourget museum - a bit like seeing a Lancastrian when you wanted a Lanc.
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I am sad to read on Wikipedia that there is only one flying Sunderland left :(
I believe it visited London at some point before heading off to its new home, but I was unable to go see it.
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I am sad to read on Wikipedia that there is only one flying Sunderland left :(
I believe it visited London at some point before heading off to its new home, but I was unable to go see it.
If that's the one that flew over London last year, I got a glimpse of it. Contrary to expectations, it flew N-S, not E-W, over Tower Bridge. It was also rather high. I did get a shot, not realising until that evening it was the aircraft I had been waiting for. Might have even posted the grainy pic in this thread.
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Years ago I visited a firm in Hampshire on the site of an old aircraft manufacturer. Cant remember which one but it was near the Folland Gnat that’s on display as if flying. They had an old hanger with what they said had been when it was constructed the biggest hanger doors in the UK. It was specifically so that they could get flying boats in and out. The slip into the water (the Hamble ?) was still there as well.
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Woolston, perhaps? That'd be Supermarine, but I think their biggest plane was the Walrus, which was smaller than a Sunderland.
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Although Folland were based somewhere round there, and did make Sikorsky flying boats on licence.
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Woolston, perhaps? That'd be Supermarine, but I think their biggest plane was the Walrus, which was smaller than a Sunderland.
The Supermarine Southampton of 10 years earlier (1925) was considerably larger than the Walrus, and it's quite conceivable that the hangar to accommodate it needed record sized doors. It had a wingspan of 75ft.
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Gosh, that is bigger. Never heard of that one.
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Years ago I visited a firm in Hampshire on the site of an old aircraft manufacturer. Cant remember which one but it was near the Folland Gnat that’s on display as if flying. They had an old hanger with what they said had been when it was constructed the biggest hanger doors in the UK. It was specifically so that they could get flying boats in and out. The slip into the water (the Hamble ?) was still there as well.
If the old factory was on the banks of the Hamble, then it was Folland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folland_Aircraft) (as if the Gnat wasn't a big enough clue ;)) - originally known as British Marine Aircraft Limited when they made an abortive attempt to to produce the Sikorsky S-42A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-42) flying boat under licence as the BM-1.
And this should be a picture of the Gnat in question:
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gnat/survivor.php?id=810
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Years ago I visited a firm in Hampshire on the site of an old aircraft manufacturer. Cant remember which one but it was near the Folland Gnat that’s on display as if flying. They had an old hanger with what they said had been when it was constructed the biggest hanger doors in the UK. It was specifically so that they could get flying boats in and out. The slip into the water (the Hamble ?) was still there as well.
If the old factory was on the banks of the Hamble, then it was Folland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folland_Aircraft) (as if the Gnat wasn't a big enough clue ;)) - originally known as British Marine Aircraft Limited when they made an abortive attempt to to produce the Sikorsky S-42A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-42) flying boat under licence as the BM-1.
And this should be a picture of the Gnat in question:
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gnat/survivor.php?id=810
Yes that's it. It was back in the pre smart-phone days so I have no pictures. Can't even remember what I was doing there. Must have been something to do with their network but all I can remember is the Gnat and the hanger :)
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A Sunderland isn't a seaplane.
whatever it is, its effing massive, and I ain't gettin'in its way...
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If I remember correctly, the Sunderland was hacking around Southampton in 1993, when I was working there. I may, however, be misremembering a visit by a Catalina.
On the other hand, there is a Britannia at Duxford. It is the actual aircraft I flew to Singapore on in 1968, spending almost all of the flight on my knees in the toilet.
Steph, there was a one-way visit by a Catalina, but I think that was about 2002 or so, as they had a mayor dunking ceremony. Shouldn't be flippant, the effing thing crashed in Southampton water and killed the mayor!
The Sunderland incident in question was definitely 1980's, as I recall I had to rush home to Bosham as the whole episode had made us late, so its before 1986 when I moved here. Mind you, it could well have done repeat visits. By 1993 I had pretty well given up competitive sailing, come to think of it that was my year of being divorced. The things we date events by.... I was working in Southampton by then, but never had a chance to see anything other than pimps, drug dealers and tarts.
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Years ago I visited a firm in Hampshire on the site of an old aircraft manufacturer. Cant remember which one but it was near the Folland Gnat that’s on display as if flying. They had an old hanger with what they said had been when it was constructed the biggest hanger doors in the UK. It was specifically so that they could get flying boats in and out. The slip into the water (the Hamble ?) was still there as well.
If the old factory was on the banks of the Hamble, then it was Folland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folland_Aircraft) (as if the Gnat wasn't a big enough clue ;)) - originally known as British Marine Aircraft Limited when they made an abortive attempt to to produce the Sikorsky S-42A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-42) flying boat under licence as the BM-1.
And this should be a picture of the Gnat in question:
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gnat/survivor.php?id=810
Yes that's it. It was back in the pre smart-phone days so I have no pictures. Can't even remember what I was doing there. Must have been something to do with their network but all I can remember is the Gnat and the hanger :)
Yep, Folland was in Hamble, just down the road from Netley where I lived until about 1978. My Auntie Daphne worked there in the 1950's. she met and married my uncle who later worked at RAE Farnborough, as opposed to the other uncle who worked on Concorde and then as an air accident investigator. How come I ended up doing buildings, not aircraft? Ah, that'll be because I woz too fick for aircraft stuff. I remember being smuggled into RAE (official secrets act, wassat?) as a sprog and seeing all sort of rocket-y stuff. Said uncle used to go to such exotic places as Woomera, and even Aberporth, lobbing giant roman candles into the sky.
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There was a factory building Sunderlands on the shores of Windermere.
http://www.anotherspace.org.uk/flyingboatsonline/factory/index.html
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Milford was a base for them. There is a pub by the dock wall in Pembroke Dock called the flying boat.
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RAF Pembroke was the last RAF flying boat station, I believe, and was the place where all remaining Sunderlands were gathered and scrapped in around 1960-ish. I - or my Dad - have pictures of the events somewhere.
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I remember we (the lakes rc) cycled up to Windermere to see the sunderland on the lake, must have been about 1995. It being the lakes, the weather was crap and it never took off, but zoomed up and down the lake a bit, breaking the speed limit they'd recently imposed on the lake.
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RAF Pembroke was the last RAF flying boat station, I believe, and was the place where all remaining Sunderlands were gathered and scrapped in around 1960-ish. I - or my Dad - have pictures of the events somewhere.
It would have been about then. I'm just too young to remember the last Sunderland on Lough Erne, but I know plenty of people who saw them over Enniskillen. I think a couple that were not airworthy were scuttled in the Lough, and there was a proposal recently to raise one.
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I seem to remember converstaions with my Grandad about a Sunderland slipway and stageing area on the Medway just outside Rochester?
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A Sunderland isn't a seaplane.
whatever it is, its effing massive, and I ain't gettin'in its way...
Anyway if you do 5 or 7 knots and something comes toward you doing 50 or even 100 knots, I doubt you will be able to do much even with a racing crew onboard able to tack or gybe in no time! On top of this the pilot might not know really well his COLREGS. Probably the best you can do is to stay put hoping that he knows what he is doing!
I remember of a small float plane landing on the Rance estuary in the 80s and they did a good job staying away. Actually kids on dinghies were attracted by the plane like a magnet as soon as they slowed down and we were probably making their job harder.
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I seem to remember converstaions with my Grandad about a Sunderland slipway and stageing area on the Medway just outside Rochester?
The remains of the slipway are still there
Comme ca:
http://goo.gl/maps/8tY2e
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On Saturday while going up to Soham on the M11 I spotted a Jet Provost. I haven’t seen one for years and they always remind me of an airborne Morris Minor.
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I like Jet Provosts. Always loads of them over York when I was younger. It's amazing that Hunting Percival developed it from the piston Provosts. Has any aircraft ever looked less likely to evolve into a jet ?
(http://www.jetprovostheaven.com/jpt1/images/pp.jpg)
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Memories! I did the practical part of my aero engineering degree by taking apart* a Hunter and an original Mk I Jet Provost. The engine bay on the Provost is quite high sided, and there were a lot of truly awkward positionings of things like fire detectors right next to pressure hose couplings, making spannering a nightmare. The panels and control wires were neat, though.
I looked at the aero building when we went up for the CTC AGM, and they had a (new style) Typhoon in there.
*and hopefully putting them back together.
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There was a remarkable amount in common between the Piston Provost and the Mk1 Jet Provost, but that never made production. The Mk3 was the first production model, and that had moved on quite a bit - though you can still see the likeness. It wasn't exactly a performance machine, though. It may have been a jet, but that just meant more noise than speed. The Mk4, and to a greater extent, the Mk5 were decent stabs at giving the machine a bit of go. But they were all dead easy to fly, and quite good fun in a tractor-racing stylee.
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It was said at Uni that the MkI we were
wrecking spannering was the original modified Hunting. It showed, in many ways. The engine bay was such a whore/bastard/can't think of a neuter swearword to work on because torsional and longitudinal rigidity was based on the original frame. That was the contrast: the 'old' bits were sweet to work on, but the 'jet' bits were cramped and nasty.
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Interesting stuff, Steph. I remember the Mk1 having the same height main gear as the Piston Provost, though in a tricycle layout, and it sat very high off the ground. That probably gave it an extra second or two to achieve flying speed after the gear was retracted - which was the only reliable way of getting a JP3 airborne!
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The cockpit was very high. Interestingly, our instructor was a certain one-legged gent called Jimmy, who I rather suspect is mentioned in "Empire of the Clouds" when the DH110 broke up.
What I remember is a nice solid airframe with a huge amount of space around the jetpipe. Everything from trim tabs to stick and pedals was mechanical, mainly with turnbuckle adjusted control wires. Bang seats were fitted in our plane, but I don't know if they were standard. The cockpit wasn't just high but very wide to accommodate side-by-side seats, and the whole plane rather reminded me of a tadpole. The Hunter, though, was gorgeous.
Funnily enough, the University had been offered an early Harrier, but they wouldn't let them land it on site. Shame.
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A V-22 Osprey over Manhattan last Friday. Noisy fecker - but cool as anything.
Seems it isn't uncommon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS7D6ivQRO4
No idea what it is doing there though.
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Some recent sightings over the workshop ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/2014-Display-Typhoon_zps7bc8c7b9.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/2014-Display-Typhoon_zps7bc8c7b9.jpg.html)
display Typhoon in its new colour scheme
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Mk9-2014_zps98e6094a.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Mk9-2014_zps98e6094a.jpg.html)
Mk9 Spitfire in its new colour scheme
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Mk9-2014-2_zps4ce12e52.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Mk9-2014-2_zps4ce12e52.jpg.html)
Mk9 downwind, gear and flaps down.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/Norwegian-F16_zps65bda94d.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/Norwegian-F16_zps65bda94d.jpg.html)
Norwegian F16, one of 5 that came to play with their RAF mates. Picture is rubbish but it was a bit of a snatched shot. There was also a Cobham Aviation Dassault Falcon but the pic was even worse !!!
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Lovely pics Dave, you lucky chap.
<voice in workshop> "Dave, this brazing is a bit tricky. Can you help please!?"
<Dave> "Yeah, yeah, just a minute. I'm busy here myself."
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The F16 has been around a long while. I first saw it at Le Bourget when my son was 7: he's 40 now.
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Dave, you sure that is a Mk 9 Spit?
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From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Supermarine_Spitfire_survivors#United_Kingdom)
Spitfire LF Mk.IXe MK356. Operated by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to RAF Digby in 1944.[58]
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From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Supermarine_Spitfire_survivors#United_Kingdom)
Spitfire LF Mk.IXe MK356. Operated by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to RAF Digby in 1944.[58]
Thanks Vince, beat me to it !!!
Dave Yates
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-27157504
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-27157504
Ah, the good ol' Tu-95 "Bear", quite possibly the world's loudest propeller-driven aircraft.
It's like the last twenty-odd years have never happened...
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Also used by the Indian navy.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/11621723895_dfcbc185e0_z.jpg)
(edited to change from thumbnail image i somehow managed to post)
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The tail fin on those has always intrigued me.Its huge. You would think with such a long fuselage it wouldn’t have to be quite so enormous.
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I thought that tail gunners were definitely gone now.
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That really is quite a beautiful aeroplane.
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Extreme tailgating: "Get that sodding C130 out of the way of my Typhoon!"
(http://marutfans.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/raf2.jpg)
(http://marutfans.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/raf5.jpg?w=450&h=492)
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I wonder if those hand gestures are actually in the aviation equivalent of the highway code? :)
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It looks like a film camera on structure in the rear of the Herc. I wonder if it is the RAF recruiting film being made and the crew are directing the tailgater to centre frame.
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Whilst out for a walk down my neck of the woods I spied with my little eye:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zRWz94Ka05Q/U26g__imQyI/AAAAAAAAFYo/HtWPLsDgy6E/s720/Photo0732.jpg)
A Harrier (used)
[(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SBkIpGZgnC8/U26g57lJi4I/AAAAAAAAFYg/bKUl_LigaQY/s720/Photo0733.jpg)
Some ordnance
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1BSfV1wjvDo/U26gvEeU6CI/AAAAAAAAFYY/GeDsMYKdZfY/s720/Photo0736.jpg)
A Jaguar (I think)
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Definitely a Jaguar, with the remains of a two-seat Harrier (possibly an early T2 variant) behind it. I don't believe that's ordnance in the second picture, more likely to be parts of drop tanks.
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Tim, would you by any chance have been anywhere near a certain Gatwick-area collection of beauties?
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Saw the nose and cockpit of a Shackleton being towed from Belgium to Holland on Sunday.
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Whilst out for a walk down my neck of the woods I spied with my little eye:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zRWz94Ka05Q/U26g__imQyI/AAAAAAAAFYo/HtWPLsDgy6E/s720/Photo0732.jpg)
A Harrier (used)
It's sinking!
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Whilst out for a walk down my neck of the woods I spied with my little eye:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zRWz94Ka05Q/U26g__imQyI/AAAAAAAAFYo/HtWPLsDgy6E/s720/Photo0732.jpg)
A Harrier (used)
It's sinking!
Probably because someone has nicked the vectoring thrusters
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Something curious flew over the residence of Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) on Friday afternoon. Looked like a fairly early jet fighter - all-metal finish, T-tail, wings square-ended and only slightly, if at all, swept back, engine(s) in fuselage. Any guesses?
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Short, stubby wings? Possibly a Lockheed 104 Starfighter? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-104_Starfighter)
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Blackburn Buccaneer? Not sure if they do the bare metal finish. The Starfighter is the classic 'silver rocketship'.
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There are no F104s or Buccaneers flying in UK. The Buccaneer is most certainly a swept-wing aircraft, though it does have a T-tail. One Buccaneer (XX885) was maintained in airworthy condition by Hawker Hunter Aviation at Scampton, but as far as I'm aware has never been flown since it received a CAA permit to fly in 2006. Thunder City in South Africa had three airworthy prior to that organisation's bankruptcy a couple of years ago.
The most likely candidate (though 'likely' is overstating the case!) is an Austrian Air Force Saab 105 trainer. These are silver, straight-winged, T-tailed jet trainers and are still in use by both Sweden and Austria - the Swedish ones are camouflaged, though. I'm not sure why one would be in UK, but the air show season is upon us and I guess that's the most likely reason.
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Ta all. Deffo not an F-104 coz we used to get them over our house all the time when I was a lad in Germany in the late 60's. Plus it was actually flying ;)
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"Catch a falling Starfighter..."
"We could call it the F104G, Herr Minister. G for Germany. Maybe design a little logo around it, perhaps some lights. It would look really tasty twinkling away in the clouds..."
"We don't just want a fighter, we want an all-weather fighter, a ground attack fighter, assault and battery--"
"G for Germany Herr Minister"
"G for Germany...also G for 'Gott Strafe England'! I'll take 4,000"
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Starfighter. Also known as Widowmaker. Did the ejection seats fire downwards? Or is that an urban myth?*
I also recall being told that the Germans had a saying. 'If you wish to become the owner of an F104 then buy a field. And wait!'**
*May contain traces of bollox . . .
**Almost certain to contain traces of complete bollox.
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The XF104 prototype and very early production aircraft did indeed have a downward-firing ejector seat, but it was soon replaced with an upward firing one. The story is here (http://www.ejectionsite.com/f104seat.htm).
The Luftwaffe were not satisfied with the performance of the Lockheed seat, and replaced it with a Marin Baker seat for their aircraft. The accident rate for the German F104 was dire - but not as dire as, for example, the Lightning in RAF service. But if you have so many aircraft of a single type, a 'normal' accident rate (and it was pretty average for the time) will result in a great many accidents in simple numbers.
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Yesterday afternoon while cleaning my Mercian in the garden, it having got WET on a run the day before, a Hurricane flying slowly over the house, wheels down, presumably prior to landing at Headcorn airfield. Just lovely!
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Heads up. F35-B (think that's the STOVL variant) scheduled to make an appearance at this year's RIAT. Not sure of this year's dates. Think it's end June/start July.
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Yesterday afternoon while cleaning my Mercian in the garden, it having got WET on a run the day before, a Hurricane flying slowly over the house, wheels down, presumably prior to landing at Headcorn airfield. Just lovely!
There is no sound qite like a throttled back Merlin in the circuit. Music to the ears of anyone who has a heart !!!
Coincidently as I wrote that I got exactly that music as a Spitfire returned to BBMF Coningsby in the circuit over the house ;D
Dave Yates
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The school I work at is on the approaches to White Waltham airdrome. Much of my outside working is accompanied by a prop driven soundtrack including Tiger Moths, Chipmunks, a short fuselaged low winged stunt nutter, a several of warbird types including a Yank wossname with a long multi ribbed canopy in a yellow colour scheme.
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Seen at RAF Coningsby today, 6 Swedish Air Force Grippens
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC08204_zpsd65a63a5.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/DSC08204_zpsd65a63a5.jpg.html)
Last week there were 4 Italian "Eurofighters" but they look exactly the same as our Typhoons apart from some indistinct markings, so I didnt bother to take pics !! If they cant think of a decent name they dont deserve to have their picture taken ;)
Dave Yates
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Last week there were 4 Italian "Eurofighters" but they look exactly the same as our Typhoons apart from some indistinct markings, so I didnt bother to take pics !! If they cant think of a decent name they dont deserve to have their picture taken ;)
For some reason that escapes me right now, the Germans weren't overly keen on "Typhoon", until it was pointed out that "Spitfire II" had also been under consideration as a name for the aircraft. :demon:
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Yesterday evening about 8:15. Spitfire (don't know which mark, but uncropped wings) wearing invasion stripes heading west(ish) at 500' or so; circuit over house and then beetles off in a northerly direction. I really must buy a camera...
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Yesterday evening about 8:15. Spitfire (don't know which mark, but uncropped wings) wearing invasion stripes heading west(ish) at 500' or so; circuit over house and then beetles off in a northerly direction. I really must buy a camera...
Probably either the MkIX or Mk PR XIX from BBMF. The Mk XIX is all over PR blue, the Mk IX is camo top surface and grey under http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/spitfiremk356.cfm (http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/spitfiremk356.cfm)
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Quite a few over central London around 13:00, all part of the Queen's birthday bash I assume.
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Seen at RAF Coningsby today, 6 Swedish Air Force Grippens
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Aircraft/DSC08204_zpsd65a63a5.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/Aircraft/DSC08204_zpsd65a63a5.jpg.html)
Last week there were 4 Italian "Eurofighters" but they look exactly the same as our Typhoons apart from some indistinct markings, so I didnt bother to take pics !! If they cant think of a decent name they dont deserve to have their picture taken ;)
Dave Yates
Agree that Eurofighter is a miserable name (probably so called because the committee fought over it for hours), but Grippen sounds like a Scandinavian strain of flu.
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Strictly speaking, its "Gripen", which is Swedish for "Griffin".
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Grippen is a good name, It means Griffin in Swedish.
Cross posted with Spesh.
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It's worth noting that Saab started naming their aircraft after their first swept-wing fighter was given the unofficial nickname of the "Flying Barrel", due to its stubby fuselage. ;D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_29_Tunnan
It has been claimed that the Saab 29 was strongly influenced by the design of the Focke-Wulf Ta 183, an intended successor to the Me 262.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Ta_183
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Yesterday, we saw the Red Arrows over the Thames. Probably from Biggin Hill.
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Strictly speaking, its "Gripen", which is Swedish for "Griffin".
I stand corrected !!! :facepalm:
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Agree that Eurofighter is a miserable name [...]
Rafale sounds nice to my ears. ;D
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Yesterday evening about 8:15. Spitfire (don't know which mark, but uncropped wings) wearing invasion stripes heading west(ish) at 500' or so; circuit over house and then beetles off in a northerly direction. I really must buy a camera...
Regular spotting of a MkIX flying over my office wearing invasion stripes but then my office is on the old Bentwaters USAF base and the Grace Spitfire is based here so often distracts me from my work!!
Do you live anywhere near Suffolk and did your aircraft have two cockpit canopies (post war mod by the Irish Airforce)? If so it's 'my' local Spitfire!
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Last week there were 4 Italian "Eurofighters" but they look exactly the same as our Typhoons apart from some indistinct markings, so I didnt bother to take pics !! If they cant think of a decent name they dont deserve to have their picture taken ;)
I hear they wanted to call it "Killmungous Mortalitastic DETH-O-Matic", but some unelected trog in Brussels vetoed it [cont. "UKIP if you want to" thread] ;D
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Quite a few over central London around 13:00, all part of the Queen's birthday bash I assume.
I get to see all these every time there is any sort of fly over in London as they all fly directly over my back garden! Not sure what altitude - but they're pretty low.
Apparantly they all meet up (or whatever aircraft do) over Boreham airfield (no idea if that is actually true or not) so they can make a run into London from the north east, subsequently flying right over me (that bit is definitely true!)
The best one was for the 2002 birthday bash as there were loads, including a Concorde and a bunch of WW2 stuff. Once they've all flown over, I simply go inside and switch on the telly and 15 minutes later, there they are :)
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I don't think London flypast aeroplanes meet over Boreham as they are already formed up when they fly over our house in Witham. Someone told me they form up somewhere over the North Sea but that might be bollox.
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Given the disparity in speeds between the helicopters, the BBMF and the jets, these various elements collect in different places. The jets, the largest part of this particular flypast, will have joined up probably over the North Sea off Clacton. Manoeuvring such a large formation is really problematic, so the join ups will have been based on the lead aircraft's (the E3D Sentry) timing.
I was periphally involved in the 1977 Queen's Jubilee flypast; the coordination of that was an enormous undertaking!
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Helichopter Central in Walthamstow High Street this lunchtime. A Chinook going <- thataway and a Met Polis job heading over there ->, somewhat closer and at lower altitude. Followed by a second Chinook following the first.
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They'll track you down eventually.
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Mrs Thor spotted1 a Chinook yesterday - it went on to land at Panshanger airfield, apparently. Chinook sightings are not all that unusual, but they don't often land at Panshanger.
1 You don't even have to open your eyes to recognise the presence of a Chinook somewhere in the vicinity.
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OK, this whole post is a complete cheat, as it's a set of photos of other people's photos of aircraft, but I thought you'd all be interested. We got a private tour of Croydon Airport because a late member of the CTC had donated a vast amount of local history material - mostly about the Airport, near which he had lived all his life - to the trust which manages the archives, displays and terminal buildings. Many of the photos are in awkward spots vis-a-vis reflected light, but I've done my best in the circumstances.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/14285030268_de3bb02c90_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nLjvPj)P6195412 (https://flic.kr/p/nLjvPj) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14285023109_4556c581a2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nLjtFT)P6195380 (https://flic.kr/p/nLjtFT) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14491811343_02f234eac3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/o5AjCg)P6195359 (https://flic.kr/p/o5AjCg) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5274/14285047170_807ea3dbce_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nLjAQJ)P6195361 (https://flic.kr/p/nLjAQJ) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Many more here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYqT7Hv
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Nice collection, Mr. Clarion, sir. Mollison doesn't half look peeved.
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(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14285023109_4556c581a2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nLjtFT)P6195380 (https://flic.kr/p/nLjtFT) by TJ Clarion (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
JOY LOANS
What's that about? Or am I misreading it? It sounds like a jolly idea though! :thumbsup:
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No idea. It's written in the style of a registration, but can't be.
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by the way, do feel free to annotate some of the rarer aircraft.
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Last week there were 4 Italian "Eurofighters" but they look exactly the same as our Typhoons apart from some indistinct markings, so I didnt bother to take pics !! If they cant think of a decent name they dont deserve to have their picture taken ;)
For some reason that escapes me right now, the Germans weren't overly keen on "Typhoon", until it was pointed out that "Spitfire II" had also been under consideration as a name for the aircraft. :demon:
Indeed. The Germans whinged like buggery over 'Typhoon' but had no problem over the Eurocopter Tiger.
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I saw something this afternoon that looked like a movie sci-fi plane (and sounded - it was making a whining sort of noise). Very rounded both front and back, straight wings with round ends, the wings looked quite short, but the most distinctive feature was the tail - it had two, with a horizontal 'wing' between them. I don't know if anyone can identify it from that description? I only saw it in silhouette so don't know about any markings.
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I saw something this afternoon that looked like a movie sci-fi plane (and sounded - it was making a whining sort of noise). Very rounded both front and back, straight wings with round ends, the wings looked quite short, but the most distinctive feature was the tail - it had two, with a horizontal 'wing' between them. I don't know if anyone can identify it from that description? I only saw it in silhouette so don't know about any markings.
First thing that springs to my mind as fitting your description is the Edgley EA-7 Optica - rounded cockpit at the front of a big ducted fan (which would explain the odd noise), with twin tailfins linked by a high-mounted tailplane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica
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That does look very similar, though I thought the wings were more rounded. That page says it's used for observation, so I wonder if it's being used instead of the police helicopter? I'd be pleased if it were, cos the copter is incredibly noisy and spends a lot of time very nearby!
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There did used to be a couple of Opticas in Police service, but I'd have thought they'd be long gone now. More likely it's in preservation, and possible on its way between home and an airshow.
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There did used to be a couple of Opticas in Police service, but I'd have thought they'd be long gone now. More likely it's in preservation, and possible on its way between home and an airshow.
The police helicopter flew over about an hour ago, so it's still there! It's not too noisy when it's moving, only when hovering does it get really intrusive.
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My road is closed at the moment, and has been for some hours, following a multiple example of driving fuckwittery on the road I want speed cameras installed on. The unusual aircraft in question was the air ambulance, landing I believe in the South Terminal long stay car park.
Despite my flippancy, I am hoping....well, you know what I mean. Apparently, one of the cars was in a ditch, and it is a convertible.
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That wouldn't be the southern perimeter road to X and V car parks, by any chance? Seen some crazy driving down there over the years.
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There did used to be a couple of Opticas in Police service, but I'd have thought they'd be long gone now. More likely it's in preservation, and possible on its way between home and an airshow.
Well, as the Hampshire police managed to stuff theirs, and pretty well stuffed Edgley's finances in the process, I'm surpised to hear there are any still about. Far preferable to have an Optica bumbling about that that effing helichopter...
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Mrs Thor spotted1 a Chinook yesterday - it went on to land at Panshanger airfield, apparently. Chinook sightings are not all that unusual, but they don't often land at Panshanger.
1 You don't even have to open your eyes to recognise the presence of a Chinook somewhere in the vicinity.
I often see chinooks round here (Gosport) but the most disconcertingh sightings of them are on the back of a truck! They get repaired up the road from us, and they take up quite a bit of the road when on a truck.
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That wouldn't be the southern perimeter road to X and V car parks, by any chance? Seen some crazy driving down there over the years.
Nope, the Balcombe Road just south of the flyover, where there is a slight bend. Two women, two cars, just about head-on in a 60 stretch. Both alive, thankfully. Land Rover and Citroen Picasso.
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Yesterday evening, I spotted a C-47, complete with invasion/zebra stripes, fly low and slow over Farringdon Station.
I've seen a C-47 on the ground before, but never in flight - the engine sound is quite amazing, a deep burbling noise. As far as engine noise goes, it sounded very nice.
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Yesterday evening, I spotted a C-47, complete with invasion/zebra stripes, fly low and slow over Farringdon Station.
I've seen a C-47 on the ground before, but never in flight - the engine sound is quite amazing, a deep burbling noise. As far as engine noise goes, it sounded very nice.
BBMF?
There was a lot of C-47 action in Normandy a couple of weeks a go ('Daks over Normandy', the largest collection of airworthy Dakotas and probably the last time you'll see most of them together) recreating airborne drops at Gold Beach, Pegasus Bridge and a host of others. Believe it or not the parachutists went by the name of the 'Round Canopy Display Team'.
Set to be repeated in September over Arnhem & Nijmegen commemorating Operation Market Garden . . .
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Ooh, I could cycle to Nijmegen to see it!
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Did anybody see the news footage of the American fighter jet doing a vertical landing so the nose could be held on a little stool because the landing gear failed? It reminded me of the old Harriers, is it a similar technology?
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Did anybody see the news footage of the American fighter jet doing a vertical landing so the nose could be held on a little stool because the landing gear failed? It reminded me of the old Harriers, is it a similar technology?
To me it looked like a Harrier.
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It was a US Marines AV8B Harrier 2. Quite possibly ex-RAF, as we sold our remaining ones to them.
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It is a very very cool 'plane, isn't it.
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It is - selling all ours off was madness :(
For those who haven't found a link yet: -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28065288
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It was a US Marines AV8B Harrier 2. Quite possibly ex-RAF, as we sold our remaining ones to them.
The ex-RAF Harriers were sold as parts donors - reports that the USMC were going to fly ex-RAF Harriers were contradicted by US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in 2012.
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usmc-hopes-new-method-for-tracking-fatigue-life-will-help-extend-harrier-to-372797/
The way to tell American Harriers from the RAF ones is that the American ones were upgraded with radar distinguishable by the larger, more pointy nose cone compared with the RAF's GR9s. There was talk of upgrading some RAF Harriers with the radar sets from the Sea Harriers when they were retired, but the plan was dismissed on cost grounds, probably also related to the hopelessly optimistic expectations of when the Lockheed Martin Corporate Welfare Program - sorry, F-35 - was due to enter service...
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Thanks, Spesh. I think I knew that deep in my brane somewhere, but obviously too deep to actually remember!!
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Yesterday evening, I spotted a C-47, complete with invasion/zebra stripes, fly low and slow over Farringdon Station.
I've seen a C-47 on the ground before, but never in flight - the engine sound is quite amazing, a deep burbling noise. As far as engine noise goes, it sounded very nice.
I was in the Forest on that day and it came very low over my head going SW.
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The other day, as I was doing some clearing up at the school, I was treated to a triplane dogfight- one of 'ours' v one of 'theirs'. Theirs may even have been a Manfred von Richthoffen replica. It was fun to watch and sounded lovely.
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Who won?
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Who won?
Snoopy of course.
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I saw the C-47 over Preston yesterday. I was in the same chippy where I'd seen a Hurricane from last week.
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The other day, as I was doing some clearing up at the school, I was treated to a triplane dogfight- one of 'ours' v one of 'theirs'. Theirs may even have been a Manfred von Richthoffen replica. It was fun to watch and sounded lovely.
Who won?
Who won?
Snoopy of course.
you three rascals have left me with an earachetune that got onmetits when it was originally in the charts.
::-)
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Nothing unusual but had a great day out at Fairford with my father and son. Highlight probably the Red Arrows, but the Lancaster and Spitfire came a close second.
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I must admit, I thought it was a bit lame this year. Not one thing that stood out apart from the Frecce Tricolore who make the Red Arrows look stale.
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I saw the Frecce Tricolore at Waddington two years ago. The display had what might be termed "Italian flair" from the red green and white smoke on take off to the final starburst over the cowd to the strains of Nessun Dorma. I think the Red Arrows have the edge in precision flying but the Italians certainly know how to put on a show.
Dave Yates
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Even though the overall day lacked the variety of previous years there were still opportunities to marvel at the wonders of modern engineering...
http://i57.tinypic.com/197b4x.jpg
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Did he have tattoos?
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No idea.
I was more concerned about what would occur first, collapse or prolapse.
(http://i62.tinypic.com/116nerq.jpg)
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They usually have tattoos.
They take the t of 'RIAT' too seriously. ;)
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I've seen the Frecce Tricolore described as "an Italian version of the Red Arrows withe the accent very much on free expression". About thirty years ago one of their pilots managed to kill the top of a tree at Monza, but carried on with the display anyway.
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Rammstein
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The Ramstein incident (1988) killed rather more than the top of a tree, and they didn't continue. 67 spectators and 3 pilots died.
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I know. Ramstein and Monza are not the same place.
Ramstein was the end of manoeuvres flown towards the crowd line. Fairford were more fortunate 5 years later when the MIGs collided.
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I was there - sat on the top of my C130 when the bits fell all round us. We had to get the bus home to Lyneham while the engineers decided what to do about the damage.
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Blimey, long bus journey back from Ramstein
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Well. Having waited over 40 (nearly 45) years to see _one_ F5 (which I saw on Friday - huzzay!) four have just flown over the house on final approach for landing. Not two minutes after MrsLurker was doing her wifely duty by pretending to be interested as I showed her googled pictures of the same; very "Thunderbirds" is her considered opinion.
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Blimey, long bus journey back from Ramstein
Fairford '93! The Belgian C130 took quite a lot of damage (I think it took a month or more to repair), but bits fell all over that part of the static park. No injuries - apart from the broken nose that one of the Russains gave the other - but a fair bit of minor damage.
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Well. Having waited over 40 (nearly 45) years to see _one_ F5 (which I saw on Friday - huzzay!) four have just flown over the house on final approach for landing. Not two minutes after MrsLurker was doing her wifely duty by pretending to be interested as I showed her googled pictures of the same; very "Thunderbirds" is her considered opinion.
Well, the Thunderbirds did used to fly the T38 (2-seat training version of the F5), so quite appropriate!
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Blimey, long bus journey back from Ramstein
Fairford '93!
I know, just my little joke. ;)
I've just been idly googling and reviewed the footage from that horrific Mig crash in Ukraine in 2002. Horrific is an understatement.
The pilot will be released from prison in 2019, I believe.
(https://njoybrowsin.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/russian-mig-crash-at-air-show1.jpg)
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Well. Having waited over 40 (nearly 45) years to see _one_ F5 (which I saw on Friday - huzzay!) four have just flown over the house on final approach for landing. Not two minutes after MrsLurker was doing her wifely duty by pretending to be interested as I showed her googled pictures of the same; very "Thunderbirds" is her considered opinion.
Well, the Thunderbirds did used to fly the T38 (2-seat training version of the F5), so quite appropriate!
Yup. Took some real talont.
Mine is the coat on the bangseat...
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2 E3 Sentry AWACS landed at Luton this evening at about 6 pm. Which stood out from the usual Easyjet/Ryanair/Wizzair/Monarch planes that fly over me.
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Unusual. I wonder why they didn’t land at a military airfield.
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Whose were they? It's possible that they needed to land at a port of entry and Luton was convenient. There aren't many military airfields left, and those that exist don't tend to have a lot of spare parking space for large aircraft. Only Brize and Mildenhall are designated ports of entry, AFAIK, and they may be somewhat full right now.
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Maybe Luton's got a 2 for 1 offer on refuelling, or Green Stamps.
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Maybe Luton's got a 2 for 1 offer on refuelling, or Green Stamps.
Back in the early 80s I used to work in a petrol, station and we used to give away soup bowls.
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Whose were they? It's possible that they needed to land at a port of entry and Luton was convenient. There aren't many military airfields left, and those that exist don't tend to have a lot of spare parking space for large aircraft. Only Brize and Mildenhall are designated ports of entry, AFAIK, and they may be somewhat full right now.
I thought Northolt was as well, but I may be ridiculously wrong.
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No, Northolt probably is a Port of Entry too (probably using Heathrow personnel), but it's not capable of handling an E3.
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Ah, thanks. That makes sense.
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Friday's (or was it Thursday's?) good thing at work was a Hurricane that took off from White Waltham, did some 'minor' aerobatic manouvers then trundled off towards the general direction of North West. The sound of a Hurricane is 'kin lovely :thumbsup:
Yesterday early evening saw a Spitfire growling east past Fuzzy Towers. It growled west about 45 minutes later. The sound of a Spitfire is also 'kin lovely :thumbsup:
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On Sunday afternoon a stream of ancient light aircraft flew over our house. This one looked like it was at about 100 feet ! (not my photo).
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/p235x350/10568896_824207257589277_7531591682788812326_n.jpg)
Others that I could identify included a Bucker Jungmann and a Tigermoth. I think it was the vintage air race celebrating 25 years of the Real Aircraft Company.
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P51 Mustang took off from White Waltham yesterday arvo- straight over the school, executing a starboard turn and circute before flying off. It was chuffing low as it overflew me :thumbsup:
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Wednesday evening, sat with the barbeque sizzling nicely, glass of Chateau Nitromors in hand. The peace is shattered by a QRA Typhoon scramble (both of them). Downwind takeoff going like s**t off a stick, turning south as soon as clear of the airfield boundary and clearly in a hurry.
Peace is restored !! an hour later both of them sighted at about 20.000 ft attached to a tanker heading north. Dashed to get the camera but they were lost in the haze in minutes. First one recovers to base at around 8 ish second one comes back about an hour later.
Apparently it was a Gulfstream told to change frequency, forgot what he was supposed to be changing to then could not regain contact. Next thing he knows is a Typhoon with lots of nasty missiles and guns appearing on his wingtip. Should he get the bill? answers on a postcard please to MOD London ;D
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Sonic booms heard. Denied by RAF.
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Sonic booms heard. Denied by RAF.
My source says that at least one of them went supersonic :o
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It's almost impossible to catch a high-mach susonic target (eg a G4 doing M.85) without going supersonic. QRA launches for non-communicating civil targets are authorised supersonic over land.
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Between Walmer & Kingsdown early last week (Monday, 1400-ish). Possible F-15* about quarter of a mile offshore heading towards Dover low and slow and then heading back towards Deal / Sandwich about 5-10 minutes later. Anyone know if there are/have been any F-15s on the UK recently?
*Twin vertical rudder, main planes roughly same plan as Eurofighter/Typhoon.
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German Transport museum also had tons of interesting planes not to mention a brillant way of displaying them. You could feel them swaying in the wind !!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14534044597_2360ca4413_z.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14533836668_6f0df37e6b_z.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/14533846049_58bb8cc1f8_z.jpg)
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An autogyro flew across the Gravesend Cyclopark this afternoon, and back again a bit later. Unable to point the camera in the right direction before it cleared off chiz.
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Between Walmer & Kingsdown early last week (Monday, 1400-ish). Possible F-15* about quarter of a mile offshore heading towards Dover low and slow and then heading back towards Deal / Sandwich about 5-10 minutes later. Anyone know if there are/have been any F-15s on the UK recently?
*Twin vertical rudder, main planes roughly same plan as Eurofighter/Typhoon.
F15E Strike Eagles have been based at RAF Lakenheath for many years. And are still.
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Ridden past Lakenheath twice in the wee small hours twice this year. Thankfully no aircraft movements as they would have scared the shit out of me!
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The Gulag is situated not far from Lakenheath; hence we would get a fair number of planes which rank as unusual to one whose main aircraft spots are the ones that Heathrow ATC route over east Londonton at five every morning to ensure that no-one oversleeps. And the Met's helichopters half the bloody night, to ensure that no-one gets to sleep in the first place. Best while I was there was a low pass by an E-3 Sentry.
In retrospect, making jokes about the CIA and their Black Helichopters to my fellow zeks may not have been the smartest move I made while incarcerated :P
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German Transport museum also had tons of interesting planes not to mention a brillant way of displaying them. You could feel them swaying in the wind !!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14534044597_2360ca4413_z.jpg)
Going by what I've read about the construction and reliability of the Tu-144, it's a miracle that the Soviets didn't lose more of the aircraft than they did.
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Between Walmer & Kingsdown early last week (Monday, 1400-ish). Possible F-15* {snip}
F15E Strike Eagles have been based at RAF Lakenheath for many years. And are still.
Ta. I thought Lakenheath had gone the way of Heyford and others.
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No, Lakenheath and Mildenhall are the two remaining active USAF airbases in UK, with Fairford available on a standby basis. There are other units, but no other flying bases.
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The most recent sighting was of a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_108), wearing WW2 Luftwaffe markings.
I think White Waltham must have an historical flight operating out of it.
The dogfigthing Triplanes I saw the other day were in fact a bi and a tri. There was a short piece on the News at 10 on Thursday evening that I think must have been filmed whilst I was watching.
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Riding back into Mickleover just now, I was surprised to see a Lancaster flying towards me - pretty low, heading West, sounding lovely. Anyone else see it anywhere??
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There are two in the country right now - the Canadian Lanc has crossed the AAtlantic to do a few shows with the BBMF one; these are the only two that fly.
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Did the Canadian Lanc fly across the Atlantic?
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Yes, though I'm not sure whether it went via Iceland or the Azores.
Edit: the two of them at Coningsby.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/TimC_1955/Aeroplanes/C1CB19CD-C5F9-4F7B-8DFF-C89173DF1E51_zpsxfsblx0k.jpg) (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/TimC_1955/media/Aeroplanes/C1CB19CD-C5F9-4F7B-8DFF-C89173DF1E51_zpsxfsblx0k.jpg.html)
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Blimey, that would have been an epic flight! Must see if I can find an account on the web.
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(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14750767789_96fa7bc081_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ottxmz)Lancs (https://flic.kr/p/ottxmz) by JuanM58 (https://www.flickr.com/people/83697226@N02/), on Flickr
This. Or rather these. There was so do on at Headcorn airfield today and several interesting aircraft were spotted. Hearing the sound of the engines I went out to the front garden and watched two Lancasters pass directly overhead pretty low lining up to fly over the airfield; I managed to take a couple of snaps a few minutes later on a second pass but they weren’t as close. The sound of 8 Merlins in unison is of course awesome; the display went on for some time and they were later joined by a brace of Spitfires; 10 Merlins! The only snap I got of this was directly into the sun so it didn’t come out well and of course I struggled to see what I was aiming at on the titchy screen in the sun. But believe me it was just lovely! I suspect they may have been returning from Eastbourne air show which I think is today; I’ll keep me camera handy tomorrow in case there is a repeat performance.
Also, early this morning, a P51; and a Dragon Rapide droning around most of the day giving 10 minute flights I imagine. When in the village after lunch two unidentified modern fast jets passed over and as I walked home a Vampire made a couple of passes; I don’t think that I have ever seen one of those flying before. Later, while pottering in the garage the sound of a low flying piston engine multi brought me out to the garden; low, and directly over the house, a DC3 in D-Day markings, possibly the same one we saw at the Rutland weekend a couple of years ago; YACF’s own DC3!
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Ar, they said on the news yesterday am that the Lancs were at Eastbourne.
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No pics unfortunately but the two lancs few over us with a Spitfire Escort last Thursday whilst I was decorating my flat in Brentwood, south Essex. I knew the Canada lanc was in the country but didn't expect it to fly over me on an average Thursday! They were heading in the approximate direction of Biggin Hill in Kent. Friday morning the BBC breakfast weather was being reported from Biggin Hill as they were based there for the Eastbourne Airshow over the weekend.
The tour is going on for some weeks I'm planning a trip to Duxford to see them display in mid September but my Dad has somehow got a special tour organised with his branch of the MG Car Club (as the cars going were all built between 1936 and 1955 so during the Lancasters operational life) for a private viewing at Conningsby of the two aircraft - I'll try to get some pictures.
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I saw the Lancasters at Eastbourne on Friday. Fantastic. Took my dad and my son. The last time my dad was near a Lancaster, it was flying him back from Italy. Strips of wood laid across the bomb bay doors for the demobbed personnel to sit on.
We went to Headcorn on Sunday, hoping to see them again, but most of the flying got cancelled. :(
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Now then chaps,
Seen over the workshop today ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg.html)
Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.
Dave Yates
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Gosh.
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8)
I'm not jealous. Oh no, not at all.
OK, maybe just a bit... ;D
The pace of technological change was such that the Vulcan prototype first flew just 11 years after the Lancaster, which actually soldiered on in Canadian service until after the Vulcan entered service with the RAF!
| | Lancaster | | Vulcan |
| First flight: | | 9 January 1941 | | 30 August 1952 |
| Introduction into service: | | February 1942 | | 20 July 1956 |
| Retired: | | 1963 (Canada) | | March 1984 |
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The Shackleton was a development of the Lancaster.
The intention to retire the Shackleton was thwarted by the need to provide AEW coverage in the North Sea and northern Atlantic following the withdrawal of the Fleet Air Arm's Fairey Gannet aircraft used in the AEW role in the 1970s. As an interim replacement, the existing AN/APS-20 radar was installed in modified Shackleton MR 2s, redesignated the AEW 2, as an interim measure from 1972. These were operated by No. 8 Sqn, based at RAF Lossiemouth. All 12 AEW aircraft were given names from The Magic Roundabout and The Herbs TV series.[16] The intended replacement, the British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3, suffered considerable development difficulties which culminated in the Nimrod AEW 3 being cancelled in favour of an off-the-shelf purchasing of the Boeing E-3 Sentry, which allowed the last Shackletons to be retired in 1991.[42]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Shackleton
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Now then chaps,
Seen over the workshop today ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg.html)
Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.
Dave Yates
Mr insistance that you Sir, are a Git, still stands.
:thumbsup:
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Now then chaps,
Seen over the workshop today ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg.html)
Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.
Dave Yates
Ah. The Roy Chadwick Memorial Flight. :)
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What fuzzy retd. said.
GIT!!!1!1!
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Those three are appearing at the Shoreham airshow on the Saturday and Sunday Aug 30/31.
At least, that's the way I interpret their promo material. Do check first if you're planning on going rather than relying on me.
I'm certainly aiming to be there.
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Ah. The Roy Chadwick Memorial Flight. :)
That should include a Tudor, the plane he designed and died in.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tudor-2-britains-biggest-aircraft-aka-avro-tudor/query/II
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The Canadian one is going to be visiting Middleton St George next Thursday:
http://www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com/corporate-community/media-centre/press-releases/airport-announces-plans-for-mynarski-lancaster-visit
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Now then chaps,
Seen over the workshop today ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg.html)
Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.
Dave Yates
Ah. The Roy Chadwick Memorial Flight. :)
Indeed. Amazing that his team designed both aeroplanes, though he didn't live to see the Vulcan fly. That Vulcan was captained by Bill Ramsey, who is one of very few alive who have flown both the Lancaster and the Vulcan (though there would have been many in the past). I'm proud (and a little smug) to say I have friends in both the British-owned aircraft in that formation, and will be flying with Kev Rumens (Vulcan) to LA on Monday.
More info here (http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/08/19/aviation-feature-bill-ramsey-on-leading-the-vulcan-and-lancaster-formation/).
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Ah. The Roy Chadwick Memorial Flight. :)
That should include a Tudor, the plane he designed and died in.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tudor-2-britains-biggest-aircraft-aka-avro-tudor/query/II
Did you see the reason that he died? Inadvertently crossed aileron cables during maintenance.
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One of these:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14999712902_736e15ac40_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oRts4G)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oRts4G) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr
It has lost a few bits since decommissioning. It is real though.
There was also this:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/15000077055_0ee27c8c5c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oRvjjc)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oRvjjc) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr
Which isn't real
and some of these:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/14999714802_ba2cf3a8f1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oRtsCs)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oRtsCs) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr and (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14813386609_2d9c9d45e5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oz1tKp)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oz1tKp) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr
(the like of which my dad worked on as an apprentice with Bristol Aero Engines in the late 50's, early 60's.
And this is not a plane
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/14977101016_15ecaacb64_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oPtykA)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oPtykA) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr
We were visiting
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/14813380859_1568e8f091_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oz1s3g)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/oz1s3g) by davidmamartin (https://www.flickr.com/people/62034421@N00/), on Flickr
The first military airfield in Britain, and the temporary home of my grandfather (11 Marine rescue craft unit) during WWII.
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What fuzzy retd. said.
GIT!!!1!1!
Now whilst this may be true, and I freely admit to "gitish" tendencies, just imagine this. If I didnt live here someone else would and they probably would not post wonderful piccies of hairyplanes for your amazement and delectation.
Its a tough job etc etc
Cheers
Dave Yates
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The Canadian one is going to be visiting Middleton St George next Thursday:
http://www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com/corporate-community/media-centre/press-releases/airport-announces-plans-for-mynarski-lancaster-visit
Dean, I'm going to tell Brother Trev, to see if he can get there. It'll almost certainly fly over his house, anyway. In the meantime, have a look at this report of the heroics of Mynarski, after whom the flight is named. The whole story is more incredible than fiction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Mynarski
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Browsing through Pbase yesterday I came across this:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories_aviation_paa
Inter alia lots of Sikorsky flying boats.
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B17 Sally B at Duxford
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/markwilson9000/Duxford/DSC0548.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/markwilson9000/media/Duxford/DSC0548.jpg.html)
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/markwilson9000/Duxford/DSC0551.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/markwilson9000/media/Duxford/DSC0551.jpg.html)
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/markwilson9000/Duxford/DSC0554.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/markwilson9000/media/Duxford/DSC0554.jpg.html)
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(sings)
We're flying Flying Fortresses at forty thousand feet
We're flying over Germany to give the Huns a treat
We've bags and bags of ammo and a teeny-weeny bomb
And we drop the bastard from so high we don't know where it's gone
(waits for audience applause not a sausage)
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(sings)
We're flying Flying Fortresses at forty thousand feet
We're flying over Germany to give the Huns a treat
We've bags and bags of ammo and a teeny-weeny bomb
And we drop the bastard from so high we don't know where it's gone
(waits for audience applause not a sausage)
Just been listening to the Trout Quintet and it strikes me that the worms would fit to that music...
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(sings)
We're flying Flying Fortresses at forty thousand feet
We're flying over Germany to give the Huns a treat
We've bags and bags of ammo and a teeny-weeny bomb
And we drop the bastard from so high we don't know where it's gone
(waits for audience applause not a sausage)
You are Bluebottle AICMFP, but I'll settle for a five bob postal order. Hercules G-P :)
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(sings)
We're flying Flying Fortresses at forty thousand feet
We're flying over Germany to give the Huns a treat
We've bags and bags of ammo and a teeny-weeny bomb
And we drop the bastard from so high we don't know where it's gone
(waits for audience applause not a sausage)
You are Bluebottle AICMFP, but I'll settle for a five bob postal order. Hercules G-P :)
I'll better that offer, four and sixpence in crisp geen farthings
Dennis Bloodnok
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Seen a few planes today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Gransden_1.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Gransden_2.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Gransden_3.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Gransden_4.jpg)
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I saw a purple plane in the sky earlier. I know nothing about planes, but it looked like a sort of normal plane and it was purple. ::-)
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They're the best ones. :)
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Now then chaps,
Seen over the workshop today ;D
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg) (http://s373.photobucket.com/user/daveyates42/media/2-Lancs-amp-Vulcan_zps346655b4.jpg.html)
Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.
Dave Yates
I raced over to RAF Marham for the flypast on Thursday, and got an almost identical photo.
Lovely sight (and sound).
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Seen a few planes today.
Cracking piccies Jaded, well done.
Dave Yates
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Being in the "wrong" place improved things
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-acoBXAtxjWg/U_stxllByHI/AAAAAAAA5Gs/TXcbOWmTgxI/s720/D71_3882.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UXSOx9AGbvc/U_pdKf727GI/AAAAAAAA5Ds/jz4dpdGZlEk/s720/D71_3893.JPG)
Especially from inside a "flat" display
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--7WSHDV6uKY/U_suEsWgPHI/AAAAAAAA5Fg/zEL3Z3HPYqc/s720/D7K_5312.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s4KtxJCN2wM/U_suOKmHqRI/AAAAAAAA5HE/0p_ZF6GmRcU/s640/D71_3919.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LzLynoGPYII/U_suj1J-wyI/AAAAAAAA5GY/ER-dH6Vn2Q0/s720/D71_3975.JPG)
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The Lancasters against the dark clouds is a really cracking photo !
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What fuzzy retd. said.
GIT!!!1!1!
Now whilst this may be true, and I freely admit to "gitish" tendencies, just imagine this. If I didnt live here someone else would and they probably would not post wonderful piccies of hairyplanes for your amazement and delectation.
Its a tough job etc etc
Cheers
Dave Yates
Hey Bicycle Repair Git,
I'm not complaining, just saying like.....
You carry on being a Top Class Git, the pics are lovely :-*
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Seen a few planes today.
Cracking piccies Jaded, well done.
Dave Yates
Hey, thanks, but you got the money shot :)
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Here's a few more
A Pitts, flown by Lauren Richardson
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/pitts.jpg)
When two Trigs go to war
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/two_trigs.jpg)
An Indiana Jones (may fill in the proper name when I find it!)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/indiana_jones.jpg)
Two of them. There were only about 32 ever made, so this was a nice sight. The Executive flying transport of choice in its time.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/two_indiana_jones.jpg)
Let's have another one of the Vulcan while we can.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/another_vulcan.jpg)
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and more...
The Trigs again
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/trig_mirror.jpg)
A Storch landing. In about 30m of runway. A helicopter without the rotor...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/storch_landing.jpg)
The Storch
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/storch_landed.jpg)
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A Sopwith Pup.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yUGDkzjP2UY/VADvyBpV5wI/AAAAAAAAGns/Ij_V8rR8zvA/w874-h492-no/DSC_0144.JPG)
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An Indiana Jones (may fill in the proper name when I find it!)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/indiana_jones.jpg)
It's a Spartan Executive
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^^^Doesn't the Storch leave the ground behind at something like 38mph?
I'm off to Shoreham-by-sea in an hour or so.
See if I can catch the last display of the day.
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The Storch practically hovered, when facing into a light headwind. Extraordinary plane, and although it was designed for spotting, it was used in a number of daring landings or rescue missions.
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So I'm back, and slightly disappointed that I didn't get to hear a Merlin at full chat - I think they're doing their thing tomorrow - but I did get to see a B17 Flying Fortress, and a couple of Grummans, and I did get to see the Vulcan. Never seen one of those in the air before. It just hangs there. To look at it you'd think 'That's not supposed to fly' But it does, and what a noise it makes in doing so.
Or at least I thought that to be the case until the Eurofighter did the last display of the day. Now, that is A Proper Noise which you also get to feel. And it has fire at the back an' everyfink. An' I'm sure that as it swooped and then climbed vertically directly above us, we all smelled a little bit like toast. Maybe.
ETA - What do Eurofighter pilots do at the weekend?
I mean, how do they wind down?
You'd just be looking forward to going back to work on Monday.
Wouldn't you?
Also - Eurofighter. How much ph to run one? Just curious....
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I was there with you Jurek, from 10.45 all the way through. Merlins aplenty too. Two P51s and two Spits all in the air at the same time, also the Lanc and two Spits, and a Hurricane and Spit a bit before all that lot.
Cherish the Vulcan sighting, there won't be too many more of those. For something that large it really is quite nimble.
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The Vulcan will fly throughout 2015, and they are now satisfied that they can keep it going for a further year (to end 2016) provided the public financial support continues. Engine life is the issue, but they're now using reduced-power take offs, and no idle - full power (or the other way round) transitions in the display. That's meant that the life consumption of the engines has been reduced massively.
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Engine life and airframe life are the issue. Unlike the Lancs and Spitfires every part comes with a certificate and if the certificate says No, then there is no flight. There are other engines about, but because there were model alterations, they are not suitable for this Vulcan. It could fly in 2016 if they didn't do enough hours in 2015, but this would be prohibitively expensive because of what is required in the winter shutdown. Lots of things have to be serviced or replaced.
So it will end up after next year as a Taxi, like the one at Wellesbourne. However they will endeavour to use up as many of the remaining hours as possible, so look out for it!
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Jurek said
Now, that is A Proper Noise which you also get to feel. And it has fire at the back an' everyfink. An' I'm sure that as it swooped and then climbed vertically directly above us, we all smelled a little bit like toast. Maybe.
Continuing the "GIT" theme, thats what I get over the workshop on a regular basis. ;D the Typhoon pilots are known to have the "Typhoon grin" AND they get paid for it !!!
Dave Yates
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Engine life and airframe life are the issue. Unlike the Lancs and Spitfires every part comes with a certificate and if the certificate says No, then there is no flight. There are other engines about, but because there were model alterations, they are not suitable for this Vulcan. It could fly in 2016 if they didn't do enough hours in 2015, but this would be prohibitively expensive because of what is required in the winter shutdown. Lots of things have to be serviced or replaced.
So it will end up after next year as a Taxi, like the one at Wellesbourne. However they will endeavour to use up as many of the remaining hours as possible, so look out for it!
According to one of the Vulcan display captains, who flew as part of my crew with me to LA last week, the engine life issue has been mitigated enough to potentially allow the aircraft to fly through 2016 (by a revision of handling techniques). There are no airframe issues which can't also be resolved for a further year's flying. However, that would require operating funding which isn't currently in place and hasn't - yet - been the subject of a request for donations. Given the popularity of the aircraft, that would no doubt be forthcoming! There's no plan in place yet to operate in 2016, but it's looking better than possible that it may happen.
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Excuse the newbie question, but why don't Lancs, Spits and the like require air worthiness certificates for all their parts ? Is that a grandfathering thing ?
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I assume as they weren’t designed to last. They were designed to be expendable probably based on a lifetime of a 100 missions or something like that. The pace of development plus attrition due to combat was such that no one expected any of them to be flying for for very long certainly not more than two or three years if they were lucky. They do need an airworthiness certificate to fly these days but it can be based on the sheer number of hours I would think. More like regular inspection of critical airframe parts. Plus they glide better than modern jets :)
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Excuse the newbie question, but why don't Lancs, Spits and the like require air worthiness certificates for all their parts ? Is that a grandfathering thing ?
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an RAF unit, and its aeroplanes are not on the civilian register. Therefore they have no airworthiness certification; they are certified by being under the RAF maintenance programme. That said, the processes of deciding what the appropriate component and structural lives should be are shared with the civilian warbird community. Of course, all these planes are military designs and the RAF has huge records of how they should be maintained and checked. The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for giving Permits to Fly for the privately-owned preserved aircraft; the criteria they use are essentially the military service schedules with the addition of modern non-destructive testing techniques.
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Just seen a Focke Wulf 190 (yes, it really was!!!) fly over heading north. Camera not to hand so no pic but was it significant that it routed over the BBMF :o
Dave Yates
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Just seen a Focke Wulf 190 (yes, it really was!!!) fly over heading north. Camera not to hand so no pic but was it significant that it routed over the BBMF :o
Cripes ! Quick scramble red and blue flights, I knew we couldn’t trust the Hun !
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I think Air force 1 might have just flown over the house. Could hear large 4 engine jet flying over on his glide path heading west (RAF fairford), but I could also hear other aircraft with it, maybe helicopters.
I was in the bath at the time, so I'm guessing. Could be heading for Brize
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The Bambi Has Landed...
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/11449932.UPDATED__President_Obama_has_landed_at_RAF_Fairford/
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Almost certainly him I heard, then.
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I'd love to see the helicopter that can keep up with a 747, even on final approach! I'd guess they were conducting surveillance of the area under the approach path rather than escorting the 747. No doubt brought in by a phalanx of C5s and C17s that carry the cars and other shite the POTUS 'needs'!
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He has a large transport aircraft just for his shite? What the hell has he been eating?
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He is The Emporer, remember?
He needs a bigger entrance than everyone else.
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Most Americans are full of shite (forumites being honorable exceptions)
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and more...
The Trigs again
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/trig_mirror.jpg)
The Trigs are based across the airfield from my office at the old Bentwaters airbase here in Suffolk, the team leader Richard Grace is the son of Carolyn who owns the Grace two seat spitfire which is also kept here during the winter. I make much more tea in the spring when they and the Spitfire are practicing, the view is better from the kitchen!
Not actually seen the full Trig display but heading to Duxford in a couple of weeks so will see them then.
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A Ju-52 just flew over the house. Was out in the workshop, didn't have time to fetch a camera. Nice, though.
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(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/15185462515_ae4bca69e9_c.jpg)
TANBH. Drone here mainly to film the University of Toronto effort.
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Are those LEDs supposed to be navigation lights? Do they change according to the direction it's flying? I'm sure it'll prompt a few UFO reports!
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Are those LEDs supposed to be navigation lights? Do they change according to the direction it's flying? I'm sure it'll prompt a few UFO reports!
I didn't watch it for long enough to determine the behaviour of the lights but may yet do so tomorrow. This is Nevada, and Area 51 is, by local standards, only just down the road, so I expect to see the Staties at the very least out on the course tomorrow ;D
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The lights help the pilot determine which way round it is.
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Are those LEDs supposed to be navigation lights? Do they change according to the direction it's flying? I'm sure it'll prompt a few UFO reports!
There was a UFO report in Carshalton a couple of months ago. Soon explained:
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11267365.Carshalton_UFO_believed_to_be_drone_camera/
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Bloody hell.
1340 (ie 10 minutes ago) two Lancasters heading (roughly) SW low over Lechlade
1350 a U2 on final approach to Fairford.
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There is a third flyable Lancaster in the UK. It's privately owned and whilst it could fly and has done taxi runs with the tail wheel off the ground it doesn’t have an airworthiness certificate. They plan to o get it into the air eventually.
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Just Jane, at East Kirby. Used to be the Scampton gate guard. It's in great condition, but it won't get a permit to fly unless they reduce it to its component parts, ultrasound-scan everything to assess its condition and potential life, and then put it back together under forensic conditions to make sure it's in the best possible shape to fly. They can't afford that, and they won't countenance Lottery funding which might make it possible. A bit of a stalemate.
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Yep. 750K to get it to taxi another 3 million to get it to fly.
But for 300 quid you can have a ride around the perimeter track. Probably better value than the passenger seat in the Canadian one when it flew across the Atlantic.
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Are those LEDs supposed to be navigation lights? Do they change according to the direction it's flying? I'm sure it'll prompt a few UFO reports!
I didn't watch it for long enough to determine the behaviour of the lights but may yet do so tomorrow. This is Nevada, and Area 51 is, by local standards, only just down the road, so I expect to see the Staties at the very least out on the course tomorrow ;D
Update: the green lights flash but not the red. Or at least that was how it was tonight. It'll do 40-45 mph and has a flight time of up to twenty minutes.
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There is another one in good condition in Canada that could be restored. B X FM159 has been taxied fairy recently. There are several others round the world but they are no hoppers from the point of view of getting them flying again. Can you imagine what it would be like if the two under restoration ever made it to airworthy. A flight of four would be amazing, there are loads of Spitfires flying as well to provide a reasonable sized escort for a display. 16 Merlins just from the bombers, the sound would be amazing !
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That would certainly be something special. Given the numbers of Lancasters that once existed, it would be appropriate that more of the survivors were in flying condition. If some flexibility is allowed in engine specification, there are plenty of Merlins around and plenty of expertise in fabricating spare parts for most consumables. The aircraft structure is mostly fabricated, with few special castings that would be difficult (though not impossible) to replicate. Sod it, if a few enthusiasts can make an A1 steam engine from scratch, using many, many unique large castings, getting a Lancaster airworthy is relatively straightforward!
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I guess the complication is that an A1 steam engine only needs a boiler inspection but a certificate of airworthiness is a different thing and from what I understand many classic aircraft are grounded because the insurance is prohibitive rather than the actual flying of them.
Still, I agree the engineering side wouldn't be too complicated and there should be enough enthusiasts around - what are the Vulcan people going to do once she is grounded?
I have heard a rumour that Just Jane might get some support to return her to the air whilst the City of Lincoln gets a full two year overhaul so that we still get a complete BBMF compliment - and then when Lincoln returns we will have two flying Lancasters!
Not sure how much of that is public knowledge but it came from a good source as my dad is a committee member of the T-register of the MG Car Club. All of which were built around the same time as the Lancasters and he has just organised a tour of Lincolnshire including a visit to the bombers.
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I have contacts within BBMF, and I haven't heard that. It would need Just Jane being taken on by the Defence Budget at a time when the pressures on it are huge, and when a significant amount of money will be being spent on their own Lanc. That's not to say that practical help wouldn't be available, but BBMF has little dedicated manpower; many of their engineering staff are working in their spare time (as reservists or volunteers) and will be fully absorbed in the major service*. As you say, the guys from the Vulcan project may find themselves a bit short of things to do from the end of 2015 (or possibly 2016), and may be prepared to lend their expertise to Just Jane.
Edit: the Just Jane team are a very proud bunch and have already refused to apply for Lottery funding, stating that they want the aircraft to be restored and flown through their own funding efforts. I think it's probably unlikely that they'll accept subsidy through another route, and would probably (and reasonably) claim that their own expertise significantly exceeds that of the BBMF's necessarily temporary staff.
*Actually, they may not as it's being done at Duxford. It seems that any surplus fulltime staff will be redeployed elsewhere in the RAF for the period; the reservists and voluntary staff (RAF engineering trades working in their spare time) will remain at Coningsby working on the BBMF's other aircraft.
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I wonder why the RAF sold Just Jane in the first place ? I would have thought having a backup for City of Lincoln would have been a good idea (one under repair and one flying).
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The Ministry of Money won't let the services have extraneous kit, especially stuffs that's not actually for military use! Anything they don't need and can sell must be sold, no matter how nice it would be to keep. At various times edicts come down such as 'only one gate guard'. I can't remember if it was that or the imminent proposed (and partly rescinded) closure of Scampton when CFS left that prompted the sale.
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I have contacts within BBMF, and I haven't heard that. It would need Just Jane being taken on by the Defence Budget at a time when the pressures on it are huge, and when a significant amount of money will be being spent on their own Lanc. That's not to say that practical help wouldn't be available, but BBMF has little dedicated manpower; many of their engineering staff are working in their spare time (as reservists or volunteers) and will be fully absorbed in the major service*. As you say, the guys from the Vulcan project may find themselves a bit short of things to do from the end of 2015 (or possibly 2016), and may be prepared to lend their expertise to Just Jane.
Edit: the Just Jane team are a very proud bunch and have already refused to apply for Lottery funding, stating that they want the aircraft to be restored and flown through their own funding efforts. I think it's probably unlikely that they'll accept subsidy through another route, and would probably (and reasonably) claim that their own expertise significantly exceeds that of the BBMF's necessarily temporary staff.
*Actually, they may not as it's being done at Duxford. It seems that any surplus fulltime staff will be redeployed elsewhere in the RAF for the period; the reservists and voluntary staff (RAF engineering trades working in their spare time) will remain at Coningsby working on the BBMF's other aircraft.
Fair enough was just a rumour then.
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Have I got the wrong end of the stick? I understood that Just Jane was on display at Blackpool until the brothers bought it in the 1970s. MOD had disposed of it some years earlier . . .
If that's all bollocks then just say so. :thumbsup:
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Well well your right !
The MOD sold her to the French Navel Air Arm in 1952 and she entered private hands in 1964. She was loaned to the RAF as a gate guardian for Scampton for an agreed 10 years and the brothers who own it now bought her during this period.
Full details here:
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/history/history-of-the-lancaster.htm
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A member of the VTTS team told me that they would most likely do more flying hours in 2015 rather than carry some over to 2016 as there are over winter procedures that would have to be done and these are costly.
He said that after its flying days were over it would become a taxi, like the one at Wellesbourne.
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Well well your right !
The MOD sold her to the French Navel Air Arm in 1952 and she entered private hands in 1964. She was loaned to the RAF as a gate guardian for Scampton for an agreed 10 years and the brothers who own it now bought her during this period.
Full details here:
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/history/history-of-the-lancaster.htm
Interesting stuff, Pat - I didn't know that. And I was based at Scampton when she disappeared to East Kirby!
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I'd like to see a B24 Liberator, especially in 'Judas Goat' livery.
(http://i.imgur.com/GGM2MtU.jpg)
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Lucky for the crew that they only had to serve as a flying rendezvous point for the rest of the bomber group over friendly territory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat#Leader_bombers
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Jersey! :D
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The picture of the goat in the Wiki article, leading the lambs to slaughter is the sobering bit.
There seems to be only one B-24 flying in the world. Their work in convoy escort and Coastal Command tends to get overshadowed. They were hard to fly in formation, and a bit vulnerable due to a specialised wing that gave them good range. The result was that they served more successfully in a tactical role.
The concentration on the strategic bombing campaign, and arguments about that, obscure the role of bombers in supporting other operations, which is where Liberators shone.
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Well well your right !
The MOD sold her to the French Navel Air Arm in 1952 and she entered private hands in 1964. She was loaned to the RAF as a gate guardian for Scampton for an agreed 10 years and the brothers who own it now bought her during this period.
Full details here:
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/history/history-of-the-lancaster.htm
Interesting stuff, Pat - I didn't know that. And I was based at Scampton when she disappeared to East Kirby!
The RAF section of my school's CCF had a summer camp at Scampton in 1969. I was almost 17 at the time. I remember the gate guardian. I have the compulsory photograph of my group posed with a Vulcan, sadly at an angle where the tail number is not visible. I seem to remember that about a week after that camp they had a full V bomber exercise with all of the Vulcans and Victors gathered at Scampton (the Victors might have been tankers at that time and the Valiant had gone by then) .
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I wish there was a flying Victor. Its a much more menacing and interesting beast than the Vulcan. it still looks like something from a SF film now. Elvington Air Museum has a taxi-able one that also does fast runs down the runway occasionally.
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What do you mean, 'menacing' ?
http://www.forwallpaper.com/wallpaper/handley-page-victor-276251.html
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I believe the change to low-level missions, which the Vulcan suited, meant the end of the crescent-winged beast's bomber role.
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I wish there was a flying Victor. Its a much more menacing and interesting beast than the Vulcan. it still looks like something from a SF film now. Elvington Air Museum has a taxi-able one that also does fast runs down the runway occasionally.
The other taxiable one is at Bruntingthorpe, though it did make an unplanned flight after a taxi run in a gusting crosswind went awry.
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/victor/survivor.php?id=88
I believe the change to low-level missions, which the Vulcan suited, meant the end of the crescent-winged beast's bomber role.
Also the case that low-level flying had knackered the Valiant air frames in double-quick time, and the RAF found itself running out of V-force tankers...
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http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/victor/survivor.php?id=88
Oh dear. You shouldn't have linked to that website
Hours will be lost to aviaporn.
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:demon: ;D :demon:
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There seems to be only one B-24 flying in the world.
There was 2 until fairly recently. I love the B-24 since my airfix building days.
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I've been reading a lot about the relative merits of the Battle of the Atlantic and strategic bombing. So I'm leaning towards Liberators, Sunderlands, Catalinas and Wellingtons.
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What do you mean, 'menacing' ?
http://www.forwallpaper.com/wallpaper/handley-page-victor-276251.html
I've spent many, many hours plugged up the arse end of a Victor. From that angle, they just look dirty and in the way. We used to amuse ourselves by eating a full roast dinner while in formation with them, when all they could manage was a pre-packed butty box.
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I'd like to see a B24 Liberator, especially in 'Judas Goat' livery.
(http://i.imgur.com/GGM2MtU.jpg)
It looks like something from Ikea!
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A couple of props:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/nicknacknick/IMG_4134_zpsba2ecf44.jpg) (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/nicknacknick/media/IMG_4134_zpsba2ecf44.jpg.html)
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can't see any props! ;D
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They would fall down with out them ;D
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(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/14228837247_2858049fb4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nFmvA8)
Spitfire (https://flic.kr/p/nFmvA8) by rjevans6 (https://www.flickr.com/people/7194134@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/14415281165_f321b44c01_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nXQ5Sr)
Full on (https://flic.kr/p/nXQ5Sr) by rjevans6 (https://www.flickr.com/people/7194134@N06/), on Flickr
(Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow)
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Ah, an F21 - my favourite Spitfire derivative apart from the Spiteful.
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The most menacing supermarket car park eva:
(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--hTGAmVOt--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/xb44c5djhyox6di9vph2.jpg)
Volunteer needed to yell 'You park like FUDS!'
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The most menacing supermarket car park eva:
(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--hTGAmVOt--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/xb44c5djhyox6di9vph2.jpg)
Volunteer needed to yell 'You park like FUDS!'
That must be about the sum total of Blackbirds that are left, is it?
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There are none flying any more. Even NASA's example has been grounded.
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There are none flying any more. Even NASA's example has been grounded.
Notice I didn't say FLYING, just those that are left...
I seem to remember, from reading "Skunkworks" that a similar number to that shown above is all that were left at the end of their useful life, i.e when the stealth planes took over.
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Which stealth planes? The role of the SR71 was largely assumed by satellites.
I'm not sure how many SR71s survived to be preserved, quite a few I think. Would that be them in the picture? Maybe. The info attached to the photo deosn't give much away, and I CBA to Google it!
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There's one at Duxford.
It wasn't leaking fuel when I saw it.
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Probably because they drain the tanks?
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Or because they weren't made by Royal Enfield?
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Probably because they drain the tanks?
No need, leave them sat on the tarmac for more than 20 minutes and they'll do it themselves...
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Indeed.
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Or because they weren't made by Royal Enfield?
The difference is the Blackbird was designed to leak all over the runway whilst with a Royal Enfield it was just a by product of shoddy manufacturing on worn out machinery (invest in retooling perish the thought that’s for johnny foreigner like BMW or Honda - oh hang on they seem to have stolen all our business).
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There's one at Duxford.
It wasn't leaking fuel when I saw it.
The one in seattle has the drone launcher on it.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15323927392_b4184f2213_z.jpg)
Its up on blocks though, probably trying to fix a fuel leak
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I don't think that's an SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 didn't carry drones so far as I know. It looks like a Lockheed A-12 with a Lockheed D-21 drone on it.
The A12 was a precursor to the SR-71 but was only in service from 1963 to 1968. It was a single seater rather than a two seater.
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Yeah, I think your right. And I thought I'd read the stuff in the museum about it too. :-[
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Interestingly all the tooling for the A12 and the SR-71 was destroyed by order of politicians just like what happened in the UK with the BAC TSR-2.
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Well, they were secret projects - unlike the TSR2, which was destroyed so it couldn't be resurrected to compete with the F111.
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(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15323927392_b4184f2213_z.jpg)
Its up on blocks
I suggest that Scousers are just about to make off with those wheels.
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Well, they were secret projects - unlike the TSR2, which was destroyed so it couldn't be resurrected to compete with the F111.
Seemed to be SOP for all cancelled projects from the Miles M.52 onwards. Heaven forfend that a later government reverse the decision and show that those who cancelled the project had got it wrong!
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Indeed. And while you're at it, Bill, take a JCB and sort out those Nimrods.
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Don't know if this has been on here before. Better than your average Airfix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elfj4ytDAJc
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That's is fantastic.
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It linked to this one, which has Comet, VC10 and Vulcan
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.800
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Don't know if this has been on here before. Better than your average Airfix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elfj4ytDAJc
Power cables at either end of the field? Nothing could go wrong surely!
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£30,000? if you have it, you can purchase this:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/english-electric-lightning-mk6-real-aricraft-/1080353432
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Nice, if I won the lottery I wonder if Mrs Pcolbeck would let me have that in the back garden ....
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Nice, if I won the lottery I wonder if Mrs Pcolbeck would let me have that in the back garden ....
Easy, get a garden so big she won't notice!
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I don't think that's an SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 didn't carry drones so far as I know. It looks like a Lockheed A-12 with a Lockheed D-21 drone on it.
The A12 was a precursor to the SR-71 but was only in service from 1963 to 1968. It was a single seater rather than a two seater.
A little checking says it is an M21, the model number for the drone launcher, and an M21 is indeed listed for Seattle.
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I don't think that's an SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 didn't carry drones so far as I know. It looks like a Lockheed A-12 with a Lockheed D-21 drone on it.
The A12 was a precursor to the SR-71 but was only in service from 1963 to 1968. It was a single seater rather than a two seater.
A little checking says it is an M21, the model number for the drone launcher, and an M21 is indeed listed for Seattle.
Yup an M21 is an A-12 with the drone launcher.
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I don't think that's an SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 didn't carry drones so far as I know. It looks like a Lockheed A-12 with a Lockheed D-21 drone on it.
The A12 was a precursor to the SR-71 but was only in service from 1963 to 1968. It was a single seater rather than a two seater.
A little checking says it is an M21, the model number for the drone launcher, and an M21 is indeed listed for Seattle.
Yup an M21 is an A-12 with the drone launcher.
And a second seat
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Just to add: all I had ever known about were the two-seat versions, the fighter and the Blackbird. This has really interested me, finding out how little I knew about what I thought of as two versions of the same plane. Thanks, chaps!
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I think that this is probably the best thread to post this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ww1-aviation
A free online course for the aviation enthusiast from Future Learn, about the development of aviation during WW1. Starts today.
Lots of other interesting courses available to keep you distracted during the winter evenings. And you can get a certificate; perhaps even an ology.
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Just to add: all I had ever known about were the two-seat versions, the fighter and the Blackbird. This has really interested me, finding out how little I knew about what I thought of as two versions of the same plane. Thanks, chaps!
I have some vague memory of getting a model sr-71 blackbird free in my breakfast cereal as a kid.
Did I just imagine that ?
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Possibly not. I recall getting either a Hawker Hunter or a Gnat in the Frosties
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Possibly not. I recall getting either a Hawker Hunter or a Gnat in the Frosties
Better than a wasp in the nether regions
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An obituary rather than a picture, but appropriate to this thread I think.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/09/johanna-weber/print
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My great-uncle-in-law's medals and logbook have been auctioned:
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-11-20/medals-won-by-ww2-ace-pilot-go-to-auction/ (http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-11-20/medals-won-by-ww2-ace-pilot-go-to-auction/)
No idea who owned them and they reputedly went for 5 figure sums.
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What a splendid moustache !
5 in one day, tally ho !
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A rather good airshow. Budapest 2014. The helicopters are particularly good.
http://www.flixxy.com/budapest-airshow-2014-highlights.htm
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Nice. I see RedBull have their own Cobra, I wonder if that their backup plan if their 2015 F1 car is still slower than the Mercedes, just pop up from behind the crowd and fire a couple of missiles at the Mercs.
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BBC news had an item about the UK having to call in NATO to provide antisub patrols recently.
Why didn't they just use our Nimrods?
Oh. That'll be why.
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At this rate they'll be re-commissioning the Shackletons . . .
. . . or borrowing the Aussies Neptunes.
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At this rate they'll be re-commissioning the Shackletons . . .
. . . or borrowing the Aussies Neptunes.
According to Wikinaccurate, the Australians are flying P-3 Orions these days.
Regarding Nimrod, the MRA4 version was originally ordered by the Major government, with the intention of being in service in 2003.
An independent company, Flight Refuelling Ltd., was contracted to undertake the conversions to MRA4 standard, however BAE discovered that the Nimrod airframes supplied by the RAF were not built to a common standard and this considerably complicated the refurbishment process. The task of converting the existing airframes was transferred in-house to BAE Systems Woodford.[10] The BAE team at Woodford then found that the new wing was flawed, which resulted in the project being put on hold while another wing design was developed.
Then the classic death spiral that was emblematic of what passed for defence procurement under the Blair/Brown governments occurred, with the original order for 21 eventually whittled down to just 9 aircraft. By the time the project was cancelled, it was over 9 years behind schedule and £789 million over budget. Reportedly, the aircraft were still riddled with flaws, not least including the one behind the mid-air explosion of a Nimrod over Afghanistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Nimrod_XV230), and so were unlikely to have been signed off as safe any time soon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Nimrod_MRA4
Like with the abortive Nimrod AEW project, a lot of money would have been saved by going for an off-the-shelf solution such as the P-3 or the Atlantique, which would have provided capability until the RAF could upgrade to the Boeing P-8. But hey, that's just my opinion and 20/20 hindsight... ;)
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Yep, the Nimrod MRA4 was a heap of shite from Day 1, as was the AEW version. The crime was the lack of knowledge or research into the state of the then-current fleet's airframes which were to be reused to make the MRA4. At least with the AEW task they still had the Shacklebomber to soldier on until the E-3s arrived. With the MR task, the MoD hoped that the world would just stop sending submarines and nasty warboats our way, please.
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I wonder if this embarrassment will make the government finally commit to buying the Boeing P-8. We should probably have bought the Lockheed P-21 years ago instead of going down the aborted MRA4 route.
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The money for a replacement MRA replacement is already budgeted, I believe. The arguments rage on in the MoD about whether it comes off the shelf or is a locally-equipped version of an existing airframe. The RAF and RN are desperately hoping that MPs will realise that national interest trumps their local interests.
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Whilst MOD procurement does seem to have been an almighty ongoing fuck-up for decades, the Nimrod project did seem to my uninformed mind as if it was a sort of pinnacle of crapness. I does seem that AEW aircraft all seem to be based on pretty ancient airframes, but for God's sake, its a bloody 1948 Comet! Surely a more modern mainstream civil aircraft would have been more appropriate. Oh, and electronics that worked, that would have been nice...
Whist I adore the Shackleton, I have never had the "pleasure" of spending an entire working day in one. What it must have been like trying to do your job in a noisy vibrating monster, trying to cajole ancient pieces of crap electronic equipment to work, I cannot even imagine.
I also have grave misgivings about our aircraft choice for our new aircraft carriers, and who thought it was a good idea to decomission the Harriers before a replacement was even proven, let along actually available.
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Ah yes, but the Comet was BRITISH, don'tcha know - and the first jet airliner to boot. The Nimrod was the 'perfect' way to keep the old flag flying. Sort of. Yes, they could have converted an Airbus or Boeing, but they're forrin and possibly even French. Bah!
I did fly in the Shackleton, several times. As a workplace it had several similarities to a coalmine equipped with Victorian machinery. The Nimrod was better, but remains the only aircraft I have refused to fly in - due solely to BAe's modification to allow air-to-air refuelling, which involved a clear plastic pipe running down the cabin from the probe to the wing centre box. The mod which led to the loss of an aircraft over Afghanistan.
The aircraft carriers were a great move (no, honest) - if they'd retained enough of a Navy to both defend the carriers AND defend the country. Oops. The delays in the F35 aren't a British-caused issue, but they were always going to be vulnerable to the USA's own defence-budget issues. The decision to go to a catapult system - allowing them the option to buy the Rafale, for example, or the F/A18F - was the right one (for a given value of right), which they then inexplicably overturned and tied the carriers to one, as yet non-existant, aircraft.
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The decision to go to a catapult system - allowing them the option to buy the Rafale, for example, or the F/A18F - was the right one (for a given value of right), which they then inexplicably overturned and tied the carriers to one, as yet non-existant, aircraft.
I thought they decided to go without the catapult because there wasn't a working electric catapult system?
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I think it was more complex than that - they decided that the development of the catapult might cost more than the extra cost of the STOVL F35 over the conventional aircraft, but I don't recall what the issues were. I'm sure someone will Google it...!
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I thought the problem stemmed from the decision to have gas turbine rather than steam turbine propulsion in the new carriers. Without a source of steam for normal catapults they were forced to choose between the unbuilt electric catapult system and the unbuilt S/VSTOL aircraft
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I think you're right, Pete. If I get time, I might refresh my memory this afternoon. That'll keep me off my bike!
Not that it takes much at this time of year.
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I presume the unavailable electric catapult is a giant linear motor, like a camera lens focusing motor scaled up a few thousand times. I'd much prefer we built all our own critical defence stuff, so we aren't dependant on others, but for a small country like us, this may not be realistic. I presume none of our aging Tornados are equipped or suitable for carrier use? Typhoons?
As for the Comet, a truly beautiful aircraft, especialy in original mark 1 form, in polished aluminium. Slght problem it fell out of the sky after a while. Still, it advanced the knowledge of fatigue failure quite a bit.
My admiration for the Shackleton is based entirely on a historical romantic perspective, enhanced by a reluctance to believe that the thing could actually fly. Anyone who had to fly in the damn thing deserves an award.
Tim, re your comment about the Nimrod mod, that is truly shocking, what a lash-up. I've heard enough things to put me off certain aircraft from a relation who was an air accident investigator, but all I ever got from him about Nomrods was a sad shake of the head. He did also point out why fast jets normally have the flight recorder stuff in the arse end. Obvious when you think about it, but illustrated by one (Tornado, I think) that had flown into a mountain.
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The only consolation to be had from the utter crapness of the MOD's procurement process is that the Home Office equivalent is just as bad. Lt. Col. Larrington (retd.) spent the last part of his Army career is the former before moving on to the latter. He was on the telecoms side and spent a long time applying his cluebat to the crania of budget-holding idiots connected to HM Prisons and the Police.
Ala in all it's a Good Thing that Bond James Bond's gadgets are paid for by the FOREIGN Office ;D
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Apropos of reusing old airframes, the RAF is taking delivery of three Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers converted to the RC-135W Rivet Joint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_RC-135#RC-135W_Rivet_Joint_.28Project_Airseeker.29) standard to take on the electronic intelligence role previously performed by the Nimrod. The aircraft in question are actually the three youngest KC-135s in USAF service, having first flown in 1964...
Mind you, it's not a MoD procurement project with out at least one oversight or cock-up, and this instance, the Airseekers, as they will be called in RAF service, haven't been plumbed for probe-and drogue refuelling (unlike the RAF-operated E-3 Sentry AWACS), so they are reliant on having flying boom-equipped KC-135s from the NATO fleet available if they want to stay airborne for more than 12 hours. ::-)
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That's the Nimrod R1 role, not the MRA role. Quite different - as is the RC135 from the E3. Completely different airframe, though superficially similar. Converting them to probe-and-drogue isn't that difficult, so I can only imagine they didn't feel it was necessary (the Nimrod R1 didn't have it either, IIRC).
Wombat, no aircraft in the RAF had accident data recorders when I was in service (1977-98), interesting the hear some have them now. They'll put them wherever they can find room! As for carrier aircraft, no, neither the Typhoon nor the Tornado are carrier capable. BAe offered to make a carrier-compatible Typhoon, but I suspect that the aircraft was already so expensive the MoD couldn't face adding to the bill. Especially as 60% or so of all the RAF's Typhoons will never see service and will go directly to storage or to hoped-for export contracts.
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I thought the problem stemmed from the decision to have gas turbine rather than steam turbine propulsion in the new carriers. Without a source of steam for normal catapults they were forced to choose between the unbuilt electric catapult system and the unbuilt S/VSTOL aircraft
The irritating thing, _if_ I remember the timings correctly, MoD having decided to go for cats and traps when the STOVL F35 looked like it was a turkey, is that septics had demonstrated a working leccy cat shortly before the decision to revert to the STOVL variant of the F35 was announced. I _think_ the issue (can't be arsed to google or hunt for back numbers of Navy News) was the amount of rework (as in major design changes) required to fit cats to the QEC rather than their lack of immediate availability.
Well that or they couldn't afford the extra 30A fuses. :)
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For some reason it appears that the British Electro catapult system was being developed separately from the US system (tested in 2010) and was dropped when the project timescales pointed to a 2023 delivery - about 5 years after the completion date for the carriers.
If the F35 doesn't work I believe the Russians and Chinese are developing similar aircraft. Maybe we'll end up buying them.
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The money for a replacement MRA replacement is already budgeted, I believe. The arguments rage on in the MoD about whether it comes off the shelf or is a locally-equipped version of an existing airframe. The RAF and RN are desperately hoping that MPs will realise that national interest trumps their local interests.
In the nicest possible way, Tim, that day will see the Gatwick pigs fully fuelled and on the runway.
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The money for a replacement MRA replacement is already budgeted, I believe. The arguments rage on in the MoD about whether it comes off the shelf or is a locally-equipped version of an existing airframe. The RAF and RN are desperately hoping that MPs will realise that national interest trumps their local interests.
In the nicest possible way, Tim, that day will see the Gatwick pigs fully fuelled and on the runway.
Yeah, I know!
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My elder brother was an RAF engineer. His comments on the Nimrod reflect many of the comments on this thread.
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Thanks to a post by Steph elsewhere on here, I now realise that what I saw whilst on my way to Fowlmead road circuit a couple of days before NYE was one of these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey#).
Trust me when I tell you that it doesn't look like it should be airborne.
At all.
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You actually saw one flying?
I am given to understand that this is a somewhat unusual occurrence.
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We get infrequent sightings hereabouts (within spitting distance of RAF Fairford). Saw a couple of playing follow my leader with an Hercules a week or two after last year's RIAT.
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F-22 Raptor leaving Fairfords runway for its display in 2010
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/10805872945_12f6e2c632_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/hsSVye)Raptor-F22 RIAT 2010 (https://flic.kr/p/hsSVye)
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:thumbsup:
Great shot!
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Saw this chap having fun last Thursday:
http://youtu.be/Vl6-00wJrzA
Sorry for the quality, my wee waterproof cycling camera did its best.
This is one of the French Army's favourite practice areas.
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Thanks to a post by Steph elsewhere on here, I now realise that what I saw whilst on my way to Fowlmead road circuit a couple of days before NYE was one of these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey#).
Trust me when I tell you that it doesn't look like it should be airborne.
At all.
They are based at Mildenhall in Suffolk and come over my office here at Bentwaters (ex USAF also, now an industrial estate) quite often for exercises at the adjoining Woodbridge airbase which although not active is still owned and used by the military. They make the windows rattle when they come over! We've currently got Apache and Chinook helicopters buzzing us at low level as I type this.
The Ospreys won't be in the UK for much longer following last weeks announcement about Mildenhall. Looks like they will be heading for Germany within 5 years.
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… or, Geoff (with the rope) has just lassoed it.
<tannoy> "Geoff … what the …!!?? What the hell are you playing at!!?"
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Chinook over E17 today. Suspect insurgents attempting to occupy the Lea Bridge Road.
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Chinook over E17 today. Suspect insurgents attempting to occupy the Lea Bridge Road.
We get that flying over once or twice a week (I work in Blackhorse Lane) - its a wonderful noise and, given that my office is a portakabin type of affair, which on stilts, we get the benefit of motion as well as sound when it flies over. :thumbsup:
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On my trip to Liverpool, I was down at the pierhead when a Tornado flew over the town. Shortly thereafter, one went up the Mersey at notmuchfeet. Nice.....
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Chinook over E17 today. Suspect insurgents attempting to occupy the Lea Bridge Road.
I've occasionally seen a Chinook over London. Any idea what they are doing?
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Taking sausages to Marsh Gibbon.
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Taking sausages to Marsh Gibbon.
Silly me. I could of worked that one out for myself!
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Chinook over E17 today. Suspect insurgents attempting to occupy the Lea Bridge Road.
I've occasionally seen a Chinook over London. Any idea what they are doing?
Probably transitting between RAF Odiham (the main Chinook base) and Colchester Garrisson or Stamford Training Area near Thetford.
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Noticed this on the NASA on The Commons Flickr page this week. A full-size F-86 being lowered into a wind tunnel. Blimey
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7605907522_9c03ecdcaf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/cA7gjA)F-86 Lowered into Full Scale Tunnel at Ames (https://flic.kr/p/cA7gjA) by NASA on The Commons (https://www.flickr.com/people/44494372@N05/), on Flickr
Thanks for the NOTC link. Now I know what to do this afternoon... ;)
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Sounds like somebody saw something unusual...
http://m.plymouthherald.co.uk/Did-Russian-bombers-fly-Plymouth-area/story-26054705-detail/story.html
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Sounds like somebody saw something unusual...
http://m.plymouthherald.co.uk/Did-Russian-bombers-fly-Plymouth-area/story-26054705-detail/story.html
Dreaming!
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I've no idea how the air defence system works, but it would be rather embarrassing.
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I think if they had been overland they would have been forced down not escorted back out to sea!
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Chinook over E17 today. Suspect insurgents attempting to occupy the Lea Bridge Road.
I've occasionally seen a Chinook over London. Any idea what they are doing?
Probably transitting between RAF Odiham (the main Chinook base) and Colchester Garrisson or Stamford Training Area near Thetford.
Saw a pair fly westbound up the Thames in central London on Tuesday.
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Sounds like somebody saw something unusual...
http://m.plymouthherald.co.uk/Did-Russian-bombers-fly-Plymouth-area/story-26054705-detail/story.html
Dreaming!
Quite.
If it was a Tu-95 that she saw, she would have heard the damn thing well before she saw it. A Tu-95 is loud. Very loud. Though I'm not sure how true the stories are about NATO pilots intercepting Tu-95s and having temporary hearing issues afterwards.
Given how large a Tu-95 is, it's not something that can easily be hooned around at low level through a valley as described, and even if the controls were light enough*, it's not worth using up the airframe life like that in peacetime.
I've no idea how the air defence system works, but it would be rather embarrassing.
The thing is, if it was true that UK airspace had been violated like that, do you really think that CallMeDave and the MoD spokesdroids are going to admit to it? ;)
* Taking its American equivalent as an example, it's said that you don't fly a B-52 - you wrestle it into pointing where you want to go.
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BBC News - How to spot a Russian bomber: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-31537705
There's a wee mistake in the first set of recognition pictures - the silhouette for the Tu-22 depicts the earlier iteration, codenamed 'Blinder' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22#Specifications_.28Tu-22R.29) by NATO, which was taken out of service in the 1990s. The Tu-22 in the second set of silhouettes correctly depicts a Tu-22M3 'Backfire' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M#Specifications_.28Tu-22M3.29).
EDIT - looks like someone's had a word, the first set of recognition pictures has now been corrected.
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I've no idea how the air defence system works, but it would be rather embarrassing.
The thing is, if it was true that UK airspace had been violated like that, do you really think that CallMeDave and the MoD spokesdroids are going to admit to it? ;)
Well that rather depends on whether the embarrassment is worse than the potential for making political capital over it. Mind you if it did fly unaccompanied through UK airspace what would the choice of responses tell the Russians?
I saw that today's Mail quotes an ex-RAF chief, alongside a headline that the UK could not defend itself if the Russians attacked. Personally, I would have thought that was always the case, which is why we are members of a military alliance.
I guess also that such headlines won't hurt the RAF's case for funding.
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Quite.
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http://m.plymouthherald.co.uk/Russian-bomber-mystery-solved-plane-wasn-t-spying/story-26057821-detail/story.html
;D
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The Cold War RAF was pretty capable of defending these islands, though even then those of us in the job thought the numbers were fairly marginal. In my time, the aircraft concerned varied from the Lightning (ineffective but spectacular) through the F4K/M, the F4J (terrific aircraft) and the Tornado F3 (better on paper than in the air). In 1990 there were around 8 squadrons (15 ac per squadron) of dedicated air-defence aircraft, backed up with several RAF Regt. anti-air missile squadrons. Now there are four dual-role air-defence/ground attack squadrons of Typhoons, of which at any one time just 4 aircraft are dedicated to defending UK territorial airspace at short notice. All the missile back-up is gone, and the ground attack role often means that many of these aircraft aren't even in the UK. The Typhoon's a great aircraft, but it's not a great deal more effective than the F4J was in terms of how many intruders it can kill, and how fast or how far it can go to do it. And the four available will quickly be overwhelmed if the Russians decide to send more than 2 Tu95s to see how good we are at seeing them off.
All that said, this woman saw a long, thin silver aircraft near St Mawgan (Newquay Airport) while she was undergoing a driving lesson. The only aircraft that land at St Mawgan these days are civilian, and mostly the Dash 8 Q400 - which is a particularly long, thin prop-driven aircraft which, like most airliners, is mostly silver underneath. Just sayin'.
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Could I just add that the person responsible for the SHOUTY ads on the Plymouth Herald webshite will be amon the first against the post-revolutionary wall?
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Odd one today. talking to an old gent at the Waitrose bike shed in Horley. No, sir, that wasn't the police helicopter. They don't come with such a loud rotor noise, nor are they fitted with stub wings and a chin mounted gatling.
What the hell was a solo Apache doing heading East over Horley at not much feet?
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Looking for you, Steph.
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What, again? ;D
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Delivering Obama somewhere? Oh no, silly me that takes 3 Apaches and closing the motor way he isn't using.
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No idea what they where but two fighter jets just went over the top of my office on the Southbank near Tate Modern
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No idea what they where but two fighter jets just went over the top of my office on the Southbank near Tate Modern
Because... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31866944)
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No idea what they where but two fighter jets just went over the top of my office on the Southbank near Tate Modern
Because... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31866944)
And since the RAF only posses two different types of combat aircraft these days its fairly easy to work out what they were:
Tornado
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Panavia_Tornado_IDS.svg/450px-Panavia_Tornado_IDS.svg.png)
Typhoon
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Eurofighter_Typhoon_line_drawing.svg/400px-Eurofighter_Typhoon_line_drawing.svg.png)
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If they were "ours" and not, say, some of Uncle Vladimir's* having a nose around for the hell of it. ;)
*Or mebbe even some of Uncle Sam's.
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Probably something to do with the Afganistan memorial service at St Pauls
Dave Yates
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Sorry, no pictures (and they were a heck of a distance away anyway), but yesterday evening I saw to 'Ospreys' flying over York towards Linton air base.
Never seen them before but they are absolutely unmistakable, even at a distance. The rotors are so big I could make out the blades, even at a distance. Wacky, ridiculous planes, like something from a scifi movie.
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Sorry, no pictures (and they were a heck of a distance away anyway), but yesterday evening I saw to 'Ospreys' flying over York towards Linton air base.
Never seen them before but they are absolutely unmistakable, even at a distance. The rotors are so big I could make out the blades, even at a distance. Wacky, ridiculous planes, like something from a scifi movie.
Seen them a few times near us, you definitely hear them first (sort of a cross between a Chinook and an Apache going through a coffee grinder, at slow speed anyway).
Again no photos but last night, on the way home I saw an Apache (sans coffee grinder) and a Typhoon. I assume both of these were flying out of, or to, Leeming, as I was near there at the time.
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Now then people'
Its that time of year again when our small but perfectly fomed RAF are getting ready for the display season.
So, over the workshop in the last few weeks we have first, the Reds
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Reds%202015_zpsnkdzjhnd.jpg)
Next a single Red showing fancy new colour scheme
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Red%20Arrow%202015_zpsqvm2kcsn.jpg)
29 Squadron Typhoon practising display sequence
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Practice%20display%202015_zpsmbjhxd2q.jpg)
Actual display aircraft with more fancy paintwork, not very clear, c--p weather
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/Display%20Typhoon%202015_zpsx2ytpxe7.jpg)
Same aircraft, different angle, burners just lighting
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/DSC08616_zpsll39dvmf.jpg)
Now the best bit, MkV Spitfire flying as one half of the Spitfire / Typhoon synchro pair. This was today, afraid I wasnt quick enough to get them both together, camera was in the house I was in the workshop :( try again tomorrow.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/MkV%20part%20of%20dual%20display_zpsuxzlofpn.jpg)
Here is the other half of the synchro pair with an even fancier paint job.
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/DSC08643_zpspt32pr4e.jpg)
Thats all for now folks, if I see anything else interesting I will endeavour to post it
Cheers
Dave Yates
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(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/DSC08643_zpspt32pr4e.jpg)
Oh yes. 8)
Though I reckon it would look even better in the same post-1942 grey/green scheme as its display partner.
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At last, some pics :thumbsup:
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Cool.
Still think the Red Arrows shoulda stuck with Gnats ;)
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I think that Typhoon camouflage would work best when flying on top of the Lancaster.
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Isn't this where someone is supposed to use the "G" word?
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I think we pretty much take that as read.
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I think that Typhoon camouflage would work best when flying on top of the Lancaster.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/shuttle.jpg) (http://www.space.com/15259-space-shuttle-retirement-move-photos.html)
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I think that Typhoon camouflage would work best when flying on top of the Lancaster.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/shuttle.jpg) (http://www.space.com/15259-space-shuttle-retirement-move-photos.html)
(http://www.stoplusjednicka.cz/sites/default/files/obrazky/2015/01/04_antonov3.jpg)
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In this thread, as a result of his posts, the use of the G word is MY bag m'kay?
Bicycle Repair Man- once more Sir, you are a Git :D
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And the balance of the universe is restored. ;D
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In this thread, as a result of his posts, the use of the G word is MY bag m'kay?
Bicycle Repair Man- once more Sir, you are a Git :D
Once more Sir, I fear you are correct. However as a concession I am prepared to rent part of the paddock next to the workshop by the hour. Cake or pies are acceptable currency. The sheep will keep you company ;D
Meanwhile here is something else to grind your teeth over
(http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/daveyates42/2%20lancs_zps8psfrnsd.jpg)
Taken last year
Dave Yates
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That, Sir, is double Gittery with chocolate sauce :thumbsup:
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Doubtless, there wil have been a mighty fine noise which accompanied that ^^ photograph.
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Doubtless, there wil have been a mighty fine noise which accompanied that ^^ photograph.
The sound of 6 merlins (Lanc, Spitfire, Hurricane) never ceases to raise the hairs on the back of my neck but the sound of 8 was, as you say, "mighty fine".
The Lanc has been flying virtually every day this week preparing for it's PDA on 6th May. Yesterday it flew over just as Classic FM played part of The Dambusters March, a magical moment that will probably never be repeated.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Gransden_2.jpg)
:)
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I was unlocking my bike after a successful mission to the DIY store to buy primer and masking tape when I heard aero engines, many aero engines. I stepped back and looked up and saw a Lancaster heading towards the centre of The Hague followed by a Spitfire.
Some Googling found that they had been on a trip to commemorate Operation Manna which used air drops to fed the starving Dutch towards the end of the war.
Made my day that!
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At 10. 40 the Lancaster was doing 3 loooooooooooooow circuits od Wobbly towers. :smug:
Actually it was for a motorbike fest going on in the village. ;)
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You've misunderstood their task, Vince. They were actually practising for Operation Marmite - a mission to supply Brits beyond the Channel with this essential foodstuff/building material/mosquito repellent!
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Operation Marmite was the reason the Third Reich collapsed so spectacularly after D-Day. They dropped it on the Führerbunker.
The Nazi High Command: Mein Gott! Zey eat zis? Ve are doomed!
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Operation Marmite was the reason the Third Reich collapsed so spectacularly after D-Day. They dropped it on the Führerbunker.
The Nazi High Command: Mein Gott! Zey eat zis? Ve are doomed!
Potential for yet another Downfall meltdown scene re-subtitling there. :demon:
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Took a pootle to the end on the Abingdon airshow runway about 1.5hrs before end. Lancaster didn't make it cos of weather.
Any ideas?
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2TtrC-tpZmA/VUZQEbyTONI/AAAAAAAAGEI/j7MjdXBzzbI/w1517-h947-no/P1230604.JPG)
Eurofighter & Spitfire. Typhoon was impressive when it flew directly overhead with afterburners on, then went vertical...
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LL7gzwjua0c/VUZQD_6b_RI/AAAAAAAAGEQ/x8lSPbF3B-Q/w1503-h939-no/P1230545.JPG)
Gloster Meteor - fast (well less than half max of typhoon), and apparently first flew in 1943.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rcWgKjFdMHQ/VUZQEhyS3qI/AAAAAAAAGEY/tCKePROTHOg/w1515-h947-no/P1230613.JPG)
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#1 looks like a Catalina. Lovely plane.
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Yes, Consolidated PBY, one of my favourites. They flew anti submarine patrols from the Fermanagh Lakes during WWII..
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Eurofighter & Spitfire. Typhoon was impressive when it flew directly overhead with afterburners on, then went vertical...
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LL7gzwjua0c/VUZQD_6b_RI/AAAAAAAAGEQ/x8lSPbF3B-Q/w1503-h939-no/P1230545.JPG)
Sure that's a spitfire?
I think you might have snapped a pair of typhoons there.
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No its a clipped wing Spitfire. A Typhoon has a different tailplane shape as well.
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No its a clipped wing Spitfire. A Typhoon has a different tailplane shape as well.
Also, the Tiffy had two autocannons per wing and a single large "chin-mounted" radiator intake just behind the prop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Typhoon#Specifications_.28Typhoon_Mk_Ib.29
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I thought I could see a rad bulge behind the prop.
Someone clipped the wings off a spitfire? How dare they!
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Someone clipped the wings off a spitfire? How dare they!
Better role rate versus a bit slower at climbing. They did it to quite a few during the war.
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Someone clipped the wings off a spitfire? How dare they!
Better role rate versus a bit slower at climbing. They did it to quite a few during the war.
And IIRC a higher top speed at low level - 'cropped, clipped, and clapped out' referring to older airframes used for low-level V-1 chasing (clipped wings, cropped supercharger impeller for low-level boost).
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Spitfire LF XVIe rebuilt to flying condition by the staff at BBMF over the last 10 years. It has, in effect, a zero timed airframe so gets quite a lot of use. MkIX airframe with a US Packard built Merlin. The"e" refers to the E or universal wing which could be fitted with a variety of gun combinations.
Dave Yates
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No its a clipped wing Spitfire. A Typhoon has a different tailplane shape as well.
Also, the Tiffy had two autocannons per wing and a single large "chin-mounted" radiator intake just behind the prop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Typhoon#Specifications_.28Typhoon_Mk_Ib.29
Also, sadly there are no flying tiffy's and only one complete example anywhere in the world - a shame as it's one of my favourites.
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In a strange way I was actually quite surprised to see the EF Typhoon flying so slowly - sky pootling behind the Spit... I wonder was the 'stall speed' is?
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They did tests many moons ago in interceptions of a Spit by a Lightning. Best technique was a climbing attack from astern.
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They did tests many moons ago in interceptions of a Spit by a Lightning. Best technique was a climbing attack from astern.
Full details here:
https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/the-spitfire-the-lightning-how-two-british-icons-met-in-simulated-combat/
Reverse zoom and boom !
The WWII piston engined fighters were much more manoeuvrable than the big jet fighters of the 60s so dogfighting was a no no.
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The Lightning was never designed for dogfighting. It was meant to get cannons, AA missiles, and a pilot to altitude in the minimum time possible.
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The Lightning was never designed for dogfighting. It was meant to get cannons, AA missiles, and a pilot to altitude in the minimum time possible.
True, the issue was that suddenly the RAF found itself fighting some asymmetric wars where the other side was equipped with late WWII era piston engined fighters such as Mustangs. They needed to develop tactics to cope with slower but much more manoeuvrable fighters that also had too small a heat signature for the missiles of the time to lock on to.
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The difficulty of predicting the format of the next conflict...
But I don't believe Lightnings ever actually engaged in conflict, did they? Sure, they were scrambled on a regular basis to intercept Bears etc, but...
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According to the Fount of All Knowledge:
The English Electric Lightning is credited with a single kill in 1972, a British Harrier pilot had ejected from his aircraft following apparent engine failure; however, the pilotless aircraft unintentionally maintained flight and was heading towards the East German border, to avoid a diplomatic incident the Harrier was shot down.
:thumbsup:
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They did tests many moons ago in interceptions of a Spit by a Lightning. Best technique was a climbing attack from astern.
AFDS RAF West Raynham, around 1960. My Dad was one of the Lightning pilots involved. The Spit was a (may have been more than one) PRXIX from the Met Sqn at RAF Woodvale. They were looking at tactics to be flown against P51s and similar in Malaya.
Edit: I see the article linked gives more and better info! Sorry.
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The difficulty of predicting the format of the next conflict...
But I don't believe Lightnings ever actually engaged in conflict, did they? Sure, they were scrambled on a regular basis to intercept Bears etc, but...
RAF Frightenings weren't, but the Saudis used them as ground-attack aircraft in Yemen, though a lot of the time, just making a supersonic fly-by was enough to get the Yemenis to scatter. Apparently, they thought the sonic booms were a manifestation of Allah. ;D
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The Lightning that used to stand outside BAe at Samlesbury was getting very tatty, so they've replaced it with a life-size Airfix model in fibreglass.
(http://www.lep.co.uk/webimage/1.7122520.1424766492!/image/3000744693.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/3000744693.jpg)
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According to the Fount of All Knowledge:
The English Electric Lightning is credited with a single kill in 1972, a British Harrier pilot had ejected from his aircraft following apparent engine failure; however, the pilotless aircraft unintentionally maintained flight and was heading towards the East German border, to avoid a diplomatic incident the Harrier was shot down.
:thumbsup:
Never mind the diplomatic fallout, allowing the GDR and their Soviet overlords to get their hands on a Harrier to strip down and reverse engineer1 would never have done, either.
Especially seeing as the only Soviet jump jet to make it into service (the Yakovlev Yak-38 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-38)) was an utter POS.2
1 One of the first Soviet post-WW2 bombers, the Tupolev Tu-4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-4) was essentially a B-29 with domestic engines.
2 OTOH, a later Yakovlev prototype (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-141) for a supersonic V/STOL fighter was of sufficient interest to the Septics that they helped to pay for its development, and it is worth noting the similarities between it and the F-35B.
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The difficulty of predicting the format of the next conflict...
But I don't believe Lightnings ever actually engaged in conflict, did they? Sure, they were scrambled on a regular basis to intercept Bears etc, but...
No but during the Malaysian / Indonesian conflict of the mid 60s they were on the verge of being deployed. It wasn't just about the Lightning anyway the point was to develop tactics for any modern (for the times) fast jet to take on a piston engined fighter. The same tactics would be used by Hunters and Javlins. The jets were never in any real danger from the prop driven aircraft as they could just climb or power away. It was only if they got in a turning fight trying to get a cannon shot on the WWII ere planes that things got dangerous, the piston engined fighter could easily turn inside the jet and get some shots away. A jet fighter has a natural inbuilt energy advantage over a piston engined fighter and the tactics developed reflect that. It is similar to the boom and zoom that WWII P38 Lightnings used against the more manoeuvrable Japanese fighters or the P48 Thunderbolts used against the Germans. The main difference is that the jets dont need hight to give them an energy advantage as they have so much thrust.
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The lightnings were no slouches in the dogfight, mind - I recall seeing accounts of them successfully mixing it with F-15s and F-16s. Of course they could only do this close to a friendly tanker, mind...
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P47 Thunderbolt, Pat.
The aircraft actually deployed in the 'confrontation' with Indonesia, in which my dad served in Borneo, was the Javelin. I believe its only action was in forcing down an Indonesian transport. The confrontation with Mustangs (actually Cavaliers) was over Belize, when Guatemala got frisky. The aircraft initially deployed, in a superb bit of flying and great feat of naval aviation, was the Buccaneer.
No jets in Belize, we can inva--what the fuck was THAT?
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#1 looks like a Catalina. Lovely plane.
Some were built in Beaumaris. They were wheeled across the road to the beach for launching. Honest!
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Eek! Merlin on fire. :(
BBMF Lancaster developed engine fire, but landed safely at Coningsby. Aircrew unhurt, but there'll be a lot of damage to repair. :(
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Yesterday a Jet Provost trundled over the house presumably after buzzing Headcorn airfield on its way from somewhere to err..somewhere. It sounded a lot more interesting than the run of the mill stuff that we usually see and the sound brought me out from the garage. Today while out for a run on the Bates, a radial engined biplane with US markings; a Stearman perhaps but again, a lovely sound.
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(https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/b9c495eeff1f582325948594689a8fca4af92d96.jpg)
Snapped in the garden at the weekend, a high altitude Islander on surveillance duty over south London, with a Kuwaiti Airways on its approach to Heathrow.
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777
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Now then Chaps
Tomorrow sees the Antiques Road Show at RAF Coningsby. Today saw much aerial activity for the benefit of the cameras. It will be worth a watch when transmitted, (dont ask, I dont know). Camouflaged Tyhoon did full display then later synchro pair ie Spitfire LF16e and Typhoon did several passes not in the usual display sequence, We also had an AWACS doing circuits.
Cheers
Dave Yates
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Do spacecraft count? The ISS has been showing off over London recently and so I had a go at photographing it. At a focal length of 4 metres I can assure you this was not hand-held. (https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/87871fd56ab5587d7d730ac8dfb4d282c3f7f08b.jpg)
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Impressive.
Maybe, to minimise motion blur, you could use a flash ;)
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Impressive.
Maybe, to minimise motion blur, you could use a flash ;)
Or possibly try getting a little closer.
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No photo unfortunately as I was awaiting he arrival of an ambulance but, about 20 minutes ago, a brace of Spitfire took off from White Waltham. One in plain camo and grey/ blue with roundels, the other in D Day stripes.
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This reminds me, I was driving past Duxford last week and a Spitfire flew fairly low across the road in front of me.
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As we passed Duxford on the way home from le continent I noted the remains of a Heinkel 111 (or it's Spanish equivalent) around the back of one of the restoration 'sheds'. Don't suppose there are scads of bits for them knocking around . . .
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Portobello Rd, maybe?
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Possibly Victoria Station. Failing that the Goodwin Sands or Dogger Bank
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Possibly Victoria Station. Failing that the Goodwin Sands or Dogger Bank
There was a Dornier Do-17 pulled out of the Goodwin Sands the other year:
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/blog/category/dornier-do-17/
I imagine that at the time, the recoverable remains of Luftwaffe aircraft shot down in the Battle of Britain were melted down to make new aircraft for the RAF.
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A few seen today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_1.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_2.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_3.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_4.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_5.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_6.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_7.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_8.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_9.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_10.jpg)
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Wonderful.
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That top one makes me cringe.
Our local Mirage*/Rafale/whatever boys are doing circuits just now - not exactly low flying but none to high either. Hard to get a sight of them, but the noise is impressive. Druther have that than the nasty little sodologists that ride their 50cc scooters round the village for hours.
*every fighter/fighter-bomber in France is a Mirage until proven otherwise.
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A few seen today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_7.jpg)
The spit looks like it is about to be incinerated. Why is the prop visible?
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I had to keep a fairly high shutter speed for the crossovers, else one of the planes should have been motion blurred.
Normally you'd need less than 1/500th for a bit of prop blur.
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A few seen today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_8.jpg)
Interesting 'polytunnel' effect of the propeller contrails.
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A new member for the Red arrows
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/seagull-photobombing-red-arrows-captured-9340534 (http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/seagull-photobombing-red-arrows-captured-9340534)
Like its smoke trail
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A few seen today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_8.jpg)
Interesting 'polytunnel' effect of the propeller contrails.
Yes - I've never seen that before - to the naked eye it looked like a smoke trail from the top of the prop. Couldn't see the hoops.
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A few seen today.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Cosford_2_8.jpg)
That's a Spanish Buchon painted to look like an ME109 isn't it ? I don't think there are actually nay real ME109s left flying.
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There was one Bf109, but I thought it had got severely splatted. Maybe with the wonders of modern technology (and a very good set of panelbeating hammers) they have managed to unsplat it.
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It is a Buchon, the more bulbous air-intake under the prop gives it away. According to Wikipedia the two actual ME109s airworthy in the world are in the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Messerschmitt_Bf_109s
IIRC the problem is sourcing engine parts. There is a greater depth of knowledge and experience (in fact a whole industry) these days manufacturing Merlin engines so it's easier to keep a Buchon airworthy as not enough parts exist for the real DB engine in the Me109. It may be the US ones are converted back to Merlin engines but my limited search just now didn't suggest either way.
Having said that I don't really think it matters. We have the Battle of Britain movie to thank for there being any active 109s/Buchons at all and I think it's great we get to see them. Some may argue they should all be painted as Spanish aircraft but there is a commercial value in getting invited to airshows and being the bad guy which assists in keeping them airworthy.
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As we passed Duxford on the way home from le continent I noted the remains of a Heinkel 111 (or it's Spanish equivalent) around the back of one of the restoration 'sheds'. Don't suppose there are scads of bits for them knocking around . . .
It is a CASA 111 so the Spanish equivalent - it was being temporarily stored in Duxford before moving on to North America (I think)
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According to Thingipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Messerschmitt_Bf_109s) there are three airworthy BF109s. Two are in Usania, the third is either in Canada or the UK depending on the status of its sale and delivery.
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Yes, it is a Buchon, the commentator was keen to let us know that. He did call the plane flying with the Spitfire a Tornado though. ::-)
Also made a joke about the roller coaster at Alton Towers. Which he later issued a grovelling apology for.
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(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/ottocat/JUS_0904_zpswuxtqhyb.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ottocat/media/JUS_0904_zpswuxtqhyb.jpg.html)
Whats this? flew over me at the weekend
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Just noticed when I blew the pic up there is someone standing in the open door
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(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/ottocat/JUS_0904_zpswuxtqhyb.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ottocat/media/JUS_0904_zpswuxtqhyb.jpg.html)
Whats this? flew over me at the weekend
A Douglas Dakota (since it's in RAF colours). If it was a US one it would be a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
One of the most successful transport aircraft ever. Loads still flying in civilian service, either DC-3s (the civilian version) or ex military ones.
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And that particular one is ZA947 which belongs to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/dakota947.cfm
Though they had nothing to do with the Battle of Britain, mind you neither did the Lancaster. They should really rename the BBMF the WWII Memorial Flight.
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Cheers for that .. :thumbsup:
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http://petapixel.com/2015/06/14/photographer-captures-the-ruins-of-the-soviet-space-shuttle-program/
Worth a look.
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was at RAF Cosford at 16:00
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_3861.jpg)
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In case you cannot see it there's a chap in the back.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_3861%20-%20Version%202.jpg)
With one hand holding on, one hand holding a cup of tea and one hand waving.
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It's Jake the Peg's cousin.
From Norfolk.
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It is Dilatory Del the Daring D-Day Descender. He stopped for a cuppa on his way to Normandy and now he's wondering where all his comrades have gone.
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Just at the start of the highlights of the Austrian GP there was a fly-by featuring an aircraft with two piston engines and a twin-boom tailplane. Can anyone identify it? Didn't look quite right, to my inexpert gaze, to be a P-38.
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Just at the start of the highlights of the Austrian GP there was a fly-by featuring an aircraft with two piston engines and a twin-boom tailplane. Can anyone identify it? Didn't look quite right, to my inexpert gaze, to be a P-38.
Having flexed my Google-Fu and consulted the Book of Wiki, I'd say it was a P-38. The Flying Bulls, based in Austria, have one in their fleet, and they were flying at Spielberg this weekend.
http://www.hangar-7.com/en/the-flying-bulls/airshows-upcoming-events/
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Yesterday was the open day for the new hangar for Tante Ju, the JU52 that lives at Mönchengladbach airport and does half hour flights for 300€ (apparently).
Anyway, a cycling chum and I went along and saw saw Tante Ju right up close and personal.
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11012645_10152823875306786_3351337585734424100_n.jpg?oh=575aeea39dc3afccd618cc89fa9dd7c8&oe=55F57910)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10407268_10152823875381786_696342982303318120_n.jpg?oh=c97f3cdea3ed346c90043d79e96f951f&oe=56204EE7)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11149104_10152823875436786_6440823794051271502_n.jpg?oh=4a7e3d6aaa2f487ef4e45c4b8bc5d957&oe=5626DEEF)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10393728_10152823875166786_6415829964607582215_n.jpg?oh=50f2f872f99d244af6226389fcfdb5b3&oe=56305942)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10252173_10152823875221786_1476661711784614508_n.jpg?oh=5974189cbc9282e24eaf5293fda77f00&oe=562F9111)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10374456_10152823875266786_458388324377950608_n.jpg?oh=e0afab8cfe22011346b4c9615a22f887&oe=5624AA5C)
A few other random planes arrived. I liked this one with the prop as part of the rudder:
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11257868_10152823875486786_3396385943565545751_n.jpg?oh=606dce1200264605aee2a8931bf1d1b9&oe=55E78CF4)
No idea what this was but some writing on the engine cowling was in Spanish
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11056440_10152823875541786_699747432503591733_n.jpg?oh=ac94e6877a9a79ca7e30579f36868b39&oe=56219D90)
This was a beautiful old Cessna with its newer (and much less attractive) relative in the background
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10487249_10152823875591786_295589974077015606_n.jpg?oh=b37e01ba2a0f8ea587e58f70b568d4a7&oe=55F1E8DD)
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/10612902_10152823875601786_2168695577955593463_n.jpg?oh=d36a92f1685969a4affb934be59d30f6&oe=55EBFCC5)
My German chum, who knows a bit about planes, pronounced it "Chessna" which was interesting but I guess a German weirdness thing. Another German pronounces Garmin as Jarmin.
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Yesterday was the open day for the new hangar for Tante Ju, the JU52 that lives at Mönchengladbach airport and does half hour flights for 300€ (apparently).
No idea what this was but some writing on the engine cowling was in Spanish
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11056440_10152823875541786_699747432503591733_n.jpg?oh=ac94e6877a9a79ca7e30579f36868b39&oe=56219D90)
I believe it is a Tiger Moth, though the rudder isn't quite the right shape, and there is normally a fuel tank in the centre section of the upper wing..
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It's a CASA 1.131, a license-built version of the Bücker Bü-131 Jungmann.
http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=220102
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BCcker_B%C3%BC_131
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Not seen in the flesh / not my photograph.
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11429905_10153406770576112_4037506123822457244_n.png?oh=0131af1a5f5032e0cda3bf9d01a5391a&oe=5620B2A4)
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Yesterday was the open day for the new hangar for Tante Ju, the JU52 that lives at Mönchengladbach airport and does half hour flights for 300€ (apparently).
There's a JU52 at Cosford.
The corrugation is wonderful! Fascinating to see how they dealt with joins and details.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/JU52_2.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/JU52_1.jpg)
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Yesterday was the open day for the new hangar for Tante Ju, the JU52 that lives at Mönchengladbach airport and does half hour flights for 300€ (apparently).
No idea what this was but some writing on the engine cowling was in Spanish
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11056440_10152823875541786_699747432503591733_n.jpg?oh=ac94e6877a9a79ca7e30579f36868b39&oe=56219D90)
I believe it is a Tiger Moth, though the rudder isn't quite the right shape, and there is normally a fuel tank in the centre section of the upper wing..
The Jungmann has always been one of my favourites. Even prettier than a Tiger Moth and fully aerobatic.
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My German chum, who knows a bit about planes, pronounced it "Chessna" which was interesting but I guess a German weirdness thing. Another German pronounces Garmin as Jarmin.
I've just spent 10 minutes of genuine existential crisis going back and forth between the 'Chessna' and 'Sessna' pronunciations, and not coming to a firm conclusion; I *think* I'd probably go with the latter, but the former sounds OK as well. I blame my partly Teutonophone youth...
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The sound of aero engines had me rushing out of the house just in time to see a B25 Mitchell with accompanying Spitfire running up to do a fly past for Veteran's Day.
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Something with a vintage engine note over central Cambridge today - I think it might have been a T-6/Harvard, but I didn't get the right angle to be sure.
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A flight of Spitfires and Hurricanes flew low over the school yesterday, overflying White Waltham.
Watching the news later and it was the same flight overflying Buckingham Palace to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
5 Merlins :thumbsup:
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75th anniversary, Shirley?
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A Spirfire and a Hurricane flew past The Swalec this afternoon.
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We saw a Hurri over Watlington on Saturday, and an unidentified biplane doing aerobatics yesterday.
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.... and an unidentified biplane doing aerobatics yesterday.
What was the colour scheme?
I ask because a yellow and red stunt biplane flys out of White Waltham and rehearses almost every day I am at school.
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There was certainly yellow on it. I didn't get a good view because I didn't have binoculars with me, and the sun was bright (and I have a lot of floaters in my eye :( ). It wasn't a Tiger Moth - I'm pretty sure of that - the tailplane didn't seem to be stepped. It seemed to have slightly staggered wings.
ETA: I see there's a yellow Pitts flies from White Waltham. it's not that, either.
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The Pitts is what I was thinking of.
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There was certainly yellow on it. I didn't get a good view because I didn't have binoculars with me, and the sun was bright (and I have a lot of floaters in my eye :( ). It wasn't a Tiger Moth - I'm pretty sure of that - the tailplane didn't seem to be stepped. It seemed to have slightly staggered wings.
ETA: I see there's a yellow Pitts flies from White Waltham. it's not that, either.
One of these?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stampe_SV.4
http://www.aviationanoraks.co.uk/index/2008%20Archive/Stampe%20Biplane%20Flight/slides/Mark's%20Stampe.jpg
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Steph, I think that's the most likely. I had to search out an image to see the tailplane layout, and it matches what I recall.
:thumbsup:
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There are quite a few about in the UK.
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I believe the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor has had a mention or two in this thread, but the plane that thinks it's a wobblecopter (or vice versa) has another party trick:
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/think-the-osprey-is-a-transformer-in-the-air-check-it-1718381693
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Interesting that this configuration has reappeared after being set aside for decades.
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Interesting that this configuration has reappeared after being set aside for decades.
The V22 is now a 30 year old design. Has it, as a design, just reappeared? I really don't think so.
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Interesting that this configuration has reappeared after being set aside for decades.
The V22 is now a 30 year old design. Has it, as a design, just reappeared? I really don't think so.
Indeed. Bell were testing the XV-3 tiltrotor from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, the XV-15 was flying in the late 1970s, and as you say, the Osprey's development goes back to conceptual work in the 1980s.
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(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/photos/plane.jpg)
We had a look at this last week:
FK 23 Bantam. Designed by Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven. Only a handful were ever built circa 1920.
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Seen a few today, including an Osprey
Note carefully how the Vulcan took off!
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_7802.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_7910.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8033.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8043.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8123.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8203.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8210.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8309.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8369.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8395.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_8507.jpg)
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Does that last one spell "Merde aux Rosbifs" in semaphore?
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(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/photos/plane.jpg)
We had a look at this last week:
FK 23 Bantam. Designed by Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven. Only a handful were ever built circa 1920.
Nice - where was this?
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Rilksmuseum, Amsterdam. I was there last year.
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(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/photos/plane.jpg)
We had a look at this last week:
FK 23 Bantam. Designed by Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven. Only a handful were ever built circa 1920.
Nice - where was this?
In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
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(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/photos/plane.jpg)
We had a look at this last week:
FK 23 Bantam. Designed by Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven. Only a handful were ever built circa 1920.
Nice - where was this?
In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Just look at the restricted view the pilot had!!!!!
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If you look at the following images, and see how small the plane is, it is more likely that the pilot would have had a very good view, on account of his head and shoulders sticking out above the upper wing.
http://static0.volkskrant.nl/static/photo/2012/12/3/7/20120821092025/album_large_1328587.jpg
http://static0.ad.nl/static/photo/2012/5/15/4/album_large_1328599.jpg
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I like the 1920s GoPro attached to the rear of the fuselage; I thought they were a more modern invention. I assume it is B&W only version with no sound, just a piano soundtrack.
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There's a separate mount for the piano, not fitted in that shot.
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There's a separate mount for the piano, not fitted in that shot.
They thought of everything back in the 1920s.
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If you look at the following images, and see how small the plane is, it is more likely that the pilot would have had a very good view, on account of his head and shoulders sticking out above the upper wing.
http://static0.volkskrant.nl/static/photo/2012/12/3/7/20120821092025/album_large_1328587.jpg
http://static0.ad.nl/static/photo/2012/5/15/4/album_large_1328599.jpg
Er . . . neither of them pics show the wings in position Speshers, so I still maintain the pilot would've had very poor visibility. End of. I win. True factz!
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Rode in a couple of Turbine Otter seaplanes between Vancouver and Vancouver Island this weekend. For the first trip, I was in the copilot's seat.
On Saturday, while riding a 400 brevet, I saw a twin engine amphibian (Grumman?) followed shortly by a 4 engine flying boat, the Martin Mars waterbomber. It flew directly overhead several times but no photos. Between the narrow valley, low altitude (lining up for a water pickup) and the tall conifers along the lakeside highway, I never reacted fast enough. It is bigger than the various Shorts flying boats, which I've never seen in the air anyway.
http://www.martinmars.com/aircraft.htm
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On Saturday, while riding a 400 brevet, I saw twin engine amphibian (Grumman?)
Possibly a goose?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_G-21_Goose
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Not possibly, almost certainly, though I only saw it from underneath, albeit at fairly close quarters.
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Alas no pics but seen over the workshop this week
1, Swordfish from RN historic flight, 2, Spitfire of unknown mark, suspect a Mk14
3, 4x Sukhoi SU30 Flankers of the Indian Air Force 4, 4x F16s of unknown origin,
5. Cobham Aviation Dassault Falcon, plus all the usual Typhoons and Tornados etc
Been very noisy, those Flankers sound like a whole squadron of Typhoons !
Dave Yates
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Unexpected visitor whilst waiting at Leeds General Infirmary for youngest son to have his chemo an AH-64 Apache landed on the helipad on the roof ??? no pictures but someone has posted a vid on Youtube Here. (https://youtu.be/0JKOdj_jbQ0)
Paul
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Unexpected visitor whilst waiting at Leeds General Infirmary for youngest son to have his chemo an AH-64 Apache landed on the helipad on the roof ??? no pictures but someone has posted a vid on Youtube Here. (https://youtu.be/0JKOdj_jbQ0)
Urban landing training:
http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-item/article/apache-helicopter-is-first-for-hospital-helicopter-deck/
LGI allow the MOD to use the helipad as part of pilot training.
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Well, since the MoD kindly provide so many patients for the NHS and the overstretched health services of other countries, it seems a natural partnership.
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(http://www.meiring.org.uk/pdm/photos/plane.jpg)
We had a look at this last week:
FK 23 Bantam. Designed by Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven. Only a handful were ever built circa 1920.
Nice - where was this?
In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Just look at the restricted view the pilot had!!!!!
If the engine runs total loss lubrication with castor oil, a restricted view would be the very least of the pilot's problems...
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Unexpected visitor whilst waiting at Leeds General Infirmary for youngest son to have his chemo an AH-64 Apache landed on the helipad on the roof ??? no pictures but someone has posted a vid on Youtube Here. (https://youtu.be/0JKOdj_jbQ0)
Paul
I hope your lad's chemo works out and the surprised visitor caused what I imagine to be a much needed distraction. Hugs.
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What looked like a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40_Warhawk) complete with teeth flew low over the school and White Waltham as I was leaving to go home yesterday (or was it the day before?).
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Couple of days of sad news on the airshow front.
Pilot died when Gnat crashed at Oulton Park, and a Spitfire was damaged (pilot survived with injuries) at Biggin Hill
http://airshowstuff.com/v4/2015/pilot-ok-after-spitfire-crashes-at-biggin-hill-after-losing-power-on-takeoff/
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A triplane with WW1 German insignia just flew overhead here in Herts.
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Spitfire was damaged (pilot survived with injuries) at Biggin Hill
http://airshowstuff.com/v4/2015/pilot-ok-after-spitfire-crashes-at-biggin-hill-after-losing-power-on-takeoff/
That'll buff out.
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Couple of days of sad news on the airshow front.
Pilot died when Gnat crashed at Oulton Park, and a Spitfire was damaged (pilot survived with injuries) at Biggin Hill
http://airshowstuff.com/v4/2015/pilot-ok-after-spitfire-crashes-at-biggin-hill-after-losing-power-on-takeoff/
My house is under one of the landing approaches to Hawarden. Heard the survivor of the pair go overhead yesterday afternoon. :(
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On Saturday we went on a ride and called in briefly at East Kirkby air museum in Lincolnshire.
(Mrs. M 's mother's cousin married a chap who was a navigator on bombers there during WW2.)
We were hoping for a quick look round the museum but we found a full on air show in progress so decided against it.
We then went down a side road which crossed the truncated parts of the main runways and stopped to watch the aircraft on their approach . We were chatting with a couple of guys with serious photography gear.
One posts on Flickr- https://www.flickr.com/photos/manxnorton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/manxnorton) and he was telling us about the IAF planes mentioned by Dave upthread. They were at Coningsby all week training with the RAF.
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Ukrainian pilots doing their thing (http://inforesist.org/polet-na-sverxnizkix-vysotax-ukrainskie-aviatory-pokazali-vpechatlyayushhie-kadry/?_utl_t=fb)
Can someone ID the aircraft, please?
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Mig29 on the ground and Su35 doing the low flyby (couldn't get the video to play so no idea if there are others).
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Mig29 on the ground and Su35 doing the low flyby (couldn't get the video to play so no idea if there are others).
Couldn't get the video to play either, but I think that's a Su-25 doing the fly-by in the picture.
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Mig29 on the ground and Su35 doing the low flyby (couldn't get the video to play so no idea if there are others).
Couldn't get the video to play either, but I think that's a Su-25 doing the fly-by in the picture.
Ah, indeed! Bit of a typo. I think it would have been a bit harder to film an Su35 with the hammer down!
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Just checked. Video played... eventually. Here's another link: http://videopay.net/video/p3jI4DrEEeWLfpNAGpT1tw?t=3
And thanks for the replies.
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Regarding the Su-25, it's a toss-up between it being a case of convergent evolution, or
imitation espionage being the sincerest form of flattery, because it closely resembles the Northrop YA-9 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YA-9) which lost out to Fairchild Republic's A-10 in the USAF's A-X close air support aircraft program. If you want interesting and unusual, check out Ilyushin's rejected offering for the Soviet close-air support program from around the same time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-102
And if you think that looks odd, you should see what the Il-102 was derived from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-40
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Urban landing training:
http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-item/article/apache-helicopter-is-first-for-hospital-helicopter-deck/
LGI allow the MOD to use the helipad as part of pilot training.
Than's for that , I was at a total loss as to why it was there in all honesty , It was quite an intimidating sight as it slowly aproached the hospital .
I hope your lad's chemo works out and the surprised visitor caused what I imagine to be a much needed distraction. Hugs.
Cheers Oscar's dad :) It's been a rough few months with bad news piled upon bad news but thing's are going well at the moment :thumbsup:
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:thumbsup:
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I missed the Vulcan at Eastbourne on Saturday because teh branes they forgot. Git.
But I did go yesterday. And saw and heard the Typhoon. The noise is like nothing on this planet, and when it climbs, everyone on the ground below it gets to top up their sun tan.
It also means that providing teh branes don't let me down again, I'll be at Shoreham next Sunday to see both aircraft. :thumbsup:
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If I may be permitted a slight deviation...
Yesterday I walked through a famous aeronautical arch.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lLzVUC2FtA0/VdEcUWnHZQI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/NV1WHN9DuV0/s800-Ic42/DSC_0111.NEF.jpg)
Well, perhaps not famous, but definitely historical.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVHRy_jgoDQ/VdEdA9k0mkI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/g2vYKDNvfEs/s800-Ic42/DSC_0112.NEF.jpg)
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Cool. 8)
I'm assuming A.V.Roe went on to become .... Avro... As in Lancaster and others.
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Yes. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro)
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Interestingly, Vickers - as in the VC10 (amongst a shed load of iconic others) flew their first planes from what today are the Dartford Marshes - not so far from the FNRttC Whitstable route.
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There is also a plaque for A V Roe in Wandsworth. On west hill just up from the fire station.
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Missed them on Saturday, but the voice-over from a previous Red Arrow pilot is very informative!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DxP9qnX5KE
Just wish the lead pilot could have jokingly have said at one point: "Attack-a-tack-a-tack!!!"
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This morning as we drove up the M11 I spied a large, 4-engine, tricycle gear, tall tail on the apron at Duxford.
From half a mile (at 70+mph) it looked like a B29 but Fifi & Doc are in the States AFAIK, it can't be a Connie cos the tail's all wrong. Any suggestions?
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9863.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9604.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9944.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9750.jpg)
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9731.jpg)
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This morning as we drove up the M11 I spied a large, 4-engine, tricycle gear, tall tail on the apron at Duxford.
From half a mile (at 70+mph) it looked like a B29 but Fifi & Doc are in the States AFAIK, it can't be a Connie cos the tail's all wrong. Any suggestions?
Depends on the colour of the plane that you saw, but the Duxford Aviation Society has a Bristol Britannia in their airliner collection, which is a reasonable fit for your description:
http://das.org.uk/bristol-type-175-britannia-312-g-aovt/
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_9604.jpg)
I saw that autogyro in Clacton-on-Sea last Friday.
It is the most mentalist thing I've ever seen in the air.
It flies sideways :o
How does that work?
Is the pilot wearing port and starboard gloves?
And if so, who is in control? :o
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It was mental And he was flying no hands in that photo!
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This morning as we drove up the M11 I spied a large, 4-engine, tricycle gear, tall tail on the apron at Duxford.
From half a mile (at 70+mph) it looked like a B29 but Fifi & Doc are in the States AFAIK, it can't be a Connie cos the tail's all wrong. Any suggestions?
Depends on the colour of the plane that you saw, but the Duxford Aviation Society has a Bristol Britannia in their airliner collection, which is a reasonable fit for your description:
http://das.org.uk/bristol-type-175-britannia-312-g-aovt/
That fits! Ta very much.
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Though as was often the case the Nazis got there first: Horten Ho 229 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_Ho_229). Many 'black triangle' UFO sightings can be explained, as any fule kno, by third-generation Nazi flying wings which use retro-engineered alien technology and operate from the SEEKRIT Nazi base beneath Antarctica.
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Really sorry about the very poor quality photo, taken through a chainlink fence with the target object half hidden behind a high wall at the back of the car-park of an open-air disco on the outskirts of Badajoz, SW Spain. The oddest thing is the location: it's a seaplane or flying boat but 250km from the sea. Even the Guadiana river is a mile away, and even if it were amphibian, the nearest runway is 20km away. How on earth did they get it there? It's far to big for the back of a lorry and it doesn't look like you could just dismantle it like mecano. Any clues as to identifying the beastie?
(http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah311/berry30/Mobile%20Uploads/20150902_095117_zpstkrtu6n1.jpg)
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Possibly a Grumman Goose - a long way from home.
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Possibly a Grumman Goose - a long way from home.
A good candidate, but I think I spy twin tailfins on the mystery beast but googling the Goose shows just one.
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Possibly a Grumman Goose - a long way from home.
A good candidate, but I think I spy twin tailfins on the mystery beast but googling the Goose shows just one.
You can also rule out the Consolidated PBY Catalina, although the general arrangement looks similar. However, it does look like a match, of sorts, to a Consolidated P2Y-3, but the wings do not appear to be mounted high enough, and the float does not look big enough either. Added to which, there is a central tail fin above the tailplane that the P2Y lacked.
P2Y3 plan views: http://www.generationv.co.uk/ejcgallery/albums/userpics/10002/consolidated_p2y3_3v.jpg
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Possibly a Grumman Goose - a long way from home.
A good candidate, but I think I spy twin tailfins on the mystery beast but googling the Goose shows just one.
You can also rule out the Consolidated PBY Catalina, although the general arrangement looks similar. However, it does look like a match, of sorts, to a Consolidated P2Y-3, but the wings do not appear to be mounted high enough, and the float does not look big enough either. Added to which, there is a central tail fin above the tailplane that the P2Y lacked.
P2Y3 plan views: http://www.generationv.co.uk/ejcgallery/albums/userpics/10002/consolidated_p2y3_3v.jpg
The P2Y3 seems to have semi-underslung engine pods, which the mystery beastie does not.
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Really sorry about the very poor quality photo, taken through a chainlink fence with the target object half hidden behind a high wall at the back of the car-park of an open-air disco on the outskirts of Badajoz, SW Spain. The oddest thing is the location: it's a seaplane or flying boat but 250km from the sea. Even the Guadiana river is a mile away, and even if it were amphibian, the nearest runway is 20km away. How on earth did they get it there? It's far to big for the back of a lorry and it doesn't look like you could just dismantle it like mecano. Any clues as to identifying the beastie?
(http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah311/berry30/Mobile%20Uploads/20150902_095117_zpstkrtu6n1.jpg)
This is a 'bitsa', I think - it's been cobbled together from parts of a Catalina fuselage and wing centre-section, held together with some pretty dodgy strutwork, with a pair of non-matching random vertical fins added to the tailplane, and the outer sections of the wing removed and the floats added with more dodgy strutwork. I think any attempt to identify it beyond that might be doomed to failure!
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Some kind of film/TV prop? Google is no help. As usual.
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It looks like it has "Flying Queso" painted on the hull.
Good name for a plane, that, "Flying Cheese" :)
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I'm pretty sure the top word is "Pacific" and the bottom one most likely "Queen".
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I'm pretty sure the top word is "Pacific" and the bottom one most likely "Queen".
SPOILSPORT!
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Some kind of film/TV prop? Google is no help. As usual.
I think you're right. A bit of set-dressing for the disco, built in-situ? I can't believe it was ever airworthy. See how the rudders are different shapes, and the rest seems to be made of plywood, rebar and scaff poles?
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On the subject of aircraft that look like they were thrown together from a bunch of spare parts, I give you the PZL M-15 Belphegor - Poland's attempt to build a jet-powered crop-duster:
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/is-the-pzl-m-15-belphegor-the-ugliest-production-jet-1729052082
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Another not quite right plane. The Spitfire at the Edinburgh Tattoo
http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/P1140113_Snapseed.jpg (http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/P1140113_Snapseed.jpg)
The rudder appears to be missing and the propeller is far too small, but apart from those, it just doesn't look right.
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Another not quite right plane. The Spitfire at the Edinburgh Tattoo
http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/P1140113_Snapseed.jpg (http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/P1140113_Snapseed.jpg)
The rudder appears to be missing and the propeller is far too small, but apart from those, it just doesn't look right.
It's a mk 26 a build it yourself 90% (ish) scale replica of the real thing.
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Yesterday lunchtime (ish) I heard a multiple propeller induced rumbling from the skies over the shop. I dashed outside to see a B17 Flying Fortress flying west over Marlow town centre towards Henley. Apparently it did a reciprical route a little later.
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Whilst waiting for the Vulcan to not turn up* over Goodwood, there was an interesting quartet of WW2 fighters whizzing around:
Curtiss Hawk 75: http://fighter-collection.com/cft/hawk-75-2/
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk: http://fighter-collection.com/cft/curtiss-p-40f-warhawk/
P-51-D Mustang http://www.ferociousfrankie.com/
Spitfire IX: http://www.mh434.com/
Didn't get any particularly brilliant pictures, so I'm treating yesterday as a learning experience...
* The Vulcan sprung a fuel leak just a few minutes flight time out from Goodwood - not bad enough to prevent getting back to Doncaster, but they decided not to exacerbate it by flying a display routine, so they flew straight back home, passing some way to the north of the aerodrome.
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Whilst waiting for the Vulcan to not turn up* over Goodwood, there was an interesting quartet of WW2 fighters whizzing around:
Curtiss Hawk 75: http://fighter-collection.com/cft/hawk-75-2/
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk: http://fighter-collection.com/cft/curtiss-p-40f-warhawk/
P-51-D Mustang http://www.ferociousfrankie.com/
Spitfire IX: http://www.mh434.com/
Didn't get any particularly brilliant pictures, so I'm treating yesterday as a learning experience...
* The Vulcan sprung a fuel leak just a few minutes flight time out from Goodwood - not bad enough to prevent getting back to Doncaster, but they decided not to exacerbate it by flying a display routine, so they flew straight back home, passing some way to the north of the aerodrome.
There is obvious (and understandable) nervousness regarding operating jets at the moment. I don't for one moment think the crew of the Vulcan thought there was a risk but the headlines shouting about displaying with fuel leak over innocent bystanders or similar nonsensical shock reporting is currently too much for most operators to want the bad publicity. Particularly in these last few weeks of the Vulcan.
Shame really.
I saw the TV footage (on Motors TV) of the P-40, H-75 etc quartet. Was nice to see. They were one of the highlights of Flying Legends this year too.
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It was going to be my last best chance of getting a decent shot of the Vulcan, because if it had displayed, it was going to be a lot closer to my vantage point on Saturday than when it flew down the Solent the other week. Barring any last-minute national tour flights (subject to raising the funding), of the remaining appearances, the nearest one to me is in Bedfordshire.
Que sera...
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In case you don't already know...
Tomorrow, 15th of Sept, weather permitting, some southern and eastern bods will have a good chance of seeing Hurricanes and Spitfires. They're hoping to get some 40 up split over 10 routes taking off from 1200 - 1230 approx.
http://www.battleofbritainday.co.uk/#!routes/c1px
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They're hoping to get some 40 up split over 10 routes taking off from 1200 - 1230 approx.
http://www.battleofbritainday.co.uk/#!routes/c1px
Departure now delayed until 1400 due to weather
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Red Section over Trowbridge 10 minutes ago, 6 of them.
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A section flew across the school and White Waltham airfield at about 3:15. Glorious :thumbsup:
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Heard the engines and raced out the front door to just catch the fly-past before they went out of sight. I know next to nothing about planes but they sounded pretty phenomenal.
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Rode down to the sea front at Southsea Common - I don't know what happened to the rest of Pink Section, but one Spitfire flew a circuit over Pompey, then another (or the same?) flew over in a SW direction and that was it.
Bit of an anticlimax IMHO.
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On the subject of aircraft that look like they were thrown together from a bunch of spare parts, I give you the PZL M-15 Belphegor - Poland's attempt to build a jet-powered crop-duster:
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/is-the-pzl-m-15-belphegor-the-ugliest-production-jet-1729052082
Some of the engineers from the Mielec factory that made the Belphegor (though they quite likely weren't around back then) now make bikes: http://www.bikemielec.com/en/
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Rode down to the sea front at Southsea Common - I don't know what happened to the rest of Pink Section, but one Spitfire flew a circuit over Pompey, then another (or the same?) flew over in a SW direction and that was it.
Bit of an anticlimax IMHO.
I think it depends on where you stood. To quote a famous movie, 'even a Spitfire can't be in two places at once'. I am lucky in that my office is at the old RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk where the Grace Spitfire and the Seafire have their winter maintenance base so we got a low level flypast at rooftop height from Orange section which was spectacular (I wasn't carrying a camera unfortunately).
Others saw one plane, others saw many - if you were anywhere near Goodwood it would have been an incredible sight.
All in all I think it was quite a moving tribute and a considerable feat of organisation.
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But when they aren't in the one place we were told they were going to be, it gets a bit wearing when two successive flypasts do not remotely follow the published track, and are miles out. The area in question is awash in very obvious navigational recognition points (Portsmouth, Gosport and the Isle of wight are just a bit obvious)
The pink flight was well off track, and the one that was supposed to fly north over Waterloville and up the a3, either didn't happen at all, or was miles off track, it could be neither seen nor heard. Its not much fun being told it was a wonderful experience, when we were denied that experience yet again, despite making plenty of effort to be in the right place.
The only thing I saw at the appointed time yesterday was a navy helicopter arsing about. At least it wasn't a bleedin' Chinook.
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I have no involvement so I don't know but I would imagine there were concerns regarding the weather so re-routing may have been necessary. Delaying by two hours wouldn't have resolved all of the issues they were having. The Northolt flight landed elsewhere (can't remember where they diverted to) amongst others taking different routes.
To be honest the route plans given on the website were pretty poor. No pilot would have relied on them and we weren't party to the pilots briefing. The map showed orange section flying over Ipswich and my wife saw nothing of them from her school near the middle of town.
I'm afraid it wasn't an airshow but a tribute to the few by flying over their territory.
Sorry I can't be more positive than that.
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But when they aren't in the one place we were told they were going to be, it gets a bit wearing when two successive flypasts do not remotely follow the published track, and are miles out. The area in question is awash in very obvious navigational recognition points (Portsmouth, Gosport and the Isle of wight are just a bit obvious)
The pink flight was well off track, and the one that was supposed to fly north over Waterloville and up the a3, either didn't happen at all, or was miles off track, it could be neither seen nor heard. Its not much fun being told it was a wonderful experience, when we were denied that experience yet again, despite making plenty of effort to be in the right place.
The only thing I saw at the appointed time yesterday was a navy helicopter arsing about. At least it wasn't a bleedin' Chinook.
The point of the exercise was to overfly the airfields and one or two other significant places of the Battle of Britain. The routes to get to those places were irrelevant to that point. In view of the weather, no pre-planned route would have been immune from revision anyway.
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The point of the exercise was to overfly the airfields and one or two other significant places of the Battle of Britain.
Ah! Should have realised why they came over these parts:
"Trowbridge’s industrial strength came into its own as one of the major centres for Spitfire production in Southern England. The prototype (K5054) first flew on March 5, 1936.
The original Spitfire manufacture took place in Southampton, but this well-known location made it vulnerable to enemy attack.
It was decided to disperse Spitfire production to five areas, Trowbridge, Salisbury, Reading and Newbury, with some production remaining in Southampton." (from The Wiltshire Times.)
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This, at Seville airport. Antonov AN-10 or AN-12?
(https://i.ibb.co/FWdbYVQ/1000607.jpg)
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Wikipedia suggests the AN-10 hasn't operated since 1972 so I'd go with AN-12
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Looks like an AN-12 of Meridian Airlines (Ukraine).
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I like aircraft with see through noses :thumbsup:
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I like how the props are lined up.
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I like how the props are lined up.
Yes, but where is the jar of marmite? :)
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I like how the props are lined up.
Yes, but where is the jar of marmite? :)
It's on charter to Wadworth's brewery.
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(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5725/21711008676_53182cd3ae_z.jpg)
The last flight of Vulcan XH-558-Church Fenton airshow today.
We were off piste and ended up directly under the flying display area.
Awesome (with apologies to Lee) (https://flic.kr/p/z5wAtN)
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But when they aren't in the one place we were told they were going to be, it gets a bit wearing when two successive flypasts do not remotely follow the published track, and are miles out. The area in question is awash in very obvious navigational recognition points (Portsmouth, Gosport and the Isle of wight are just a bit obvious)
The pink flight was well off track, and the one that was supposed to fly north over Waterloville and up the a3, either didn't happen at all, or was miles off track, it could be neither seen nor heard. Its not much fun being told it was a wonderful experience, when we were denied that experience yet again, despite making plenty of effort to be in the right place.
The only thing I saw at the appointed time yesterday was a navy helicopter arsing about. At least it wasn't a bleedin' Chinook.
The point of the exercise was to overfly the airfields and one or two other significant places of the Battle of Britain. The routes to get to those places were irrelevant to that point. In view of the weather, no pre-planned route would have been immune from revision anyway.
In that case it might be best if they didn't publish any routes at all, and just said that "if you are near a battle of Britain airfield you might possibly see some aircraft". Shame it couldn't or didn't include either the birthplace of the Spitfire, or the place it took its first flight, I'm sure Southampton (Eastleigh) airport could have been persuaded to suspend operations for 15 minutes... or maybe not ;D.
There were many, many thousands of people hoping to see these wonderful aircraft and pay their respects to the people who made it possible, but sadly they didn't get to see a thing. Better that they don't get their hopes falsely raised, than repeated disappointments. In our area I think the only person who felt happy with the outcome was the proprietor of Mick's monster burgers on Portsdown Hill, who served the crowds waiting in vain for the aircraft on both of the flypasts recently.
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Well, I'm not going to apologise for them or take criticism on their behalf, because I was nothing to do with it! I don't actually know who organised any of it or where they published anything (or who else published stuff which may or may not have been authorised). I accept that publishing any proposed routes is a hostage to fortune; these old aeroplanes are essentially flyable in VMC (clear of cloud) only, and can't penetrate any kind of adverse weather, so they must avoid (not 'try to avoid') any risk of being caught out by weather. They travel at a minimum of around 200mph, so the weather gaps need to be pretty big to be useable. That is absolutely non-negotiable, so given the weather on that day it was amazing that anyone in the South of England saw any of them!
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(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5658/21571948518_2229774df7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ySeSJS)
P9250246 (https://flic.kr/p/ySeSJS) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Above: Alexander Eaglehorn. Below: Rutan Voyager. On display at Sea-Tac airport.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5767/21769147111_47d49029ed_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/zaEz1B)
P9250248 (https://flic.kr/p/zaEz1B) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Edit: There was an Antonov An-124 parked on the edge of the airport as well but I couldn't get my camera out before the bus turned left.
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I like aircraft with see through noses :thumbsup:
You'll like THIS (http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/breaking-news-engine-start-b-29-doc.html), then . . .
FIFTEEN YEARS in the building, now there's a dream!
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At the Museum of Flight, Seattle.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img912/637/Pgdu8x.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img901/8679/gu74ID.jpg)
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Lear Fan! Interesting for it's advanced use of composites. Looks like it could have been designed by Burt Rutan, but it's a Lear.
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At the Museum of Flight, Seattle.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img912/637/Pgdu8x.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img901/8679/gu74ID.jpg)
First one is amusing because when Concorde 002 was on its long drawn out test flight sequence, the crew used to get to it from their base at Filton, in a Dakota. (you will possibly now ruin this by pointing out that the other aircraft isn't actually a Dakota?)
As for the lower pic, without Clarion's explanation, I too would have assumed it was a Rutan.
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I like aircraft with see through noses :thumbsup:
You'll like THIS (http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/breaking-news-engine-start-b-29-doc.html), then . . .
FIFTEEN YEARS in the building, now there's a dream!
:thumbsup:
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Indeed, Wombat, I think it's a DC-2. ;D
ETA: Gewgall confirms this.
DC-3s are wider (and only a Dakota if it was in UK military service - US military versions were C-47 Skytrains)
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Very unusual possibly one of a kind (http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/xp-82-twin-mustang-september-2015-restoration-update.html)
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I like how the props are lined up.
Yes, but where is the jar of marmite? :)
And are their valve caps the right colour?
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No photos sadly but mcshroom and I saw a little yellow plane fitted with keels land on and take off from the water at Low Breamish yesterday.
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Osprey flew low over York last night.
Man, those things are noisy!
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1549/24716211496_8911645cfc_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DE63zw)IMG_0888 (https://flic.kr/p/DE63zw) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1524/24742370285_d487252a4a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DGp7F8)IMG_0880 (https://flic.kr/p/DGp7F8) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1569/24624555922_46cde235f8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DvZhz1)IMG_0876 (https://flic.kr/p/DvZhz1) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/24446815860_288bb7f67d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DfhjDb)IMG_0873 (https://flic.kr/p/DfhjDb) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1524/24742370285_d487252a4a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DGp7F8)IMG_0880 (https://flic.kr/p/DGp7F8) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1644/24716202336_8ff2ff7533_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DE5ZRA)IMG_0887 (https://flic.kr/p/DE5ZRA) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1655/24114255454_e4ec9ff90d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CJTS25)IMG_0891 (https://flic.kr/p/CJTS25) by Seamas Mulholland (https://www.flickr.com/photos/139823389@N02/), on Flickr
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Is that a B47? Very nice pictures.
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The museum in Pooler? I must visit that sometime!
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Wish I'd known about that place when I was in those parts in 2013 chiz.
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Yes, B-47B Stratojet, built 1952, retired 1967. Was acquired by the museum in 1998 and restored for static display.
From their website, "The Museum is conveniently located off of I-95 at exit 102 Pooler, GA. Just 2 miles south of the Savannah International Airport exit and minutes away from the heart of downtown Savannah".
Apparently Savannah hosts the 2nd largest Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the US, so don't expect to get a hotel there in mid-March. :)
There isn't much more hardware on display inside but they do have a few good presentations and movies. I watched a "Mission Experience" show, 3 x 7 minute videos with the last one being mostly shot from aboard B17s on raids and gun camera footage from German and US fighters. They also have a lot of memorabilia in display cabinets, it would appear as the vets pass on their estate/relatives donate their medals, uniforms and souvenirs to the museum.
Interestingly while they have a wall inside decorated with details of Eighth Air Force Aces I saw no mention at all of Chuck Yeager, and he definitely served and became an ace with the Eighth. He has a reputation for pissing some people off though..
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Yes, B-47B Stratojet, built 1952, retired 1967.
Perhaps one of the many I watched from a house in Oxford in the 50s, on their way in to land at USAF Brize Norton.
Looks quite small compared to the B52!
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The office, over Greenland on the way to San Francisco at the weekend.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/TimC_1955/Virgin/5E93FF86-A9A5-448D-8557-8B7CABE331E0_zpsihmnxdrc.jpg)
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cool!
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Don't you get bored, just having to look out over clouds and stuff every day? ;)
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hullo clouds hullo sky sa fotherington-tomas who is uterly wet and a weed
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^^^ Have your meds worn off . . . ?
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Torslanda,
Umm, you probably already know, but just in case....
... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Molesworth#Major_characters
And if you do know I've got this really good book (in 3 volumes) on how to suck eggs that you might like to borrow. :)
ETA. TimC's got a much, much, _much_ better job than me. Not jealous at all. No. No at all.
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I had no idea, thick, uncultured Northerner that I am.
Does that book on how to suck eggs come in a digital edition?
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hullo clouds hullo sky sa fotherington-tomas who is uterly wet and a weed
First Officers do get pissed off with me saying that - and substituting their name for fotherington-thomas.
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Ray Bans or Oakleys? I guess with the office being so 'far above the clouds' either is pretty much mandatory. Just hadn't thought about it before.
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Specsavers prescription varifocal shades in my case!
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To be pedantic, and entirely because I'm jealous that the view from Tim's office is considerably better than mine which overlooks an abandoned US air force base completely bereft of aeroplanes capable of flight - although there are several interesting aeroplanes without engines in the museum. I don't see anything interesting or unusual about the aeroplane from which the photograph was taken.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Had my first sightings of an RAF Atlas A400M on the hardstanding at Gibraltar last week. A day or so later, said aircraft took off past my balcony ;D
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Had my first sightings of an RAF Atlas A400M on the hardstanding at Gibraltar last week. A day or so later, said aircraft took off past my balcony ;D
Have you any hearing left? I SAID.. Oh forget it :)
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Had my first sightings of an RAF Atlas A400M on the hardstanding at Gibraltar last week. A day or so later, said aircraft took off past my balcony ;D
Have you any hearing left? I SAID.. Oh forget it :)
;D
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I saw one of those being thrown around the sky in a surprisingly violent manner in practice for a Farnborough Airshow about 5 or 6 years back :o :o :o
I'm glad I wasn't a squaddie in the back.
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To be pedantic, and entirely because I'm jealous that the view from Tim's office is considerably better than mine which overlooks an abandoned US air force base completely bereft of aeroplanes capable of flight - although there are several interesting aeroplanes without engines in the museum. I don't see anything interesting or unusual about the aeroplane from which the photograph was taken.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Ah, sorry. Perhaps this will help. The A340-600 is a fairly rare beast, so it might count as unusual? This me landing the VS126P on runway 27R at Heathrow at 2105 last night:
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/TimC_1955/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-02/48CB88B6-F125-4CD1-A404-B36DF76BD855_zpsjajxmrzd.jpg)
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That is a cool photo.
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I'm sure most of those lights and switches are fakes, just to make it look complicated.
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I'm sure I can replicate that photo on MS flight Simulator which is the closest I get ;D *
Very cool and I think unusual might count.
* although Mrs Trekker is unlikely to allow me to convert the study into a full flight deck recreation
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I'm sure most of those lights and switches are fakes, just to make it look complicated.
Yep. Don't ask me what they do!
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I'm sure most of those lights and switches are fakes, just to make it look complicated.
Yep. Don't ask me what they do!
All you ever do is press 'autopilot on/off', right?
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Is there a button that allows you select chicken or beef?
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Is there a button that allows you select chicken or beef?
Yep, but it was taking the photo.
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I'm sure most of those lights and switches are fakes, just to make it look complicated.
Yep. Don't ask me what they do!
All you ever do is press 'autopilot on/off', right?
Go on, which button is that, then...?
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At a guess, the chicken dispenser....
I'll get my 'chute
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I believe it to be in the unit in the centre just beneath the windscreen where the pillar comes down. Set height, rate of climb/descent, mach number and to follow a GPS course, heading or track an ILS.
Easy really :thumbsup:
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I believe it to be in the unit in the centre just beneath the windscreen where the pillar comes down. Set height, rate of climb/descent, mach number and to follow a GPS course, heading or track an ILS.
Easy really :thumbsup:
Kind of. What you're describing is the FCU - Flight Control Unit - which determines the Flight Director/flight guidance modes. These modes can be followed either by the autopilot or by me, but they are not the autopilot itself. In this picture, the autopilot is disengaged (but Autothrust is engaged), the FD modes are APProach, Managed Speed, and Go Round Altitude armed. The speed, heading, and rate of climb/descent windows are all showing dashes, which means these items are being calculated, managed and displayed on the appropriate instruments by the flight guidance systems. However, at this stage I'm flying the aircraft visually using a traditional instrument scan familiar to any PPL pilot.
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On FB you said the it was a positioning flight so you have no freight on board and no punters in the back. Does the plane handle differently when empty?
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On FB you said the it was a positioning flight so you have no freight on board and no punters in the back. Does the plane handle differently when empty?
Somewhat. I was kind of hoping a spotter had filmed our take-off at JFK - we were 233 tonnes (vs a max take off weight of 368 tonnes) and had to use a full power take-off as windshear had been reported. With a headwind of 25-30kts, the initial take off body angle was around 25 degrees, and the climb angle more like 35. It must have looked spectacular! After the six-hour flight home, the landing weight was about 190t, whereas I'd normally expect to be landing at 220-240t. The -600 has a very big wing, so ground effect is considerable. I anticipated a very floaty landing, but actually it was fine. The Vref (landing speed) was 132kts, which is pretty slow for this aircraft.
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On FB you said the it was a positioning flight so you have no freight on board and no punters in the back. Does the plane handle differently when empty?
Barrel rolls, loops, stall turns - just like a jet fighter :)
Cool description Tim. I played with small aeroplanes in the air cadets and a few experience flights since (just about old enough to see off the last of the Chipmunks in RAF/ATC service) so the PPL description is understandable, imagining the weight difference and responsibility is quite scary.
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I'm sure I can replicate that photo on MS flight Simulator which is the closest I get ;D *
Very cool and I think unusual might count.
* although Mrs Trekker is unlikely to allow me to convert the study into a full flight deck recreation
Hmmm - let me have a play...
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On FB you said the it was a positioning flight so you have no freight on board and no punters in the back. Does the plane handle differently when empty?
Barrel rolls, loops, stall turns - just like a jet fighter :)
Cool description Tim. I played with small aeroplanes in the air cadets and a few experience flights since (just about old enough to see off the last of the Chipmunks in RAF/ATC service) so the PPL description is understandable, imagining the weight difference and responsibility is quite scary.
I spent 4 and a half years teaching on a UAS (on Bulldogs, 1987-91), and flew the Chippy from time to time on airtests, so I'm quite familiar with the PPL environment. It's really not that different!
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I'm sure most of those lights and switches are fakes, just to make it look complicated.
Yep. Don't ask me what they do!
All you ever do is press 'autopilot on/off', right?
Go on, which button is that, then...?
(https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/09ba250d/dms3rep/multi/desktop/dougle-700x200.png)
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I thought Heathrow only had two runways (if you exclude the A4). How do you end up with a runway number of 27R?
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I thought Heathrow only had two runways (if you exclude the A4). How do you end up with a runway number of 27R?
Off the top of my head, the runway naming is to do with the heading.
<flexes Google-Fu>
Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally the magnetic azimuth of the runway's heading in decadegrees. This heading differs from true north by the local magnetic declination. A runway numbered 09 points east (90°), runway 18 is south (180°), runway 27 points west (270°) and runway 36 points to the north (360° rather than 0°).[1] When taking off from or landing on runway 09, a plane would be heading 90° (east).
A runway can normally be used in both directions, and is named for each direction separately: e.g., "runway 33" in one direction is "runway 15" when used in the other. The two numbers usually differ by 18 (= 180°).
If there is more than one runway pointing in the same direction (parallel runways), each runway is identified by appending Left (L), Center (C) and Right (R) to the number to identify its position (when facing its direction) — for example, Runways One Five Left (15L), One Five Center (15C), and One Five Right (15R). Runway Zero Three Left (03L) becomes Runway Two One Right (21R) when used in the opposite direction (derived from adding 18 to the original number for the 180 degrees when approaching from the opposite direction). In some countries, if parallel runways are too close to each other, regulations mandate that only one runway may be used at a time under certain conditions (usually adverse weather).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runway#Naming
So LHR's two runways are 09L/27R and 09R/27L - in this instance, Tim was landing on the right-hand runway on a heading of 270 degrees (give or take) relative to Magnetic north.
See also:
When runway alternation was introduced, aircraft generated significantly more noise on departure than when landing, so a preference for westerly operations during daylight was introduced, which continues to this day.[16] In this mode, aircraft depart towards the west and approach from the east over London, thereby minimising the impact of noise on the most densely populated areas. Heathrow's two runways generally operate in segregated mode, whereby arriving aircraft are allocated to one runway and departing aircraft to the other. To further reduce noise nuisance to people beneath the approach and departure routes, the use of runways 27R and 27L is swapped at 15:00 each day if the wind is from the west. When landings are easterly there is no alternation; 09L remains the landing runway and 09R the departure runway due to the legacy of the now rescinded Cranford Agreement, pending taxiway works to allow the roles to be reversed. Occasionally, landings are allowed on the nominated departure runway, to help reduce airborne delays and to position landing aircraft closer to their terminal, reducing taxi times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Airport#Flight_movements
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Runways are identified by the first two numbers of their magnetic bearing. They are further subdivided, when parallel runways exist, by L (Left) C (Center) or R (Right). Where more than three parallel runways exist (yes, there are airfields with 4 or more parallel runways), then one group of runways will be identified as on number higher or lower. So Heathrow's runways are 27L and R, and 09L and R. It did used to have 23/05L&R and 34/12L&R as well, but someone decided it only needed two runways many years ago.
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Isn't it brilliant, having people on here, who know all about Stuff.
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Thank you for that. :thumbsup:
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It really is utterly cool, isn't it. Gorgeous photo Tim.
*checks in mirror*
Yep, green with envy.
I play with cool stuff at work too, but I'm not allowed to photograph it. And my office doesn't have any view at all. We also have fabulous lights though.
This is one of my toys.
http://pfyziollfup.upol.cz/castwiki2/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Obr-31-AQUARIUS.jpg
And our funky lights.
http://www.klsmartin.com/uploads/tx_templavoila/E9_E15_OP_04.jpg
A fairly typical view.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n18zxNGJdLE/hqdefault.jpg
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This is one of my toys.
http://pfyziollfup.upol.cz/castwiki2/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Obr-31-AQUARIUS.jpg
It appears to be taking the piss...
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A fairly typical view.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n18zxNGJdLE/hqdefault.jpg
I bet being a cyclist and always having spare cable ties comes in handy.
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And our funky lights.
http://www.klsmartin.com/uploads/tx_templavoila/E9_E15_OP_04.jpg
That's just a baking tray hanging from the ceiling!
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This is one of my toys.
http://pfyziollfup.upol.cz/castwiki2/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Obr-31-AQUARIUS.jpg
It appears to be taking the piss...
It certainly does ;)
And our funky lights.
http://www.klsmartin.com/uploads/tx_templavoila/E9_E15_OP_04.jpg
That's just a baking tray hanging from the ceiling!
Aw, I thought those were rather good! I couldn't find a pic of exactly the same ones.
A fairly typical view.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n18zxNGJdLE/hqdefault.jpg
I bet being a cyclist and always having spare cable ties comes in handy.
I dream of the day the lights fail and I can flourish my Hope Vision 1.
Apparently, this was a real thing at York hospital but they finished their operation by the light of their i-Phones.
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It really is utterly cool, isn't it. Gorgeous photo Tim.
*checks in mirror*
Yep, green with envy.
I play with cool stuff at work too, but I'm not allowed to photograph it. And my office doesn't have any view at all. We also have fabulous lights though.
This is one of my toys.
http://pfyziollfup.upol.cz/castwiki2/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Obr-31-AQUARIUS.jpg
And our funky lights.
http://www.klsmartin.com/uploads/tx_templavoila/E9_E15_OP_04.jpg
A fairly typical view.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n18zxNGJdLE/hqdefault.jpg
Lovin' the robot look - and the disco lights. Must look at getting some of those in the aeroplane. Though we do have something like Star Trek's tricorder - a defibrillator and vital signs recorder connected by satcom to our medical people. That is a seriously cool bit of kit!
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Are you allowed to have people in the cockpit or did all that stop now?
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Well, they allow me in there. And the FO. And those cabin crew that come bearing comestible gifts. But no one else, Ruthie, sadly. The door is bulletproof, can only be opened from the inside, and is a pain in the proverbial!
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They had to do something to keep the hordes of female admirers from getting to you!
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They had to do something to keep the hordes of female admirers from getting to you!
I wish!
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I thought it was hordes of 8-year old boys going "What happens if I pull this lever?" Tug! "Oooh look, the whole cockpit's full of flashing red lights and sirens!" Of course, you'd keep them well away from the really important items like the in-flight snack dispenser.
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I thought it was hordes of 8-year old boys going "What happens if I pull this lever?" Tug! "Oooh look, the whole cockpit's full of flashing red lights and sirens!" Of course, you'd keep them well away from the really important items like the in-flight snack dispenser.
As a 9 year old Mr Larrington I got to visit the cockpit of both a VC-10 and a 747. As a 49 year old Mr Larrington I was chatting to one of the drivers just outside the little room at the front where the pilots sit when he was called back in, presumably to de-gunk the chicken soup dispenser. Would I mind retreating to the other side of the curtain1 while the cockpit door was open, he asked politely?
1: For the first, and probably only, time in my life I'd been upgraded to business class.
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I thought it was hordes of 8-year old boys going "What happens if I pull this lever?" Tug! "Oooh look, the whole cockpit's full of flashing red lights and sirens!" Of course, you'd keep them well away from the really important items like the in-flight snack dispenser.
As a 9 year old Mr Larrington I got to visit the cockpit of both a VC-10 ...
Me too! Between the ages of 4 and 8.5 years old we lived in Ghana so used to fly back to UK annually. I was a member of the BOAC kids club thingy. You got a badge and a log book which the captain signed for you. If you'd been a good boy you sometimes got the visit the cockpit but I'm sure we were sternly told "Don't touch anything!"
Duxford IWM has a BOAC VC-10 which I enjoyed looking round a few years back. Compared with modern airliners they are very small!
We also used to fly with Ghana Airways and British Caledonian.
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I thought it was hordes of 8-year old boys going "What happens if I pull this lever?" Tug! "Oooh look, the whole cockpit's full of flashing red lights and sirens!"
There has been at least one airliner crash in Russia where something like that has happened.
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Something similar was cited as the infamous Tu-144 crash at the Paris airshow in the 70s. A photographer (IIRC named Benderov) supposedly dropped his camera which stuck behing the control column and the pilots could not raise the nose.
The whole thing was debunked in the 90s (Ithink) in a Channel 4 documentary. The Captain took violent evasive action because he met a Mirage and overstressed the airframe. They clearly showed the aircraft broke up in midair. The French denied everything including the film footage but then they've got form for that...
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Friend has just returned from Oz.
On her outward flight she was bumped up to business between Beijing and Melbourbe.
Invited onto the flight deck.
I haz the envies.
She is youthful. And good looking.
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Something similar was cited as the infamous Tu-144 crash at the Paris airshow in the 70s. A photographer (IIRC named Benderov) supposedly dropped his camera which stuck behing the control column and the pilots could not raise the nose.
The whole thing was debunked in the 90s (Ithink) in a Channel 4 documentary. The Captain took violent evasive action because he met a Mirage and overstressed the airframe. They clearly showed the aircraft broke up in midair. The French denied everything including the film footage but then they've got form for that...
about 30 minutes in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMlvXVJds4c
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Friend has just returned from Oz.
On her outward flight she was bumped up to business between Beijing and Melbourbe.
Invited onto the flight deck.
I haz the envies.
She is youthful. And good looking.
I hate her for three reasons.
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Friend has just returned from Oz.
On her outward flight she was bumped up to business between Beijing and Melbourbe.
Invited onto the flight deck.
I haz the envies.
She is youthful. And good looking.
I hate her for three reasons.
Heh!
Don't.
Trust me.
She is lovely.
ETA - envious regardless.
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(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/12088111_10153651814203399_6262656704502266576_n.jpg?oh=b29ea7f07ac5ae4639d97544fa3e694a&oe=578EAACB)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12109124_10153651814563399_5201997066946123199_n.jpg?oh=e9d9086650a15a5f035ee6e31352223a&oe=57924EF2)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12122566_10153651815088399_718714714659407793_n.jpg?oh=64f5c4930ba4c96f69d96b467f9c9b2b&oe=57856624)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12122407_10153651815333399_8302277812813352989_n.jpg?oh=68b03162af4903fe997504e00f4bbf21&oe=57558C2F)
Very interesting Aviation Museum stumbled across in Italy.
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1641/26348392660_54e6120722_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/G9jpb5)
IMG_6532_01 (https://flic.kr/p/G9jpb5) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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Vampire in someone's garden
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/richsafham/yacf/IMG_20160522_162103304_HDR_zpskqzwnepg.jpg)
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Needs a lot of garlic!
Beautiful, though. I have an irrational soft spot for twin boom aircraft.
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I had my first spotting of an Osprey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey) in the wild on Tuesday evening.
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Vampire in someone's garden
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/richsafham/yacf/IMG_20160522_162103304_HDR_zpskqzwnepg.jpg)
Venom, I believe.
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Vampire in someone's garden
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/richsafham/yacf/IMG_20160522_162103304_HDR_zpskqzwnepg.jpg)
Venom, I believe.
It's certainly not the Vampire T.11 that the serial on the tail boom makes it out to be.
If you enlarge the picture, you'll see that the registration on the tail boom looks very much like "XD459" According to http://www.ukserials.com/, that serial was given to a Vampire T.11, which was sold off in 1972 and passed around a few places, before fetching up at the East Midlands Aeropark.
http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/locations.php?location=3920
It was certainly missing the rear fuselage, wings and booms by the time it had fetched up at Long Marston, as this photo taken in 1990 shows:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanwz581/6240262817
The following link is interesting, because it has a picture of XD459 when it was in service with 3/4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Unit at Exeter Airport. Note the different number under the cockpit.
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?87817-Looking-Info-Or-Photos-On-XD459-(vampire-t11)
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I was going by the shape of the nose and the cockpit glazing, despite the lack of tip-tanks (not always on venoms) as well as the nose wheel position, but then looking at T11s...
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(http://i.imgur.com/vhkNNgu.jpg)
A-10 Thunderbolt (or Warthog) returned to it's former base at Bentwaters this week by low loader not air unfortunately
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I love the Warthog, especially when it is letting loose with the nose mounted fire breathing dragon.
I also love its neighbor, the F4 Phantom. Saw one doing an endo down the runway at Gibraltar once. I was in the border sangar just short of Eastern Beach when it came in from the Med and got it a bit hairy on landing.
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A fairly ordinary civilian-type helichopter is not unusual but it, or rather its crew, appeared to be taking a deep and abiding interest in a high-tension power line next to the M25 near Potters Bar this afternoon.
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A fairly ordinary civilian-type helichopter is not unusual but it, or rather its crew, appeared to be taking a deep and abiding interest in a high-tension power line next to the M25 near Potters Bar this afternoon.
Your most recent posts suggest that you have been esconced on the M25 for the best part of this day.
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Two and three-quarter hours from Larrington Towers to Fort Larrington in Woking. Normal Friday is about an hour forty chiz.
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The glum content of those two and three quarter hours must've been high.
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A fairly ordinary civilian-type helichopter is not unusual but it, or rather its crew, appeared to be taking a deep and abiding interest in a high-tension power line next to the M25 near Potters Bar this afternoon.
Wichita Lineman, innit, but in Potters Bar, obvs.
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Did the Wichita Lineman of song and legend have a helichopter, then? I'd always thought he'd have had a pickup truck.
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Something tentatively identified as a Pilatus PC-12 flow low over Fort Larrington at lunchtime. Single prop, long nose, tricycle undercarriage, T-tail, not noisy enough to have pistons.
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There are often helichopters fly (mostly in pairs) past my work (perhaps over the Thames, but it looks closer than that). Usually Chinooks or some other transport-y type whirlybird, but last week, we had a couple of treats. First there were two fighty-looking planes (Apache, or the like), and, later in the week, a pair of Ospreys. Not a breeding pair, I don't think, because these were V-22 Ospreys. I've only ever seen them in the vicinity of Mildenhall before.
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The other evening we had thick overcast, through which I could hear what sounded like heavy transport aircraft high above it, for about half an hour. It reminded me of the time in January 1991 when the first Gulf War transports passed over on their way from Ramstein to Iraq. Back then it went on for hours. I don't know if Ramstein & C° are still functioning, but the other evening sounded like it.
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(http://i.imgur.com/vhkNNgu.jpg)
A-10 Thunderbolt (or Warthog) returned to it's former base at Bentwaters this week by low loader not air unfortunately
Looks like it's been zapped by the RAF - that's a 56 Sqn phoenix on the nose isn't it?
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That I don't know. I've not got into the museum compound where it's currently parked - this was taken through the wire fence. I'm here on weekdays and the museum is only open to the public at weekends. I understand it's been out of public view at RAF Alconbury - an American station for many years. Squadron badges and locations are not something I know much about.
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(http://i.imgur.com/vhkNNgu.jpg)
A-10 Thunderbolt (or Warthog) returned to it's former base at Bentwaters this week by low loader not air unfortunately
Looks like it's been zapped by the RAF - that's a 56 Sqn phoenix on the nose isn't it?
I don't think so:
For a comparison, here's a link to an image of the RAF 56 Sqn crest: http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/7CF21BCF_A7FF_ABBC_F06C50ACE6E1A730.jpg
Having flexed my Google-Fu, it would appear not to be a squadron marking, but it is nose art applied for the Desert Storm campaign.
http://www.bubbamoose.com/A-10_Nose_Art.html
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AWAC over Lechlade (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/27386039291/in/dateposted-public/)
AWAC hiding behind a chain link fence at B-N (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/26848522854/in/dateposted-public/)
And in other news; there is at least one B-52 back at Fairford as of Thursday. However everybody here knows what a B-52 looks* like and they're hardly unusual; at least not hereabouts. Terrifying? Yes. Unusual? Not so much.
*Sits back and waits for Mr. Larrington to post a picture of a certain popular(?) beat combo from a (distressingly large) number of years back.
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(http://nme.assets.ipccdn.co.uk/images/2015Motorhead_Bomber_Press_150915.jpg)
["You're fired!" - Ed.]
We aim to please ;D
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(http://nme.assets.ipccdn.co.uk/images/2015Motorhead_Bomber_Press_150915.jpg)
["You're fired!" - Ed.]
We aim to please ;D
Was that the name of the band or the lighting rig :o
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That, as any fule kno, is Motörhead's lighting rig which made its debut on the 1979 tour to promote the album "Bomber". It is possible that I'm in the audience.
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Pleads ignorance due to being born in '81 :-[
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...snippity...
And in other news; there is at least one B-52 back at Fairford as of Thursday.
...hacketty
Ahem. There are two. Seen at about quarter to five o'clock this afternoon. Now one isn't unusual, but two in "formation"? Yeah, that is.
Pair 01 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/27510815916/in/dateposted-public/)
Pair 02 (poor focus) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/27510818576/in/dateposted-public/)
Lead aeroplane (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/27446638512/in/dateposted-public/)
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Vampire in someone's garden
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad8/richsafham/yacf/IMG_20160522_162103304_HDR_zpskqzwnepg.jpg)
Venom, I believe.
No, it is indeed a Vampire T11. The markings are from 5FTS at RAF Oakington, around 1960. I don't know this particular aircraft, but there are plenty around.
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Spotted 47's jazzed up Herc today as part of a stream of low flying westbound stuff (Tornadoes, Typhoons and other bric-a-brac) at about 1pm. Assume they were heading back to Brize for tea and buns after attending Brenda's bash in That Nodnol.
Unusual markings thread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=97657.msg2031978#msg2031978)
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Flew directly over our house on the way in
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Chinook over Scarborough
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0162.jpg)
followed shortly thereafter by a Spitfire dogfighting a seagull ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0233.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0353.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0202.jpg)
and a Hurricane came along
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0574.jpg)
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Chinook over Scarborough
............
Cool!
For which occasion?
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V. cool!
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It's what Farrago dreams about:
[...]
followed shortly thereafter by a Spitfire dogfighting a seagull ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0233.jpg)
EEEEEOOOOWWWWW dakka-dakka-dakka! Take that, feathery immigrant scum!
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This was armed forces day last weekend , they always have something come and display.
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This was armed forces day last weekend , they always have something come and display.
That's interesting. Was the seagull some sort of covert attack aircraft? I suppose they are cheaper than drones.
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Chinook over Scarborough
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_0162.jpg)
That looks to be almost IN Scarborough :D
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You should try working in Gosport* - Chinooks seem to be more frequent than the No11 bus.... if they're not flying directly overhead while I'm trying to make a phone call, they're coming down the A32 on a low loader to be mended 'cos they've broken down again (or been shot at by nasty furriners).
* No, not really.
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Is that a third one for the list? You should try everything once except incest, morris dancing and working in Gosport.
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Is that a third one for the list? You should try everything once except incest, morris dancing and working in going anywhere near Gosport.
Fixed, no charge.
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Very, _very_ brief glimpse* of an F35 on final approach to Fairford last night. Tried to get a video clip, but all I've got is grey cloud, drizzle and engine noise. Hells bells, but they're noisy.
*Not much more than a silhouette before the low cloud hid it again.
They've flown in 3 for RIAT. One of ours and two USAF.
ETA.
FWIW they've got an easily recognised profile. The one I saw was visible for no more than 2 or 3 seconds, but it was obvious what it was.
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Very, _very_ brief glimpse* of an F35 on final approach to Fairford last night. Tried to get a video clip, but all I've got is grey cloud, drizzle and engine noise. Hells bells, but they're noisy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#Acoustic
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"...and up to four times as loud during landing..."
On the basis of last night 4x is understated. Best comparison I can make for volume is with low-flying VC10. An aircraft carrier 10 miles offshore is the best bloody place for them. Oh, hang on a minute....
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Seen from the back garden too many to mention.
Bearcat
Mustang
Catalina
Kittyhawke
Spitfire
Flying Fortress
Corsair
Comet (the gorgeous red 1930s one)
Sopwith Triplane
SE5A
Boeing 727*
Loadsa noisy things including the thing in the post above.
*painted with a bright red nose and called oil spill response!
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Boeing 727*
*painted with a bright red nose and called oil spill response!
This one in fact.
http://www.oilspillresponse.com/news--media/news/osrl-boeing-727/
Sprays dispersant over an oil slick to break up the oil droplets and reduce impact on wildlife. Carries 15,000 litres of dispersant which is dropped from 150 feet.
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A former Flight Engineer mate of mine from C130 days is something to do with that project, and was at Farnborough showing people round the aircraft last week.
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Boeing 727*
*painted with a bright red nose and called oil spill response!
This one in fact.
http://www.oilspillresponse.com/news--media/news/osrl-boeing-727/
Sprays dispersant over an oil slick to break up the oil droplets and reduce impact on wildlife. Carries 15,000 litres of dispersant which is dropped from 150 feet.
You can't fool us. That's a picture of one of those chemtrail aircraft.
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As well as the usual jet trainers, over Leeming, I saw an Osprey.
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I spotted it before you!
Because it flew over York heading in your way, natch.
MrsC and teh granddaughter mummy had never seen one before. They were somewhat bemused.
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Did anyone else see the B-29 returned to flight last weekend? 'Doc' was rescued from China Lake bomb range in the late 80s, recovered to Wichita and restored by experts & volunteers. Some of whom were ex-Boeing workers who had worked on the line in the 40s.
Search youtube for 'B29 Doc'
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Overflying Ciren midday(ish) yesterday. Three F35s, sorry that should be two F35s and a Lightning, in company with a tanker, preceded some 2 minutes before by another tanker. Heading west. The tankers weren't A-330s. Appeared to be three engine jobs. No idea what and goggle doesn't turn up any USAF or RAF tankers based on obvious candidates such as the Boeing 727.
*An grumble*
Anbaric Iconographs! Please to be a bloody sight quicker switching on as I am getting narked at the number of times I've been unable to capture an image of ætherochariots on passage.
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There used to be a company in Cambridge that converted DC10s and/or Tristars into refueling tankers. That was back in the 80s though so I've no idea if they're still in service with anyone.
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sorry that should be two F35s and a Lightning, in company with a tanker, preceded some 2 minutes before by another tanker. Heading west. The tankers weren't A-330s. Appeared to be three engine jobs.
They came over Hereford/Worcester border. I did not notice the Lightning, just saw 3 escorts. I'd say the tankers were Tristars which, as PeteB99 says were 1980s conversions by Marshall's of Cambridge.
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The USAF runs a large fleet of KC10 Extenders - new-build military DC10-30s, converted for freight and tanking use. The F35 uses the boom refuelling method, not supported by the Voyager just now.
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There used to be a company in Cambridge that converted DC10s and/or Tristars into refueling tankers. That was back in the 80s though so I've no idea if they're still in service with anyone.
That would be Marshalls. They also stretched some of the Hercules fleet - except for the first one that Lockheed did and my father brought back.
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sorry that should be two F35s and a Lightning, in company with a tanker, preceded some 2 minutes before by another tanker. Heading west. The tankers weren't A-330s. Appeared to be three engine jobs.
They came over Hereford/Worcester border. I did not notice the Lightning, just saw 3 escorts. I'd say the tankers were Tristars which, as PeteB99 says were 1980s conversions by Marshall's of Cambridge.
Almost certainly not. The RAF Tristars have all been grounded awaiting scrapping, though one is potentially airworthy at Bruntingthorpe along with two others. There was a mooted sale to a US operator, but it fell through. I'm pretty sure that, although they offered it, there were no Tristar tanker conversions done by Marshalls beyond the 6 ex-BA aircraft (the ex PanAm aircraft were never converted).
Although I said the F35 is boom-refuelled, the international export versions have the option of hose-and-drogue refuelling (also used by the USN), so the Voyager is being certified for refuelling the F35 right now. But the US aircraft will almost certainly be supported by KC10s (which are, of course, 3-engined). The RNethAF has also been helping the RAF conduct refuelling trials with a KDC10.
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Just goggled KC10. That's what I saw; 2 of em. It would make sense as the F35s came over the ditch with tankers and I expect the RAF F35 (Lightning) hasn't been converted (yet) for hose refuelling.
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Big silver bird takes flight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSRkOd2OPCY)
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... Three F35s, sorry that should be two F35s and a Lightning,
All F-35s are called Lightning, not just the RAF ones.
ETA Strictly speaking, it's "Lightning II" after the WW2-vintage, P-38 Lightning. Of course, it's a happy coincidence that the RAF was operating the EE Lightning during the Cold War. ;)
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Just goggled KC10. That's what I saw; 2 of em. It would make sense as the F35s came over the ditch with tankers and I expect the RAF F35 (Lightning) hasn't been converted (yet) for hose refuelling.
My earlier statement that they were boom only was wrong, at least for the F35B - the variant the RAF has ordered. This STOVL variant will also be operated by the US Marine Corps, and the F35C catapult-launched variant will be operated by the US Navy. Both of these organisation use the hose and drogue system, but the aircraft are also compatible with the boom system. The F35A conventional take-off and landing variant will be operated by the USAF, and they only use the boom system. The visit to the UK by the F35 comprised three USAF F35As and the single RAF F35B, and thus only boom-equipped tankers could be used.
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Heads up. The Russkies are coming. "Open Skies" flights from / arriving at Brize some time in the next day or two. Expect Antonovs.
Old article, but explains what's going on.
https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2015/05/20/open-skies-planned-aircraft-flights-in-uk-airspace/
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A Spitfire fit over the site of the Essex Scout jamboree yesterday. It pulled up into a barrel roll just after passing the perimeter.
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Low level pass heading Kemble lunchtime (ish). Another Herc with a painted fin.
ZH883 - Hercules C5 (http://www.macksaviation.com/2016/BZN_Specials/50years_03.png)
More info - bottom of page (http://www.macksaviation.com/news.php?show=news2016_3)
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Forgot until now (reading the XH558 thread reminded me!) on Saturday afternoon, coming up the M11 passing North Weald (?) - anyways a bit South of Stanstead - what appeared to be two Vampires heading North East before breaking right, over the motorway and coming in to land. I didn't know there were any in private hands . . .
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I had an idea that there were several based at Hurn (Bournemouth). I may be talking utter bollocks, or be out of date, but I'm convinced I heard that somewhere plausible.
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I had an idea that there were several based at Hurn (Bournemouth). I may be talking utter bollocks, or be out of date, but I'm convinced I heard that somewhere plausible.
http://www.aviationmuseumguide.co.uk/news-june-2010/news_bmouth-vampire.php
http://www.vampirepreservation.org.uk/ownership.htm
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Out on a DIY 200k today, I saw this bimbling about south of Cranfield:
Airlander 10: Longest aircraft damaged during flight (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-37174417)
Later, chilling out in the back garden, a pair of what looked suspiciously like Gloucester Meteors flew over, east-to-west, low and in close formation. One all black, one grey with orange wing tips and tail.
Saw them later, returning at higher altitude and further south but the same rorty noise :thumbsup:
Are these things still airworthy? Tell me it wasn't an hallucination.
Martin-Baker, bangseat manufacturers of note, operate two of the four airworthy Meteors in the UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Gloster_Meteors#United_Kingdom), out of Chalgrove Airfield in Oxfordshire. One is all-black, the other is natural metal with day-glo orange bits. It's a good bet that they were what you saw.
Google image search (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gloster+meteor+%2B+martin-baker&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=909&tbm=isch&imgil=PdeaaZwi1YHvHM%253A%253BZFwKdRO8kYztGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.flyingart.co.uk%25252FSHOP%25252Fcontents%25252Fen-uk%25252Fd151.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=PdeaaZwi1YHvHM%253A%252CZFwKdRO8kYztGM%252C_&usg=__f65yvE7ZoOZ8wmvBCTD-ZAAr58s%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjO__3W6NrOAhWJAcAKHV_LA2cQyjcIMA&ei=qvm9V86CNYmDgAbflo-4Bg#imgrc=_)
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_1365.jpg)
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Passing Hawarden airfield by train, what looked like two Su 17 or similar.
ETA: SU 17 and SU22.
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Saw a couple of Ospreys flying over Derwent water a couple of weeks ago. Noisy things.
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Passing Hawarden airfield by train, what looked like two Su 17 or similar.
ETA: SU 17 and SU22.
There is/was a plane scrapping business at Hawarden. Cycle round on the back road from Saltney ferry and you would often see some interesting stuff when someone was selling off surplus bits of its airforce.
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I happned to drive past Biggin Hill Aerodrome earlier. Heard a ddistinctive noise, and looked across to see a Spitfire taxiing! :o Unfortunately, it wasn't convenient to stop :(
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A brace of Battle of Britain beauty just now, Spitfire with Hurricane flying wing man just did a couple of passes over the school and White Waltham before the Hurricane made a landing approach.
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B1 over Cirencester mid-morning.
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A spitfire over Warwick yesterday afternoon .beautiful :thumbsup:
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Recently my Spitfire spotting has got almost boring, 'cos they've been filming for the film "Dunkirk" near us (using a 1944 Griffon engined Spitfire :facepalm: :facepalm:)
However I was leaving the office last week, and just starting to cross the road and heard a Merlin, looked up ad I'm sure it was a Hurricane, which then proceeded to do a victory roll, and carried on. I nearly collided with the central refuge of the crossing, as I was looking up, not forward...
I just wish the bloody Chinooks were a bit more unusual, I hate the bloody racket they make, like a Harley Davidson in the sky. Apart from the extensive MOD usage of them around us, the servicing place is just up the road a bit.
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I took for granted the Spitfire based on the airfield behind the office window (we are on an old USAF base in Suffolk) and failed entirely to take any close up pictures (well apart from the day I sat in it but that's another story and before I worked here). The NIMBYs finally managed to upset their operations so much they have now moved on to another airfield half way across the country.
Enjoy it whilst you can. Dunkirk filming won't last for ever.
We still get chinooks practicing on the army base behind though :)
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Chinooks ...a Harley Davidson in the sky.
;D ;D ;D Priceless! We get them chugging past my work on a regular basis.
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Chinooks ...a Harley Davidson in the sky.
;D ;D ;D Priceless! We get them chugging past my work on a regular basis.
Following the Thames so they don't get lost? (Assuming they're the same ones I used to see.)
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Chinooks ...a Harley Davidson in the sky.
The difference being that a Chinook is actually faster, more manoeuvrable and runs more smoothly than a Harley :demon:
A more apt wobblycopter/bike comparison can be made between the USMC's Sea Knights or Sea Stallions and vintage British motorcycles - the copious fluid leaks are a good thing because you know there's still oil or hydraulic fluid in the system. The time to worry is when the leak stops!
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[imghttps://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13962678_10154456813336584_7072299588724600466_n.jpg?oh=26532812e0a0f35226e95be8ce57558f&oe=584776FB][/img]
A Yak, not sure what model.
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Front end of an A-7 Corsair has just gone past on a low-loader.
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[imghttps://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13962678_10154456813336584_7072299588724600466_n.jpg?oh=26532812e0a0f35226e95be8ce57558f&oe=584776FB]http://[/img]
A Yak, not sure what model.
(https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13962678_10154456813336584_7072299588724600466_n.jpg?oh=26532812e0a0f35226e95be8ce57558f&oe=584776FB)
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Chinooks ...a Harley Davidson in the sky.
The difference being that a Chinook is actually faster, more manoeuvrable and runs more smoothly than a Harley :demon:
Quieter and better looking too.
While I'm here... 09:30 - 10:00 y'day. One (1) B52 and two (2) B1s taking off from Fairford. Managed to get a few seconds footage of a B1, but it is too indistinct to be worth posting. Just a grey blur and _lots_ of engine noise.
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I heard a B52 coming in to land early morning either today or yesterday.
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Chinooks ...a Harley Davidson in the sky.
;D ;D ;D Priceless! We get them chugging past my work on a regular basis.
Following the Thames so they don't get lost? (Assuming they're the same ones I used to see.)
My bold
Not too far from the truth, as it happens.
They're also are quite noisy (everything in the Portakabin-on-stilts that is my office vibrates in a not-too-unpleasant way) when they're up and down the Lee Valley.
Serves to remind me of 'Nam
Not really
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[ReducedShakespeareCompany]
Vietnam?
No, Tottenham.
[/ReducedShakespeareCompany]
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Last Sunday afternoon, whilst seated (and sweating my cloons off) in Sports Authority Fielad at Mile High Stadium, awaiting Denver Broncos starting their thang, the stadium was buzzed by a brace of F16's :thumbsup:
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Some variety of elderly executive jet, shorn of wings and tailplane, sitting on a low-loader in a lay-by where the northbound A3 meets the M25,
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5801/30075828440_6c59afee9c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MPGtYd)
DSC_0942.NEF (https://flic.kr/p/MPGtYd) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
Viewed from Heathrow, T2.
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Been rather forlornly sat there for many years now. Was originally supposed to be placed outside T5; dunno what happened to that plan. Now we get to sit next door to it whenever we're waiting to take off from 27L. It always prompts the comment from junior FOs, 'I didn't realise Concorde was so small!'.
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When we lived north of Paris we were right under the flightpath of Concorde, in and out of Roissy, ~30k away. The roar as she went over was very distinctive, much deeper and louder than the 747s and other hoi polloi. We never tired of it.
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I have idly wondered what a Concorde based on the same design but using 21st century composite materials and modern avionics would be like. It was designed back in the 60s after all. They could shave a load of weight off and engine technology must be a lot more efficient by now.
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There are a couple of candidates, but the issue of a sonic boom overland is still contentious. The designs being considered have a much-reduced shockwave, but it can't be eliminated. Politicians killed Concorde as a commercial prospect by refusing to accept supersonic transits over their territory; there's no evidence that a new supersonic transport would get an easier ride. That leaves oceanic travel as the only real prospect, and the market size for such an aeroplane is likely to be very small. Since the 1960s, airliners have actually got slower in the pursuit of economy - the VC10s, 707s and Convair 880s of the 60s would cruise at about Mach .88. The 747 of the 70's and 80s at M.86. The current 787 and A380 at M.85, and most other Boeings and Airbuses at between M.80 and .84. Yet passengers don't seem to care very much that it takes 10 minutes longer to get to New York, or 25 minutes more to LA.
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Odd you say that, because it is my impression that it is quicker (overall) to fly to Australia (well, Perth) now than it used to be.
I have the gut feeling that is due to reduced numbers of refueling stops. Route I've used now is UK to Dubai, Dubai to Perth.
Previously it would be UK to somewhere, somewhere to Singapore/KL/Hong-Kong, then to Perth.
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Well, yes. Each stop adds between 2 and 5 hours to the journey! The flight time is around 22 hours whichever way you go. In a VC10 in 1970, you may have stopped at Damascus, Bahrain, Dubai, Columbo, Singapore and Brisbane en-route to Sydney (the route varied depending on the day of flight). Or, going Westbound, via Winnipeg, LA, Honolulu, Fiji then Sydney. The total time en-route would have been between 30 and 40 hours compared to around 24-26 today. Flying a little bit faster doesn't help if you stop so many times. Similar on a bike...
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I suspect that is part of Tim's point. IIRC Aircraft use more fuel whilst mucking around getting up to altitude and down again whilst waiting for landing slots etc than up high at cruising altitude. To simply fly a bit slower once up there uses less fuel so you can get further. It would have seemed unimaginable to pilot and aircraft designer 30 years ago that non-stop from Dubai to Australia was going o be a regular thing but improved fuel efficiency and flying a bit slower makes the whole journey more efficient.
ETA, Tim beat me to it!!
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
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Odd you say that, because it is my impression that it is quicker (overall) to fly to Australia (well, Perth) now than it used to be.
I have the gut feeling that is due to reduced numbers of refueling stops. Route I've used now is UK to Dubai, Dubai to Perth.
Previously it would be UK to somewhere, somewhere to Singapore/KL/Hong-Kong, then to Perth.
I'd assume it was the length of time the overall experience takes that impinges on the mind, rather than the actual flight time. Not sure if airport processing times have improved over the years (surely not?) but maybe its the whole "getting from home to the airport" but that has speeded up a bit. As TimC says, I don't think anyone cares about an extra 10 mins flight time, its not noticeable in the time the whole thing takes. As for folk not wanting sonic booms, bloody spoilsports! They send a shiver down my spine, I absolutely love them! I'm old enough to remember Farnborough from the early 60's onwards, and sonic booms, particularly approaching the time for the air show, were not that rare.
I think the last one I heard was a Concorde in mid English channel, we were sailing, and it was noticeable that was a b-boom, rather than just a straightforward boom. Yacht captain and air accident investigator, and ex-Concorde project development engineer (uncle Peter) just said "Concorde", and carried on with his navigation calcs.
Best one ever, Thrust SSC. The mere thought of a sonic boom on land take some getting yer head round. I love watching the recordings of it.
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
It wasn't all that long ago that they were trumpeting that the 747 could do Heathrow to Tokyo non-stop. (I say 'not all that long ago', unless of course time is telescoping faster than I believed possible when I was nobbut a lad.)
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I think the last one I heard was a Concorde in mid English channel, we were sailing, and it was noticeable that was a b-boom, rather than just a straightforward boom. Yacht captain and air accident investigator, and ex-Concorde project development engineer (uncle Peter) just said "Concorde", and carried on with his navigation calcs.
Isn't that because there's a boom off both the nose and the tail ?
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There's a lovely episode in Pete Goss's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Goss) autobiography where he explains how, on his first trans-Atlantic yacht race to New York (a two-hander in a slightly battered Royal Marines yacht), when they lost all electrics, they navigated by following Concorde's boom every day.
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
I don't think anyone operated the SP between Europe and Australia. There were on 40-odd of them, and most went to PanAm and a few ME operators. The range wasn't as long as Boeing would have you believe, but it was quicker than the regular 747-100 on which it was based. There was one - and one only - non-stop 747-400 flight from London to Sydney in 1989 (20hrs 09 mins). However, the aircraft wasn't in service trim and was towed to the runway before starting its engines. The exercise was never repeated!
It's conceivable that versions of the A350 or Boeing777X could make the flight commercially realisable, but the market for direct flights on that route is probably not large enough to support a special version of either plane on its own.
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I've only heard a sonic boom once, and it was effing loud. Teeth-fillings rattling loud.
When the RAF sent a couple of planes up to intercept that french airliner that had stopped responding to the radio. I know they were hustling and there were two of them, but blimey it was loud.
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
It wasn't all that long ago that they were trumpeting that the 747 could do Heathrow to Tokyo non-stop. (I say 'not all that long ago', unless of course time is telescoping faster than I believed possible when I was nobbut a lad.)
The 747SP was designed primarily for the New York - Tokyo route (6700 miles), which is a good 800 miles further than London - Tokyo. The 747-200 I flew struggled with the return from Tokyo (into wind) and we had a scheduled stop in Moscow to make it workable. The A340-300 which replaced it had a much longer range.
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I've only heard a sonic boom once, and it was effing loud. Teeth-fillings rattling loud.
When the RAF sent a couple of planes up to intercept that french airliner that had stopped responding to the radio. I know they were hustling and there were two of them, but blimey it was loud.
At close range, a sonic boom will shatter windows, remove roof tiles, and generally be a bloody pain in the arse. From 60,000ft plus it's an annoyance, no worse.
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
It wasn't all that long ago that they were trumpeting that the 747 could do Heathrow to Tokyo non-stop. (I say 'not all that long ago', unless of course time is telescoping faster than I believed possible when I was nobbut a lad.)
The 747SP was designed primarily for the New York - Tokyo route (6700 miles), which is a good 800 miles further than London - Tokyo. The 747-200 I flew struggled with the return from Tokyo (into wind) and we had a scheduled stop in Moscow to make it workable. The A340-300 which replaced it had a much longer range.
A S. African bloke once told me that the SP had saved S. Africa's aerial ties with the rest of the world back when no African countries would let them overfly or make refuelling stops.
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I've only heard a sonic boom once, and it was effing loud. Teeth-fillings rattling loud.
When the RAF sent a couple of planes up to intercept that french airliner that had stopped responding to the radio. I know they were hustling and there were two of them, but blimey it was loud.
I was on a RFA ship one time on the flying bridge during a NATO exercise in the Channel. Something went over us at about 100' at somewhere over M1, and I can concur as to how loud it is.
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Well, yes. Each stop adds between 2 and 5 hours to the journey! The flight time is around 22 hours whichever way you go. In a VC10 in 1970, you may have stopped at Damascus, Bahrain, Dubai, Columbo, Singapore and Brisbane en-route to Sydney (the route varied depending on the day of flight). Or, going Westbound, via Winnipeg, LA, Honolulu, Fiji then Sydney. The total time en-route would have been between 30 and 40 hours compared to around 24-26 today. Flying a little bit faster doesn't help if you stop so many times. Similar on a bike...
When I was a small Mr Larrington in the early 1970s the VC10s I found myself on would typically stop at Rome, Tehran, Delhi and Rangoon on the way to Hong Kong, before going on to Oz. The 747s generally just did Bahrain and Bangkok. There were many variations though, including Doha, Tel Aviv, Bombay and probably a Several of others I've forgotten.
Professor Larrington has recently gone to Perth via Doha as the only intermediate stop.
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Yes, the BOAC routes to SYD were varied and interesting! These days, unless you go on another European airline and have to use their home base hub, you'll go via one stop in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. We used to do it via Hong Kong, but binned the HKG-SYD sector a couple of years ago.
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Trying to remember all the stops...British Eagle Airways, the actual aircraft is in Duxford, a Britannia. London-Istanbul-Bombay (as it was) Singapore. Return by VC10, and can't remember all the stops, but one was Gan.
That was 48 years ago.
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Transport Command's VC10s from Hong Kong stopped at Gan and Akrotiri.
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Didn't the Boeing 747SP do hugely long sectors back in the day? I vaguely recall reading of Europe-Oz without any stops.
It wasn't all that long ago that they were trumpeting that the 747 could do Heathrow to Tokyo non-stop. (I say 'not all that long ago', unless of course time is telescoping faster than I believed possible when I was nobbut a lad.)
The 747SP was designed primarily for the New York - Tokyo route (6700 miles), which is a good 800 miles further than London - Tokyo. The 747-200 I flew struggled with the return from Tokyo (into wind) and we had a scheduled stop in Moscow to make it workable. The A340-300 which replaced it had a much longer range.
A S. African bloke once told me that the SP had saved S. Africa's aerial ties with the rest of the world back when no African countries would let them overfly or make refuelling stops.
Maybe less important than Isla de Sal. An international airport in nowhere.
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Transport Command's VC10s from Hong Kong stopped at Gan and Akrotiri.
I knew there was a Cyprus stop somewhere! That'll be the one! And it was from Singapore, but I assume the route was much the same. All I saw of Gan was night, the NAAFI and an armed guard.
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I have idly wondered what a Concorde based on the same design but using 21st century composite materials and modern avionics would be like. It was designed back in the 60s after all. They could shave a load of weight off and engine technology must be a lot more efficient by now.
What supersonic bombers are left in service? The Tu 22M, Tu 160 and B1? The B2 is subsonic, in the interests of stealth.
High bypass turbofans aren't suitable for supersonic flight, and it's unlikely that turbojets will ever make a comeback for noise reasons.
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I think the Tornado, the Typhoon, the F15 and a few others count as supersonic bombers, but I understand the class of aircraft you mean. I don't know much about the Russian ones, but the B1 is only capable of around M1.4. Not really in Concorde's league - but the boom is just as problematic.
Transport Command's VC10s from Hong Kong stopped at Gan and Akrotiri.
RAF Gan was a dump! In a beautiful location, but a dire posting. It only existed to support the military supply flights to the Far East, and closed around 1970 when we withdrew from 'east of Suez', along with all the Gulf bases, Aden, Butterworth and the five airfields in Singapore. RAF Akrotiri - still going - was a great place in my day, and these days represents a welcome gap in the increasing commercialising of the Cypriot south coast.
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Slightly OT, the B-52 is already knocking on in years and I think I read somewhere that by the time they all get retired the oldest models will have completed 80 plus years of service. Do you think given the number of years left that the last overhauled airframes might be re-engineered to take 4 modern Trent style fans instead of the eight gas guzzlers they currently run? Or would that require too much fettling . . . ?
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Slightly OT, the B-52 is already knocking on in years and I think I read somewhere that by the time they all get retired the oldest models will have completed 80 plus years of service. Do you think given the number of years left that the last overhauled airframes might be re-engineered to take 4 modern Trent style fans instead of the eight gas guzzlers they currently run? Or would that require too much fettling . . . ?
Sticking four high-bypass turbofans on has been looked at on a number of occasions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress#Re-engining
Some of the technical issues are discussed in the comments below the following Aviation week article - I've quoted the key ones:
http://aviationweek.com/defense/b-52-re-engine-resurfaces-usaf-reviews-studies
AvGuide on Oct 13, 2014
While I agree in broad principle that 8 small engines seem a bit ridiculous, economically, vs. 4 big ones -- there ARE the ground-clearance and FOD/ingestion issues created by strapping giant round sucking machines onto airplanes designed for little ones.
Consider the difficulty in re-engining the Boeing 737 jetliner with much larger-intake, high-bypass turbofans -- a problem solved only by creating distorted, non-circular intake and nacelles for the bigger engines.
Don't expect so easy a fix for the B-52 -- especially for engines on the outer pylons of the long, drooping wing.
Putting taller outrigger gear may not be an adequate solution, considering that that bends the wing up into a position abnormally. The wing IS designed to flex up in FLIGHT, but not necessarily to always be so positioned during the vast majority of its time, which is spent on ground, propped up on the wheels.
Distorting the normal wingshape is especially troubling on an airframe older than most American voters.
GregCurtis on Oct 13, 2014
Some other considerations are what to do with 6 hydraulic systems and plumbing to feed fuel to 8 engines.
Lengthen the tip gears to increase ground clearance for the outboard engines then puts the gear into the exhaust flow from stronger engines and may twist the gear during retraction.
I'm in favor of exploring the re-engine process having flown with the existing engines. Better fuel efficiencies would be nice. Stronger engines due play a factor on the engine out approaches. Two outboard engines could be a factor is having to land at a higher gross weight and need to do a go-around. Otherwise, just pull the opposite outboards back and fly the aircraft on 4.
davidhoffman5 on Jun 16, 2015
It turns out the rudder system may not be able to handle the yaw control requirements for a 25% engine out situation at critical points during takeoff. The rudder system should be able to handle a 12.5% engine out situation during that same situation. There is also the issue of exhaust or bypass airflow hitting areas of the wing it does not now hit.
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So that's a 'No', then...
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RAF Gan was a dump! In a beautiful location, but a dire posting. It only existed to support the military supply flights to the Far East, and closed around 1970 when we withdrew from 'east of Suez', along with all the Gulf bases, Aden, Butterworth and the five airfields in Singapore. RAF Akrotiri - still going - was a great place in my day, and these days represents a welcome gap in the increasing commercialising of the Cypriot south coast.
Wikinaccurate says Gan was handed back to the Natives in 1976; we certainly stopped there in September 1974. My parents got stuck there for about four days of swimming and gin in late 1972 when a VC10 b0rked down and they had to wait for the bits to arrive.
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I vaguely remember some stuff about the handover being delayed, now you mention it. After Gan closed, the RAF's route to Nepal, Brunei and Hong Kong (all of which supported garrisons of Ghurkas and, in HK, other regiments) was via Bahrain or Muscat and then Columbo or Butterworth (by then RAAF). Anyway, we're getting well OT!
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Looking back towards the airport after takeoff from Belfast City the other day I saw an Osprey, in VTOL mode with engines running. Don't know if it had just landed or was about to lift off. Does anyone other than US military operate those? Can't think why it would have been in Norn Iron.
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Looking back towards the airport after takeoff from Belfast City the other day I saw an Osprey, in VTOL mode with engines running. Don't know if it had just landed or was about to lift off. Does anyone other than US military operate those? Can't think why it would have been in Norn Iron.
Refuelling before heading off for a carrier in the Atlantic ?
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A quick google reports that the UK has bought some Ospreys
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A quick google reports that the UK has bought some Ospreys
I thought that was just a rumour. The story was that we had acquired a couple of Ospreys for the SAS but there has been no confirmation.
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Who knows. I certainly don't.
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And if you did you'd have to ki...
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No, the U.K. hasn't bought any. Some of the press got a bit breathless about the idea, but it didn't happen. The USAF has a number based at Mildenhall and the USMC regularly exercise in the U.K. with various Special Forces. There are also V22s attached to the Presidential flight which have made several visits to U.K.
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No, the U.K. hasn't bought any. Some of the press got a bit breathless about the idea, but it didn't happen. The USAF has a number based at Mildenhall and the USMC regularly exercise in the U.K. with various Special Forces. There are also V22s attached to the Presidential flight which have made several visits to U.K.
Can't see us buying any because it's an expensive way of doing stuff slightly faster than what Merlin or Chinook can already do.
OTOH, it's been reported that the UK is eyeing the US Joint Multirole Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) project (https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/army-selects-bell-sikorsky-boeing-for-jmr-td-402620/) with “great interest” because we'll need to replace our medium lift choppers by the mid-2030s. So we may end up with tilt-rotors, but not for a decade or two!
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Interesting in a "What fuckwit thought of or OK'd this idea" kinda way?
The Easyjet Airbus A320 wot got me home from that Gib last night. New fangled looking seats which, after an hour ninth air, had me begging for mercy. Seat back not the right shape to relax into and lightly padded, seat base also lightly padded. So lightly that, after that hour, it had compressed to almost nothing.
I tolerated it for nearly 2 hours but then had to go for a walk. Whilst loitering near the bog, I mentioned to one of the stewardesses that this was the most uncomfortable aircraft I had ever flown on. She sounded surprised. She said that they were the new Recaro seats designed to improve leg room. Bollocks I think as my knees spent most of the flight pressed against the seat back in front of me.
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Interesting in a "What fuckwit thought of or OK'd this idea" kinda way?
The Easyjet Airbus A320 wot got me home from that Gib last night. New fangled looking seats which, after an hour ninth air, had me begging for mercy. Seat back not the right shape to relax into and lightly padded, seat base also lightly padded. So lightly that, after that hour, it had compressed to almost nothing.
I tolerated it for nearly 2 hours but then had to go for a walk. Whilst loitering near the bog, I mentioned to one of the stewardesses that this was the most uncomfortable aircraft I had ever flown on. She sounded surprised. She said that they were the new Recaro seats designed to improve leg room. Bollocks I think as my knees spent most of the flight pressed against the seat back in front of me.
I think I see what the problem is. :demon:
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New Recaro seats designed to allow Sleazyjet to fit more people on the plane, more like.
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No pictures, well it would be hard as no-one knows what they are yet, but this seemed the most appropriate place to post this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37833311
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No pictures, well it would be hard as no-one knows what they are yet, but this seemed the most appropriate place to post this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37833311
That's interesting. I wonder what they will get.
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No pictures, well it would be hard as no-one knows what they are yet, but this seemed the most appropriate place to post this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37833311
That's interesting. I wonder what they will get.
Typhoon. :demon:
Joking apart, the Hawk is still in production, and the RAF is/will be replacing all its ageing T1s with the Hawk 128/T2 variant, so I would imagine that the Red Arrows will get a batch of new Hawks to play with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Hawk#United_Kingdom
Any attempt to equip them with FOREIGN trainer aircraft will result in Questions in The House, and lots of harrumphing green ink letters to editors of the press...
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So we should get them a shiny red fleet of F-35s
Oh...
And I think you are right Spesh, the BBC article has changed since yesterday and has the following at the bottom
Amendment: This story was changed on November 1 to reflect the defence secretary's comments that the Red Arrows fleet would be reviewed rather than imminently replaced.
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Warthogs
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So we should get them a shiny red fleet of F-35s
Oh...
Funny you should say that, but the RAF used the original BRITISH Lighting for two display teams in the early 60s - The Tigers (No. 74 Sqn) and The Firebirds (No. 56 Sqn). Given the somewhat reduced fleet the RAF has now compared with back then, they can't afford to keep a squadron's worth of combat aircraft just for PR purposes, and the Hawk T2's running costs will be markedly lower than for the Lightning II.
http://aerobaticteams.net/en/teams/i127/RAF-Tigers.html
http://aerobaticteams.net/en/teams/i62/Firebirds.html
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However, there are upwards of 100 Typhoons and 70 Tornados in storage, so the airframes are available...
The likelihood is that they'll re-equip with a variant of the Hawk 100 (T2), with BAeS providing the airframes and tech support on a lease as they do with the T2s at Valley. The 24 on the original lease are apparently specifically prohibited from doing formal aerobatics, to prevent the RAF from redeploying them to the Red Arrows. Anything other than the Hawk (given that the Typhoon would be too expensive!) would undermine the Reds' role as a demonstration of British aviation and engineering capabilities.
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Given the state of MoD budgets these days it'll end up being 9 red Raleigh Wayfarers with marine distress flares tied to the rear racks for smoke effects.
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Typhoon. :demon:
Can you imagine the noise?
Well?
Can you?
No, I thought not.
Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaazzzzzzzeeeee ;)
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Typhoon. :demon:
Can you imagine the noise?
Well?
Can you?
No, I thought not.
Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaazzzzzzzeeeee ;)
I've heard the noise that one Typhoon makes. It's quite... distinctive. ;D
Which is why I suggested the idea of nine in formation - it would sound like the universe being put through the wringer.
Mind you, the F-35 is supposed to be even louder.
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Indeed. ;D
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Interesting to note the RAF is 'celebrating 100 years in Lincolnshire' when the RAF itself is 98 years old...
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Interesting to note the RAF is 'celebrating 100 years in Lincolnshire' when the RAF itself is 98 years old...
I think they should recruit someone who can count.
Personally, I think the Red Arrows should have HAL Ajeets.
But I much preferred the Black Arrows with their Hunters.
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Was it the Black Arrows who set the world record for a formation loop?
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Was it the Black Arrows who set the world record for a formation loop?
Yes, 22 Hunters in 1958.
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Interesting to note the RAF is 'celebrating 100 years in Lincolnshire' when the RAF itself is 98 years old...
I think they should recruit someone who can count.
Personally, I think the Red Arrows should have HAL Ajeets.
But I much preferred the Black Arrows with their Hunters.
The RAF are actually celebrating 100 years of flying at RAF Waddington, which was an RFC airfield and began operations in 1916. There are several others even older, but not many still actively flying. There are also many Squadrons which were formed in the RFC and RNAS which are now 100 years old.
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Pretty sure there was some small commemoration in 2012 (or was it 2011?); ICBA to check but IIRC it was the anniversary of the RFC's founding (or was it that of the Air Bn, RE? - can't remember if that was balloons or aircraft).
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Don't think I've ever seen thrust reversers utilised to make a J-turn on the runway before. 8) :D
Saab Viggen air show party piece: https://youtu.be/mJo7aqOfRww
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Don't think I've ever seen thrust reversers utilised to make a J-turn on the runway before. 8) :D
Saab Viggen air show party piece: https://youtu.be/mJo7aqOfRww
Very cool.
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Not a plane but seen in a garden in Suffolk whilst on a ride on Saturday
(http://i.imgur.com/hA1QYDc.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/9f44RMp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8wt5Nqm.jpg)
A quick google suggests Lindstrand Technologies is the company owned by Per Lindstrand of round the world ballooning fame with Richard Branson in the 1980's. I think I missed the flying, the 30th May date seems to have been last year. I just haven't cycled that route for a while.
G-INFO suggests it's now declared as a non-flyer so I wonder how the testing went. The taped over wording suggests passenger rides may have been an option. I assume it was taped over for a reason!
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=CIYR
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What on earth is going on here? A de Havilland Vampire seems to churn up the runway behind it as it takes off. Is it the jet blast doing this? It's a small plane, it can't be its weight surely?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/02/vintage-plane-rips-runway-take-off-inwolverhampton/?playlist=structure%253Anews%252Fuk-news
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Runway included as part of Amey's west midlands road maintenance contract? ;D
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Runway certified for prop aircraft and nobody thought to check if it would cope with thrust from a jet?
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Oops. I bet it didn't land on that runway afterwards.
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Where are Dom Littlewood or Matt Alwright when you need them?
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What on earth is going on here? A de Havilland Vampire seems to churn up the runway behind it as it takes off. Is it the jet blast doing this? It's a small plane, it can't be its weight surely?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/02/vintage-plane-rips-runway-take-off-inwolverhampton/?playlist=structure%253Anews%252Fuk-news
Yup - jet blast. Slight design flaw, as the exhaust nozzle points slightly downwards. The runway was already in poor condition, and was due to be re-surfaced shortly anyway.
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I am trying to remember the British jet fighter (books in store as I move) with a tail wheel undercart. Supermarine Attacker? Anyway, it used to leave a furrow when on a take-off run and was deemed... problematic for shipboard use.
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I am trying to remember the British jet fighter (books in store as I move) with a tail wheel undercart. Supermarine Attacker? Anyway, it used to leave a furrow when on a take-off run and was deemed... problematic for shipboard use.
Yup, the Attacker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Attacker
'The Attacker suffered from deficiencies which led to it quickly being superseded; one being that the aircraft retained the Spiteful's tail-wheel undercarriage (due to the extent of the re-tooling that would have been required to alter the Spiteful's wing), rather than a nose-wheel undercarriage, thus making the Attacker more difficult to land on aircraft carriers. This same tail-down attitude meant that when operating from grass airfields the jet exhaust would create a long furrow in the ground that "three men could lie down in"'
Supermarine never really seemed to get their act together after WWII did they? Mostly a series of "almost, but not quite" types with the odd out and out dud thrown in.
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OTOH, Blackburn produced some absolute shockers in the prop age, and then went and produced one of the best low-level tactical bombers of the Cold War with the Buccaneer.
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Not just Blackburn (let's not forget the Roc and Skua), but Gloster. I refer to the Javelin, about which I have usually restricted my comments to "Why?"
Especially when the Vixen was available. One of my former plane-fettling colleagues used to joke* about it being the only aircraft ever to slow down when the pilot used reheat.
I suppose the thing is that jet aircraft and their possibilities were such a radical departure from what had gone before that there was bound to be some 'interesting' ideas.
*with the use of the word 'joke', YMMV.
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The Dalek flying saucer has been up again
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39884174/airlander-10-takes-to-the-skies-again (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39884174/airlander-10-takes-to-the-skies-again)
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Not just Blackburn (let's not forget the Roc and Skua), but Gloster. I refer to the Javelin, about which I have usually restricted my comments to "Why?"
Especially when the Vixen was available. One of my former plane-fettling colleagues used to joke* about it being the only aircraft ever to slow down when the pilot used reheat.
I suppose the thing is that jet aircraft and their possibilities were such a radical departure from what had gone before that there was bound to be some 'interesting' ideas.
*with the use of the word 'joke', YMMV.
And then there was the Supermarine Scimitar, initially intended to operate without wheels from a rubber deck...
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Not just Blackburn (let's not forget the Roc and Skua), but Gloster. I refer to the Javelin, about which I have usually restricted my comments to "Why?"
Especially when the Vixen was available. One of my former plane-fettling colleagues used to joke* about it being the only aircraft ever to slow down when the pilot used reheat.
I suppose the thing is that jet aircraft and their possibilities were such a radical departure from what had gone before that there was bound to be some 'interesting' ideas.
*with the use of the word 'joke', YMMV.
You should talk to the pilots rather than the engineers when attempting to assess the flying qualities of an aircraft. Contrary to your friend's opinion of the aircraft (one which has been liberally spread by people who never flew it, but claimed to know better), the Javelin was well-liked by its pilots as a stable and well-armed weapons platform that was easy to fly and had the rare virtue, in a British aircraft, of a comfortable cockpit. While it couldn't match the later Lightning (except in its much greater weapons load), it could easily live with the Hunter - which was unable to carry any significant air-to-air weaponry. The story about the aircraft going slower in reheat was a legacy of an inadequate fuel pump in the FAW8 which, at low altitudes, couldn't fully supply both the 'dry' and 'wet' parts of the engine, leading to a loss of dry thrust. This was so late in the Javelin's 12-year service life that they decide not to bother correcting it, as it was being replaced by the Lightning.
Incidentally, the Sea Vixen was a great aircraft - but had no guns, and was inferior in a turning fight to the Javelin. Javelin pilots always enjoyed their encounters with the Sea Vixen...
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There is a Gloster Javelin in the Jet Age Museum just outside...err..Gloucester. on my commute I pass near the Javelin industrial park where the factory was situated. The Javelin looked to my inexpert eye to be of a rather modern design for its era. I was rather surprised.
The museum, although small, is delightful, not least because the old duffers showing you around know what they are talking about. The guy handing out the tickets to go inside the Vulcan cockpit turned out to be a Vulcan pilot who had flown nearly all of the Vulcan produced.
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The summer migrants are at Fairford again, orf home tomorrow I think. This year we've got B52s (aeroplanus biggus vulgaris), B1s (aeroplanus skinnimalinkus lethalis) and B2s (aeroplanus sneakius sneakius). Haven't seen the B2s (chiz, chiz) but the B52s and B1s have been difficult to miss.
Was out flying model aeroplanes this morning and got some (not terribly good) images of B1s coming in to land at about quarter to eight.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4256/35337901736_7a34930e91_z_d.jpg)
Some grainy video here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/sets/72157685098106166
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B52: also known as the BUFF.
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Queen's birthday fly past over Chelmsford yesterday as usual.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk
Micro on seeing the Hercules and the A400M, "are they massive, or low?"
Me "both"
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The summer migrants are at Fairford again, orf home tomorrow I think. This year we've got B52s (aeroplanus biggus vulgaris), B1s (aeroplanus skinnimalinkus lethalis) and B2s (aeroplanus sneakius sneakius). Haven't seen the B2s (chiz, chiz) but the B52s and B1s have been difficult to miss.
Was out flying model aeroplanes this morning and got some (not terribly good) images of B1s coming in to land at about quarter to eight.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4256/35337901736_7a34930e91_z_d.jpg)
Some grainy video here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41392773@N02/sets/72157685098106166
Bloody thing woke me up at about 1am flying over my house. It was heading west so possibly back to USA.
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B52: also known as the BUFF.
Yes, such a *terribly* vulgar nickname, but the colonials are a little rough and ready. :)
Red Arrows at nought feet heading NE about 15 or 20 mins ago.
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According to the narrator of one documentary (I think it might've been Neil Armstrong, no less, BICBW) this nickname is an acronym for 'Big Ugly Fat Fellow'. Yeah, right . . .
Likewise the C-5 Galaxy I have heard referred to as FRED. The last three letters 'Ridiculous Expensive Disaster'. I'll leave it to your imagination . . .
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More the situation than the plane:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4220/34423570014_fc93e7704a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q)
IMG_8803_01 (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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Scarborough Armed forces day again yesterday. We had planned on taking FIL if he was still with us, but unfortunately he passed away a few weeks ago so we went for him.
First up a funny boxy plane
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1023.jpg)
Carrying these guys
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1037.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/fullsizeoutput_cd5.jpeg)
Followed by what was billed as a Spitfire but was actually a Hurricane, of which I only got one decent pic as was eating Ice cream :-)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1316.jpg)
Then came the Air Sea Rescue demo
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1670.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1507.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1497.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1445.jpg)
Then lastly the Red Arrows, who put on a cracking display as usual
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/fullsizeoutput_cde.jpeg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_2102.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/fullsizeoutput_ce0.jpeg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_2228.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/fullsizeoutput_cdc.jpeg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1849.jpg)
Not a bad day out, with plenty happening, almost worth missing You to Hull FRNTTC for :-)
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Scarborough Armed forces day again yesterday. We had planned on taking FIL if he was still with us, but unfortunately he passed away a few weeks ago so we went for him.
First up a funny boxy plane
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1023.jpg)
Short Skyvan by the look of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_SC.7_Skyvan
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More the situation than the plane:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4220/34423570014_fc93e7704a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q)
IMG_8803_01 (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
You spent your last holiday in République populaire du what?
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Scarborough Armed forces day again yesterday. We had planned on taking FIL if he was still with us, but unfortunately he passed away a few weeks ago so we went for him.
First up a funny boxy plane
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/monstadog/IMG_1023.jpg)
Short Skyvan by the look of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_SC.7_Skyvan
Yep, that was it :thumbsup:
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More the situation than the plane:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4220/34423570014_fc93e7704a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q)
IMG_8803_01 (https://flic.kr/p/UrTN4Q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
You spent your last holiday in République populaire du what?
du Benin, probably:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5063/5663701089_aa057246a6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/9CtX1M)
Maybe this one:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Republique-Populaire-Du-Benin/Boeing-707-321/160667
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Saw this chap enjoying the wind over Westbury White Horse.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35338341634_a6067dc25b_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VQJeNj)DSC_2898 (https://flic.kr/p/VQJeNj) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/35370881493_0572b7cc0d_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTB1Ln)DSC_2856 (https://flic.kr/p/VTB1Ln) by David Martin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmam/), on Flickr
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Looks like a flying bivvy bag. Around here we get flying lawnmowers from the local club, motto: No Evening Too Peaceful.
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At Kinloss
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4389/35679266153_4c3f5362f1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WmRyMg)
IMG_9064_01 (https://flic.kr/p/WmRyMg) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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At Kinloss
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4389/35679266153_4c3f5362f1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WmRyMg)
IMG_9064_01 (https://flic.kr/p/WmRyMg) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
What is that?
A De Havilland Comet on steroids?
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Nimrod (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod)
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Nimrod (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod)
Ah!
Begins to make sense...
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Looking up the page, slightly off-topic, but I am wondering how much income stream has dropped away from photobodybag after their sudden introduction of third-party fees.
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A Flying DeLorean!!
https://www.flyer.co.uk/return-delorean-flying-car/
Or probably not.
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An AVRO Arrow.
Or at least a scale model of one...
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Are you in Canada?
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DBY, an old Bell cuckoo that offers joyrides over this area - "Whirlybirds" vintage, like this but with added duct tape:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_47
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Are you in Canada?
:thumbsup:
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DBY, an old Bell cuckoo that offers joyrides over this area - "Whirlybirds" vintage, like this but with added duct tape:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_47
I priced their rides yesterday, thinking vaguely about taking the missus for a birthday flip, but at 10€/minute it's not really on.
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(https://s26.postimg.org/a9so7tqwp/20170901_172702.jpg)
(https://s26.postimg.org/4kcfnikqh/20170901_172019.jpg)
C17 Galaxy doing touch and go practice at Newquay Airport (Raf St Mawgan), which is about 2 miles away, and flying in front of the garden or over our heads depending on which direction it turns.
Its been going on for well over an hour. Yesterday it was an A400 M
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That's a C-17 Globemaster III*, which does indeed look like a chibi version of the C-5 Galaxy.
* You'd think the Americans would be a bit more imaginative after using the same name for two previous transport aircraft.
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Indeed it is. Name eluded me. Anyway, it stopped after the best part of two hours.
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Last night an A380 on approach to Manchester over the M60 at Stockport.
Nothing that big should be able to fly, hanging in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don't . . .
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Last night an A380 on approach to Manchester over the M60 at Stockport.
Nothing that big should be able to fly, hanging in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don't . . .
;D
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Last night an A380 on approach to Manchester over the M60 at Stockport.
Nothing that big should be able to fly, hanging in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don't . . .
For the ultimate in "how the f*** does that get off the ground, never mind stay up!?" see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225_Mriya#/media/File:Antonov_An-225_with_Buran_at_Le_Bourget_1989_Manteufel.jpg
At the other end of the airliner scale, I've just spotted a De Havilland Dragon Rapide (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide) fly in a southerly direction over Pompey, circle round and head off eastwards while I was tidying up post-gardening.
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Talking of which, it's quite fascinating to see what remains of the Soviet space shuttle...
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Only the test articles* and the second orbiter, which never flew, remain - Buran was destroyed in a hanger collapse.
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/06/stunning-images-of-abandonded-soviet-space-shuttles/
In some respects, Buran was superior to the US shuttle, but it's misfortune was to be in development just as the Soviet Union was collapsing under the weight of its inherent contradictions.
* Trufax - one of the test articles was fitted with a cluster of jet engines at tail end and could get off the ground under its own power, without the aid of a GBFO rocket. After a slightly chequered post-Soviet life, it's now safely parked in a German aerospace museum.
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It'd be a right kick in the head if it were now the only means to get USAnians into orbit.
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Only the test articles* and the second orbiter, which never flew, remain - Buran was destroyed in a hanger collapse.
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/06/stunning-images-of-abandonded-soviet-space-shuttles/
In some respects, Buran was superior to the US shuttle, but it's misfortune was to be in development just as the Soviet Union was collapsing under the weight of its inherent contradictions.
* Trufax - one of the test articles was fitted with a cluster of jet engines at tail end and could get off the ground under its own power, without the aid of a GBFO rocket. After a slightly chequered post-Soviet life, it's now safely parked in a German aerospace museum.
I know of the place---I want to go! Two separate sites
https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/
https://speyer.technik-museum.de/en/
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Saturday afternoon at Wing, Polar Bear and I became aware of a distinct rumbling engine note from the North. We were overflown by the Lancaster and two Spitfires, one a 'clippie'. Fairly low, around 500 feet.
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Sunday afternoon I watched The Blades (http://www.theblades.com/) flying three of their Extra EA-300s over the Warren Classic Car Show from a lovely vantage point along NCN1.
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Sunday afternoon I watched The Blades (http://www.theblades.com/) flying three of their Extra EA-300s over the Warren Classic Car Show from a lovely vantage point along NCN1.
Sorry, but I must have missed something! What's the point? To prove that aeroplanes can fly faster than cars? We knew that already.
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As a local came past she mentioned the display was part of the car show (which also explained the fancy cars I had seen on the road). TBH, the connection between a car show and an air display had me scratching my head, but the display was quite entertaining.
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...the connection between a car show and an air display...
Petrol, ICEs and MOAR POWER! *Cough* Oh. Dear. Please excuse me I don't know what came over me there. :)
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Not really sure where to put this, so dropping it here.
Unbelieveable AIRBUS A380 HARD CROSSWIND LANDING during a STORM at Düsseldorf (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=roS6oFjCDhc)
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The Dalek flying saucer has been up again
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39884174/airlander-10-takes-to-the-skies-again (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39884174/airlander-10-takes-to-the-skies-again)
Oopsie.
The world's longest aircraft has collapsed to the ground less than 24 hours after a successful test flight.
The Airlander 10 - a combination of a plane and an airship - was seen to "break in two" at an airfield in Bedfordshire, an eyewitness said.
Owner Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd said it appeared the Airlander broke free from its mooring mast, triggering a safety system which deflates the aircraft.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42037832
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That's quite a sensible failsafe, really. :thumbsup:
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And all that lovely He floats away for ever.
http://www.nature.com/news/helium-map-jpg-7.10384?article=1.12933
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As ways to waste helium go, developing a thing that could revolutionise air travel seems like a reasonably worthwhile one. As does preventing a BFO aircraft blowing away and potentially harming people, tbh.
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Saw a Piaggio Avanti go over my house with a strange whooshy sound a while ago; not sure I've ever seen one in the air before.
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Concorde
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42024835 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42024835)
I had forgotten just how beautiful that thing was
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Way back in 89/90, when I was a suit-wearing, precocious twat, I was outside an hotel at Manchester airport, having a lunchtime fag (some Saturday bullshit sales conference) when there was a mighty roar from the Western end of the runway.
An Air France Concorde appeared, the pilot seemed to be holding the aircraft on a very flat trajectory - most aircraft departing Manchester climb steeply - maybe he was an ex-Mirage pilot. As he passed close to the hotel car park he turned slighty South and I saw the engine were at full power with the burners on. At that moment every car alarm in the car park went off. Fabulous... ;D
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyeqeqSNSgQ&feature=youtu.be
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Impressive! But why does a passenger jet need to be able to do anything like that?
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It doesnt. But its empty of passengers and cargo and probably fairly low on fuel as well so plenty of power to spare to show off.
Tex Johnson famously barrel rolled the original Boing 707 when he displayed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_khhzuFlE
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Air shows are for the most part trade events, where manufacturers are showing off their wares to business and government representatives. Everybody knows that an airliner's handling at maximum take-off weight, full of passengers, luggage and fuel, isn't going to be anywhere near as spirited, but the test pilot is going to put on a show to attract the interest of potential buyers.
It's the same for the stunts that some fighter jets are put through where they appear to defy the laws of physics - it looks good, but try bleeding energy off like that in a real dogfight, and you are quite likely to end up a sitting duck.
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It's the same for the stunts that some fighter jets are put through where they appear to defy the laws of physics - it looks good, but try bleeding energy off like that in a real dogfight, and you are quite likely to end up a sitting duck.
Energy is good in a dogfight generally but I do seem to remember Harriers having a tactic of using vectored thrist to suddenly slow down causing a jet on their tale to overshoot and suddenly find itself with the Harrier getting a missile lock.
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It doesnt. But its empty of passengers and cargo and probably fairly low on fuel as well so plenty of power to spare to show off.
Tex Johnson famously barrel rolled the original Boing 707 when he displayed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_khhzuFlE
Barrel rolls if done correctly do not impart G forces so there are no airframe strength issues. Or have I got that wrong?
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It doesnt. But its empty of passengers and cargo and probably fairly low on fuel as well so plenty of power to spare to show off.
Tex Johnson famously barrel rolled the original Boing 707 when he displayed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_khhzuFlE
Barrel rolls if done correctly do not impart G forces so there are no airframe strength issues. Or have I got that wrong?
ITYM "Barrel rolls if done correctly do not impart excessive G forces beyond the operating limits..."
And said limits will be well inside the point at which the airframe and wings fail in static/dynamic load tests. Added to which, modern fly-by-wire flight control systems will have modes whereby the pilot simply cannot over-stress the aircraft (though there have been unintended consequences, usually involving Airbus products, where the aircrew have got themselves in a situation where the computers wouldn't let them take action which could have saved the aircraft, but I digress).
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It's the same for the stunts that some fighter jets are put through where they appear to defy the laws of physics - it looks good, but try bleeding energy off like that in a real dogfight, and you are quite likely to end up a sitting duck.
Energy is good in a dogfight generally but I do seem to remember Harriers having a tactic of using vectored thrist to suddenly slow down causing a jet on their tale to overshoot and suddenly find itself with the Harrier getting a missile lock.
Swordfish pilots used to say that land based fighters had problems trying to shoot them down because they couldn't fly slowly enough.
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It's the same for the stunts that some fighter jets are put through where they appear to defy the laws of physics - it looks good, but try bleeding energy off like that in a real dogfight, and you are quite likely to end up a sitting duck.
Energy is good in a dogfight generally but I do seem to remember Harriers having a tactic of using vectored thrist to suddenly slow down causing a jet on their tale to overshoot and suddenly find itself with the Harrier getting a missile lock.
The USMC developed that tactic for their AV-8A Harriers, but it wasn't used by our pilots in the Falklands War.
"No-one used viffing in combat - it's very much a last-ditch manoeuvre. It can be useful if the guy behind hasn't seen it before and doesn't know what you're going to do. You can decelerate from 450 knots down to 150 in about three or four seconds, and that is enough to fly people out in front - however, if he sees it coming, all he has to do is go vertical and just sit around on top of you. You end up with no energy at all and he's got all the time in the world to take you out."
http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/2007/437harrier/harrier.htm
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ITYM "Barrel rolls if done correctly do not impart excessive G forces beyond the operating limits..."
If the pilot does it properly the forces are generally directed towards the aircraft floor.
https://youtu.be/EmkknS203Mo
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My lovely Chemistry teacher* explained that he far preferred a barrel roll to a regular roll because "it keeps all the nuts and bolts that the ground crew have left on the deck bouncing into my face when I was upside down".
*This was the only time anyone ever heard him mention anything about aeroplanes. He was known as Wiggy because he had a very obvious wig. He cycled to school on a Dutch style bike and one pupil managed to relieve of his wig one morning as he cycled past. Disgraceful treatment. It turned out that he had been a Spitfire pilot and wore a wig because he had crashed and burned.
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It doesnt. But its empty of passengers and cargo and probably fairly low on fuel as well so plenty of power to spare to show off.
Tex Johnson famously barrel rolled the original Boing 707 when he displayed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_khhzuFlE
Barrel rolls if done correctly do not impart G forces so there are no airframe strength issues. Or have I got that wrong?
I've seen an interview with Tex Johnson where he said that Boeing execs wanted to haul him over the coals for it but he countered stating the load on the airframe never exceeded 1g.
So, yes . . .
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Impressive! But why does a passenger jet need to be able to do anything like that?
Without that power, you’d be pretty disappointed in its inability to get you and 180 other punters to 35000’ on your way to Ibiza. Without the ability to withstand significant manoeuvre loads, you’d also be rather unhappy at its propensity to fall apart in significant turbulence. Anyway, it’s fun.
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Welcome back TimC. Great to see you here.
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Impressive! But why does a passenger jet need to be able to do anything like that?
Without that power, you’d be pretty disappointed in its inability to get you and 180 other punters to 35000’ on your way to Ibiza. Without the ability to withstand significant manoeuvre loads, you’d also be rather unhappy at its propensity to fall apart in significant turbulence. Anyway, it’s fun.
I think he's been watching 'Binliner' videos . . .
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Impressive! But why does a passenger jet need to be able to do anything like that?
Without that power, you’d be pretty disappointed in its inability to get you and 180 other punters to 35000’ on your way to Ibiza. Without the ability to withstand significant manoeuvre loads, you’d also be rather unhappy at its propensity to fall apart in significant turbulence. Anyway, it’s fun.
I think he's been watching 'Binliner' videos . . .
Never knowingly!
Welcome back TimC. Great to see you here.
Thanks! I’m not sure that I was away, really, but I haven’t felt the need to contribute much for a while. Whether that changes or not depends, really. ie I don’t know!
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Not quite in the spirit of this thread but interesting enough to share! A paper model with working undercarriage, flaps, reverse thrusters etc. Pretty impressive stuff.
https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane (https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane)
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Not quite in the spirit of this thread but interesting enough to share! A paper model with working undercarriage, flaps, reverse thrusters etc. Pretty impressive stuff.
https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane (https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane)
Wow!
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:o :thumbsup:
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Yeah, but the seats don't recline....
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Not quite in the spirit of this thread but interesting enough to share! A paper model with working undercarriage, flaps, reverse thrusters etc. Pretty impressive stuff.
https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane (https://www.wired.com/video/the-ultimate-paper-airplane)
:o 8)
I vaguely recall reading about this a few years ago* - I'd forgotten about the working parts!
* After searching, it turns out to have been back in 2014: https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-meticulously-crafted-777-replica-is-made-of-manila-1504096998
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No photos, I am afraid, but I spied a couple of tiny planes at Halfpenny Green Airfield the other day, and retrospectively identified them as a pair of Taylor Titches. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Titch)
I only saw the green one in the air. Looked like lots of fun.
In recent visits, I've also seen an AH-64 Apache, an Agusta A109, many many Pipers, including Arrows, Warriors, Cherokee, Tomahawk. And a number of autogyros - both Calidus and Cavalon. Very cool.
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Ever since seeing 'You Only Live Twice' as a sprog I've wanted an autogyro
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There is a company based at Bobbington. They have at least three, and offer tuition and experience flights.
Can't say I was taken with the film, but Ken Wallis was a hero.
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Can't say I was taken with the film, but Ken Wallis was a hero.
Autogyro.
Vertical landing space rockets.
Volcano Layer.
Piranha tank.
(I know, it reads like Elon Musk's shopping list, but really, what's not to like?)
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Can't say I was taken with the film, but Ken Wallis was a hero.
Autogyro.
Vertical landing space rockets.
Volcano Layer.
Piranha tank.
(I know, it reads like Elon Musk's shopping list, but really, what's not to like?)
Connery's excruciatingly racist* Japanese disguise?**
* Though not as bad as the Mickey Rooney cameo which spoils Breakfast at Tiffany's
** I have got the right film, haven't I? ???
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Can't say I was taken with the film, but Ken Wallis was a hero.
Autogyro.
Vertical landing space rockets.
Volcano Layer.
Piranha tank.
(I know, it reads like Elon Musk's shopping list, but really, what's not to like?)
Connery's excruciatingly racist* Japanese disguise?
Well yes, but it's a Bond film. From the 60s. Sexism and horrendous racial stereotyping are pretty much compulsory.
(Also, I do know how to spell 'lair', but it seems my finders don't.)
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There was always the Genghis Khan bio pic 'The Conqueror'. Any guesses as to who played the lead?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conqueror_(film)
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Judging from the aftermath, "The Cankerer" would have been a better title.
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It's odd; I tend to conflate the other one, with Omar Sharif as GK, and there's always what started this little discussion off, Clarion's yellowface. I remember how Chinese people were always played so realistically by white men squinting and trying to look buck-toothed while standing in a hunched posture.
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Passing Tollbar End yesterday on the way to the Bearodrome I was surprised to spot a Vulcan.
So that's Coventry airport . . .
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I was there last week, staying in the Chace. I knew of the museum, but didn't have a chance to visit. Bollocks. I saw they had a Vulcan, XL360, which has been named 'city of Coventry'. You can actually get into the cockpit.
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New F35 jump jets (which can apparently do VTO as we ll as L) due in RAF Marnham next week :) I wonder if they'll fly down the Mall in July?
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New F35 jump jets (which can apparently do VTO as we ll as L)
Up to a point, Lord Copper...
Technically, the F-35B is the STOVL variant - Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing - rather than V/STOL. Yes, vertical take-offs can be done on the F-35, but in practice, it somewhat limits the fuel and ordnance load you can take off with, and the USMC found that when operating from austere forward bases, the jet efflux from the F-35B was wrecking tarmac and concrete, so they had to develop a heat-resistant landing mat.
To illustrate why, check out this video of F-35B operations, and note how the deck of the USMC flat-top glows red-hot as the plane touches down.
https://youtu.be/Eiop4hrBJO4?t=3m05s
The Fleet Air Arm are looking to use a rolling vertical landing technique in order to allow them to recover to the carrier with a greater load of unexpended fuel and ordnance, while reducing wear and tear on the engine/lift system and the carrier flight deck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRVL
due in RAF Marnham next week
RAF Marham, if you please. ;)
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I was there last week, staying in the Chace. I knew of the museum, but didn't have a chance to visit. Bollocks. I saw they had a Vulcan, XL360, which has been named 'city of Coventry'. You can actually get into the cockpit.
I stood underneath that Vulcan a few years ago, I hope they have swept up under it - there were loads of bits of insulation, that I assumed had come off the wiring.
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/P5310013_DxO.jpg)
Just come past on a low fly route...
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Mach Loop?
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Had a C141 going rather low over the house while I was out mowing the lawn.
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Had a C141 going rather low over the house while I was out mowing the lawn.
If what you saw was a C-141, that would be very interesting and/or unusual, because the last C-141 Starlifter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-141_Starlifter) was retired in 2006, and the only survivors known to Wikinaccurate are all in museums.
Must have been a C-17 - same configuration, similar dimensions, but a bit fatter-looking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III) (or as I described it several pages back, like "a chibi version of a C-5").
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Mach Loop?
North West Scotland. I think the parlous state of defence funding probably explains why that is the only low flyer I've seen this trip.
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New F35 jump jets (which can apparently do VTO as we ll as L) due in RAF Marnham next week :) I wonder if they'll fly down the Mall in July?
Blimey they're loud! No photos as it was late yesterday evening when they flew over. I assume they were the F-35s - they were due in and it was an engine note I hadn't heard before. We are less than 20km from Marham as the crow F-35 flies.
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Can't say I was taken with the film, but Ken Wallis was a hero.
Only just caught up with this thread.
Ken Wallis was an ex-pupil of the school I work at. I used to see him driving through Ely towing an autogyro - There's a microlight airfield just outside Ely, and I guess he was still flying them well into his late 80's/ early 90's !
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Interesting selection in the plane park outside Budapest airport. Mainly Soviet era airliners and what looked like a DC-3 (it was dark!)
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Had a C141 going rather low over the house while I was out mowing the lawn.
If what you saw was a C-141, that would be very interesting and/or unusual, because the last C-141 Starlifter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-141_Starlifter) was retired in 2006, and the only survivors known to Wikinaccurate are all in museums.
Must have been a C-17 - same configuration, similar dimensions, but a bit fatter-looking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III) (or as I described it several pages back, like "a chibi version of a C-5").
Deffo not a c-5 I'd know those a mile off
It ma well have been a c-17, it was deffo big and fat
Haven't heard the F35s yet, but its been bloody noisy here lately
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Interesting selection in the plane park outside Budapest airport. Mainly Soviet era airliners and what looked like a DC-3 (it was dark!)
It is a Li-2, licence-built DC3.
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Interesting selection in the plane park outside Budapest airport. Mainly Soviet era airliners and what looked like a DC-3 (it was dark!)
It is a Li-2, licence-built DC3.
Thanks!
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The Antonov 2 is the biplane, and another is or was, rather oddly, built into a MacVomit on the way out from Pest to the airport. I stopped there for a cold drink when I rode there for my return flight.
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Clarion prepares for his maiden flight in a helicopter.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/42835134371_3cc519a075_c.jpg)
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Jammy git! ;D
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He's welcome, helos are noisy, rattly, smelly, dangerous collections of nuts and bolts.
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He's welcome, helos are noisy, rattly, smelly, dangerous collections of nuts and bolts.
My first (and only) flight in a helicopter was in Nigeria, looking for a site for a new power station to burn oilfield gas that had hitherto been simply flared.
It was scheduled for a Tuesday, but postponed a day. On arrival at the airport on the Wednesday, we discovered that they'd had to change the engine on the previous day - a 9 seat Sikorsky. Not sure if that inspired confidence or not. It was the most unnerving 90 minutes of my life. I'd done a scoping process to identify some likely sites and so I was in charge of telling the pilot where I wanted to go. The whole aircraft shook and vibrated so much that ED's description of a dangerous collection of nuts and bolts seems about right. I've spent many hours in the air in small fixed wing aeroplanes over the years for both work and pleasure, and am totally comfortable in them, but this was something else. And I'm not keen to repeat it.
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My helicopter experiences have been the polar opposite (in feelings of security). During my time in the army, the helicopter was my preferred method of transport on Northern Ireland. Being ferried around by Wessex, Puma or Lynx, occasionally using nap of the earth flying was much better than the sheer helpless terror of bing shut up in the back of a Humber Pig moving into or out of Crossmaglen or similar. waiting for the RPG to hit or the culvert bomb to be detonated- fuck that for a game of soldiers. helicopter any day.
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I flew out to the Bruce platform on G-REDL the day before its gearbox fell apart mid cruise, killing 16 people. Apparently chips had been detected a week earlier.
My dad was on a flight bringing an RAF puma back from the continent, landed at manston. Inspection showed a blade 20 min away from complete failure.
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Based on comments from now-departed mates with the T-shirt rights, I included this passage in 'Uniforms'
"If you thought that riding in an LCU was bad, then don’t even think about helicopters. We were airlifted to the battlefield. Sounds fun. What it actually means is getting into a big, booming tin box with an extremely noisy engine overhead and a lot of draughts, and then being flung around the sky in it by a pilot with a high regard for anti-aircraft missiles and a very healthy desire not to meet any."
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Had a C141 going rather low over the house while I was out mowing the lawn.
As Spesh has already said, you definitely didn't see a C141. They would have been a very unusual sight in UK even when they were in service. None was based in Europe, and they were relatively rare visitors to Mildenhall and Fairford (which took most USAF transport traffic), let alone any of the other US bases in UK. Excursions into the UK Low Flying regime were almost unheard of. The C17 not only replaced the C141, the UK bought the aircraft and uses it in the full gamut of tactical operations. The RAF never went anywhere near the C141, except that certain exchange pilots flew the thing in the USA.
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I was stood on the remains of the runway at Thorpe Abbots airfield (the home of the Bloody 100th bomb group 1943-1945) on Saturday timing a group of classic cars using the airfield for a rally and the Lancaster, a Spitfire and a Hurricane from the BBMF flew over on their way to the Gt Yarmouth airshow.
Made me remember why I was stood there despite putting me off my countdown starting the next car!
Sorry no pics, I was busy!
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As said to me by an aeronautical engineer once: "Never travel in a machine whih cflies by chopping the air up into little bits and sitting on top of the pile"
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My cousin warns everyone he knows about flying in helicopters, fly fixed wing he always says helicopters are much too dangerous. This same cousin was until he retired a couple of years ago a colonel in the Amy Air Corp, had done several stints as an instructor on helicopters and several tours flying the things in anger from lovely airbases in places like Afghanistan whilst being shot at.
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Strange as it sounds, I have a chum who flew fixed wing hairyplanes in the USMC and then switched to helichopters. This was in 'nam, mind, so they were probably short of suitably mad people.
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One can see more than horses at Horseguards Parade.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/28290343747_899e787bb8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn)
P1040638 (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
Tomorrow Tuesday, 10th July is the big do celebrating 100 years of the RAF.
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That'll be next week, shirley? https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/news/10-july-centenary-celebrations/
I'll be out on the flats watching, you're welcome to join.
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That'll be next week, shirley? https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/news/10-july-centenary-celebrations/
I'll be out on the flats watching, you're welcome to join.
Ta. Got my Tuesdays in a twist.
I may take you up on that offer.
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I saw a Westland Wasp helicopter flying from Marlow towards Henley a couple of days ago. Not seen one for yonks :thumbsup:
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One can see more than horses at Horseguards Parade.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/28290343747_899e787bb8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn)
P1040638 (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
Tomorrow Tuesday, 10th July is the big do celebrating 100 years of the RAF.
Is that a celebration of aircraft we binned for no good reason*?
*Harrier lurking there.
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One can see more than horses at Horseguards Parade.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/28290343747_899e787bb8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn)
P1040638 (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
Tomorrow Tuesday, 10th July is the big do celebrating 100 years of the RAF.
Is that a celebration of aircraft we binned for no good reason*?
*Harrier lurking there.
My bold.
How was that allowed to happen?
I don't believe that anyone else has anything remotely similar / effective....
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Tim C would (I think) confirm* the Harrier fleet was 'retired' under the 2010 defence cuts (in the name of 'austerity' HA!) so Dave & his mates could cop fuck off backhanders for ordering the Lightning II.
*Actually ISTR hearing that the fleet was about to cost $hitloads in deep servicing and it made economic sense. Or something . . .
BTW That Tornado appears to belong to BAe rather than the RAF. Maybe the RAF leased it back from the company they sold it to so it comes under the monthly current budget rather than straight capital expense.
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That'll be next week, shirley? https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/news/10-july-centenary-celebrations/
I'll be out on the flats watching, you're welcome to join.
Ta. Got my Tuesdays in a twist.
I may take you up on that offer.
Will be trying to work out the best place to stand, the view from our allotment at the bottom of Empress Ave was stunning for HM's little birthday practice run, but the flats should be better.
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/28290343747_899e787bb8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn)
P1040638 (https://flic.kr/p/K6Vpzn) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
MOAR pieces of planes today (including something raaaather modern). I'll wait until Friday evening to take more pics.
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Might have to see if we can get onto the roof at work.....
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I think that old jets just become impossible to fly because of manufacturer warranty, or whatever it is called. They only have so many flying hours. That's why the Vulcan was finally grounded. It could still be flown, but it would be prohibitively expensive.
There are so many jet warplanes that won't be seen flying again. e.g. the Harrier.The Tornado is going that way too. There might be the odd one or two, but you'll be seeing Spitfires and Hurricanes long after modern jets.
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Jaded, indeed. I saw it commented somewhere that, at a push, you could build a Spitfire in a shed. OK, that pushing it because you would need a foundry to cast the block for the Merlin engine.
But the actual technology for the airframe is bending metal and rivetting.
For the vulcan I believe it was the certificates for the engines. Again I read somewhere that there were some zero time engines, which were left with bags of dessicant powder in them.
Engines were installed and started up, then ruined because dessicant bags had not been removed. Anyone able to elaborate on this story. Yeah.. I know.. Google...
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Might have to see if we can get onto the roof at work.....
Can't get onto the roof at work. >:( Well, I can. But I'd probably lose my job.
But I can climb up the bank of the resevoir behind us (just not in flip-flops :facepalm:) - from where there's a big-sky view of the airspace above Leyton and Queen Elizabeth Park, which form part of the route....
....Or I might decide that I have some urgent business in town, next Tuesday.
And go and stand with my back to Buck House for maximum effect.
Keen students will be delighted to learn that there are waaaaay more airworthy Spitfires today, than there were at the end of WWII.
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I think that old jets just become impossible to fly because of manufacturer warranty, or whatever it is called. They only have so many flying hours. That's why the Vulcan was finally grounded. It could still be flown, but it would be prohibitively expensive.
There are so many jet warplanes that won't be seen flying again. e.g. the Harrier.The Tornado is going that way too. There might be the odd one or two, but you'll be seeing Spitfires and Hurricanes long after modern jets.
My understanding (partly from my dad who was in maintenance management in the RAF for 27 years) and partly from offshore industry experience, is that it's about different levels of maintenance based on hoours, particularly on airframe and engines. Any of it CAN be done, but it's cost in some cases.
RE the Harrier - do the US MArines still use the AV-8B - A licensed Harrier? I can remember seeing both those and Tornados flying about when I was in Germany in the early 80's so that shows how old those designs are, so is it surprising they've been retired? Nothing really giving the Harrier capability but the Tornado is well outdated by now, the Lightning is two generations on effectively.
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The Panavia Tornado was appearing in books about aircraft when I was a small devouring such things because boy (early/ mid 70's).
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The Harrier in the Horseguards exhibition is a GR3 (well, to be accurate I think it’s a full-scale fibreglass mock-up of a GR3). It was retired for the exceptionally good reason that it was replaced by the GR5 (otherwise known as the AV8B), which itself was replaced and modified to become the GR7, and later GR9.
There were engineering issues that complicated the decision as to whether to carry on flying the GR9 fleet in 2010, but the bottom line was the defence budget under Cameron (and to this day) was so over-committed that something had to give. The remaining aircraft (around 70 or so) were sold to the US Marine Corps as spares for their AV8B fleet, which is still operating.
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Wop! Wop! Wop!
The unmistakable sound of a Huey - or the civilian equivalent, it was white - flying over Middleton last evening around 8. Knew what it was before anyone could see it.
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Wop! Wop! Wop!
The unmistakable sound of a Huey - or the civilian equivalent, it was white - flying over Middleton last evening around 8. Knew what it was before anyone could see it.
'Tis a lovely sound isn't it Tors? When I hear a Huey, I also hear the soundtrack to Apocolypse Now in my head :)
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wait til you hear one of those Osprey tilt rotor thingies - nothing else like it
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Wop! Wop! Wop!
The unmistakable sound of a Huey - or the civilian equivalent, it was white - flying over Middleton last evening around 8. Knew what it was before anyone could see it.
'Tis a lovely sound isn't it Tors? When I hear a Huey, I also hear the soundtrack to Apocolypse Now in my head :)
Me too. Sadly, when you look at the local population, the soundtrack is more remininiscent of 'The Walking Dead' . . .
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;D
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Consulting Wikipedia, I've put 2 & 2 together and come up with a plausible reason.
Most likely what I saw was a Bell 204/205, the civilian version. One of the stated uses for such a machine is fire fighting, the course of the aircraft was away from Winter Hill and towards Saddleworth Moor...
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Wop! Wop! Wop!
The unmistakable sound of a Huey - or the civilian equivalent, it was white - flying over Middleton last evening around 8. Knew what it was before anyone could see it.
'Tis a lovely sound isn't it Tors? When I hear a Huey, I also hear the soundtrack to Apocolypse Now in my head :)
I thought of The Ride of the Valkyries as soon as I saw "Huey".
Also thought that they'd better not fly too low over Italian restaurants, but of course we're not allowed to say that these days.
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MOAR pieces of planes today (including something raaaather modern). I'll wait until Friday evening to take more pics.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1830/29373927578_65d8272d25_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LKF4id)
P1040649 (https://flic.kr/p/LKF4id) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/42526486384_62680ae385_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27MVmNu)
P1040643 (https://flic.kr/p/27MVmNu) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1807/28375429817_3cc8e77b05_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KeruGz)
P1040644 (https://flic.kr/p/KeruGz) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/29374051208_f991b39f8e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LKFG3L)
P1040645 (https://flic.kr/p/LKFG3L) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/838/42340656325_e2c926c477_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27vuVZX)
P1040646 (https://flic.kr/p/27vuVZX) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/43195349682_7c7d3c0e0e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28P2syj)
P1040647 (https://flic.kr/p/28P2syj) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/42526362054_ff5353bd16_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27MUHQS)
P1040648 (https://flic.kr/p/27MUHQS) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/42340560015_de28444ccd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27vurnr)
P1040650 (https://flic.kr/p/27vurnr) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/845/43244308441_261e2857ec_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28TmohR)
P1040651 (https://flic.kr/p/28TmohR) by Andrij (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bebchenko/), on Flickr
Unfortunately the pic of the F-351 came out blurry.
1 Patsy says... (https://youtu.be/m3dZl3yfGpc?t=9s)
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Mk XVI Spit?
ETA:
Yup.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-20715357
Meteor is coming up as an F4.
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That Spitfire is beautiful.
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The Griffin engine changes the line of the nose significantly, and coupled with the bubble canopy and altered fin design, the later marks always look to me more 'modern' compared with a, say, Mk 5. It's like comparing the lines of an original Porsche 911 with, say, a new Boxster or similar. You can see the similarities, but there is a far more purposeful and efficient look to the later model. The earlier model looks, well...
"The Germans have no word for 'fluffy', Slackbladder"
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The Mk XVI Spitfire is not a Griffon-engined variety. It is a modified Mk IX with a Packard-built Merlin 266. The clue is the four-bladed propellor. All Griffon-engined Spitfires have five-bladed props (or a contra-rotating prop in one or two very late examples) as well as a much longer nose.
The Meteor F4 in the display is the actual aircraft that took the world air speed record of 616mph in 1946.
The F35 and Typhoon are replicas, not real aircraft. The GR3, however is real, and not the plastic replica that used to grace Wittering's main gate (which is what I suspected it was!).
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Ah! I saw the four-blade prop and wondered. The only Griffon-engine job I saw regularly was the Mk XIV I remember as parked up at Wittering.
I noted the Beeb report says the Spit is in 'replica' paintwork/markings, but hadn't realised the Meteor was the real thing. I did quite a bit of reading about that world record stuff.
I stick by what I said about the 'purposeful' look, though. I think the Spiteful lost the grace of the whole design with its new wing type, and of course sticking a jet engine into it was just awful.
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Not a particularly unusual flying machine
https://twitter.com/CrinklyLion/status/1015327546961989632
But I think the person sat in the front is quite interesting :-)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhbvFsVXkAAKwDn.jpg)
There's something slightly surreal about seeing your kid launched into the air.
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Ah! I saw the four-blade prop and wondered. The only Griffon-engine job I saw regularly was the Mk XIV I remember as parked up at Wittering.
I noted the Beeb report says the Spit is in 'replica' paintwork/markings, but hadn't realised the Meteor was the real thing. I did quite a bit of reading about that world record stuff.
I stick by what I said about the 'purposeful' look, though. I think the Spiteful lost the grace of the whole design with its new wing type, and of course sticking a jet engine into it was just awful.
The Spiteful wasn’t jet (or turboprop) powered, it retained the Griffon of the later Spitfires in the 2375hp ‘69’ version. A development, the Seafang, was made for the RN with folding tips and the contra-rotating prop I referred to earlier. The new wing was designed to cope with the high-subsonic speeds the Griffon-engined aircraft were capable of in a dive at high level. There was a jet-powered naval derivative (well, it used the Seafang’s wing) called the Supermarine Attacker, but that had no parts in common with the Spitfire.
Supermarine Attacker (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Attacker)
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Talking of Bell helicopters, this was flying when Heather was on the phone from the moorland fire at Winter Hill. Her employer owns half of the affected area, and she had to be there to sign off on it flying. Very much 'Apocalype Now'.
(https://external-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBzIGoQSPlfuFvI&w=540&h=282&url=https%3A%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com%2FshmQy5jhheDCuH5LrR8VRCfGAazi8IZ5Ryq7y_Hl5yr9fQ9Js7bHER4eOl4YkbEOOfmFgeEXIVc%3Dw1200-h630-p&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_hash=AQD5neRoZSRdSr-b)
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Any hints on photographing the flypast?
First, location, location, location https://secretldn.com/raf100-flypast-london-route-map/
I figger that the Wanstead Flats (where I live) has all the possibilities (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1kytLI7Jl1YS_i2vhBnAOJqnrgqcfQdBN&ll=51.55199261701516%2C0.00832556647947058&z=13) with my favourite being the point about 500m south of the track looking north, it appears to go straight over the Green Man roundabout so I could go north looking south, but that would suggest more issues with light contrast.
Second, photo techy.
I intend using my m4/3 DSLR set to manual, set with a 150-600 zoom stopped to f8 and set to manual focus at infinity. Flip out screen on a tripod and I should be all set, and be able to watch it at the same time.
I don't intend using a second camera, although I'm toying with the idea of running a 360 movie.
Third, photo technique
I was intending locking it onto a point on the flight path and pressing the shutter as and when, probably front three quarter view. That will lead to a load of broadly similar photos, but won't distract from the experience of the moment.
Any suggestions from people who have done this before - or even those who haven't but want to provide their wisdom and perspective, this is Teh Internets after all - gratefully received
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Not a particularly unusual flying machine
https://twitter.com/CrinklyLion/status/1015327546961989632
But I think the person sat in the front is quite interesting :-)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhbvFsVXkAAKwDn.jpg)
There's something slightly surreal about seeing your kid launched into the air.
Flyin' lion!
(http://legslarry.org.uk/BikeStull/coat_48.png)
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Any hints on photographing the flypast?
You won't get great results from Morecambe...?
WOT!
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Any hints on photographing the flypast?
You won't get great results from Morecambe...?
WOT!
That's wise.
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You're welcome! ;D
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Just heard (then seen) a brace of Chinooks heading from the general direction of Benson towards Taht London.
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Helichopters! Many helichopters - five or six Chinooks and three or four smaller jobs heading east over Epping Forest while I was on my way to Mr Sainsbury's House Of Toothy Comestibles just now.
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Any hints on photographing the flypast?
First, location, location, location https://secretldn.com/raf100-flypast-london-route-map/
I figger that the Wanstead Flats (where I live) has all the possibilities (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1kytLI7Jl1YS_i2vhBnAOJqnrgqcfQdBN&ll=51.55199261701516%2C0.00832556647947058&z=13) with my favourite being the point about 500m south of the track looking north, it appears to go straight over the Green Man roundabout so I could go north looking south, but that would suggest more issues with light contrast.
Second, photo techy.
I intend using my m4/3 DSLR set to manual, set with a 150-600 zoom stopped to f8 and set to manual focus at infinity. Flip out screen on a tripod and I should be all set, and be able to watch it at the same time.
I don't intend using a second camera, although I'm toying with the idea of running a 360 movie.
Third, photo technique
I was intending locking it onto a point on the flight path and pressing the shutter as and when, probably front three quarter view. That will lead to a load of broadly similar photos, but won't distract from the experience of the moment.
Any suggestions from people who have done this before - or even those who haven't but want to provide their wisdom and perspective, this is Teh Internets after all - gratefully received
Things I learned:
Fahgehtabbaht the tripod.
Good move about the manual exposure.
Not so sure about the manual focus.
Not bad lens choice.
Could do better.
There is such a thing as too close. Was directly below the flight path.
Photies arrive shortly.
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:thumbsup:
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I saw quite a bit of the flypast from my 3rd floor window in Brixton. It brought some welcome tranquillity to the area. Nothing on the approaches to Heathrow or City and all the builders downed tools to watch.
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There was a stop on movements at LHR from 1153-1214Z to allow for the flypast, but they're on the 9s today so not much traffic over central London anyway.
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Slightly shortly
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jh-Vzafj02I/W0StngX8ToI/AAAAAAACuGc/fYvrR20ki7wRIQNjFBdPTVTlscaWBXFpQCKgBGAs/s1600/HAM00142.jpg)
Moah soon. Needs a bit of post prod, but my exposure seems to be in the right place to have captured most detail.
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A bit more shortly
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EyLyXza4PPNnGQUCA is a selection of postprodded images
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NpE9uXGPM1yXykpP9 is an album of all
As above, could do better but I'm not unhappy with them
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Only three F35s. One of them gone u/s already?
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A bit more shortly
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EyLyXza4PPNnGQUCA is a selection of postprodded images
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NpE9uXGPM1yXykpP9 is an album of all
As above, could do better but I'm not unhappy with them
:thumbsup:
Watched it all from the rim of one of the Lea Valley reservoirs.
Wind was in the wrong direction to hear anything.
Aircraft were juuuuuuust about identifiable by their sillhouettes.
Wish I'd gone to The Mall.....
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Watched from St James Park. Wow. My 400mm lens was not wide enough for some of those planes. Amazing, and all done in 8 minutes.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eMMVHNXMtTTAHFWQ8 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/eMMVHNXMtTTAHFWQ8)
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Only three F35s. One of them gone u/s already?
I suspect they planned only two, as you always plan spares for such a big flypast. It may well be that all four were serviceable, so they'll have started four, got airborne with three leaving the fourth as an on-ground spare, and planning the third as an airborne spare with the option of it completing the flypast. As such a small element of the overall flypast, it's reasonably flexible. Whereas the 22 Typhoons in the '100' formation probably had to commit 50 or more miles out, it being too difficult to slot in a spare any later than that, the F35s could continue to much later before the formation is 'frozen'.
Years ago, as a young student RAF pilot, I flew in the 'whipper-in' for the '25' formation of Jet Provosts for the Queen's Silver Jubilee formation at RAF Finningley. We had two or three airborne spares, and more on the ground, so that the integrity of the '25' could be protected as well as possible. I was just an observer, so I wasn't privy to the full planning process, but I know that there was a point on the run-in where no replacements could be accommodated, and any unserviceabilities from that point would leave a gap.
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This is lifted from Another Place, but is pretty cool if you know which aircraft are stationed where - like it is easy to spot the Red Arrows leaving their Scampton base in Lincolnshire....
https://twitter.com/RAFBrizeNorton/status/1016734060704608257
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An Alpha Jet, a DC6, a P38 Lightning, a F4U-4 Corsair and a B25 Mitchell just flew over the house.
:)
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Two Ospreys just thundered over here - on their way to Blenheim?
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Two Ospreys just thundered over here - on their way to Blenheim?
Seems plausible....
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An Alpha Jet, a DC6, a P38 Lightning, a F4U-4 Corsair and a B25 Mitchell just flew over the house.
:)
I had them go round twice, as they did a couple of flypasts at Goodwood whilst I was clearing vegetation from Route 88 near Chichester.
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Tonight's lodgings are smack on the flight path into some airfield on the outskirts of Anchorage, and in among the usual crop of doctor-killers we just had a Rutan. I think it was a Long-EZ, like unto one of these
(http://www.v2.anderssonaircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/XGT_LE_closed_OK.jpg)
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On the way to milldenhall inbetween Royston and Cambridge I saw a spitfire, probably a Griffin engined one and a hurricane ,definitely a Merlin engined one.
While I waiting for the van at West row a Rockwell b1 blasted into the heavens with a roar :)
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An Osprey presumably inbound to Mildenhall
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/CV-22_7_SOS_Lakenheath.png)
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We had 4 overflights of a B17 at what looked to be about 500 feet over the weekend.
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An Alpha Jet, a DC6, a P38 Lightning, a F4U-4 Corsair and a B25 Mitchell just flew over the house.
:)
Brilliant ! I really like corsairs and B25's
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I’m with you on the B25. Really must watch Catch 22 again. As I recall the film was a bit weak but the B25’s excellent.
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no photo as the camera battery suffered from EDF but I copped the BOAC 747 arriving LHR; uber cool!
https://www.godsavethepoints.com/2019/02/18/unveiled-british-airways-boac-retro-livery-747-heathrow/
fab livery takes me back to the 70s, looking forward to the other retro liveries (2 previous BA and a BEA A319)
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Flew in a few of them when they were current. The improvement over the VC10s also used on the LHR<->Hong Kong route was night and day.
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The Tornado GR4s are doing a farewell tour of the UK this week if anyone fancies getting some final pictures of them in flight.
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nicked from
https://forum.keypublishing.com/forum/historic-aviation/3851671-toodaloo-tornado-times-of-the-final-flypast
Tuesday 19th February
1315 – 1330 Kendrew Barracks (RAF Cottesmore) – National Memorial Arboretum – DECA Stafford – RAF Cosford
1330 – 1345 RAF Shawbury – DECA Sealand
1345 – 1400 RAF Valley
1415 – 1430 BAES Warton – BAES Samlesbury
1430 – 1445 RAF Spadeadam
1445 – 1500 RAF Leeming – RAF Topcliffe – RAF Linton-On-Ouse
1500 – 1515 RAF Waddington – RAF College Cranwell – Royal Air Force Coningsby
1515 – 1535 RAF Donna Nook – RAF Holbeach – RAF Wyton
Wednesday 20th February
1300 – 1315 Royal Air Force Honington
1315 – 1330 Imperial War Museum Duxford – Former RAE Bedford – Cranfield Airfield – Royal Air Force Halton – RAF High Wycombe
1330 – 1345 RAF Benson – HQ Land Forces, Andover, MOD Boscombe Down
1400 – 1415 RAF Pembrey – MOD St Athan – Cardiff Airport
1415 – 1430 Rolls Royce Filton – MOD Abbey Wood – MOD Shrivenham – RAF Brize Norton
Thursday 21st February
1115 – 1130 Leuchars Station
1130 – 1145 RAF Tain
1145 – 1200 RAF Lossiemouth
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I'll miss them screaming over my house on low level exercises.
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No sign of them here in Stafford earlier. :(
We did wonder whether the fly by went ahead given that there is quite low cloud here today.
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Just seen them flying low over York pretty much bang on 15:00.
A flight of 3, in classic V-formation.
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The Tonka was the first full on two engine fast (and very loud) jet I ever saw; a 4 ship at Folkestone airshow in 1998
chiz can't get near the route tomorrow so I'll have to be happy with the 9 ship down The Mall last year;
when the RAF say they will still fly what do they mean?
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when the RAF say they will still fly what do they mean?
They mean that the farewell flights aren't exactly the last just a farewell tour right at the end of operations. There will still be a few operational sorties over the next few weeks plus some planes flying to museum locations where they will be displayed then that's it.
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I should at least hear them tomorrow, as I work 2 miles from Halton. Might get to see them coming in from Cranfield if I walk up to the top of the hill.
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Makes me feel old, knowing they're retiring the Tornado. In the mid 80's I flew into Warton, and we got a tour around the factory where they were building them.
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when the RAF say they will still fly what do they mean?
They mean that the farewell flights aren't exactly the last just a farewell tour right at the end of operations. There will still be a few operational sorties over the next few weeks plus some planes flying to museum locations where they will be displayed then that's it.
R4 also suggested this evening that they may still have a training role, but operationally they are being replaced with Eurofighters.
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definitely unusual but it's not about the planes; I welled up watching it; thanks to the BBC RAF USAF and everyone else who made it happen
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-47337174/flypast-for-ww2-us-bomber-crash-crew
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Very impressive and, indeed, poignant. Respect to all involved, especially Tony Foulds - hopefully he's found a little peace after today.
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Makes me feel old, knowing they're retiring the Tornado.
Umm. Yes. I remember all the fuss in the later stages of its development (memory says '75-'76 but ICBA to goggle it) when it was still the Panavia MRCA. I remember it being regarded as an extremely expensive white elephant not up to carrying out any of its intended roles effectively*. Funny how things turn out eh?
Oh and Auntie. Stop your reporters being so damned lazy and tell them to find another bloody word. The Tornado is many things, but "iconic"? Hardly.
*So what's new in warplane development eh?
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I have two wonderful books, acquired second hand
https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Fighter-Since-Design-Development/dp/0370100492/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1551017194&sr=1-5&keywords=peter+lewis+fighter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Bomber-Since-1914-Development/dp/B01HWRXVKY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1551017261&sr=1-3&keywords=peter+lewis+bomber
The detail is amazing. Well worth a read. The latest edition just reaches the Tornado.
Speaking of which, the one version of the plane I have seen panned almost everywhere was the Air defence Variant.
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Speaking of which, the one version of the plane I have seen panned almost everywhere was the Air defence Variant.
Unsurprisingly as it was designed as a multirole strike aircraft, should never have been forced into an ADF role.
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For a nuanced view, it might be worth having a read of these Hush-Kit pieces on the air defence Tornado - the 2016 one, an interview with a Phantom and Tornado back-seater, acknowledges the shortcomings of the F.2, but points out that the F.3 model was a very effective aircraft:
https://hushkit.net/2016/05/01/interceptor-how-how-to-fight-survive-in-phantom-and-tornado/
https://hushkit.net/2014/07/22/the-secret-electronic-attack-capabilities-of-the-tornado-f-mk-3-radar/
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Speaking of which, the one version of the plane I have seen panned almost everywhere was the Air defence Variant.
Unsurprisingly as it was designed as a multirole strike aircraft, should never have been forced into an ADF role.
We HAD a multi-role strike aircraft, binned and all jigs, plans etc destroyed Beeching style*. It was called the TSR2.
*I say 'Beeching' because one of the major points of his axing of so many lines to boost Marples' road freight business was the destruction of roadways rather than the simple lifting or tracks. See how many old lines were blocked by housing estates. In my view, just like the smashing of Nimrods and immediate binning of Harriers, it was done so that there was no possibility of showing what a stupid decision it had been, by simply reversing the actions. You can't reinstate a railway when there are houses built across the line, and you can't bring back a plane when all the plans and equipment to make it have been carefully destroyed.
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Speaking of which, the one version of the plane I have seen panned almost everywhere was the Air defence Variant.
Unsurprisingly as it was designed as a multirole strike aircraft, should never have been forced into an ADF role.
We HAD a multi-role strike aircraft, binned and all jigs, plans etc destroyed Beeching style*. It was called the TSR2.
well actually there was more to it than that;
1.it was a Tory project with large cost overruns which the new Labour government was keen to ditch
2. it was a sop to the RAF who had lost their first strike capabilities to Polaris and wanted something to justify their existence in the Cold War
3. the Usanians wanted us to buy the F111 instead; and more importantly not sell TSR2's to Australia (we never bought the F111 which is where the Tornado came in)
fantastic plane though!
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There are a couple of rather natty retro liveries flying in and out of That London (and indeed in the case of the Airbus many other UK cities) ATM, a BOAC 747 and a BEA A319 (I know BEA never owned them but it's the nearest they can get)
search for G-EUPJ and G-BYGC
here
https://www.flightradar24.com/
a couple more 747s also coming in the 2 previous BA liveries
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Not often I pop in here, but thought I'd correct a few misapprehensions...
The Tornado F2 was pretty awful, with its famous Blue Circle radar. But the F3, as Spesh says, was pretty good at its designed role, which was medium to high level beyond visual range interception defending the UK mainland. It was not, and was never intended to be, a 'dogfighter' like the F16, and its performance limitations were sorely exposed in GW2, where its inability to perform AAR at much above F150 made it a liability for the both the F3 and the tanker crews. But it was far from being as bad as some of the uninformed comment would have it.
The TSR2 was not really a multi-role aircraft. It was specifically designed as a replacement for the Canberra in the tactical nuclear and conventional strike role, with a secondary capability in photo reconnaissance. It was way, way over budget, and similarly way overweight, and it would not, in its projected production form, have met its design specs. However, it had that in common with just about every aircraft that the UK has developed since WW2! In its favour, it was incredibly pretty. There's no way, however, that it would have had the breadth of capability that the F4 Phantom had, which eventually replaced the Canberra (among many other types) in RAF service - and which cost far less. Though we did our best to screw that up by installing RR Speys and other UK-manufactured equipment, and it was only when we bought secondhand F4Js from the US Marines that we realised how much better our F4s could have been (and how little progress the Tornado GR1 and F3 actually represented).
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TSR2 was a cracking looking plane though.
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and it would not, in its projected production form, have met its design specs. However, it had that in common with just about every aircraft that the UK has developed since WW2!
How far off track was the Harrier Tim?
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Yesterday saw a Tiger Moth (pretty certain) with R.A.F. roundels but it said U.S. Army under the wings. Was coming in or out of Wallop I assume.
EDIT although listed as not flying from the colour scheme it was probably this one:
http://historicarmyaircraft.co.uk/aircraft-2/de-havilland-tiger-moth-d1182a-em840-g-anby/ (http://historicarmyaircraft.co.uk/aircraft-2/de-havilland-tiger-moth-d1182a-em840-g-anby/)
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and it would not, in its projected production form, have met its design specs. However, it had that in common with just about every aircraft that the UK has developed since WW2!
How far off track was the Harrier Tim?
Not sure, Fuzzy. The Harrier is an oddity in that it started life as a technology demonstrator, and its remit and budget was incrementally increased until it became a production reality. So essentially, as far as I can determine, there was no projected programme cost to compare actual costs against.
The Harrier ll, or AV-8B, which saw RAF service as the GR7/9, was a US-led programme in which BAe was initially not involved, then became a sub-contractor once the UK government decided it wanted the aeroplane. Thus it was bought at a contracted unit price, which I believe was around $30m per aircraft. If the unit cost didn't inflate, the maintenance cost certainly did, and it was this that finally did for the Harrier in UK service.
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Yesterday saw a Tiger Moth (pretty certain) with R.A.F. roundels but it said U.S. Army under the wings. Was coming in or out of Wallop I assume.
EDIT although listed as not flying from the colour scheme it was probably this one:
http://historicarmyaircraft.co.uk/aircraft-2/de-havilland-tiger-moth-d1182a-em840-g-anby/ (http://historicarmyaircraft.co.uk/aircraft-2/de-havilland-tiger-moth-d1182a-em840-g-anby/)
EM840 isn't flying. Is it possible that the aircraft you saw is the Museum of Army Flying's Auster XR244? Similar size and powerplant to the Tiger Moth, but with a high monoplane wing, it has 'ARMY' prominently signed on various surfaces.
Historic Army Aircraft (http://historicarmyaircraft.co.uk/aircraft-2/auster-aop-mk9-xr244/)
more pics (https://flypast.keypublishing.com/2017/05/17/family-day-announced-for-museum-of-army-flying/)
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No, was definitely a biplane. Only real doubt about it being a Tiger Moth was the U.S. Army on the underside, but subsequent Googling showed that they used them. Colour scheme is also right for EM840
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Yes, they did use them and there were a number in UK. I'm not aware of any currently in US Army markings in this country, but there may well have been one so painted over the last winter. I'm sure one of the spotter sites will reveal the answer! Try airliners.net. If they don't have a picture yet, I'm sure they will before long!
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There are a couple of rather natty retro liveries flying in and out of That London (and indeed in the case of the Airbus many other UK cities) ATM, a BOAC 747 and a BEA A319 (I know BEA never owned them but it's the nearest they can get)
search for G-EUPJ and G-BYGC
here
https://www.flightradar24.com/
a couple more 747s also coming in the 2 previous BA liveries
Agree - they do look nice. Although it's a bit daft for BA to paint up the planes as part of their fake claim of 100 years of history, when it's a tenuous link.
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I've just seen two of HMX-1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMX-1)'s VH-3D Sea Kings flying south over Pompey - must be rehearsals, because the UnAmerican President isn't inflicting his presence until the D-Day commemorations next week.
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Not sure if connected with his Orangeness arriving at Stansted or not, two F15s flying quite low and slow over the back garden
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What I think was an EC-135 flying low over Ely this afternoon - definitely not a KC-135, funny looking elongated nose-cone and no tail boom
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What I think was an EC-135 flying low over Ely this afternoon - definitely not a KC-135, funny looking elongated nose-cone and no tail boom
If it had a lumpy fuselage with a 1970s-style grey and white paint job, it's a RC-135 Rivet Joint and most likely one of ours, as the Yank ones all fly out of Offut, Nebraska (ETA - or are deployed to Mildenhall, such as the WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuclear fallout sniffer when there were mystery plumes of iodine-131 detected at the Russia-Norway border in 2017).
Edited.
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Yes, RC135, but looked like a Yank one - Ely is under the flight path to Mildenhall, and Lakenheath and we see all sorts of oddities. I once had a B1B going low and slow over my head while I was out running around the Fens
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FWIW, the RAF's Rivet Joints fly out of Waddington, but that's a bit to the north of you, so it depends what route they would take from there if they are being tasked with listening to the Russians in Kaliningrad...
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On Sunday a Tiger Moth in WWII RAF training colours (camo on top and sides with a yellow underneath) flew low over the house. Lovely.
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Two c130 Hercules low flying down the upper Derwent valley low on Thursday evening :)
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An aerobatic display team that wasn't the Red Arrows practicing West of Stroud, probably over the River Severn.
Googling suggests it may have been the Breitling Jet Team who will be performing at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.
(I took a photo, but it appears to consist of nothing but sky!!!)
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What might have been a P-3 Orion stooging around over Cirencester about midday.
Quite a way up so couldn't make out much more than the MAD boom at the back and 4 x turbo-prop mounted on an unswept low mounted wing.
If it was an Orion that's the first I've seen hereabouts for 8 or 10 years.
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What might have been a P-3 Orion stooging around over Cirencester about midday.
Quite a way up so couldn't make out much more than the MAD boom at the back and 4 x turbo-prop mounted on an unswept low mounted wing.
If it was an Orion that's the first I've seen hereabouts for 8 or 10 years.
One of the attendees on static display at RIAT:
https://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/aircraft/aircraft-in-the-spotlight/p-3c-orion
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Commercial flight diverts to avoid police helicopter. Apparently. Is this unusual?
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-airport-stockwood-flight-path-3230680
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Yes it is unusual. Blue light airways are generally under instruction to avoid approach and take off airspace in the vicinity of airports however, needs must. I suspect a situation where presence of the helicopter was in relation to a threat to life scenario- air ambulance, bear in the air tracking an immediately dangerous suspect etc.
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Well I had a ride in this back in May...
(https://i.imgur.com/hjECmZc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qkZ0gvw.jpg)
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You can go off people you know. :)
You lucky bugger, you.
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^
This. ;)
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^
This. ;)
+1
(Yes, I know I'm too tall (or heavy, or both - or skint come to that) but still...)
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Giving this some consideration.
£2.7k's worth of consideration.
I'm only here once, and I've nobody to leave the dosh to.
What was it like, Trekker12?
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I may have to use the same word I used on a USAnian chum who celebrated $SIGNIFICANT_BIRTHDAY with a trip in a P-51. That word is "GIT!!1!"
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I may have to use the same word I used on a USAnian chum who celebrated $SIGNIFICANT_BIRTHDAY with a trip in a P-51. That word is "GIT!!1!"
You're only persuading me further....
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I can't see the photos! Wassit?
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I can't see the photos! Wassit?
Per Wikinaccurate:
Spitfire Tr.9 ML407 (G-LFIX). Served with 485 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force as ML407 / OU-V. Participated in Operation Overlord. Subsequently served with 341 Squadron, Royal Air Force coded ML-D, 308 Squadron, coded ZF-R, 349 Squadron, coded GE-P, 345 Squadron, coded 2Y-A and 332 Squadron, coded AH-B. To 151 Repair Unit in April 1945 and 29 Maintenance Unit in October 1945. Sold to Vickers-Armstrongs in 1950 and converted to a two-seat trainer. Flew under Class B markings G-15-175. To Irish Air Corps in August 1951 as 162. Withdrawn from service 8 July 1960 and stored. Sold to Tony Samuelson in March 1968, then to Sir William Roberts in 1970 and Nick Grace in 1979. Restored to airworthy condition in 1985, registered G-LFIX.Owned by Carolyn Grace and as of October 2016 based at Sywell, it wears the markings it wore when serving with 485 (New Zealand) Squadron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Supermarine_Spitfires#United_Kingdom
https://www.warbirdflights.co.uk/spitfireml407
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You're only persuading me further....
Oh dear, I’ve started saving up....
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Giving this some consideration.
£2.7k's worth of consideration.
I'm only here once, and I've nobody to leave the dosh to.
What was it like, Trekker12?
Genuinely the most amazing experience of my life. It’s worth every penny, 2.7k is a lot of money but words don’t really describe it. Even 2 months later I still smile. I’ve flown light aircraft before of various types and nothing matches it.
I had Steve Jones as a pilot he’s a red bull air racer and one of the finest pilots we currently have in this country. A really nice bloke and everything was so calm and measured. He started up and taxied us to the runway. There’s nowhere to put your feet except following him on the rudder pedals which are connected to his, we had a nasty cross wind and he straightlined the runway and we were airborne before you knew it.
He made a few turns and took us away from the airport. Then he had me take the stick and follow through for a bit before he said ‘you have control’. And that was it I was flying a ww2 Spitfire all by myself. It’s incredibly smooth and responsive I pulled a couple of fairly tight turns but nothing like a real fighter pilot would have done.
His next comment was ‘it wouldn’t be a Spitfire if we didn’t do a victory roll would it’? To which I agreed and he took back control, rolled left, rolled right and as I seemed to be enjoying myself he pulled her up into a loop at 280mph.
Do it, really really do it. You don’t need n+1
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you lucky, lucky man. I've done some of that as an air cadet, but nearer 150mph in a chipmunk than 280 in a spit.
Where's my cheque book?
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you lucky, lucky man. I've done some of that as an air cadet, but nearer 150mph in a chipmunk than 280 in a spit.
Where's my cheque book?
What's the going rate for a kidney these days? It's not like you need both of them... ;)
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:o :o
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A Stealth bomber just few over. It was pretty noisy.
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Two of them, taking off from Fairford. Quite beautiful against a clear deep blue sky.
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No photos, but so far this morning 3 Ospreys and 3 C130's in close succession
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Two of them, taking off from Fairford. Quite beautiful against a clear deep blue sky.
Oh is that what the noise was? I assumed it was B-52s. Heard them and wandered round to the front of the house to see if I could see anything, but they must have been taking off west-bound.
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Oh, you can't see them! ;D ;D
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Oh, you can't see them! ;D ;D
All I could see was a little man in a sitting position at 4000ft with a thermos flask at his side.
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Two of them, taking off from Fairford. Quite beautiful against a clear deep blue sky.
Oh is that what the noise was? I assumed it was B-52s. Heard them and wandered round to the front of the house to see if I could see anything, but they must have been taking off west-bound.
Different sound. B2 are like a loud roaring jetliner, B52 have a high-pitched whine.
Tend to hear the B2s at night.
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Just gone over again heading west towards Fairford
(https://i.ibb.co/DWy2PpH/20190902-192526.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vqGnCY6)
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Some anti-social bugger performed a low-level pass over the bit of Mesa Verde National Park wot I was in in some kind of Rutan powered by the noisiest engine in the Four Corners region >:(
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Courtesy of LFGSS.....
https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/21591dc9abf078470060cf11cd97969ba8d90180.jpg
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Courtesy of LFGSS.....
https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/21591dc9abf078470060cf11cd97969ba8d90180.jpg
In the background is North Foreland lighthouse. Situated between Broadstairs and Margate.
They took the pretty route.
ETA :I confess to being gobsmacked as to how big they are - compared to the Eurofighters.
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Courtesy of LFGSS.....
https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/21591dc9abf078470060cf11cd97969ba8d90180.jpg
In the background is North Foreland lighthouse. Situated between Broadstairs and Margate.
They took the pretty route.
ETA :I confess to being gobsmacked as to how big they are - compared to the Eurofighters.
That's a pair of F-35 Lightning IIs (which are about the same length as a Eurofighter Typhoon) with the B-2s in that picture.
For future reference:
Typhoon - delta wing with canard foreplanes just ahead of the cockpit, chin intake, twin engines, single tail fin.
F-35 - conventional layout, trapezoidal wings, side intakes, single engine, twin tails, tailplanes stick out behind engine nozzle.
HTH
edited to correct position of foreplanes on Typhoon and add F-35 tailplane position.
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Courtesy of LFGSS.....
https://lfgss.microco.sm/api/v1/files/21591dc9abf078470060cf11cd97969ba8d90180.jpg
In the background is North Foreland lighthouse. Situated between Broadstairs and Margate.
They took the pretty route.
ETA :I confess to being gobsmacked as to how big they are - compared to the Eurofighters.
That's a pair of F-35 Lightning IIs (which are about the same length as a Eurofighter Typhoon) with the B-2s in that picture.
For future reference:
Typhoon - delta wing with canard foreplanes abaft the cockpit, chin intake, twin engines, single tail fin.
F-35 - conventional layout, trapezoidal wings, side intakes, single engine, twin tails.
HTH
I stand corrected
Thx
:P
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Well if we're doing basic aircraft recognition...
Apart from the obvious spinny things up the front (and the god-awful racket*) the A400-M has much less swept back wings than the C-17, the TE especially is much closer to a straight line and the C-17 has winglets on the tips. The fin on the A400-M goes more or less all the way to the end of the fuselage whereas there's an obvious length of fuselage after the fin on the C-17.
You wouldn't believe how many years of watching the damn things it has taken for me to be able to readily tell them apart.
Was speaking to one of the A330-Voyager maintenance bods from Brize a few days ago and learnt that Fairford will be home to Yank F-35s. Which was news to me, it may not be news to you.
*Really. For modern aeroplane engines they're bloody noisy.
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*Really. For modern aeroplane engines they're bloody noisy.
I suspect that unlike with civil airliners low noise wasn't very high up the list of requirements when they were designing the thing.
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*Really. For modern aeroplane engines they're bloody noisy.
I suspect that unlike with civil airliners low noise wasn't very high up the list of requirements when they were designing the thing.
The thing with modern airliners is that they are using high bypass ratio turbo fans (compare the size of the front fan with the central core exhaust pipe) where most of the mass flow is at a comparatively low velocity (the thrust comes from the sheer volume of air being shifted) - old airliners with turbojets and fighters with low bypass ratio turbofans have all or nearly all of the mass flow at high velocity, therefore were and are noisier than modern airliners.
With a turboprop-driven aircraft, the noise can be a function of the local velocity of the blade tips (especially if they go trans/supersonic*), blade count, blade shape and constructive interference of the sound waves. The A400M has two of its props spinning one way, and two in the opposite direction in order to balance the torque effect, so I suspect that there is some kind of weird effect going on there.
* Which is why the Tu-95 "Bear" is notoriously noisy, to the point that it can be detected by the passive sonar on submarines. Then there was the Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech" - probably the noisiest aircraft ever built, which could induce nausea, and in one instance a seizure, in ground crew.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-84H_Thunderscreech#Noise
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I have a colleague. She has a number of interesting personality traits, which include her assumption that everyone else is wrong, as well as a consistent resultant refusal to accept advice. A relevant and real sample:
Git of a colleague: You can tell the difference between a Boeing 777 and an Airbus A330 but you have to get really close up so you can read the 'Rolls Royce label on the engine.
Me: [Couple of quick hints, such as bulkier appearance and wingtips, including...] Look at the end of the tail. 777 APU exits to one side, and the tail looks squared off. 330 is round, like a rocket nozzle or a giant biro with the nib retracted.
GOAC: YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO NOTICE TINY THINGS LIKE THAT!
Sigh...
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-84H_Thunderscreech
Ohhh what a tempting project for a kit scale rubber powered model. A jet airframe that can legitimately by driven by a prop. I do so like NMF aeroplanes and it just happens that I have lots of Al. tissue to hand....
*Lurk looks at his current build programme, does quick mental calculation...* OK, should be in a position to start draughting a plan in.... Oh. January 2021. Oh well.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-84H_Thunderscreech
Ohhh what a tempting project for a kit scale rubber powered model. A jet airframe that can legitimately by driven by a prop. I do so like NMF aeroplanes and it just happens that I have lots of Al. tissue to hand....
*Lurk looks at his current build programme, does quick mental calculation...* OK, should be in a position to start draughting a plan in.... Oh. January 2021. Oh well.
There were a number of mixed-propulsion projects in the late 40s/early 50s, but advances in power and reliability of jet engines meant that most never got beyond the prototype stage:
Ryan FR-1 Fireball (US Navy's first aircraft with a jet engine - only 66 were built before Japan surrendered in 1945)
Ryan XF2R Dark Shark
Convair XP-81
Curtiss XF15C-1
Or if you want to go completely off-the-wall, look up the various prop-driven tail-sitter projects of the early 1950s:
Convair XFY-1
Lockheed XFV-1
Northrop N-63 (I don't think that one made it off the drawing board though)
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There were a number of mixed-propulsion projects ...
Aye, but the 'screech looks like a "proper "1950s jet only with a prop. up front rather than the, interesting, oddballs that you've noted that look, in the main, like standard piston engine airframes. It should also be possible to find good three-views of the 'screech's donor airframe well, which may be a bit more of a problem with at least some of the others. The airframe is also quite conventional in plan so it's likely to be susceptible to the usual trimming techniques for rubber powered models.
... prop-driven tail-sitter projects of the early 1950s:
Beyond, way beyond, my aeromodelling talents I think. Can't for the life of me see how you'd even begin trim one of these for rubber powered freeflight. You might just be able to get a ROG - the torque effect of an unwinding motor without the equivalent of a helicopter tail rotor would be "interesting" - but I can't see how you'd transition to level flight. Think that the flight profile would be, "Corkscrew up, 'hang' for a second or three in mid-air until power out then fall straight back to earth creating a pile of splinters and tissue on contact." Or possibly a corkscrew parabola with impact under power. Nooo. An experiment for some-one braver than me I think. :)
Suspect the only practical solution for a tail sitter would be to gut a cheap multi-rotor drone for its gyro(s)* and motor(s) and go the RC route and even then I still can't see how you'd transition to level flight.
*Or accelerometer/whatever they use for stabilization.
Perhaps this discussion should be continued - if necessary - on pub/flights of fancy?
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Nah, it's fine. I was just spitballing.
Be thankful I didn't venture into the realms of Luft '46 napkinwaffen and bring up the Triebflügel. ;D
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Some confusion as we saw the Southport Air Display participants while we were watching kites, and having a go at sand yachting at Lytham. Hard to tell between a Saab Viggen and a Typhoon at a distance.
I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest. The T33 Shooting Star might have been a Jet Provost. No idea what the Saab Tunnan might be. The BBMF included a Dakota.
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The aircraft that the Saab Tunnan resembles the closest is one of the design variants of the Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein, which only ever got as far as the wind tunnel model stage, but which has often been claimed to have influenced the F-86 Sabre and MiG-15.
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Some confusion as we saw the Southport Air Display participants while we were watching kites, and having a go at sand yachting at Lytham. Hard to tell between a Saab Viggen and a Typhoon at a distance.
I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest. The T33 Shooting Star might have been a Jet Provost. No idea what the Saab Tunnan might be. The BBMF included a Dakota.
As the Viggen last flew in 2007, it's unlikely to be participating in an airshow! I could understand a T37 being mistaken for a JP, but not a T33. BBMF have been running a Dakota for many, many years (and several other aeroplanes that have nothing to do with the Battle of Britain!).
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Some confusion as we saw the Southport Air Display participants while we were watching kites, and having a go at sand yachting at Lytham. Hard to tell between a Saab Viggen and a Typhoon at a distance.
I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest. The T33 Shooting Star might have been a Jet Provost. No idea what the Saab Tunnan might be. The BBMF included a Dakota.
As the Viggen last flew in 2007, it's unlikely to be participating in an airshow! I could understand a T37 being mistaken for a JP, but not a T33. BBMF have been running a Dakota for many, many years (and several other aeroplanes that have nothing to do with the Battle of Britain!).
Actually...
Displaying for the first time in Southport. the Saab Viggen, Swedish Air Force Historic Flight (SwAFHF), will make a debut appearance.
https://www.visitsouthport.com/airshow/information/product-catch-all/saab-viggen-swafhf-p456741
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I live on the flightpath to Warton, so I'm used to Typhoons, and we see them in the Lakes on walks. So the sight of the Viggen from beneath, as it turned over Lytham beach after taking off from Squires Gate was initially confusing, thanks to the delta with canards configuration. When the Typhoon lined up after taking off from Warton, I twigged. The Viggen seems to be a trainer variant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6knL6nvII0
A Typhoon does look very different of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPyn0i83tM
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I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest.
To my knowledge, I'm not aware of any airworthy Tempests and a quick google search didn't reveal any. Air Leasing (Richard Grace, owner of the Grace Spitfire) has one under restoration, there's a couple in America also being restored and we might be lucky here in the UK as there is an ongoing attempt to restore a Typhoon over the next few years with a funding project considerably underway.
The P-47 is really quite impressive, the Ultimate Warbirds team (also part of Air Leasing) did a two lap formation practice here over Bentwaters the other week on their way to the Clacton airshow lead by the P-47. The noise woke us all up! It was made more interesting to me as I had met several of the guys operating them at Sywell when I did the Spitfire flight.
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Radio-controlled re-enactment dogfight seen on Saturday's ride on the forum camping weekend at Wellesbourne
(https://i.imgur.com/yUhO9QW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GiQZKvw.jpg)
There was also a frighteningly fast radio-controlled jet of some sort.
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I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest.
To my knowledge, I'm not aware of any airworthy Tempests and a quick google search didn't reveal any. Air Leasing (Richard Grace, owner of the Grace Spitfire) has one under restoration, there's a couple in America also being restored and we might be lucky here in the UK as there is an ongoing attempt to restore a Typhoon over the next few years with a funding project considerably underway.
The P-47 is really quite impressive, the Ultimate Warbirds team (also part of Air Leasing) did a two lap formation practice here over Bentwaters the other week on their way to the Clacton airshow lead by the P-47. The noise woke us all up! It was made more interesting to me as I had met several of the guys operating them at Sywell when I did the Spitfire flight.
I could tell that it was a radial by the sound. One thought was that it might be the RNAS Sea Fury, but that didn't fit with the D-Day markings. A Tempest II has a radial engine.
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3 x B2 landing at Fairford 1900 to 1930
Interesting approach path. Normally inbound stuff comes in from a long way east, this evening all three came in west over Southrop and turned back over somewhere over Filkins. Roughly clockwise.
Third one in did a touch and go for some reason - heard the engines light up again - did a very short an anti-clockwise circuit.
Thought there were only 2 on deployment, but there was no engine noise to indicate either of the 1st two in had performed a touch and go so think there must now be three.
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3 x B2 landing at Fairford 1900 to 1930
...
Thought there were only 2 on deployment, but there was no engine noise to indicate either of the 1st two in had performed a touch and go so think there must now be three.
It's been three all along - see this report from a couple of weeks ago:
https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/08/28/Three-B-2-stealth-bombers-arrive-in-Britain-for-exercises/2521567011703/
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Radio-controlled re-enactment dogfight seen on Saturday's ride on the forum camping weekend at Wellesbourne
(https://i.imgur.com/yUhO9QW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GiQZKvw.jpg)
There was also a frighteningly fast radio-controlled jet of some sort.
I saw that in full size flying out of White Waltham a few years ago whe I worked at the school. Fantastic to watch. So slow and graceful when compared to WW2 and later speeds.
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Some confusion as we saw the Southport Air Display participants while we were watching kites, and having a go at sand yachting at Lytham. Hard to tell between a Saab Viggen and a Typhoon at a distance.
I thought the P47 Thunderbolt in its D-Day markings might be a Hawker Tempest. The T33 Shooting Star might have been a Jet Provost. No idea what the Saab Tunnan might be. The BBMF included a Dakota.
As the Viggen last flew in 2007, it's unlikely to be participating in an airshow! I could understand a T37 being mistaken for a JP, but not a T33. BBMF have been running a Dakota for many, many years (and several other aeroplanes that have nothing to do with the Battle of Britain!).
Actually...
Displaying for the first time in Southport. the Saab Viggen, Swedish Air Force Historic Flight (SwAFHF), will make a debut appearance.
https://www.visitsouthport.com/airshow/information/product-catch-all/saab-viggen-swafhf-p456741
Ooh! Very cool! I had no idea that they’d managed to get one back in the air - that won’t be cheap to run!
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I thought that the Viggen was a Mirage until I saw the canards. It was a bit of a surprise to see it flying out of Blackpool rather than Warton. Saab were in partnership with BAe making Gripens for a while, but that fell apart after a bribery scandal over the supply of planes to South Africa.
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Which is a shame - the Gripen is a very good aircraft. I thought Blackpool was closed now?
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Gripens are still being made, BAe are no longer partners. Blackpool still has flights to the Isle of Man and Belfast, but the main terminal has been demolished.
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I'm pretty sure a Huey (accompanied by a smaller helicopter) just flew over my house.
I could hear The Doors playing in my mind.
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Two days ago, two of those bloody noisy Osprey things, at about 200ft altitude (i.e. less than twice the height of the trees) precisely over my house. Piss off, Americans, go and annoy your own residents, and stop frightening our local horses, sheep and cattle. I don't mind our own forces training at low level (but as far as I can tell, this area isn't approved for ultra low level flying), but other countries forces can just bog off.
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Bank holiday weekend, at the Shrewsbury festival. Hear NOISE outside, so rush out, to see rear end* of Dakota disappearing eastwards. Any knowledge?
*I assume the front end was still attached...
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Bank holiday weekend, at the Shrewsbury festival. Hear NOISE outside, so rush out, to see rear end* of Dakota disappearing eastwards. Any knowledge?
*I assume the front end was still attached...
If it's the BBMF one it had to make an unscheduled landing at Manchester yesterday after engine problems.
Yeah I know unconnected to Shrewsbury.
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According to the site linked below, the BBMF Dakota was scheduled to appear at the Little Gransden Air & Car show on August 25, and at the Uffington White Horse show on August 26:
https://www.military-airshows.co.uk/press19/bbmfschedule2019.htm
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The Royal Air Force used a lot of US-made kit in WW2. The story of the Merlin engine is one of the most illuminating on that score. You're better off with a Packard or Ford of Britain engine, as they are built to mass-production tolerances, so the spares fit more easily.
While Rolls-Royce’s manufacturing techniques churned out very high quality engines, they simply didn’t jibe with Packard’s way of doing things (or Ford in Manchester for that matter). In his book “Not Much of An Engineer”, Rolls-Royce engineer Sir Stanley Hooker recalls his introduction to the matter with Ford:
“One day their Chief Engineer appeared in Lovesey’s office, which I was then sharing, and said, ‘You know, we can’t make the Merlin to these drawings.’
I replied loftily, ‘I suppose that is because the drawing tolerances are too difficult for you, and you can’t achieve the accuracy.’
‘On the contrary’ he replied, ‘the tolerances are far too wide for us.’ We make motor cars far more accurately than this. Every part on our car engines has to be interchangeable with the same part on any other engine, and hence all parts have to be made with extreme accuracy, far closer than you use. That is the only way we can achieve mass-production.’”
I've been looking for a good article on Merlins, and this is excellent, apart from the slip on metric, which is corrected in the text.
https://www.tested.com/art/makers/492418-packard-merlin-how-detroit-mass-produced-britains-hand-built-powerhouse/
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Anyone at Duxford (http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/duxford-battle-of-britain-air-show-2019) this weekend?
I plan to be there on Saturday.
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soem 2-engined airliner body thing overhead today, too low and in the wrong place for Stansted. Followed shortly by a Rivet-Joint again. Didn't get to the camera in time
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soem 2-engined airliner body thing overhead today, too low and in the wrong place for Stansted. Followed shortly by a Rivet-Joint again. Didn't get to the camera in time
Probably a P-8 Poseidon - there's been a shedload of NATO patrol and electronic intel aircraft in the air over the Baltic today.
https://twitter.com/stockotrader/status/1174746657017257984
via this thread: https://twitter.com/balticjam/status/1174759048538939392
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Could have been, it was 2 engined and grey, didn't spot markings though.
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Jetfest at North Weald this coming weekend (27-29 Sept) might promise some interesting aviation around the M11 corridor though I don't see any mention of the Vampire that's stationed there but there is rumour of a Jaguar attending... it's basically a glorified fly-in so no display flying, but might prove interesting nevertheless...
Confirmed aircraft list:
S=Static
F=Flying (Normal Operations)
T=Engine start and Fast Taxy
S&F = Static & Flying (Normal Operations
JetFest:
HAAF Westland Scout AH1 – XT626 (G-CIBW) S - Saturday Only✅
Royal Air Force Puma HC2 (tail number TBC)S - Saturday Only ✅
Bell UH-1 Huey (G-HUEY) S&F ✅
Hunting Jet Provost MK3 (G-BKOU) S&F ✅
BAC Omani Strikemaster MK82A (G-SOAF) S ✅ Flying TBC
BAC Saudi Strikemaster MK80A (G-RSAF) S ✅ Flying TBC
Hawker Hunter T.8.C (WV322) S ✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A (G-BWOT) S&F ✅
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XW550 (Cockpit Section) S ✅
Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (G-DLFN) S&F ✅
Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (G-BYCT) S&F ✅
Folland Gnat Tmk1 XR538 (G-RORI) S&F ✅
Folland Gnat T1 XR992 (G-MOUR) S&F ✅
Folland Gnat T1 XS104 (G-FRCE) S ✅
Folland Gnat T1 XR537 (G-NATY) S✅
Indian Air Force Folland Gnat F.1 E296 (G-SLYR) S&T ✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5A (G-BWGF) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5B (G-BWSG) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM424 (G-BWDS) S (F-TBC✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM479 (G-BVEZ) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.4 XR673 (G-BXLO) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T5P XS230 (G-VIVM) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T52 (XS228 or G-PROV) S (F-TBC) ✅
LIM 5 (Mig 17F.Fresco) S ✅
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-CBSK) S ✅
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-ZZLE) S ✅
Aerospatiele Gazelle (G-CBSI) S ✅
HPH 304S Shark (G-CLSH) S ✅
Aerobility PA28-161 (G-BSYY)) S ✅
Aerobility Tecnam P2002 JF S ✅
VintageFest:
Consolidated PBY Catalina (G-PBYA) S ✅ Flying TBC
Douglas C54 Skymaster S ✅
Douglas DC3 Dakota KP220 (G-ANAF) S&F ✅
C47 Dakota 'Drag Em Oot' (N473DC) S ✅
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX TD314 (G-CGYJ) S&F ✅
Supermarine Spitfire MkIXT NH341 S&F ✅
North American T6 Mk.IIb Harvard FT391 (G-AZBN) S&F ✅
North American T6G Harvard 49-3209 (G-DDMV) S&F ✅
Taylorcraft Auster AOP.9.0 WZ706 or (G-BURR) S (F-TBC✅
Slepcev Storch (G-BZOB) S ✅ (Friday and Saturday only)
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82a (G-AOZH) S&F ✅
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82 K4259 (G-AMNO) S&F ✅
De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82 (G-PWBE) S&F ✅
Piper Cub (G-BILI)S ✅
Piper Cub (G-BOXJ) S✅
Piper Cub (G-BROR) S ✅
Piper Cub (G-BBLH) S ✅
Beagle Pup (G-AZFA) S ✅
Cessna BirdDog (G-JDOG) S✅
Thruxton Jackaroo (G-AOIR) S&F ✅
Percival Prentice (VR259) S&F ✅
Boeing Stearman N2S-3 Kaydet‘07539 - 143’(N63590) S✅
Boeing Stearman A75N1 (G-BTFG) S ✅ (TBC)
Beech 18 (G-BKGL) S ✅
De Havilland Dragonfly G-AEDU S ✅
De Havilland Hornet Moth G-AHBL S ✅
Miles Falcon G-AEEG S ✅
Civilian Coupe G-ABNT S ✅
ChipFest:
De Havilland Chipmunk WG308 (G-BYHL) S&F ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk 1350 (G-CGAO) S&F ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-HDAE) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-APLO) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-ATHD) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBMN) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCPU) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBMO) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCGC) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXDN) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BARS) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-DHPM) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BBND) S ✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BCEY) S✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-AOJR) S✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-APYG) S✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXGP) S✅
De Havilland Chipmunk (G-BXGL)S ✅
BullFest:
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBFP) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BPCL) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GGRR) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBEH) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-KDOG) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BULL) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BHXA) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GRRR) S ✅
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My dad worked on half of those jets in 27 years in the RAF. I wonder if I flew in any of those chipmunks as an air cadet?
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Anyone at Duxford (http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/duxford-battle-of-britain-air-show-2019) this weekend?
I plan to be there on Saturday.
I was tempted but unfortunately we have too much to do on the house. 'My' spitfire is in the 20+ Spitfire flypast which will be quite a spectacle
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Jetfest at North Weald this coming weekend (27-29 Sept) might promise some interesting aviation around the M11 corridor though I don't see any mention of the Vampire that's stationed there but there is rumour of a Jaguar attending... it's basically a glorified fly-in so no display flying, but might prove interesting nevertheless...
Confirmed aircraft list:
S=Static
F=Flying (Normal Operations)
T=Engine start and Fast Taxy
S&F = Static & Flying (Normal Operations
JetFest:
Bell UH-1 Huey (G-HUEY) S&F ✅
Hunting Jet Provost MK3 (G-BKOU) S&F ✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A (G-BWOT) S&F ✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5A (G-BWGF) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk5B (G-BWSG) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM424 (G-BWDS) S (F-TBC✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.Mk3A XM479 (G-BVEZ) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T.4 XR673 (G-BXLO) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T5P XS230 (G-VIVM) S (F-TBC)✅
Hunting Jet Provost T52 (XS228 or G-PROV) S (F-TBC) ✅
BullFest:
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBFP) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BPCL) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GGRR) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-CBEH) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-KDOG) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BULL) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-BHXA) S ✅
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (G-GRRR) S ✅
JP3 G-BWOT (was XN459 at the time) is in my logbook. G-BKOU (XN637) is the adjacent production item to the JP3 I first flew solo (XN636). Two of the Chipmunks listed belong to friends of mine, and of the Bulldogs (on which I have around 1100 hours), G-KDOG (XX624) is notable for being the aeroplane in which I and my mate Nick Stein visited 70 airfields in and around Yorkshire on 8 May 1989 as part of the Dawn till Dusk competition, in which we won the Coventry Trophy and Pooley Sword.
(https://i.imgur.com/WwaOzLK.jpg)
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That's not a bad list.
I flew several Chipmunk flights in the Air cadets before they were replaced by the Bulldog but we only got two flights a year if we were lucky. My 3822 is buried in a box somewhere, I'd have to see if I've flown any of those. Sadly it was my second 3822, I lost the first so the first two chippy flights I wrote in myself and I don't have the pilots signature or serial number for those. I only recall flying the Bulldog once or twice.
I went and did my Bronze and Silver gliding badges in Grob 109 Vigilants at Halton so went to the bottom of the list for powered flights in my squadron. Having said that the Vigilant flying was all powered anyway as the RAF at the time didn't let us switch the engines off on the 'gliding' courses.
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I did much the same, pre-bulldog days though.
Did my gliding course on the old Ventures at RAF Benson, and then did my 40 hours of Flying Scholarship on Cessna 150/152s. Didn't take it any further, as a PSO at the time. I may have my old "desmond's" in a drawer somewhere.
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Four ME109s and six Spitfires chasing one another around in circles, with added aerial and terrestial explosions for effect. I’m at the Battle of Britain airshow at Duxford.
ETA - Later in the day, a mass flypast of 23 Spitfires. Which, as far as noise is concerned, is pretty impressive.
Would recommend.
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Our new toy, taken by my mate Ian Black:
(https://i.imgur.com/qErSOXq.jpg)
How it was done: Virgin Blog (https://blog.virginatlantic.com/behind-the-scenes-a350-air-to-air-photography/)
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Our new toy, taken by my mate Ian Black:
(https://i.imgur.com/qErSOXq.jpg)
How it was done: Virgin Blog (https://blog.virginatlantic.com/behind-the-scenes-a350-air-to-air-photography/)
Fantastic link there, thank you.
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Great read, I was thinking all along "that looks like a..." and read
"the Strikemaster is a development of the Jet Provost trainer that first flew in the 1950s."
Great pics, I've tried aerial photos myself during my air cadet days, not easy at all
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I was kind of surprised they weren't using longer lenses. How close would be the planes be to each other during this exercise?
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A350......
This cow is small but near ;)
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I was kind of surprised they weren't using longer lenses. How close would be the planes be to each other during this exercise?
Not sure. I’ll ask Ian over the next day or two.
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On Saturday, for 50 minutes or so, this was me, in the rear seat, albeit flying it at times:
Click on the pictures to run the videos.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48859181722_1c636582cb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hrw5uS)trim 11 (https://flic.kr/p/2hrw5uS) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48871463643_8de9f5f5d0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hsB2u8)Video 05-10-2019, 11 03 44 (https://flic.kr/p/2hsB2u8) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48857846711_b4c6046baa_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hrpeDr)trim12 (https://flic.kr/p/2hrpeDr) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48884699813_2512a680f3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2htLS8X)Trim44 (https://flic.kr/p/2htLS8X) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48872037157_2ff1821ece_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hsDXYi)Trim7 (https://flic.kr/p/2hsDXYi) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48857662288_f20d13d516_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hrohPJ)trim 17 (https://flic.kr/p/2hrohPJ) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48871545463_54a23494cc_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hsBrNP)Video 05-10-2019, 11 38 58 (https://flic.kr/p/2hsBrNP) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
Click on the pictures to put them into motion.
Or
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hrw5uS)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hsB2u8)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hrpeDr)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2htLS8X)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hsDXYi)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hrohPJ)
Clicky (https://flic.kr/p/2hsBrNP)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48871791771_9f2bb3bdea_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hsCH2v)Photo 05-10-2019, 11 43 43 (https://flic.kr/p/2hsCH2v) by jurekb (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurekb/), on Flickr
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Blimey. How fast are you going? Do you get a running commentary from the pilot? What was that maneuver when it all went nbsiqe pomu at 1:11? How long were you up for? I'.m guessing the trip was Biggin-Dover-Biggin.
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Awesome! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: glad I convinced you (although I'm guessing you didn't need much convincing). What did you think? Did you take the controls?
Interesting they do the camera from behind so you can see where you are going. My video in the Grace spit is pointed at my face throughout so all you can see is my silly grin for half an hour! I like the air to air, that's a nice piece of video. Mrs Trekker bought my flight and they didn't sell her the air-air camera plane option, I'd have to do it again to get that ;)
I was watching 'Spitfire' again at the weekend and Geoffrey Wellum was right when he said you never forget a flight in a Spitfire!
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Blimey. How fast are you going? Do you get a running commentary from the pilot? What was that maneuver when it all went nbsiqe pomu at 1:11? How long were you up for? I'.m guessing the trip was Biggin-Dover-Biggin.
Couldn't tell you how fast, but I can tell you that you feel everything in this aircraft. In communication with the pilot at all times other than during take-off and landing. That maneuver was us peeling off from the chase plane in which were my sister, her husband and a couple of my friends. a victory roll. After which I was given control of the aircraft and I flew us down to Cuckmere Haven. It is incredibly sensitive to controls, and you can operate it with literally just two fingers. The trip should've lasted 45 minutes, in reality we were up for something like 55 minutes.(The shortest 55 minutes of my life).
When we reached Cuckmere Haven, the Commander took over the controls and turned left. Keen students will have spotted Beachy Head lighthouse just under the left wingtip. We turned around just before we reached Eastbourne and whilst passing Beachy Head lighthouse for a second time the Commander executed a victory roll. Back inland via Cuckmere Haven I once again took the controls and flew us back to Biggin Hill, under instruction from the Commander, where he executed a surprisingly smooth landing. We were then given a tour around the workshops (It's the largest Spitfire restoration facility in the world) and were invited to avail ourselves of the lounge area to stay and observe as much as we wished. At which point we broke out the tinned G&Ts, Dianne Abbot stylee. We were there at ten in the morning, there was about half an hour of safety video to be watched, I think I was in the air at around 11:00, and the taxi didn't come to collect us until 14:15.
I have to say with out any hesitation whatsoever, that this is the most exhilerating thing I have ever done in my life. Way, way beyond any expectations I may've had, and worth every penny.
I showed the footage to my client this morning to which she commented that it is nice to have these once in a lifetime experiences.
To which I replied by asking 'What do you mean, once?'
I have every intention of repeating the experience.
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Awesome! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: glad I convinced you (although I'm guessing you didn't need much convincing). What did you think? Did you take the controls?
Interesting they do the camera from behind so you can see where you are going. My video in the Grace spit is pointed at my face throughout so all you can see is my silly grin for half an hour! I like the air to air, that's a nice piece of video. Mrs Trekker bought my flight and they didn't sell her the air-air camera plane option, I'd have to do it again to get that ;)
I was watching 'Spitfire' again at the weekend and Geoffrey Wellum was right when he said you never forget a flight in a Spitfire!
My Bold
I think you've summed it up there, very well.
I had a camera behind me as well as one facing me - as well as the one on the strut of the Sky Van.
In addition to the iPhones being brandished by my guests in the chase plane.
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Cool. Who was the pilot?
I intend to repeat the experience as well although probably not a Spitfire. Ultimate Warbirds have a two seat Mustang and Me109. It would be interesting to compare. I've thought long and hard about going for my PPL but I'd never advance far enough to solo something like that so I think it's better to use the money every now and again and ride in something different each time.
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Blimey. How fast are you going? Do you get a running commentary from the pilot? What was that maneuver when it all went nbsiqe pomu at 1:11? How long were you up for? I'.m guessing the trip was Biggin-Dover-Biggin.
Couldn't tell you how fast, but I can tell you that feel everything in this aircraft.
Oh and we did the victory roll in the Grace spit at 260mph and 280 to do a loop so i assume you were doing similar for that and around 180 in the level. They don't take the engines to anywhere near wartime boost levels to extend their life. I still can't imagine what full power would have been like in the day or even fighting a war in one.
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Git! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Couldn't tell you how fast
Forgot the Garmin? Pah!
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Git! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wot 'e said ^^^.
A Spit nearly put us off the road once. Air display near Edinburgh, us going past, missus driving, Spit comes roaring over hedge from left, I yell "Spitfire!" in surprise and her steering goes all wobbly.
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BelugaXL on final into Saint Nazaire a couple of days ago as I was heading their. Ride past the airport but unfortunately it had already taken off and was climbing into the clouds, heck of a takeoff angle and climb rate!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191010/49bd6b642462cd3a82a6e23363c297f2.jpg)
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BelugaXL on final into Saint Nazaire a couple of days ago as I was heading their. Ride past the airport but unfortunately it had already taken off and was climbing into the clouds, heck of a takeoff angle and climb rate!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191010/49bd6b642462cd3a82a6e23363c297f2.jpg)
That's a beast.
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Errr...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48876971626_920393a67f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ht6fPm)
IMG_4103_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2ht6fPm) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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The "People Who Park Like ....." thread is that --> way. :)
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Errr...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48876971626_920393a67f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ht6fPm)
IMG_4103_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2ht6fPm) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
That building is a bit Giles Gilbert Scott. But it's not Bankside power station, nor is it the Guinness brewery at Park Royal....
Hmmmmm....
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It's in Utrecht
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G-KDOG (XX624) is notable for being the aeroplane in which I and my mate Nick Stein visited 70 airfields in and around Yorkshire on 8 May 1989 as part of the Dawn till Dusk competition, in which we won the Coventry Trophy and Pooley Sword.
(https://i.imgur.com/WwaOzLK.jpg)
I have about 3 hours in the bulldog. The flying group/school I was in, was primarily using Beagle Pubs, but also had this Bulldog:
(http://skysport-uk.com/Pictures/hongkongbulldog.jpg)
Incidentally, we also flew out of North Weald (and Elstree, but no one liked Elstree)
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On Saturday, for 50 minutes or so, this was me, in the rear seat, albeit flying it at times:
Jurek, nice to see you today and thanks for telling me about this trip. It looks absolutely awesome.
Tim
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It's in Utrecht
The (former) post office building?
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Inkpot building, IIRC
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Saw an Osprey flying over Eastington this morning. First for me.
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Our new toy, taken by my mate Ian Black:
(https://i.imgur.com/qErSOXq.jpg)
How it was done: Virgin Blog (https://blog.virginatlantic.com/behind-the-scenes-a350-air-to-air-photography/)
Only just seen this Tim - as Hatler says - Fascinating.
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What might, just possibly, have been a B1 with unswept wings doing circuits and bumps at Fairford just after 1600. Light was going fast so I'd take that identification with a large pinch of salt.
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Lot of activity at Fairford last few days
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Not a B1. Almost certainly a U2. Saw one heading in mid-afternoon today.
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Yep, U2 was up out of Fairford this week, headed up to 60000 and then disappeared ;)
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Didn't get a photo as didnt have phone with me but there were two Ospreys flew 3 circuits round the village in the last half hour. Not seen them over the Wolds before
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This just flew over Furryboottoon: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9221510
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And now this: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9072723
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XP-82 (https://youtu.be/WQP0IHH3FTs)
Not in real life, but the above link came up as a suggested video.
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Lots of F-15 activity yesterday, rather loud and rather low straight over the house, no camera as I was out in the garden weeding
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XP-82 (https://youtu.be/WQP0IHH3FTs)
Not in real life, but the above link came up as a suggested video.
That's pretty awesome :thumbsup:
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A four engined big thing looking like a Voyager has just flow over, very low.
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A four engined big thing looking like a Voyager has just flow over, very low.
Not sure where you are, but it was probably this (much larger than a Voyager): https://youtu.be/TNXKzZzK2i4
TLDW: Hi Fly are using an ex-Virgin Atlantic A340-600 to operate cargo charters between China and UK to pick up PPE.
Correction. It’s Maleth Aero, not Hi-Fly (who now own most of the ex VS 340s at Bournemouth).
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Interesting. It was difficult to tell, as I glimpsed it between roofs, it looked grey. Also it didn't show up on a plane tracker app.
We often get stuff headed for Brize Norton here, also Fairford.
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Apparently it was a USAF KC135 tanker
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Apparently it was a USAF KC135 tanker
Ah, a dinky little thing - considerably smaller than a Voyager. I should have remembered where you were, sorry!
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Obviously it was closer than I thought! ;D
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The 135 is a development of the Boeing 367-80 (which Tex Johnstone famously rolled with the press on board), which also gave rise to the larger Boeing 707 - itself the basis of the E-3 AWACS. Physically, it's a bit bigger than a Boeing 737-800 but quite a bit heavier at 135 tonnes. The Voyager is around 60ft wider and longer and 100 tonnes heavier.
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Voyager is twin engined. In 2 years time Fairford will be home to 4 engined RC-135 aircraft from Mildenhall.
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Yes, I've been in a Voyager on a refuelling flight. Much fun!
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About an hour ago, some sort of military helicopter flying over some of the posh bits of Bristol. Don't know whether RAF, army or navy but grey and quite a different shape from the police and ambulance helicopters, as well as neither landing on the hospital nor hovering over Easton.
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The 135 is a development of the Boeing 367-80 (which Tex Johnstone famously rolled with the press on board), which also gave rise to the larger Boeing 707 - itself the basis of the E-3 AWACS. Physically, it's a bit bigger than a Boeing 737-800 but quite a bit heavier at 135 tonnes. The Voyager is around 60ft wider and longer and 100 tonnes heavier.
I always thought the C135 series were developed from the airliner itself, thanks.
Apparently it was a USAF KC135 tanker
The USAnian tankers notable for the little winglets on their boom of course, if they are close enough. RAF tankers by the pods under the wings, or in the case of the TriStar, stripes on its bum for the pilots to line up on.
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The 135 is a development of the Boeing 367-80 (which Tex Johnstone famously rolled with the press on board), which also gave rise to the larger Boeing 707 - itself the basis of the E-3 AWACS. Physically, it's a bit bigger than a Boeing 737-800 but quite a bit heavier at 135 tonnes. The Voyager is around 60ft wider and longer and 100 tonnes heavier.
I always thought the C135 series were developed from the airliner itself, thanks.
Apparently it was a USAF KC135 tanker
The USAnian tankers notable for the little winglets on their boom of course, if they are close enough. RAF tankers by the pods under the wings, or in the case of the TriStar, stripes on its bum for the pilots to line up on.
The TriStar is long gone, thank goodness. Worst aeroplane I ever refuelled from. The efflux from the centre engine, even though it was kept at idle when refuelling Hercs, really gave our fin a hard time. It was ok to travel on as a passenger, however, and had a lovely flight deck. A very clever DLC system as well, which was a precursor to full fly-by-wire.
All tankers have guidelines on them, though they are different for the various hose locations and refuelling methods. It’s only the US Air Force that uses the boom system, the US Navy and Marines use hose-and-drogue as we do, which is why they don’t have any KC135s.
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Did i not once read a rather good essay about the chap who invented air to air refuelling? He had to fund the development himself and set up a company. then demonstrate the usefulness to the MoD.
I shall not Google - leaving room for interesting comments here.
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Did i not once read a rather good essay about the chap who invented air to air refuelling? He had to fund the development himself and set up a company. then demonstrate the usefulness to the MoD.
See also the jet engine and the MOD War Office ignoring Frank Whittle for over ten years until he setup Power Jets Ltd and built a working engine.
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Did i not once read a rather good essay about the chap who invented air to air refuelling? He had to fund the development himself and set up a company. then demonstrate the usefulness to the MoD.
I shall not Google - leaving room for interesting comments here.
Former race pilot Alan Cobham, as I recall.
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It was indeed. See also HMG handing it all over to FORNERS.
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It was indeed. See also HMG handing it all over to FORNERS.
Same with the jet engine gave it to USA and the USSR.
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It was indeed. See also HMG handing it all over to FORNERS.
Sam with the jet engine gave it to USA and the USSR.
We certainly gave* the CCCP the Nene. AIUI the septics were jolly pissed off about being up against MIGs powered by Nene clones. I always assumed that the Yanks went with Whittle's published patents and whatever they hem hem acquired of the German jet programme in the post war divvying up of German weapon tech.
*I think commercially the deal was reckoned a bit of a success, politically and militarily perhaps not the brightest thing we could have done.
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This just flew over Furryboottoon:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901162917_ac520c10a4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2j2AvcT)
IMG_3337_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2j2AvcT) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9537858
Looks like it's had a busy day. It went to Humberside before here and it looks like it's going to Glasgow. https://www.flightradar24.com/ASCOT485/24824b2a
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I expect I’ll see it just before it lands then :)
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I followed it at FlightRadar24 and it's been all over the place today: Brize Norton - Humberside - Aberdeen - Glasgow - Guernsey - Bristol - Brize Norton. It seems that it did a couple of landings at each airport, taking off again immediately without stopping ???
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There are a lot of pilots being called back to the (very undermanned) RAF from the airlines just now, and most of them will be taking up reservist posts - ie 'weekend warrior' type stuff. This sort of flight is a great way of getting training for quite a few people in one flight.
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There are a lot of pilots being called back to the (very undermanned) RAF from the airlines just now, and most of them will be taking up reservist posts - ie 'weekend warrior' type stuff. This sort of flight is a great way of getting training for quite a few people in one flight.
Interesting. Why does the RAF need to increase its pilot count at the moment? Is it too many pilots down with CV-19 or something else?
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No, it's simply failed to attract enough suitable candidates over the past few years, and the delays that it's built into its flying training system through its public-private partnership with Ascent, which is using the bare minimum of equipment (for instance 12 T-6 Texan II aircraft replaced around 150 Tucanos) has prompted many student pilots to give up and leave. The only fleet in the RAF that's fully-manned with pilots is the (also public-private) A330 Voyager, and the reason for that is all the guys engineering their way on to it so that they can get their civilian licences! The Services collectively approached the airlines a couple of weeks ago to offer re-entry up to age 57, and they are even proposing to take people who've never been in the military (with a quick basic military training course). It's opportunistic, and it won't fix their long-term problems, but it's happening.
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Maybe I should have joined up after all! With dad's final posting at Brize Norton, i know plenty of pilots who did just what you say, VC10 and TriStar who did their time and left. One of my neighbours went to Cathay Pacific for example, no idea what he's doing now.
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Yes, we trained quite a few AirTanker (the civilian side of the A330 Voyager operation) pilots, and both they and former VC10, L1011, A400, C17 and C130 pilots have been regular recruits for Virgin. I myself came from 22 years in the RAF (mostly C130, but also Hunter, Hawk, Lightning and 5 years QFI-ing on Bulldogs) when I joined Virgin in 1998.
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My friends dad was one of the pilots in the famous 21 ship Hunter loop Tim.
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Yes, we trained quite a few AirTanker (the civilian side of the A330 Voyager operation) pilots, and both they and former VC10, L1011, A400, C17 and C130 pilots have been regular recruits for Virgin. I myself came from 22 years in the RAF (mostly C130, but also Hunter, Hawk, Lightning and 5 years QFI-ing on Bulldogs) when I joined Virgin in 1998.
If you were on hunters and C130s, then theres a high likelihood you came across my dad at some point. He did 28years altogether, PVR in the early 90s. He was on a hunter squadron during the Oman insurgency, and was his last posting was to Brize in about 85. He was on MSS for VC10 and hercs.
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My friends dad was one of the pilots in the famous 21 ship Hunter loop Tim.
I think we've had that conversation before, Pat. Was he 111Sqn or one of the supporting cast? I knew quite a few of the guys who were part of that record loop, as they were very much contemporaries of my Dad, who commanded 111 Sqn on Lightnings at the end of the 1960s. My own time on Hunters was short; I did the Tactical Weapons Unit course on the FGA9 on 2TWU at RAF Lossiemouth in 1979.
Dave, I did visit Oman quite a bit, but the insurgency was technically over before I ever went there. I joined the C130 fleet in 1980 on LXX Sqn then 24 Sqn, so it's quite likely I knew your Dad. I left in 1987 to go and do my QFI time, then returned at the end of 1991 firstly on 30 Sqn then as an instructor on the OCU.
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Captain (then Flt. Lt) Will Scarlett. He was 1 Sqn I think (that's what the 22 loop list I have seen says) and flew XE584 in the loop formation. He was position 5-3 in the loop. The cockpit section of XE584 still exists and is at The Aeroplane Collection, Hooton Park, Ellesmere Port.
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Hooton Park - another very historic place. The WW1 hangars were derelict last time I heard anything about the place. Has one or more been restored now?
I've just checked my logbook to see if XE584 was ever upgraded to FGA9 status and made its way up north, but sadly not. XE597 was the nearest I flew. I wonder if I flew any of the others that were involved? They'd all have been F6s then, I believe.
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In which case my father is also a contemporary I think? He was OC of the C130 OCU around 1980 and then the transport fleet Examining Unit before retirement in about 1990.
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You're going to have to help me there, Paul. I did my original conversion to the C130 in early 1980, and flew with EU a number of times over the years. He may be in my logbook, but I've got 7000 hours on Fat Albert and I'm not searching all of them now!
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https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/18462890.many-raf-planes-seen-uk-lockdown/
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The Spitfire which I flew last October (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.msg2433483#msg2433483) was one of the aircraft of the RAF Canadian fighter squadron.
I found out, the other day, that the squadron commanding officer was Douglas Bader.
:thumbsup:
Chocks away!
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No photo, but a couple of single engine, propeller driven WWII era planes flew at low level over the middle of York a few minutes ago. tar1090.adsbexchange.com suggests one was a Hurricane, but doesn't show the second one. Looks like it's heading back to Woodhall Spa just now.
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https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/18462890.many-raf-planes-seen-uk-lockdown/
Great caption.
This is an Airbus A400M Atlas, the type of airfact seen over Glasgow in recent weeks (Image: RAF)
As opposed to an airfake, for instance.
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The Spitfire which I flew last October (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.msg2433483#msg2433483) was one of the aircraft of the RAF Canadian fighter squadron.
I found out, the other day, that the squadron commanding officer was Douglas Bader.
:thumbsup:
Chocks away!
Sorry Jurek, but are you sure about that? I believe you flew in MJ627 which was operated by the RCAF in 441 squadron in 1944. Bader was the leader of 242 sqn in 1940 which was mostly Canadian pilots but still part of the British RAF. Bader moved from 242 (taking a few of his Canadian mates with him) and led a wing during late 40 into early 41 before being shot down and taken prisoner for the remainder of the war in the spring. 242 moved to the Far East for a while and wikipedia says re-formed on spits and operated in the middle east and med theatres.
MJ627 still has it's own illustrious career, shooting down a ME109 during the battle of Arnhem (a bridge too far)
The Biggin Hill hanger has a two seat Hurricane now (built near me here at Elmsett in Suffolk), fancy a comparison flight?!
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The Biggin Hill hanger has a two seat Hurricane now...
I really wish you hadn't told me that. Never wanted to fly in a Spitfire, but a Hurricane? Oh yes please.
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The Biggin Hill hanger has a two seat Hurricane now...
I really wish you hadn't told me that. Never wanted to fly in a Spitfire, but a Hurricane? Oh yes please.
Does not compute. ???
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The Biggin Hill hanger has a two seat Hurricane now...
I really wish you hadn't told me that. Never wanted to fly in a Spitfire, but a Hurricane? Oh yes please.
Does not compute. ???
To me it means riding both, the pretty one is still going to be the best though :-X
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The Biggin Hill hanger has a two seat Hurricane now...
I really wish you hadn't told me that. Never wanted to fly in a Spitfire, but a Hurricane? Oh yes please.
Does not compute. ???
To me it means riding both, the pretty one is still going to be the best though :-X
I grant you that the Supermarine machine is, technologically and aerodynamically, a better aeroplane, but it leaves me cold.
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That counts as treachery in these febrile times, doesnt it?
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Indeed. Mr Lurker can expect a visit from a group of drooling potato-faced organisms dressed as Kniggets Templar, who will denounce him for being UnPaTrIoTiC. Because they they get hopelessly confused by the Sydney Camm - Wunibald Kamm conundrum.
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I didn't get a photo (was out jogging and phone was tucked away).
An Apache, complete with stuff that looked like munitions on its pylons, flying low circuits over the fens.
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I didn't get a photo (was out jogging and phone was tucked away).
An Apache, complete with stuff that looked like munitions on its pylons, flying low circuits over the fens.
Two of them over my garden a couple of days ago. They’ve been busy in the last couple of weeks - someone’s found some money for training after months of inactivity at Wattisham (about three miles up the road from me).
(https://i.imgur.com/S63uyXD.jpg)
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Question for TimC...
Actually one posed by a cycling mate as we rode past Kemble airfield. There is an airliner salvage company there, but it also looks like large airliners might be stored there at present.
My mate wondered who flew them there (retired aircraft and stored ones) He thought it might be a private company that moves jets about, but I wondered whether it would be a normal rostered airline pilot, given they'd need to be used to flying each type.
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Red Arrows & their French mates this afternoon
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TK8J2Fmqjno/XuueVIN6VCI/AAAAAAADVcc/abCjIR47VRclxvrKHZPCxBKLhB-cUVH5gCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_20200618_170106.jpg)
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Question for TimC...
Actually one posed by a cycling mate as we rode past Kemble airfield. There is an airliner salvage company there, but it also looks like large airliners might be stored there at present.
My mate wondered who flew them there (retired aircraft and stored ones) He thought it might be a private company that moves jets about, but I wondered whether it would be a normal rostered airline pilot, given they'd need to be used to flying each type.
Usually it’ll be contract pilots. Places like Kemble are a little small for the big jets, so you need people who are used to the difficulties of operating in and out of there in something the size of a 747. I do remember we retired some of our 747-200s there many years ago. Our own guys did the delivery flights, and wished they hadn’t! Even really light, as the aircraft tend to be when they’re going for scrap, a runway of around 5000’ is very tight for a 747. Our normal minimum would be 7000’.
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Might be a lot more 747s soon. I heard BA stopped training programs for them
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Might be a lot more 747s soon. I heard BA stopped training programs for them
They are all being wound down from passenger service by all airlines. Still a lot of freight ones though.
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Not so much interesting or unusual planes, more interesting flight paths.
I have noticed several times over the last week a C17 Globemaster flying into/out of Farnborough. In itself unusual as FAB only has permission for biz jets up to 737 size. The other day I tracked it flying to Papa in Hungary and this morning it flew in and within 30-60 minutes took off again and is currently over Northern France on a similar flight path presumably heading for Hungary again.
Anyone any thoughts? The only details Flightradar24 is displaying is the aircraft type.
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Who's C17 was it does Flight Radar say, RAF, USAF ?
Edit. They probably belong to SAC which provides a strategic heavy lift capability for a consortium of countries. SAC C17s are based at Papa in Hungary.
https://www.sacprogram.org/en/Pages/The%20Strategic%20Airlift%20Capability.aspx
No idea why they are flying in and out of Farnborough though.
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You're spot-on there Mr Colbeck. Those are the tail markings. I see that the UK is not part of SAC.
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You're spot-on there Mr Colbeck. Those are the tail markings. I see that the UK is not part of SAC.
The UK doesn't need to be, because it has sufficient heavy strategic airlift capability c/o 8 C-17s. The SAC program is intended to give the smaller members of NATO access to heavy airlift that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford by themselves.
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I can see that but I commented on that fact in puzzlement due to the SAC C-17 landing here.
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(https://i.imgur.com/5Evdyq8.jpg)
My current ride, C-FGGB
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Not jealous.
Not in the slightest.
Probably noisy as well.
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Built in 1952 :o
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Helichopters flies in the face of nature, so they does.
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Well, first solo today:
(https://i.imgur.com/BpA51kp.jpg)
This time in the much more modern C-FKGU (1956)
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Helichopters flies in the face of nature, so they does.
Helicopters can't fly; they just beat the air into submission/they're just so loud and ugly that the earth repels them. :demon:
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...they're just so loud and ugly that the earth repels them.
Noo, noo, no. The earth is so in awe of them it just steps back to admire them. :)
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In my next life.........
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Well, first solo today:
(https://i.imgur.com/BpA51kp.jpg)
This time in the much more modern C-FKGU (1956)
The visibility from one of those bubble canopies must be awesome.
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My Dad went up in one of those when he was in the army in Aden in the early 60s. Scared the crap out of him.
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The only whirly thing I've ever been up in was this, way back in 1974. I seem to recall it was fun.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/c1/J9XuAZIN_o.jpg) (https://imgbox.com/J9XuAZIN)
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Well, first solo today:
(https://i.imgur.com/BpA51kp.jpg)
This time in the much more modern C-FKGU (1956)
Very cool.
I was offered a flight in one of those when I was about four or five, but declined (too scared I think). One of the few regrets I have in life.
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Spent many happy minutes as a passenger in various helichopters (Wessex, Lynx, Puma, Twin Squirrel), some flying knap of the earth which, if you're not ready for it can be a bit alarming.
Being weightless in a Lynx or looking straight out the side door at the very adjacent surface of a Norn Irish Loch from a Lynx doing low level 90 degree banked (or so it felt) turns are memories I cherish.
Wish I could have sat in the door of a Scout, feet on the skids, over the jungles of Belize though.
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Spent many happy minutes ....
And countless terrified hours? :)
There's been what I assume to be a KC-135 Tanker (or something very like) stooging around here the last week or five. Doing circuits & bumps at Fairford the other night.
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I'm glad I've not renewed my offshore training, helicopters were by far the worst part of that job, get dressed in a rubber suit, with a bulky lifejacket and escape set and sit in that for up to two hours sweating your arse off becasue you are wearing 3-layers under it in the winter.
My thoughts on helicopters are also coloured by being on G-REDL the day before it crashed killing 16 people coming back from the Miller platform. Apparently they had already found anomalies in the gearbox, e-mailed Eurocopter adn carried on flying until they got an answer. My dad was on an RAF Puma coming back from the continent. He did an inspection when they landed at Manston and found that one of the blades was about 20 mins from failure. In response he designed a blade-wear indicator (didn't get the patent rights of course).
In terms of stuff round here recently, I think I saw the same Apache activity as above (or similar), two in close proximity over the house. We've also had the usual KC135, Osprey, F-15 action, and yesterday what I think was an RAF C17 (I think I saw roundels)
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Helicopters (and their pilots) are offensive to real aviators. Along with beating the air into submission and being rejected by the earth, Bernoullis fall off their rotor blades at the slightest excuse and they singularly fail to glide. And as for explaining retreating-blade stall, several A2 QHIs in the RAF have been reduced to tears in examinations by CFS.
All that said, I have had a hoot in helos from the Gazelle to the HH53 (which was the first helicopter I actually flew and spoiled me for all the others). But, like riding motorbikes, it's best not to think too much about the risks.
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Well, first solo today:
(https://i.imgur.com/BpA51kp.jpg)
This time in the much more modern C-FKGU (1956)
Arrival!
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Only once been in a helicopter, a Sikorsky about a 6-seater. Clearly not a new one, either. In Nigeria, looking for a site for a new gas-fired power station. I was a geologist, so looking for ground issues.
Due to fly one given day, postponed to the following day.
Took off, and it was sheer noise and vibration, even with headphones on. If my old Triumph motorcycles functioned like that, I'd park them up them until I found out why.
I was not sorry to get back on the ground. Asked why the flight was postponed a day. Needed to change the engine, apparently. Glad about that.
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Helicopters (and their pilots) are offensive to real aviators. Along with beating the air into submission and being rejected by the earth, Bernoullis fall off their rotor blades at the slightest excuse and they singularly fail to glide. And as for explaining retreating-blade stall, several A2 QHIs in the RAF have been reduced to tears in examinations by CFS.
All that said, I have had a hoot in helos from the Gazelle to the HH53 (which was the first helicopter I actually flew and spoiled me for all the others). But, like riding motorbikes, it's best not to think too much about the risks.
My cousin retired from the Army Air Corps as a Colonel a few years ago. He flew helicopters in Afghanistan and Iraq and was an instructor as well as a couple of spells based at Hereford as a taxi driver for those nice chaps in the all black fatigues. So he knows a bit about clanky things with a propeller on the roof.
He is happy to take you up in a light aircraft if you want to hire one for a jolly but refuses point blank to do the same with helicopters. He thinks they are too dangerous.
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My chum Bill flew both fixed-wing and helichopters during the SE Asian Police Action, with the added bonus of Charlie shooting at him.
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Speaking of whirlybirds
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Heli%20P8010510.jpg)
It's the Coastguard.
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Helicopters (and their pilots) are offensive to real aviators. Along with beating the air into submission and being rejected by the earth, Bernoullis fall off their rotor blades at the slightest excuse and they singularly fail to glide. And as for explaining retreating-blade stall, several A2 QHIs in the RAF have been reduced to tears in examinations by CFS.
Bah, of course they can glide and have far more choice in picking a landing spot than the seized-wing aircrafts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tez1Npd0Gc
Retreating blade stall is fairly straight forward...it's the angle of attack changes during flapping than always gets me. (Yes, helicopter blades flap).
Actually going seized-wing flying tomorrow, in my continued attempt at getting my UK PPL converted.
(https://www.sealandair.ca/images/da20_cfwap.gif)
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I have precisely two significant (to me) helicopter memories.
a) A Bristol Belvedere*/** clattering over the married quarters at Terendak.
b) Father Christmas alighting from a (probably Westland licence built) Sioux likewise.
Other than that they're just clattery things that fly low over the house and are of no interest whatsoever.
*Because of this I have a Type 173 (http://www.u-buildmodels.com/3.html) kit waiting its turn in the Lurker Industries Build Programme.
**Mother's reaction every time she sees a Chinook, even unto this day? "Oh, look. A Belvedere."
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Helicopters (and their pilots) are offensive to real aviators. Along with beating the air into submission and being rejected by the earth, Bernoullis fall off their rotor blades at the slightest excuse and they singularly fail to glide. And as for explaining retreating-blade stall, several A2 QHIs in the RAF have been reduced to tears in examinations by CFS.
Bah, of course they can glide and have far more choice in picking a landing spot than the seized-wing aircrafts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tez1Npd0Gc
Retreating blade stall is fairly straight forward...it's the angle of attack changes during flapping than always gets me. (Yes, helicopter blades flap).
Actually going seized-wing flying tomorrow, in my continued attempt at getting my UK PPL converted.
(https://www.sealandair.ca/images/da20_cfwap.gif)
I was a passenger in a Whirlwind after having been picked up from the water during a sea-survival exercise when I was a baby steely-eyed killer. As we approached Valley, anticipating tea, medals and copious beers, the bloody thing had a major engine issue and we auto-rotated, just making it within the airfield boundary - a bonus, as the terrain around the airfield on the Holyhead side isn't very friendly. Unfortunately, getting it the right side of the fence left very little energy to arrest the descent, and the landing was somewhat firmer than Mr Westland had budgeted for. We all survived with a few bumps and bruises, but the cab was a bit dented. It did fly again a few months later, but the experience did nothing to convince me that helicopters were a good idea.
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Motor glider buzzing about yesterday. No idea what type other than NOT one of those Grob 109 things the Air Cadets adopted.
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No photo as I was on the bike, a 747 in red and white livery (posibly Virgin?) fairly low over Ely and the Fens yesterday. I wonder if it was coming out of Marshalls at Cambridge as we're not routinely on the Stansted flight path
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Motor glider buzzing about yesterday. No idea what type other than NOT one of those Grob 109 things the Air Cadets adopted.
I became quite attached to the G109 during my time in the cadets. I found my 3822 whilst clearing the loft last week and apparently I have 12.75 hours in the things during my Initial and Basic Glider courses. I didn't go solo but did a virtual solo flight with the instructor purely acting as passenger.
It wasn't gliding - in the 90's when they were adopted there was some kind of fuelling issue which meant when you switched the motor off, it had a habit of not restarting when you asked it to. As a result the RAF decided it was no longer allowed to switch the engine off in flight so my gliding courses were basically a low cost version of the powered course which no one in my squadron ever got on anyway.
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I did both, but gliding was on the Venture rather than the new fangled thing, just coinciding with the transition. I had one solo in the glider, and have something like 12 hours solo on the flying scholarship. No idea where my desmond has ended up, probably in a box in the loft.
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No photo as I was on the bike, a 747 in red and white livery (posibly Virgin?) fairly low over Ely and the Fens yesterday. I wonder if it was coming out of Marshalls at Cambridge as we're not routinely on the Stansted flight path
The two VS 747s that remain with the company are at Manchester awaiting a place and time for scrapping. Two have gone to the scrappers at RAF St Athan, and three (I think) are now in Spain for scrapping. None have gone to Marshall's. More likely a cargo 747 inbound to Mildenhall.
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Spent many happy minutes as a passenger in various helichopters (Wessex, Lynx, Puma, Twin Squirrel), some flying knap of the earth which, if you're not ready for it can be a bit alarming.
Being weightless in a Lynx or looking straight out the side door at the very adjacent surface of a Norn Irish Loch from a Lynx doing low level 90 degree banked (or so it felt) turns are memories I cherish.
Wish I could have sat in the door of a Scout, feet on the skids, over the jungles of Belize though.
You reminded me of a passage I wrote a few years ago:
"If you thought that riding in an LCU was bad, then don’t even think about helicopters. We were airlifted to the battlefield. Sounds fun. What it actually means is getting into a big, booming tin box with an extremely noisy engine overhead and a lot of draughts, and then being flung around the sky in it by a pilot with a high regard for anti-aircraft missiles and a very healthy desire not to meet any."
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Spent many happy minutes as a passenger in various helichopters (Wessex, Lynx, Puma, Twin Squirrel), some flying knap of the earth which, if you're not ready for it can be a bit alarming.
Being weightless in a Lynx or looking straight out the side door at the very adjacent surface of a Norn Irish Loch from a Lynx doing low level 90 degree banked (or so it felt) turns are memories I cherish.
Wish I could have sat in the door of a Scout, feet on the skids, over the jungles of Belize though.
You reminded me of a passage I wrote a few years ago:
"If you thought that riding in an LCU was bad, then don’t even think about helicopters. We were airlifted to the battlefield. Sounds fun. What it actually means is getting into a big, booming tin box with an extremely noisy engine overhead and a lot of draughts, and then being flung around the sky in it by a pilot with a high regard for anti-aircraft missiles and a very healthy desire not to meet any."
:thumbsup: Sounds like the sort of ride I loved!
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As long as it sounds reasonably accurate, I'll be satisfied!
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Two of these, taking off and then landing in the field behind the farm across the road. That's the corner of my greenhouse and bungalow roof
(https://i.imgur.com/NTrp5En.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/g5T7ys0.jpg)
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As long as it sounds reasonably accurate, I'll be satisfied!
Sounds pretty darn accurate to my recollection Steph.
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For several summers during my college years, I was a member of a "range management crew" aka summer firefighter for a US government agency. We protected sagebrush and occasional juniper trees from combustion.
Someone found the funds to employ a small helicopter - Hughes 500C (tax dollars at work). When we were introduced to it, the pilot made a point of saying it had a really strong framework, which could withstand 7G collisions with the ground. Occupants, probably not.
The pilot had flown in combat in Vietnam. For us, he was supposed to always stay at least 500 feet up, but with a simple request "can we fly lower?" he would fly a bit closer to the ground. So, flying up to a ridge, with your stomach moving upwards, and then suddenly your body dropping down the other side of the ridge, was a thrill. As was taking a tight turn, helicopter seemingly on its side when you looked out the door, and again one's stomach trying to go in a straight line.
Never did ride it out to a fire, but the few trips out to look at a future project site in the middle of nowhere were fun.
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As long as it sounds reasonably accurate, I'll be satisfied!
Sounds pretty darn accurate to my recollection Steph.
I'll see about sending you the first few chapters of that story some time, then.
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As long as it sounds reasonably accurate, I'll be satisfied!
Sounds pretty darn accurate to my recollection Steph.
I'll see about sending you the first few chapters of that story some time, then.
:thumbsup:
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Someone found the funds to employ a small helicopter - Hughes 500C (tax dollars at work). When we were introduced to it, the pilot made a point of saying it had a really strong framework, which could withstand 7G collisions with the ground. Occupants, probably not.
The MD500s are still used for wild fire scouting and also common for line work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Bo0uhXexM
Then there's also stuff like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pla06PO6Odk
They are famous for being very crash resistant, with the 'egg shell' being hard to break.
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Picked up a GoPro, so that I could record my flights of evaluation, which coincided with my first confined area take offs :D
https://youtu.be/hBGz8Lq6q7w
Helicopters are tons of fun.
We did, though, then also have 2 straight evening lectures on the many ways you can kill yourself.
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Unusual for us in a chopper intensive area: Network Rail helicopter buzzing around after today's train crash and a rescue helicopter made 5 passes over our house before landing at ARI.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218717292_037869f0c9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jvE44j)
IMG_7963_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2jvE44j) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50219590986_d53a66472a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jvJwM1)
IMG_8038_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2jvJwM1) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50219762812_da7d2f6443_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jvKpRw)
2020-08-12_09-19-19 (https://flic.kr/p/2jvKpRw) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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Picked up a GoPro, so that I could record my flights of evaluation, which coincided with my first confined area take offs :D
https://youtu.be/hBGz8Lq6q7w
Helicopters are tons of fun.
We did, though, then also have 2 straight evening lectures on the many ways you can kill yourself.
Jakob,
Was that a demonstration of achieving translational lift?
Yes I have read (times lots) Robert Masons Chickenhawk!
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Was that a demonstration of achieving translational lift?
Yes. Any forward motion more than 10-15knts will enter effective translational lift. You can see observe it several ways;
When we start out-pacing the turbulence below us (The grass no longer getting disturbed in front of us), the manifold pressure will drop (as it requires less power) and you can hear the blades flapping as you start getting a disymmetry of lift. (Onboard, you can feel the aircraft shaking).
If the wind is strong enough, you can have ETL in the hover.
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Jakob,
Was that a demonstration of achieving translational lift?
Yes I have read (times lots) Robert Masons Chickenhawk!
Superb book. I loved the descriptions of the flying.
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Jakob,
Was that a demonstration of achieving translational lift?
Yes I have read (times lots) Robert Masons Chickenhawk!
Superb book. I loved the descriptions of the flying.
It's what actually got me onto this path...just took me 10 years to put it into action :)
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this thing is mental! 250kph, that's faster than the Cessna I did my air cadet flying in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw)
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“It's when they stop making the noise that you have to start worrying”
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“It's when they stop making the noise that you have to start worrying”
God, it's noisy thobut. When the noise stops, it's a blessed relief.
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“It's when they stop making the noise that you have to start worrying”
ISTR reading somewhere that the U.S. Marine Corps version1 is that the oil leaks into the cabin stopping is the time to start worrying.
While it's leaking, there is still oil in the gearbox...
1 Particularly when flying in a somewhat clapped-out Sea Knight (the immature larval form of a Chinook).
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Much like Land Rovers, the leaky gearbox seals mean the mid cross members rarely corrode
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“It's when they stop making the noise that you have to start worrying”
ISTR reading somewhere that the U.S. Marine Corps version1 is that the oil leaks into the cabin stopping is the time to start worrying.
While it's leaking, there is still oil in the gearbox...
1 Particularly when flying in a somewhat clapped-out Sea Knight (the immature larval form of a Chinook).
Likewise Sir Stirling referring to oil smoke coming out of old racing cars.
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this thing is mental! 250kph, that's faster than the Cessna I did my air cadet flying in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw)
JBB, Kim, AndrewC, Cycleman, I'm pretty sure Wowbagger was there, might have forgotten someone (sorry), and I, saw something like that performing when we rode from Twitey's Tipis to wherever it was we had lunch last summer.
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this thing is mental! 250kph, that's faster than the Cessna I did my air cadet flying in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6D47Lkfcw)
That must be terrifying to fly. With R/C you usually have a throttle so at least you can back off to a tickover and give your brain cells a rest!
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According to RadarBox G-UHGB (actually a 79 Bell 205A but looking awfully like a Huey) complete with the trademark WOP-WOP-WOP, passed over Torslanda Towers approximately an hour ago.
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The Bell 205 is the civilian version of the Huey.
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The asymmetrical BV 141 (https://youtu.be/dOcZJ_PYW2E)
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... BV 141...
I'd forgotten about those. I remember considering buying the Airfix kit a very, very long time ago. Can't remember why I didn't.
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The asymmetrical BV 141 (https://youtu.be/dOcZJ_PYW2E)
Nazi Germany seemed to come up with so many engagingly bonkers æroplanes you almost have to force yourself to remember that they were, first and foremost, Nazis.
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I've had worse Monday mornings
(https://i.imgur.com/HFwX6Gy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cnCoUGp.jpg)
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bstd!
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bstd!
Maybe slightly less so if you factored in the possibility of having to carry out an autorotation in that terrain.
Not that I'm jealous or anything...
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Are congratulations in order? Looks like you’ve gone solo?
Or did you just keep it quiet?
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Are congratulations in order? Looks like you’ve gone solo?
Or did you just keep it quiet?
Me? Quiet about flying? Hardly
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.msg2523127#msg2523127
(Thanks, though!)
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Missed that one! So belated congratulations!
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Not sure whether to put this in here or in CTRL-ALT-DEL but it feels more related here.
After 14 years Microsoft have launched the new Microsoft Flight Simulator today. I've been using FSX since 2006 when it was released and have had all previous versions back to FS98 (I did have FS4 on a really old machine but never went very far with it). The new sim looks amazing but I can't buy it yet as my computer is nowhere near powerful enough so I'm thinking all N+1 on computers now.
It even made it onto the BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-53811956
Oh and very impressive Jakob - not jealous at all
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I've seen some of the demos on YouTube. Its very pretty. Instead of using locally stored files for scenery it uses a massive load of compute in a Microsoft cloud to auto generate 3d buildings etc on the fly and then overlay it over 2d satellite imagery. They also hand modelled some famous places.
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So can it be played offline? I was looking acquisitively at it as well a few days ago having had previous versions.
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I understand you can create a cache of a local area of your choice which can be played offline. I don't know how big that area is
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I've been quite heavily involved in flight sim development for MAIW for some time (FS9/FSX, P3D to v5). I didn't do Alpha or Beta testing for FS20; for some reason I didn't fit the profile. However, I have it on my system and I can confirm that it's fully functional offline. As Traekker says, you can cache scenery areas if you want, but the default non-photoreal scenery is acceptable if your main focus is to exploit the improvements in flight dynamics.
It's far from a finished product, however, and it will develop sifnificantly over time. As in all the sims I mentioned above, it will be dependent on an active network of commercial and freeware developers to flesh it out,and some have already revealed their initial products. The relatively small collection of default aeroplanes is fine, but will be far surpassed by addon products from Aerosoft, PMDG, Milviz etc.
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Have you tried X-Plane Tim? The flight dynamics are supposed to be a lot better as it works out the dynamics of the aerofoils on the fly rather than using lookup tables of how a plane should behave at a particular speed or angle of attack.
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I have X-Plane 10. While there's lots of high-brow intellectual debate over which sim is more accurate, I was never that impressed with how X-Plane flew. The old MSFS flight models aren't as complex as XP (the new one is much, much more complex), but they produced a decent facsimile of aerodynamic flight, though maybe not so much for helicopters. However, third-party developers managed to get around the limitations of MSFS/P3D by effectively taking all the complex stuff offboard, and using the sim as essentially a method of displaying the results in a graphical format that you could understand as flight. FS20's aerodynamic modelling uses around 100 real-time data streams which, in theory, will make for a better aircraft feel - but I'm not that impressed so far with the result in the default aircraft. I suspect that is because Asobo (the developer) are not experienced pilots, but learned to fly as part of the development process and were over-aware of the dynamic environment, so the result is that the default aircraft are too twitchy - because that's how it feels to a new student pilot. I expect the third-party aircraft to be much better.
All that said, my interest is in the world environment, not the flying experience. I see these flight sims as analogous to a model railway, in that you create a complex moving simulation of a complete area. Hence my association with MAIW.
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MAIW?
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There's several posts so far on various forums that the default aircraft climb rates and cruise speeds don't seem very accurate. They might iron some of that out during the development
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MAIW?
https://militaryaiworks.com/
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I use X-Plane a fair bit, mostly for procedural training. Since the new MSFS does have the fixed wing plane I'm currently (also) getting checked out on (DA-20), I suspect I'll probably get it. Biggest issue with MSFS, is limited VR support and no helicopters.
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I use X-Plane a fair bit, mostly for procedural training. Since the new MSFS does have the fixed wing plane I'm currently (also) getting checked out on (DA-20), I suspect I'll probably get it. Biggest issue with MSFS, is limited VR support and no helicopters.
Yet.
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Interestingly, a very cheap way to play with it and see if you like it is to pay for the Microsoft Game Pass, £1 for the first month and £3.99 thereafter, that's 15 months of decision time.
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You only get the base version but that's still pretty good.
I still haven't got a computer to try it on though. It's also apparently going to be released on the Xbox eventually which is a hell of a lot of computing power for a lot less than a gaming PC. I wonder if it's going to be the same version or if it will be a stripped down version? There's very little information on the web.
XBox's etc are much more friendly at accepting third party controllers etc than games machines used to be. As I have to wait a while to save up I'll see how things develop after the X-Series launch currently predicted for November.
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Asobo/Microsoft are not even guessing at a date for the X-Box version. It's probably as much as a year away. Those of us with the Premium Deluxe licence are having to wait for the extra stuff to be rolled out, so no-one has anything but the basic version yet. My limited time playing with the sim shows me that their flight models are not great, as I've already said. It's very pretty to look at, at least in areas where Bing has lots of data, but it's not so much better than P3Dv5 with Orbx scenery add-ons that I'd walk away from the Lockheed product. And, as yet, most of us haven't worked out the nitty-gritties of the SDK so we can produce the extras that will take it from a game to a decent sim!
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Ah, I hadn't realised the premium packages weren't available yet. It seems there is a long term road map so it's got a long way to go. They claim to continue to add new Bing data automatically onto the servers as they develop it.
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They do - it's an automated process, so it happens all the time. In fact, it looks like the demand from MSFS users will be such that it will be a bigger driver of Bing Maps data collection than any other economic unit!
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Low flying aircraft (https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/18667227.23-pictures-two-buccaneer-aircraft-transported-cotswold-airport-kemble/#gallery0) Requires *spit* Javascript.
In other news. Dirty great Antonov inbound to Brize a few days ago. No pics. Sorry.
Oh and an odd coincidence. Pic. of a large scale model of a B&V 141 in this month's AeroModeller.
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Low flying aircraft (https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/18667227.23-pictures-two-buccaneer-aircraft-transported-cotswold-airport-kemble/#gallery0) Requires *spit* Javascript.
In other news. Dirty great Antonov inbound to Brize a few days ago. No pics. Sorry.
Oh and an odd coincidence. Pic. of a large scale model of a B&V 141 in this month's AeroModeller.
That Antonio made a bit of noise didn’t it? I’m on the base leg turn so get the full benefit of movements in.
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Low flying aircraft (https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/18667227.23-pictures-two-buccaneer-aircraft-transported-cotswold-airport-kemble/#gallery0) Requires *spit* Javascript.
In other news. Dirty great Antonov inbound to Brize a few days ago. No pics. Sorry.
Oh and an odd coincidence. Pic. of a large scale model of a B&V 141 in this month's AeroModeller.
It's a bit big mate!
No probs, we'll just fold the wings up. :P
One of my all-time favourite aircraft, I had an airfix model back in the day that had a rotating bomb-bay. I'd never noticed the hump-back shape though.
Lots of noisy stuff round here as well, but not as big as that Antonov
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In other news. Dirty great Antonov inbound to Brize a few days ago. No pics. Sorry
4- or 6-engined model? Saw one o' the former parked at Hartsfield-Jackson a few years ago. Big.
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In other news. Dirty great Antonov inbound to Brize a few days ago. No pics. Sorry
4- or 6-engined model? Saw one o' the former parked at Hartsfield-Jackson a few years ago. Big.
Good question. Was out on a post work perambulation with MrsLurker* so didn't, "stop and stare", do I look daft? Don't answer that, it was rhetorical. Just glanced up, saw stupidly massive shape defying the laws of physics and thought, "Ah, another** Antonov" before continuing the stroll. Will pay more attention next time.
*Who can now, after extensive coaching, reliably distinguish between a C-17, an A-400M & a C-130 and she *was* a dab hand at recognising VC-10s, but they have gone the way of the Dodo.
*They're not especially common, but they're not especially rare.
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So I signed up to the Game Pass for £1 for the first month.
Core I7-8650, 16GB Ram and it's not good enough because it doesn't have a separate GPU!
Now I could understand that meaning it'll not perform well, but even at minimum resolution, 30fps and offline play, it is just so slow to load it is unplayable.
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Loading times are an issue on almost any spec of computer, but trying to use this game on a computer using an integrated GPU is extremely unlikely to work. Realistically, it needs a modern GPU (Nvidia 1070 or later) with 8Gb of VRAM. It will run on less-capable kit, but not well. But the same is true of XP11 and P3Dv5, and the latter really needs 32Gb of system RAM as well, so MSFS isn't unduly demanding.
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Ok, so now it's starting to get tricky!
https://i.imgur.com/cu0KOqK.mp4
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Ok, so now it's starting to get tricky!
https://i.imgur.com/cu0KOqK.mp4
The graphics are amazing!
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Ok, so now it's starting to get tricky!
https://i.imgur.com/cu0KOqK.mp4
Nice one Jakob :thumbsup:
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Twitchy instructor hand on the controls, I remember that well from my light aircraft hours.
Great Stuff.
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Low flying...
https://twitter.com/Defence_blog/status/1299370429740650496
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Low flying...
https://twitter.com/Defence_blog/status/1299370429740650496
Yak skazaty ukrayinsʹkoyu movoyu "It'll buff out"?
More a case of missing the landing point during an improvised runway exercise rather than a case of trying to imitate Ray Hanna going wrong, which explains why there's less of a dent in the edge of the intake than I'd expect.
The pilot's lucky - if his approach had been a tad to the left, the sign would have gone straight down the intake duct.
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Catching up on this thread, I see one of the myriad ways Whirlybirds like to try and give their pilots a bad day in the office has not been mentioned; hence I present the following, to be sung to the tune of 'Spider-Man':
Vortex ring, vortex ring/ kills you deader than a very dead thing/ blades lose lift/ fall out the sky/you crash and burn/ and then you die/ look out!/ here comes a vortex ring...
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B-52s are back, turned up a week or so ago. Six I believe. Watched 3 head out in quick succession this morning. Eastbound (ish) take off. Quite unusual that, usually only get to see them landing. What I take to be the same 3 just gone over inbound.
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Did you see the footage of the SU27s bothering B52s over the Baltic a day ago?
Unless the US has B52s based elsewhere in Europe, I'm guessing they would be the Fairford planes
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Did you see the footage of the SU27s bothering B52s over the Baltic a day ago?
From what I was reading yesterday, the dangerous intercept occurred over the Black Sea.
https://youtu.be/MGL5shiPGCQ
Source: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36072/pentagon-releases-terrifying-video-of-russian-su-27-turning-directly-in-front-of-a-b-52
Unless the US has B52s based elsewhere in Europe, I'm guessing they would be the Fairford planes
Fairford's the only European airfield used by American heavy bombers.
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https://youtu.be/huvhc9MGoeA
This was fun!
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An F-16 just screamed over our house at about 100 ft. We get quite a few F-15s and Eurofighters as we are in a low fly training zone but that's the first time I have seen an F-16 here.
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https://youtu.be/huvhc9MGoeA
This was fun!
That was well cool. 8)
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Ok, so now it's starting to get tricky!
https://i.imgur.com/cu0KOqK.mp4
When I was a teen, I did a fair bit of orienteering. At the state competition, the news station flew in with a chopper. Landed in a clearing only just big enough. All fine.
They did their filming, headed back to chopper.
Only trouble was, the wind had got up. Fine as they started to take off, but as they ascended, wind took them sideways . . . Memory has it that there was about 20ft between blades and trees on all sides. I remember watching the pilot making about 4 attempts before managing to clear the trees.
Brown trousers all round, I reckon.
-
https://youtu.be/huvhc9MGoeA
This was fun!
They let you out on your own?
Nice one Centurion!
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Yeah and I'm getting a lot longer leash now too.
Today was engine failures/autorotations
https://youtu.be/WVPTf_1ucXk
These were (also) a lot of fun to do and a good demo of how a helicopter is still highly maneuverable with the engine out. (granted, we just roll the throttle down so that the rotor just freewheels, but the effect is the same)
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An F-16 just screamed over our house at about 100 ft. We get quite a few F-15s and Eurofighters as we are in a low fly training zone but that's the first time I have seen an F-16 here.
Dont see those around here either, could you see who's it was, or was it too quick?
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Yeah and I'm getting a lot longer leash now too.
Today was engine failures/autorotations
https://youtu.be/WVPTf_1ucXk
These were (also) a lot of fun to do and a good demo of how a helicopter is still highly maneuverable with the engine out. (granted, we just roll the throttle down so that the rotor just freewheels, but the effect is the same)
Why do you pick the riverbed when there are what look like large, flat, landable fields alongside it?
Did your instructor declare them out of bounds for some reason or am I missing something?
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An F-16 just screamed over our house at about 100 ft. We get quite a few F-15s and Eurofighters as we are in a low fly training zone but that's the first time I have seen an F-16 here.
Dont see those around here either, could you see who's it was, or was it too quick?
Too quick, didn't see it approach as it came from behind the house. Only saw its underside. It would be helpful if they had nice clear markings like in WWII :)
Don't think the Yanks have any in the UK so it was probably Belgian, Dutch or Danish.
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With the river bed, we had a distinct (and repeatable) aiming point. It also presented some obstacles and the point was to be as accurate as possible. So, it makes a otherwise 'technical' exercise a lot more realistic. You wont always have a nice big field to land in and demonstrating that you know how to maneuver and vary the range is an important aspect.
It also means that you're less likely to buzz a farmer, etc and easily keeps you away from houses.
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Makes a lot of sense.
Another thought - am I correct in assuming that you did similar exercises pre-solo? Was this some form of continuation training?
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Yeah, it's a requirement for doing solo. Not necessarily to be good at them, but to know what to do. When the wind is strong enough, we also train them all the way to the ground (at the home base, where the grass surface is known to be flat enough). If you do them right, you'll end up landing softly with no forward speed, but as long as you land with say, less than 10-15mph forward speed, it will still feel very gentle.
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Just to cap off the week, I had to learn to do log landings. First was landing with the rear of the skids on a smaller log (branch, really) and then letting the helicopter gently tilt forward until the front of the skids touched and then lower the collective all the way down...hard but doable and felt relatively safe.
Then we did toe-in log landings. Get the front of the skids on a bigger log, lower collective enough that it sticks, but still keep in the rear of the helicoper in the air (as otherwise you'll strike with the tail rotor, which is kinda a bad thing). Easily the hardest thing I've done sofar. Apparently also 'exciting' for my instructor, as his apple watch HR monitor told him 'workout complete!' as we flew away.
This is not in the official curriculum, but I learned more about hovering in those 10 minutes than I would have done in 2 hours in a 'safe place'.
https://youtu.be/JBwLVwH3tyA
Also did some low level flying exercises which were fun and nowhere near as stressful :)
https://youtu.be/defAng2YSqI
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As a child I remember reading a book that was the biography of a British arm helicopter pilot turned MAF missionary pilot. He was in the far east in the ~1980s (Indonesia / Papa New Guinea) during and after an earthquake and was pretty much the only route of evacuation from areas where the landing strips were no longer serviceable.
However in the book he recounted being in the army after completing his flight training and finding himself as co-pilot to his former instructor. Apparently at a low altitude, and over the landing pad, he repaid all the surprise engine out drills and wound the throttle back on the instructor. :demon: Cue a bumpy landing and an irate instructor.
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I would love to do that to my instructor...:)
Found an old picture of one of the helicopters I have been flying. This is from the day it was first delivered...in 1957
(https://i.imgur.com/R9BS7Ny.jpg)
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You suit that raincoat. ;D
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An 82p Kindle version of a "20 hardback. Rather dry, but it has huge amount of detail about WWII fighter performance, including reports on captured German kit. A real plane geek book.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=flying+to+the+limit&crid=GMW5C87SUL0Z&sprefix=flying+to+the%2Caps%2C151&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-apa-p_1_13
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I would love to do that to my instructor...:)
Found an old picture of one of the helicopters I have been flying. This is from the day it was first delivered...in 1957
(https://i.imgur.com/R9BS7Ny.jpg)
Just as well that metal fatigue isnt an actual thing
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Is that Benny or Bjorn? ;D
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;D
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Is that Benny or Bjorn? ;D
Neither.
Agnetha was having a bad hair day
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Is that Benny or Bjorn? ;D
Neither.
Agnetha was having a bad hair day
Don't be silly! Agnetha was blond, that must be Frida.
Actual fact:* one of them – Agnetha or Anni-Frid – but I can't remember which, was terrified of flying to the extent that it seriously limited their touring.
*I read this in a TEFL book way back when I was doing that, so it must be true.
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Learning how to deal with stuck pedals/tail rotor.
This was more fun than it looks :D
https://youtu.be/UA51nAfmhQk
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Is that Benny or Bjorn? ;D
Neither.
Agnetha was having a bad hair day
Don't be silly! Agnetha was blond, that must be Frida.
Actual fact:* one of them – Agnetha or Anni-Frid – but I can't remember which, was terrified of flying to the extent that it seriously limited their touring.
*I read this in a TEFL book way back when I was doing that, so it must be true.
Agnetha
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New parking spot
(https://i.imgur.com/HkD4tct.jpg)
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that looks like the landing might have been a bit nerve-racking
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Bloody helicopter parking on the cycle trail ::-) :D
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Jet suit trial for Great North Air Ambulance paramedics:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-54341378
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that looks like the landing might have been a bit nerve-racking
This one was actually relatively easy, as there was no obstacles and a relatively straight approach. Also being my first 'side hill' approach I lined up quite far out
https://youtu.be/y78766Dn3bc
Obviously a bit unnerving with the hill on the side, but I knew we had enough room, as I was in the backseat of a Jetranger landing there a few weeks back :D.
The confined area approaches and departures are easily by far the hardest thing on the course and since 95% of the work here involved operating in confined areas, it's a large part of the course (Whereas a UK helicopter student wouldn't even get close to doing anything like this).
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Jet suit trial for Great North Air Ambulance paramedics:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-54341378
Selfridges are selling these for ~£6k.
12,000ft ceiling height :o
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*Possible* DH Tiger Moth heading NE / NNE over Lechlade around about 1600.
Biplane, swept back wings, v. slow, "old" sounding motor & narrow fuselage. A bit too high (esp. with my old eyes) for positive ID. On its own and not fast nor stubby enough to be one of the Utterly Butterly Boeing Stearman 75s which we get from time to time.
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Jet suit trial for Great North Air Ambulance paramedics:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-54341378
Selfridges are selling these for ~£6k.
12,000ft ceiling height :o
But out of stock when I last looked. (And you have to give them your forearm measurements.)
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I think these are simply the turbines used in model aeroplanes, adapted to fit around your wrist. The controllers and fuel will be in the backpack.
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I'm pretty sure that they're Jetcat RC turbines, which are not only expensive, but only single stage turbines and have less than 50 hours life before requiring overhaul.
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I'm pretty sure that they're Jetcat RC turbines, which are not only expensive, but only single stage turbines and have less than 50 hours life before requiring overhaul.
+1. Very good at powering 20ft wingspan models, but not so sure about SAR!
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I believe that the scale of the turbines simply makes it impractical to adequatey supply oil/cooling to the bearings.
I was looking into it a few years back when I was designing my larger heli-UAV and both the limited the life and very fuel consumption ruled them out.
I ended up going with a 2-stroke gas engine, which needs inspection at 500 hours and will probably run for 2000 hours before anything than the spark plugs needs replacing. (And costs 1/10 in both buying and running cost).
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Interesting. IME, in hobby use the r/c turbines probably don't fly for more than 25 to 50 hours a year, tops. Each flight would probably be no more than 10 minutes, maybe 5 flights at a weekend on a good day. You'd have to be very committed and a display pilot to get to 50 hours a year.
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Low wing, single engine, small, V tail so *probably* Beechcraft Bonanza over Cirencester about 1315 yesterday.
No camera so no pics. Sorry.
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I'm pretty sure that they're Jetcat RC turbines, which are not only expensive, but only single stage turbines and have less than 50 hours life before requiring overhaul.
+1. Very good at powering 20ft wingspan models, but not so sure about SAR!
yebbut the flight duration is only 8min. So that is a few hundred flights before needing overhaul.
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Getting closer to flight test time and got this one thrown at me today. Approach was tricky to set up due to the contours of the terrain, but worked out well!.
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Argh, forgot the link yesterday:
https://youtu.be/eMltHliDSM4
Here's todays...weather was somewhat different :)
https://youtu.be/34vtb0-kOXs
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And I passed my CPL flight test today and are now officially a commercial helicopter pilot. (Now I just to find someone who will actually pay me to fly!).
First, though, I'm going to get my Bell 206 type endorsement, so a couple of weeks more training.
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Result! :thumbsup:
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Congratulations! Not jealous at all. Oh no.
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Well done!
Googling 'Bell 206' led me to discover that there is such a thing as helicopter cherry drying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybfYCLv0H08)!
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$2m spent on helicopter cherry drying at that farm, so far (until the film was made). :o
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Congratulations Jakob
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https://youtu.be/NRDiQ4r4_IE
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Argh, forgot the link yesterday:
https://youtu.be/eMltHliDSM4
Totally OT, but what's the music you've used for that/
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And I passed my CPL flight test today and are now officially a commercial helicopter pilot. (Now I just to find someone who will actually pay me to fly!).
First, though, I'm going to get my Bell 206 type endorsement, so a couple of weeks more training.
Congratulations!
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Well done, great achievement.
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And I passed my CPL flight test today and are now officially a commercial helicopter pilot. (Now I just to find someone who will actually pay me to fly!).
First, though, I'm going to get my Bell 206 type endorsement, so a couple of weeks more training.
Well done. Good luck in finding employment. Most helicopter operations haven't been too badly affected by the collapse in civil aviation, so hopefully it will work out for you!
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Thanks all!. Probably the most stressful test ever..(Fairly calm during the test, but the days leading up to it......not so much)
And I passed my CPL flight test today and are now officially a commercial helicopter pilot. (Now I just to find someone who will actually pay me to fly!).
First, though, I'm going to get my Bell 206 type endorsement, so a couple of weeks more training.
Well done. Good luck in finding employment. Most helicopter operations haven't been too badly affected by the collapse in civil aviation, so hopefully it will work out for you!
It's 'ok'. Tourism (heli tours, heli-skiing especially) has taking a big hit and unlike California/Oregon, the fire season here was quite mild, so a lot of places are on reduced pay/hours. I do have a couple of leads already, so we'll see.
The industry is kinda weird. There *is* a huge shortage on experienced pilots, but at the same time the industry is reluctant to review it's process of making junior pilots more experienced and in all likelyhood, I'll be working a year on the ground before getting any kind of regular flying hours.
Well done!
Googling 'Bell 206' led me to discover that there is such a thing as helicopter cherry drying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybfYCLv0H08)!
It surprised me at first as well, but it's critical fo rthe cherry growers to have the rain blown off quickly. The raindrops will amplify the sun like a magnifying glass and cause the skin to split. Doesn't affect the taste at all, but it downgrades the appearance of the cherries, meaning less income.
It's only for a couple of weeks as they're getting close to harvest, apparently...
Argh, forgot the link yesterday:
https://youtu.be/eMltHliDSM4
Totally OT, but what's the music you've used for that/
It's from here:
https://youtu.be/vWLJeqLPfSU
Their live-sessions are far better than their albums
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But their albums are pretty spectacular!
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First turbine start today..I now have a new favourite sound!. Will try to capture later this week, but goes roughly something like this:
wwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssss*click*click*click*POOF*WWWWWSSSSSHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
(Actually found one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_BWFxhbWc4)
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"My" new ride...at least for the next 4-6 hours.
(https://i.imgur.com/hXtb1Dl.jpg)
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"My" new ride...at least for the next 4-6 hours.
(https://i.imgur.com/hXtb1Dl.jpg)
Don't scratch it............
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"My" new ride...at least for the next 4-6 hours.
(https://i.imgur.com/hXtb1Dl.jpg)
Loving the Quadrophenia wing mirrors!
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(https://i.ibb.co/2Whj755/Screenshot-20201203-163208-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kbh9jmm)
B52 with only 7 engines left in holding pattern over Tewkesbury area
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Which reminds me of the famous (in military circles) story of the F-16 on low fuel being held off because a B-52 was doing an engine-out approach, I think at Wright-Patt AFB. The F-16 pilot's comment was something along the lines of 'Ah, the dreaded 7-engine approach. Thoughts and prayers'.
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Was thinking of exactly the same story.
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Whilst searching for a link to Tim’s anecdote I found this http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/swa/quantas.html which has some gems including my favourites:
Pilot: Something loose in cockpit.
Mechanic: Something tightened in cockpit.
And
Pilot: DME volume unbelievably loud.
Mechanic: DME volume set to more believable level.
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A pedant write:
I'd take that more seriously if it included the word “fatal” before “accident”*, and also if they hadn’t mis-spelled QANTAS.
* they had a few planes shot down in WW2, but that probably doesn’t count
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863757711_42bc2215c0_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R)
IMG_7456_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Possibly produced by this?:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863392488_5121f0a3a1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU)
tartn59 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
-
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863757711_42bc2215c0_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R)
IMG_7456_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Possibly produced by this?:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863392488_5121f0a3a1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU)
tartn59 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
That's a flying petrol station.
Tim C will be along shortly to advise.
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Yes, I've been in a Voyager on a refuelling flight. Much fun!
;)
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=58889.msg2190398#msg2190398
and this wasn't included in the original post:
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9723.jpg)
and we did this before we went up to Aberdeen :)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9663.jpg)
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863757711_42bc2215c0_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R)
IMG_7456_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuE46R) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Possibly produced by this?:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50863392488_5121f0a3a1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU)
tartn59 (https://flic.kr/p/2kuCbwU) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
That's a flying petrol station.
Tim C will be along shortly to advise.
;D
Yes, you can see the tanker's holding track plus trails from the various chicks. The most I've dealt with in this situation is 10 at once (we refuelled about 25 aircraft on that bracket), but in the C130 we were down at lower (non-contrail) levels as we had to be depressurised for refuelling. From the looks of that, there were quite a few customers - probably from more than one nation.
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"Chicks" :)
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Yes, the tanker is 'Mother'!
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"Chicks" :)
Petril go in chicks?
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"Chicks" :)
Petril go in chicks?
Yes. Then they set light to it and go 'whoosh'. A lot.
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Changing tack to the anecdotal, I can't remember where I read this but, apparently air traffic control at Frankfurt have a reputation of being curt (or Kurt) to the point of rudeness.
Following a few minutes of increasingly heated exchange between a British commercial pilot attempting a landing at FRA, and FRA ATC, the conversation went something like this:
FRA: You should know this. Have you never flown to Frankfurt before?
Pilot: Yes I have. But it was 1944, it was night time, and I didn't land.
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Yes, I've been in a Voyager on a refuelling flight. Much fun!
;)
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=58889.msg2190398#msg2190398
and this wasn't included in the original post:
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9723.jpg)
and we did this before we went up to Aberdeen :)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9663.jpg)
Also mentioned in your original post was the opportunity to hitch a lift. As it was four years ago and somehow I missed it I presume such opportunities are no longer available?
I did ATC summer camp in 1993 at Brize which included two flights in VC10s. The first was a refuelling trip like that one, which aged 14 was amazing! The second was two hours of touch n go circuits which was a lot less fun, only myself and one other cadet wasn’t sick.
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Yes, no more opportunities, as far as I am concerned, but there may be other ways of getting such an experience.
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Changing tack to the anecdotal, I can't remember where I read this but, apparently air traffic control at Frankfurt have a reputation of being curt (or Kurt) to the point of rudeness.
Following a few minutes of increasingly heated exchange between a British commercial pilot attempting a landing at FRA, and FRA ATC, the conversation went something like this:
FRA: You should know this. Have you never flown to Frankfurt before?
Pilot: Yes I have. But it was 1944, it was night time, and I didn't land.
Back in the late 1980's I had a cassette tape of a Heathrow based controller who had a whole 45 minute after dinner routine recorded which included that anecdote and loads of other very amusing japes and tales of dodgy aviating.
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Changing tack to the anecdotal, I can't remember where I read this but, apparently air traffic control at Frankfurt have a reputation of being curt (or Kurt) to the point of rudeness.
Following a few minutes of increasingly heated exchange between a British commercial pilot attempting a landing at FRA, and FRA ATC, the conversation went something like this:
FRA: You should know this. Have you never flown to Frankfurt before?
Pilot: Yes I have. But it was 1944, it was night time, and I didn't land.
Back in the late 1980's I had a cassette tape of a Heathrow based controller who had a whole 45 minute after dinner routine recorded which included that anecdote and loads of other very amusing japes and tales of dodgy aviating.
Dave Gunson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPwIuKbERlU
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A few lucky people (https://twitter.com/MarcSallinger/status/1363253631626080256) today.
And down to some skilful piloting.
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A few lucky people (https://twitter.com/MarcSallinger/status/1363253631626080256) today.
And down to some skilful piloting.
That wasn't the only Pratt & Whitney engine on a Boeing to lunch itself on Saturday - a cargo 747 suffered engine failure after taking off from Maastricht, dropping bits of turbine blades over Meerssen, injuring one person.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-777-japan/regulators-probe-engine-blow-outs-as-older-boeing-777s-suspended-idUSKBN2AL0PD
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A 727 on the M5. (https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/live-private-jet-craned-bristol-5054832)
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^ bugger. I missed it.
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A few lucky people (https://twitter.com/MarcSallinger/status/1363253631626080256) today.
And down to some skilful piloting.
That wasn't the only Pratt & Whitney engine on a Boeing to lunch itself on Saturday - a cargo 747 suffered engine failure after taking off from Maastricht, dropping bits of turbine blades over Meerssen, injuring one person.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-777-japan/regulators-probe-engine-blow-outs-as-older-boeing-777s-suspended-idUSKBN2AL0PD
Check for terrorist organizations shorting Pratt & Whitney
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Yes, I've been in a Voyager on a refuelling flight. Much fun!
;)
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=58889.msg2190398#msg2190398
and this wasn't included in the original post:
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9723.jpg)
and we did this before we went up to Aberdeen :)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Refuelling/IMG_9663.jpg)
I suspect that this pilot was trained by the French navy!
I spent a non negligible part of my national service doing what they were calling an "Hippodrome". Often it was between midnight and 5 am so that we would get in Brest on schedule for the admiral to admire our planning skills. I am not too sure how burning 300 litre of diesel per hour sailing in circle in the Bay of Douarnenez sharpens you planning skills, nevertheless sunrise on the Western approach of Brittany is quite magical, so dead dinosaurs were burnt for the admiral and my eyes!
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A flight of 3 Chinooks no less just flew over Scum Towers, heading up the Thames.
A single one is not unusual.
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All Boris's Chinooks in one flight...
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Not so much the aircraft but the rotor/air/camera effect:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51206367267_a1dded68cd_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m1W1Za)
IMG_2587_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m1W1Za) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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Seen yesterday in darkest Essex:
(https://i.imgur.com/swYLTSq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gAKYD0R.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9wXmELD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZzXTNA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4P4g9Ir.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PT2YHLH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hyY7SQv.jpg)
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Nice. Don't recognise the flight of 4 in your 1st snap, but Chipmunk, SE5a, Albatross (?) and a Miles, mebbe a Magister?
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Mr Google, he say “Druine D-31 Turbulent”.
No, nor me…
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The Druine Turbulent was a French design of homebuilt aircraft (using a VW engine) that became extremely popular in UK in the 1950s. The Tiger Club has a separate section just for this aeroplane.
The Lurker - 100%. The SE5a is a 7/8 scale replica, and the Albatross is a full-scale reproduction built (to the original specification, apart from some metals) in New Zealand quite a while ago.
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The Lurker - 100%. The SE5a is a 7/8 scale replica, and the Albatross is a full-scale reproduction built (to the original specification, apart from some metals) in New Zealand quite a while ago.
7/8ths seems a bit pointless. Why not a full scale replica it wouldn't be much bigger.
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The Lurker - 100%. The SE5a is a 7/8 scale replica, and the Albatross is a full-scale reproduction built (to the original specification, apart from some metals) in New Zealand quite a while ago.
7/8ths seems a bit pointless. Why not a full scale replica it wouldn't be much bigger.
Weight, expense and volume wise, it would be - and would need a far bigger engine and prop, I suspect, and that may not have been possible. It may also have had something to do with the limitations of where it was built, but that's just conjecture.
ETA: it turns out that there are very good, well-proven plans available for building this as effectively a kit aircraft, capable of being powered by an 85hp VW engine. The fact that something like 150 of these have been built would mean that getting it certificated to fly would be a great deal easier than a one-off full-scale replica.
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No. camera, so no pic, but 1st Hurricane for some little while about midday. Stooging along heading south west(ish).
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(https://i.postimg.cc/fR2kGLPP/83-D88-B72-E5-EA-48-F1-A19-C-762-C79-ACF278.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Xr5VFV4K)
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B17 (Sally B?) at RAF Abingdon (as was).
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B17 (Sally B?) at RAF Abingdon (as was).
Worth noting that a couple of non-flyable replica B-17s were made for shooting the Tom Hanks/Steven Speilberg-produced Masters of the Air at Abingdon (think Band of Brothers, but with the 8th Air Force instead of the 101st Airborne Division).
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/masters-of-the-air-flying-fortress.html
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B17 (Sally B?) at RAF Abingdon (as was).
Worth noting that a couple of non-flyable replica B-17s were made for shooting the Tom Hanks/Steven Speilberg-produced Masters of the Air at Abingdon (think Band of Brothers, but with the 8th Air Force instead of the 101st Airborne Division).
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/masters-of-the-air-flying-fortress.html
Yes, it's one of those at Dalton Barracks/R.A.F. Abingdon. They're filming there again tomorrow.
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
That's interesting. UR-82060 is Antonov Airlines ie owned by Antonov. I wonder what a Russian transport is doing landing at an RAF base.
Strike that Antonov are Ukrainian now not Russian.
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
That's interesting. UR-82060 is Antonov Airlines ie owned by Antonov. I wonder what a Russian transport is doing landing at an RAF base.
Strike that Antonov are Ukrainian now not Russian.
Antonov has never been Russian - a Ukrainian would be most insulted were you to suggest that to them. The company/design bureau was established when Ukraine was a Soviet republic, within the USSR.
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Airbus which did a few passes over Furryboottoon this lunchtime.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51268163103_08122509e4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7oJJB)
IMG_8336_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m7oJJB) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51268708734_d804e9966c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7rwW3)
IMG_3694_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m7rwW3) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51267979096_3d01c81797_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7nN35)
IMG_3700_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m7nN35) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51269007910_298f18cf65_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7t4Sf)
airbus_a400m (https://flic.kr/p/2m7t4Sf) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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Airbus which did a few passes over Furryboottoon this lunchtime.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51268163103_08122509e4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7oJJB)
IMG_8336_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2m7oJJB) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
It's rare to see one in the air. Most of them are grounded with gearbox problems.
That's interesting. UR-82060 is Antonov Airlines ie owned by Antonov. I wonder what a Russian transport is doing landing at an RAF base.
Strike that Antonov are Ukrainian now not Russian.
There is only one AN225. It is uniquely capable in its weightlifting capacity, so it tends to get used for very unusual loads - such as perhaps a Challenger 2, or a complete Chinook.
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I seem to live on Route 1 for the RAF tankers shuttling between Brize Norton and Scotland. Hear them most days around late morning. I think they follow the (Welsh) Dee valley as they must be lost otherwise.
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We had the A400M doing low level flying here last year (or maybe the year before). Very low with the tail gate down. Made a change from Eurofighters and F15s.
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
It was delivering some Pumas apparently. Oh and it broke stuff on departure:
https://youtu.be/BPu1Dj81-EE
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
It was delivering some Pumas apparently. Oh and it broke stuff on departure:
https://youtu.be/BPu1Dj81-EE
Missed it yesterday as I was away but I should probably check my roof tiles as I live on the flight path ;D
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(https://www.mtrak.co.uk/pictures/autogyro.png)
I can't remember if I had ever seen an autogyro before in real life, and I certainly don't recall seeing one with an enclosed cockpit.
This was near Newquay a couple of days ago, and quite a few different autogyros came over after this one. Was there a meeting or something?
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(https://www.mtrak.co.uk/pictures/autogyro.png)
I can't remember if I had ever seen an autogyro before in real life, and I certainly don't recall seeing one with an enclosed cockpit.
This was near Newquay a couple of days ago, and quite a few different autogyros came over after this one. Was there a meeting or something?
Yes, a full meeting of SPECTRE to discuss the rollout of the 5g implants
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Flight radar showing AN225 due into Brize Norton in about 2 hours if anyone is riding past that way
Flight number UR-82060
It was delivering some Pumas apparently. Oh and it broke stuff on departure:
https://youtu.be/BPu1Dj81-EE
Somewhat excessive for a pair of trainers.
:D
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I suppose drugs-by-drone was inevitable
(http://www.surinenglish.com/noticias/202107/13/media/cortadas/drug-drone-kNZG-U1401014421019vcE-575x323@Surinenglish.jpeg)
https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-07-15/spanish-police-seize-large-drone-used-to-carry-drugs-from-morocco.html
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I suppose drugs-by-drone was inevitable
That has been a problem for prisons for some time. Drone flies over, drops package inside fence, prisoner picks it up later (pre-arranged drop off point).
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Which has just reminded me of https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316620/
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315B Lama and Hiller-ET12s!.
Visited a company still operating those. The Lama's are really cool, but are really on their last legs as parts hasn't been produced in years.
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On the weekend, at Shrewsbury Folk Fest, we were overflown by what looked and sounded very like an Avro Annie (Anson).
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Well heard rather than seen and annoying rather than "interesting or unusual" but there was a Globemaster doing late night circuits at Brize last night. Which stops being funny when you live on the base leg turn :(
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Last Sunday I was driving up the M1 just south of Leicester when I spotted a weird-looking aircraft that was reminiscent of a Catalina flying overhead. Checked it out on FlightRadar24 when I got home and it was indeed a Catalina.
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What looked like a Eurofighter Typhoon just flew over Furryboottoon.
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What definately was a Typhoon has just practiced his display routine over my workshop😁😁😁
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Well heard rather than seen and annoying rather than "interesting or unusual" but there was a Globemaster doing late night circuits at Brize last night. Which stops being funny when you live on the base leg turn :(
They're still quieter than the VC-10s nor (to my mind) as noisy as the A-400ms.
Speaking of local aerodromes and noisy aircraft there have been 2 or 3 B1s at Fairford. Watched them lazily stooging around for quarter of an hour so one late afternoon at the tail end of last week.
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We live about 600yds south of the western end of the runway at Coningsby. Depending on the wind we get the traffic (mainly Typhoons) breaking into the circuit immediately overhead or (rather quieter) passing to the south downwind onto their base leg. Then we get Typhoons doing performance take offs where they go straight up vertical on full burner. That, of course, is balanced by the Merlin symphony from the BBMF!!
Never a dull moment
Dave Yates
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We live about 600yds south of the western end of the runway at Coningsby. Depending on the wind we get the traffic (mainly Typhoons) breaking into the circuit immediately overhead or (rather quieter) passing to the south downwind onto their base leg. Then we get Typhoons doing performance take offs where they go straight up vertical on full burner. That, of course, is balanced by the Merlin symphony from the BBMF!!
Never a dull moment
Dave Yates
Having flown a Spit, big envy.
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Having flown a Spit, big envy.
I too have flown a Spitfire, Carolyn Grace's ML407. An unforgettable experience 🤩🤩
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We live about 600yds south of the western end of the runway at Coningsby. Depending on the wind we get the traffic (mainly Typhoons) breaking into the circuit immediately overhead or (rather quieter) passing to the south downwind onto their base leg. Then we get Typhoons doing performance take offs where they go straight up vertical on full burner. That, of course, is balanced by the Merlin symphony from the BBMF!!
Never a dull moment
Dave Yates
I seem to remember that caused a few interruptions to the course as we all rushed out to see what variant of Merlin was flying overhead at least a couple of times during the week.
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Having flown a Spit, big envy.
I too have flown a Spitfire, Carolyn Grace's ML407. An unforgettable experience 🤩🤩
MJ 627 in my case.
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Having flown a Spit, big envy.
I too have flown a Spitfire, Carolyn Grace's ML407. An unforgettable experience 🤩🤩
Who was your pilot?
MJ 627 in my case.
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Having flown a Spit, big envy.
I too have flown a Spitfire, Carolyn Grace's ML407. An unforgettable experience 🤩🤩
Who was your pilot?
MJ 627 in my case.
Jez Britcher
If you go to page 65 of this thread and click on any of my pics except the last one, you'll see the footage of my flight shot from the chase plane, as well as a victory roll executed in front of Beachy Head lighthouse.
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Jurek
I assume that was from Headcorn? I have a mate, Charlie Brown who I believe also flies the Spitfires from there. He has well over 1000 hours in Spitfires and is into old bikes, I have worked on several for him, mainly Ephgraves
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Jurek
I assume that was from Headcorn? I have a mate, Charlie Brown who I believe also flies the Spitfires from there. He has well over 1000 hours in Spitfires and is into old bikes, I have worked on several for him, mainly Ephgraves
Nah. Biggin Hill. Just a smidge over two years ago.
Jez has 500 hours on the Spit.
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OK, WTF is going on here ???
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51646075779_03aa8c68c0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mFMD1p)
Screenshot 2021-11-01 002918 (https://flic.kr/p/2mFMD1p) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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OK, WTF is going on here ???
Aurora watching flight?
Seems there's a few available to book, departing from Edinburgh or Glasgow etc. https://www.omegabreaks.com/itineraries/8832-northern-lights-flights
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Or a post maintenance certification flight ?
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(https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/10/28/09/Controladores%20Twitter.jpg?width=990&auto=webp&quality=75)
I'm not sure the Airbus came off much better.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/vulture-bird-strike-plane-madrid-b1946849.html
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Oops. It'll buff out.
That's the weather radar cover which is only thin fibreglass unlike the rest of the aircraft's skin.
I've seen quite a few pictures of these with severe dents in them due to various unfortunate circumstances.
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Bit of gaffer tape, it'll do a trip😁😁
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What are the bits sticking out of the side? Pitot tubes? They look a bit skungy and diy epoxied in place.
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What are the bits sticking out of the side? Pitot tubes? They look a bit skungy and diy epoxied in place.
From an answer on StackExchange
(https://i.stack.imgur.com/eH5rR.jpg)
- Ice detector
- Multi-function probe 1
- Static port
- TAT probe
- Side-slip vane
- Pitot probe
- Angle-of-attack vane
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That photo is one of the development A350s. Early production models had a roughly similar number of probes and sensors, but they've been rationalised a bit on later versions. Most of them exist on other types, but Airbus has chosen to group them all on the nose of the A350, whereas on most aircraft they are a little more widely distributed.
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Rumour of "fleet"* B-52 deployment to Fairford. Via the Wilts & Glos Std, "...USAF B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Minot AFB, North Dakota will deploy to RAF Fairford, United Kingdom as part of the Bomber Task Force mission strategy."
*Could just be journos over-egging the pudding or mis-reading "flight of" for "fleet of". Last time there was a significant number here was during the Balkan wars 20 years ago.
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Rumour of "fleet"* B-52 deployment to Fairford. Via the Wilts & Glos Std, "...USAF B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Minot AFB, North Dakota will deploy to RAF Fairford, United Kingdom as part of the Bomber Task Force mission strategy."
*Could just be journos over-egging the pudding or mis-reading "flight of" for "fleet of". Last time there was a significant number here was during the Balkan wars 20 years ago.
Rumour? Four BUFFs arrived at RAF Fairford yesterday:
Four B-52s from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., deployed to RAF Fairford, U.K., on Feb. 10 for a notional three-week stay, during which they will exercise with NATO allies and partner nations.
...
A U.S. Strategic Command spokesperson said the bomber task force was “long planned” but not previously announced. Such deployments typically last about three weeks, she said, but “could move to the right or left” depending on the security situation. ...
Neither USAFE nor STRATCOM linked the bomber deployment to the unfolding security situation in Ukraine.
https://www.airforcemag.com/b-52-bomber-task-force-deploys-to-raf-fairford/
ITV's report suggests there could be up to eight B-52s deployed.
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-02-10/american-b-52-bombers-arrive-in-uk-amid-fears-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine
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No B-1Bs though...
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Rumour? Four BUFFs arrived at RAF Fairford yesterday:
Only 4? Pffh. Much as usual then. It would explain the racket I heard late afternoon yesterday. I put it down to the U2 which makes a hell of a din on take-off.
> No B-1Bs though.
There were a couple here late(ish) last year. Sept? Oct? Can't remember exactly when.
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No B-1Bs though...
There aren't that many serviceable of the 45 left in service, but they do appear at Fairford from time to time. They're apparently meant to go on to 2036, but I think they might struggle with that. The B-21 can't appear soon enough.
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No B-1Bs though...
There aren't that many serviceable of the 45 left in service, but they do appear at Fairford from time to time. They're apparently meant to go on to 2036, but I think they might struggle with that. The B-21 can't appear soon enough.
The latest I read regarding the B-21 suggests Northrop Grumman are making steady progress and remarkably, the project is still on time and under budget! Six aircraft are already under construction, with the rollout of the first one to fly due to take place before the end of the year.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44235/a-sixth-b-21-raider-stealth-bomber-is-now-being-built
I'm tempted to ask what Northrop Grumman's getting right - the merger of the two original companies appears to have combined the best of both, whereas Boeing (currently making a complete mess of the KC-46 tanker) now seems to be a combo of the worst aspects of the Seattle giant and McDonnell Douglas.
(Lockheed Martin would have been the obvious comparison, but to be fair - only a smidgen, though - the F-35 is a case of trying to produce three different aircraft at the same time, when hindsight suggests it would have been better to have had a separate competition for a low-observable jump jet.)
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I don’t think Boeing ever originally thought they’d get to make the KC-46 as the A330 MRTT was already well established and won the contract on capability and cost. Then the pollies objected (U!S!A!) and won the overturn, and so they had to make it work. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the 767 as a base; it’s just a very old design. Add to that the quality control problems that the company brought on itself, and which came to a head with the 737-Max, and Boeing really doesn’t look good.
NG may be much, much smaller, but they’ve made some great (if incredibly expensive) aeroplanes over the postwar era.
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A RAF airbus a400m flying really low down the firth of Clyde the last 2 days. Seems like there is some military exercise going on. It seemed really quiet
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A RAF airbus a400m... It seemed really quiet.
A quiet A400? That's ... unusual. The racket they make is one of the easiest ways to distinguish them from C17s, both types are like fleas on a dog here.
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A RAF airbus a400m... It seemed really quiet.
A quiet A400? That's ... unusual. The racket they make is one of the easiest ways to distinguish them from C17s, both types are like fleas on a dog here.
Blimey. The RAF has 20 A400s, mostly unserviceable, and 8 C-17s. That’s not a lot, so I guess you must live next door to Brize!
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A RAF airbus a400m... It seemed really quiet.
A quiet A400? That's ... unusual. The racket they make is one of the easiest ways to distinguish them from C17s, both types are like fleas on a dog here.
Blimey. The RAF has 20 A400s, mostly unserviceable, and 8 C-17s. That’s not a lot, so I guess you must live next door to Brize!
Just down the road from me as I'm more or less on the base leg turn
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A RAF airbus a400m flying really low down the firth of Clyde the last 2 days. Seems like there is some military exercise going on. It seemed really quiet
Seems it has been touring much of Scotland, spotted it on Monday.
(https://i.imgur.com/TwkZmXqh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RNAPgPPh.jpg)
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(https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/10/28/09/Controladores%20Twitter.jpg?width=990&auto=webp&quality=75)
I'm not sure the Airbus came off much better.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/vulture-bird-strike-plane-madrid-b1946849.html
Back in the day, my dad had something called "speed tape" in his toolbox, aluminium with a sticky side. Not sure it would have coped with that thobut
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Last Friday, two of those new fanged Ospreys, not unusual, but framed with a spitfire (probably from Duxford) in the background.
This morning, while out trimming the hedge, KC135 low, boom extended followed at very low level by an F15 in a screaming turn, air brake fully extended. WIth the level of detail visible, I reckon not a lot more than 500ft and making a hell of a racket. About two mins later a pair of F15s (possibly the first one and a mate from the direction), also pretty low, could see stuff on the wing pylons but not quite make out what. I might be just more alert to the noise, but i seems to me that there's been more activity round here lately
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Got buzzed by a Chinook last Thursday. In Putney ???
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I've been "buzzed" by a Chinook on the A32 in Gosport. This is not rare, as they're all over the place, but this one was on a (very wide) truck. They mend them there, or at least used to. The sound of a Chinook going absolutely flat out whilst strapped to the ground is quite something, leading one to look around wondering where the hell the thing is (its behind a building). I hate the things, they ain't natural...
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A RAF airbus a400m... It seemed really quiet.
A quiet A400? That's ... unusual. The racket they make is one of the easiest ways to distinguish them from C17s, both types are like fleas on a dog here.
They fly over here (Welshpool-ish) from time to time. They've always seemed quiet to me, but then I'm used to Vulcans, Lightnings and Concorde at fairly close quarters.
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South Korean Black Eagles, which have been flying over my house for the last half-hour or so. Must be the Farnborough air show.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52210521797_bd83d0816a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nxEz9i)
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Must be the Farnborough air show.
RIAT this weekend. Maybe they're staging somewhere local to you?
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Must be the Farnborough air show.
RIAT this weekend. Maybe they're staging somewhere local to you?
There're listed on the Farnborough website as displaying, but not stopping. Farnborough is about 3 miles away.
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52211580983_e49399d3f4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nxL118)
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52211619716_c4c4f4d369_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nxLcvW)
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52211619716_c4c4f4d369_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nxLcvW)
Ah, Korean Black Eagles. Will be seeing them next weekend
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This morning's flypast. I assume the structures on the centre of the wings are for wingwalkers. A display by Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers (https://www.aerosuperbatics.com) is scheduled for the public day at Farnborough.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52213130661_8435bd45b2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nxTWEH)
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Black Eagles over the house at 1000. Noisy little beggars aren't they?
More unusual these days, a Tornado* (GR4 I assume) circuiting at 1445-1500. My neighbour (who fixes the RAF's Voyagers for a living and has worked on Tornados) obliged me by taking a snap cos I didn't have a camera to hand, but it's a bit Loch Ness Monster.
*One for the, "you know you're getting on a bit" thread. I still think of the Tornado (or MRCA!) as a modern aircraft when it really isn't.
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There are no RAF Tornados left in service; the last left in 2019. There are a few still flying in the German and Italian Air Forces, but most have been replaced by the Typhoon or F-35.
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There are no RAF Tornados.. a few still flying in the German and Italian Air Forces..
Aye. I was *very* surprised to see it because I didn't think there were any still flying, neighbour was of the opinion it was most likely one of the German ones. Either way a rara avis these days.
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Black Eagles over the house at 1000. Noisy little beggars aren't they?
More unusual these days, a Tornado* (GR4 I assume) circuiting at 1445-1500. My neighbour (who fixes the RAF's Voyagers for a living and has worked on Tornados) obliged me by taking a snap cos I didn't have a camera to hand, but it's a bit Loch Ness Monster.
*One for the, "you know you're getting on a bit" thread. I still think of the Tornado (or MRCA!) as a modern aircraft when it really isn't.
It was all the rage as a great new thing when I lived in Germany, which looking back was 40 years ago
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It was the latest, still secret, thing in my boy's.book of aeroplanes in 1975.
Sent from my motorola edge 20 using Tapatalk
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An Osprey has just flown over the house.
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There are no RAF Tornados left in service; the last left in 2019. There are a few still flying in the German and Italian Air Forces, but most have been replaced by the Typhoon or F-35.
Back in the late 1980's I had a wander around the factory in Warton when they were building them. I hadn't realised they're all gone in the UK - makes me feel very old now!
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Beluga is flying at Fairford.
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Beluga is flying at Fairford.
See this regularly as I live on the flight path about 20 miles S of Hawarden airport where they make the Airbus wings.
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2 F-15s (I think)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52218564690_1c55d40d27.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nynN1S)
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Air Force 1 went over a while back
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JB been turfed out by the Saudis already? :)
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2 F-15s (I think)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52218564690_1c55d40d27.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nynN1S)
2?
Is one of them in stealth mode?
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It's behind you!
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It's behind you!
;D
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2 F-15s (I think)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52218564690_1c55d40d27.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nynN1S)
2?
Is one of them in stealth mode?
Plenty of those round here, though I'm yet to see an F35, which I understand based at Marham which is just up the road. They are truly stealthy :P
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Lakenheath has already received its first F-35s, and will end up with more than the entire UK Armed Forces will have. Alongside the existing F-15Es. The F-15C/D retired last month as the first F-35s arrived.
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Spent the day on a hill above the runway at Fairford. No decent photos as only had phone and it was too bright to see screen. Korean Black Eagles and Italian Frecce Tricolore made the Red Arrows look staid and dull. F35 just hovered a bit then fucked off. Spanish F18 was great, as were all the other fast jets.
(https://i.ibb.co/bm10X1G/IMG-20220716-200448-485.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/hKqr2ss/IMG-20220716-200402-894.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mHxdhJJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/Dt35wbR/IMG-20220716-200321-132.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9NRsyvr)
(https://i.ibb.co/NZN2KQn/IMG-20220716-200224-217.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m6y541F)
how to make my pictures private (https://imgbb.com/)
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Good pics :thumbsup:
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Spent the day on a hill above the runway at Fairford. No decent photos as only had phone and it was too bright to see screen. Korean Black Eagles and Italian Frecce Tricolore made the Red Arrows look staid and dull. F35 just hovered a bit then fucked off. Spanish F18 was great, as were all the other fast jets.
(https://i.ibb.co/bm10X1G/IMG-20220716-200448-485.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/hKqr2ss/IMG-20220716-200402-894.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mHxdhJJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/Dt35wbR/IMG-20220716-200321-132.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9NRsyvr)
(https://i.ibb.co/NZN2KQn/IMG-20220716-200224-217.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m6y541F)
how to make my pictures private (https://imgbb.com/)
Fail.
No photo of Maverick.
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Lakenheath has already received its first F-35s, and will end up with more than the entire UK Armed Forces will have. Alongside the existing F-15Es. The F-15C/D retired last month as the first F-35s arrived.
Time for a ride in that direction, though Lakenheath has far more fencing obscuring public view vs Mildenhall
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Fail.
No photo of Maverick.
I wasn't at the actual airshow, I was somewhere better, surrounded by sullen looking obese men, with goatee beards occupying a small portion of their balloon faced heads, in camo gear, with thousands of pounds worth of telephoto lenses, also camouflaged, stuffed into bowing camping chairs.
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The place to be although also the hottest :o was just under the E end of the runway in Whelford. Yesterday was sold out anyway so I had no problem with a free show, well worth the 43k ride from Didcot and back 8)
Loved the Reds with Boris Force One, although he thankfully won't be PM for much longer I think the name will stick like the bikes!
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Fail.
No photo of Maverick.
I wasn't at the actual airshow, I was somewhere better, surrounded by sullen looking obese men, with goatee beards occupying a small portion of their balloon faced heads, in camo gear, with thousands of pounds worth of telephoto lenses, also camouflaged, stuffed into bowing camping chairs.
No tattoos?!
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Air Force 1 went over a while back
not AF1 it's a Boeing E4 Doomsday plane
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Yesterday, over my place of work, the distinctive sound of radially piston'd engines.
A Douglas DC3 Dakota.
Heading, I suspect, for Duxford.
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From half four onwards, repeated fly past of a Herc & 2 Typhoons in formation. Suspect they were practicing for the Foot The Ball fly past. The Typhoons were having to fly very nose up.
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Yep, switched the distascope on just in time to see them passing over Wem-ber-lee.
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From half four onwards, repeated fly past of a Herc & 2 Typhoons in formation. Suspect they were practicing for the Foot The Ball fly past. The Typhoons were having to fly very nose up.
You wouldn't have that issue with the BBMF, but a Lancaster and a couple of Spitfires might be seen as too... on the nose, perhaps? :demon:
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From half four onwards, repeated fly past of a Herc & 2 Typhoons in formation. Suspect they were practicing for the Foot The Ball fly past. The Typhoons were having to fly very nose up.
I think people have a distorted idea of the speed the Hercules travels at because it has propellors. The normal speed for a flypast such as today's would be 250-270kts, which is a perfectly acceptable speed for the Typhoons (note that the Voyager/Red Arrows flypast in Jaded's photos from RIAT would also have been at about that speed). If necessary, the C-130 can crank it up to 330kts, though it's not exactly comfortable doing so. However, that puts it among the fastest turboprop aircraft one might normally see. At high level, its cruise speed is around 340kts TAS (Mach 0.6-ish).
Having refuelled all kinds of fast jets from the C-130 tanker, the only one which I found had an issue was the Jaguar. With its tiny wing and very limited power, it developed so much drag at the normal refuel speed of 255kts that as the weight increased as it took on fuel, it would either lose contact or have to put one engine in reheat. The reheat control was very coarse, so it resulted in much hilarious oscillations around the ideal refuelling position, which would generally end up with a very undignified disconnect. And, of course, it was using more fuel than it was taking on in that configuration.
Edit: prolly worth pointing out (as the BBC failed to do) that the RAF flypast was entirely crewed by women, as is appropriate for the occasion.
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Lots of F15 activity over the house recently. Normally I see them in pairs, but recently a flight of 4, followed shortly by an Apache within missile range. Also recently in the normal flight path an airliner-looking thing, with winglets, definitely not the usual C135 variants
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From half four onwards, repeated fly past of a Herc & 2 Typhoons in formation. Suspect they were practicing for the Foot The Ball fly past. The Typhoons were having to fly very nose up.
I think people have a distorted idea of the speed the Hercules travels at because it has propellors. The normal speed for a flypast such as today's would be 250-270kts, which is a perfectly acceptable speed for the Typhoons (note that the Voyager/Red Arrows flypast in Jaded's photos from RIAT would also have been at about that speed). If necessary, the C-130 can crank it up to 330kts, though it's not exactly comfortable doing so. However, that puts it among the fastest turboprop aircraft one might normally see. At high level, its cruise speed is around 340kts TAS (Mach 0.6-ish).
Having refuelled all kinds of fast jets from the C-130 tanker, the only one which I found had an issue was the Jaguar. With its tiny wing and very limited power, it developed so much drag at the normal refuel speed of 255kts that as the weight increased as it took on fuel, it would either lose contact or have to put one engine in reheat. The reheat control was very coarse, so it resulted in much hilarious oscillations around the ideal refuelling position, which would generally end up with a very undignified disconnect. And, of course, it was using more fuel than it was taking on in that configuration.
I once saw Concorde in formation with a Spit and a Hurricane and the red arrows. I swear you could hear the Concorde’s stall alarm from the ground :)
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Concorde is a rather different case, as it has no lift-augmentation devices to make slow-speed flight a little easier - hence the high nose attitude on landing, relatively high approach speed, and the need for the droop-snoot. Nevertheless, it was quite comfortable at 300kts, the normal flypast speed they used, which was well within both the Hurricane’s and Spitfire’s capabilities and very easy for the Hawks of the Reds.
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..normal speed for a flypast such as today's would be 250-270kts, which is a perfectly acceptable speed for the Typhoons
Ta. Question; is that the normal stooging around airspeed for a herc? Reason I ask is that of the 4 or 5 runs that I saw the couple where the Typhoons were nose up looked slower to me than what I usually see. Whether it actually was slower or was just me being optically deluded is another matter entirely.
> Edit: prolly worth pointing out (as the BBC failed to do) that the RAF flypast was entirely crewed by women, as is appropriate for the occasion.
I made damn sure that I dragged MrsL to the window and pointed this out to her on each fly-past. She still wasn't that impressed. :)
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The Beeb colemantary team did note that the Herc was crewed entirely by women.
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‘Normal stooging around speed, Mr Sulu’. ‘Aye, Cap’n’
There’s no such thing really. Working (as opposed to hobby) aircraft generally travel as fast as is possible, safe and comfortable for the specific circumstances they’re employed in. So for a Hercules in normal high level cruise, the power is set to Max Continuous and the speed is whatever it will be (normally about 330-340kts TAS). At lower levels, the speed will be standardised for different purposes. In a climb to a high-level cruise (above say FL200), a C130 normally uses a reducing IAS technique which will start at 210kts and reduce with altitude. However, for a shorter flight that doesn’t justify a high level cruise, we’d fly at Vno, which is 270kts. However at low level (and in turbulence) 270kts is bloody uncomfortable and means your troops aren’t going to be fit to fight when they get to where you’re taking them, so the normal low level cruise speed is 210kts.
Similarly, for normal operations the C130 is operated to Performance A criteria, which demand that the aircraft can safely fly on three (and sometimes fewer) engines. So landing and takeoff speeds are calculated with reference to Vmcg and Vmca (minimum control speeds on the ground and in the air at the point of losing the critical engine). Those criteria and speeds are totally inappropriate for maximum performance tactical operations, so they are thrown out the window when necessary to achieve a military task - and the extra risk is accepted.
Edit: the point is, working aircraft (military or civil) are flown at their maximum legal capabilities most of the time, as that’s where they’re most efficient. Legalities may demand slower speeds in specific circumstances - for instance all traffic is limited to 250kts below 10,000’ unless safety demands they must fly faster. There are exceptions for military traffic in specific circumstances, but speed limits still apply even then. The C130 generally isn’t going to break any military speed limits!
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‘Normal stooging around speed, Mr Sulu’. ‘Aye, Cap’n’
:D
Ta, detailed explanation much appreciated.
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Not interesting, but unusual, given the RAF doesn't have many, or fly them much...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Typhoon.jpg)
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Typhoon, innit?
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...unusual, given the RAF doesn't have many, or fly them much...
Well, with petrol the cost it is everyone's cutting back on travel aren't they? :)
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A Chinook flew low over our house this arvo.
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A BAC Jet Provost flying back and forth near Gt Totham in Essex yesterday and today.
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A BAC Jet Provost flying back and forth near Gt Totham in Essex yesterday and today.
The CFI of the gliding club where I learnt to fly referred to the Jet Provost as the aeroplane with a volume control in place of a throttle. He was also the CO of the local RAF jet pilot trading facility.
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A BAC Jet Provost flying back and forth near Gt Totham in Essex yesterday and today.
The CFI of the gliding club where I learnt to fly referred to the Jet Provost as the aeroplane with a volume control in place of a throttle. He was also the CO of the local RAF jet pilot trading facility.
It certainly did seem to make a lot of noise for little apparent forward progress.
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Flies out of North Weald, heard and saw it as I was buying plums at Bobingworth.
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A Lancaster just flew over my house
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A Lancaster just flew over my house
One flew over me when I was out on the bike on Saturday. I didn't actually see it because I was in Sherwood Forest but it is a pretty distinctive sound.
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:thumbsup:
It will have been the same one, as there are only two flying Lancasters in the world, and the other one is usually in Canada.
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Copped a B52 (my first) at Bournemouth yesterday; on its way back from Austria to Fairford; they are only here a couple more weeks so grab 'em before it's too late!
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I got flown over at low level by a B1-B whilst out running a few years back, now that was impressively noisy.
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Copped a B52 (my first) at Bournemouth yesterday; on its way back from Austria to Fairford; they are only here a couple more weeks so grab 'em before it's too late!
Ah...that explains it.
By sheer chance I looked at flighradar to see what was overhead (a330), but noticed B52 had not long left Fairford. Had a look hours later and saw it flying just dough of London. It then flew to the IOW and was doing loops before returning to Fairford. Pinged the MiL that it was about to fly over her house at 2000ft and she filmed it. Crazy to think it's 60-70 years old.
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Copped a B52 (my first) at Bournemouth yesterday; on its way back from Austria to Fairford; they are only here a couple more weeks so grab 'em before it's too late!
Ah...that explains it.
By sheer chance I looked at flighradar to see what was overhead (a330), but noticed B52 had not long left Fairford. Had a look hours later and saw it flying just dough of London. It then flew to the IOW and was doing loops before returning to Fairford. Pinged the MiL that it was about to fly over her house at 2000ft and she filmed it. Crazy to think it's 60-70 years old.
That’s a grim thing to say about the MiL.
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"Crazy to think it's 60-70 years old."
All the BUFFs flying today are B-52H airframes, the last of which rolled off the Boeing production lines in June 1962 but they are a bit like Trigger's broom...
Soon to be re-engined with Rolls Royce F130s. Rumours abound that they might hit the 100 years in service (first prototype flight was April 1952 with service models built from 1954).
So yes, 60 years old - just imagine if the RAF of the latter half of the 1970s were still flying Sopwith Camels instead of Jaguars and Harriers!
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as an air cadet in the early '70s (probably '73) , we got a guided tour of (including inside) a B52 when they were temporarily stationed at RaF Marham - I'll never forget the fact we were told that wing tip flexes up by 17ft on takeoff, compared to it's 'at rest' position. :o
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as an air cadet in the early '70s (probably '73) , we got a guided tour of (including inside) a B52 when they were temporarily stationed at RaF Marham - I'll never forget the fact we were told that wing tip flexes up by 17ft on takeoff, compared to it's 'at rest' position. :o
I think that is quite normal for civilian airliners these days.
ETA- 4m of flex is nothing.
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as an air cadet in the early '70s (probably '73) , we got a guided tour of (including inside) a B52 when they were temporarily stationed at RaF Marham - I'll never forget the fact we were told that wing tip flexes up by 17ft on takeoff, compared to it's 'at rest' position. :o
I think that is quite normal for civilian airliners these days.
ETA- 4m of flex is nothing.
Certainly seems to be the case with the Boeing 787. B'aint be natural…
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Soon to be re-engined with Rolls Royce F130s.
Well they'd better get a wriggle on then. I do not like being woken at double oh what bloody time do you call this!? on a Sunday morning by the racket from whatever clapped out old crap they've currently got strapped to the wings.
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Wonder if it will sound different? The current sound is unique.
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A C130 just flew over.
At 900ft, according to a flight tracker.
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"Crazy to think it's 60-70 years old."
All the BUFFs flying today are B-52H airframes, the last of which rolled off the Boeing production lines in June 1962 but they are a bit like Trigger's broom...
Soon to be re-engined with Rolls Royce F130s. Rumours abound that they might hit the 100 years in service (first prototype flight was April 1952 with service models built from 1954).
So yes, 60 years old - just imagine if the RAF of the latter half of the 1970s were still flying Sopwith Camels instead of Jaguars and Harriers!
Have Pratt and Whitney bitten the dust? I know the Tristar used RR RB211 engines do the Merkins mostly use RR now?
I always saw the B-52 as a sort of very stretched and expanded 707 but it was apparently based on the B-47 which looks straight out of Buck Rogers
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.Dat2FafXIE4SUV-Kq6coSgHaER?pid=ImgDet&rs=1)
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P&W are still going strong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney
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Have Pratt and Whitney bitten the dust?
Still around:
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units.
Our large commercial engines power nearly 30 percent of the world's mainline passenger aircraft fleet. Thirty-four armed forces around the world use our military engines. Our products also include airborne auxiliary power units and small expendable and recoverable turbojet propulsion systems.
https://prattwhitney.com/products-and-services/products
Next...
do the Merkins mostly use RR now?
Nope:
General Electric
...
CFM International is a highly successful joint venture between General Electric and French engine maker Safran. When including the CFM products, GE leads the aircraft engine market globally. While things have shifted somewhat since the latest figures from Statista in 2020, it lands at around 55%, well ahead of its competitors. However, 39% of the total is down to CFM, whereas GE by itself holds 16%.
...
GE's engines can be found on every popular commercial jet to date, barring the A350 (for now). This means GE engines (including joint ventures) can be found on the 777, 747, 787, 737, A320, A330, A340, and A380. If you're flying on a narrowbody, especially the Boeing 737, chances are high there's a GE powerplant under the wing.
Pratt & Whitney
Coming in at number two is Pratt & Whitney. The American engine maker holds a 26% share of the engine market. P&W engines can be found on the A220, the A320 family, A330, 747-400s, 767, and Embraer E-jets. In recent years, the manufacturer has seen its narrowbody aircraft engines do well and, as a result, has been focusing on those.
...
Rolls-Royce
British and highly eponymous brand Rolls-Royce comes in third place on this list, holding around 18% of the engine market share. The manufacturer, which has made a name for itself in automotive circuits, makes engines exclusively for widebody aircraft, with the A330, A340, A350, A380, 777, and 787 featuring RR engines.
https://simpleflying.com/ge-rolls-royce-pratt-whitney/
And finally...
I always saw the B-52 as a sort of very stretched and expanded 707 but it was apparently based on the B-47 which looks straight out of Buck Rogers
While a jetliner works as the starting point for making a flying tanker or a command post, it's knack-all use as a bomber because the structure is all wrong - you've got the centre wing box and main undercarriage bays where the bomb bay would go. Admittedly, jetliners have been used as the basis for maritime patrol aircraft, but in the case of the Nimrod, the belly of the plane was extended downwards to accomodate the weapons bay, whereas the Boeing P-7 Poseidon has a small weapons bay in the rear fuselage - both planes also had/have weapons mounting points under the wings for anti-shipping missiles.
Boeing did indeed base the B-52 on the B-47, because it was the fastest way to come up with a new design after the Air Force, which had been flipping back and forth between wanting turboprop or turbojet propulsion, rejected a turboprop-powered proposal on Thursday, 21 October 1948. Simply replacing the props with jets was also rejected the next day, so in what became company legend, they promised Col. Pete Warden, the Air Force chief of bomber development, that they'd back with a new proposal on the Monday. Boeing engineers thrashed out a new design on the Friday night, built a model over the weekend and had a company stenographer type up the new proposal on Sunday. On Monday, the design was presented to Warden, who said "Now we have an airplane, this is the B-52."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress#Design_effort
https://web.archive.org/web/20090129182425/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/b52-strat/b52_50th/design.htm
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Pratt & Whitney power several varieties of Airbus, including the A330-200s we (Virgin) bought off Air Berlin when it collapsed. It was noisy and uneconomical compared to the RR Trent 560/700s we had on the rest of our Airbii (A330-300, A340-600), but it was a very simple engine to maintain - these things of course being relative. The A330-900 about to enter service with Virgin has the RR Trent 7000.
The B-47 was the reason several RAF airfields in use by the USAF were extended to 2700m (10,000ft) runway length - the RAF V-Force airfields made do with 9000ft. However, the aircraft's single-wheel loading caused a number of runways to fail when they began deploying to UK! The B-52 was slightly less unfriendly to concrete, and the extra power meant that the 10,000ft runways were sufficient for most missions (the USAF had wanted 11,500ft runways with 1000ft overruns at each end for the B-47, but local protests persuaded them to withdraw those plans).
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Been a very noisy bit of flying, but above the cloud so couldn't see anything. Am near Wittering, with some US bases not that far away.
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The nearest USAF base to you is Mildenhall, which is probably 30 miles away. However, RAF Wittering is still an active military airfield, so probably gets visitors from Coningsby's Typhoons and Lakenheath's F-35s and F-15s. The only based aircraft are piston-engined Grob Tutor trainers of 6 FTS.
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Thanks,
It was definitely a noisy jet(s) so I was thinking Typhoon or one of the F-s
Was a pity we couldn't see anything!
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So, they came back, after the clouds had gone. A lot higher than this morning, based on the sound.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Sep%2008%202022%20Jets%203.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Sep%2008%202022%20Jets%201.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Sep%2008%202022%20Jets%202.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Sep%2008%202022%20Jets%204.jpg)
They were having a lot of fun, but I couldn't hear the "Dakka Dakka Dakka" as they wheeled and spun.
I guess that I've not seen dogfights like this in Gloucs or the Highlands because both are in passenger jet superhighway routes.
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American F-35As from Lakenheath.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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American F-35As from Lakenheath.
Re-run yesterday morning on Flightradar24 and couldn't see any F35s up an playing. Come to think of it the only F35 I've seen on FR24 appeared out of nowhere in the North Sea off Newcastle with a 7700 squawk and headed straight for base. 'Spose they're just being stealthy ;)
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They're probably squawking on Mode S (which FR won't see, but ATC will). Setting 7700 squawks on all modes.
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"Crazy to think it's 60-70 years old."
All the BUFFs flying today are B-52H airframes, the last of which rolled off the Boeing production lines in June 1962 but they are a bit like Trigger's broom...
Soon to be re-engined with Rolls Royce F130s. Rumours abound that they might hit the 100 years in service (first prototype flight was April 1952 with service models built from 1954).
So yes, 60 years old - just imagine if the RAF of the latter half of the 1970s were still flying Sopwith Camels instead of Jaguars and Harriers!
I read an article where three generations of the same family (current USAF pilot, father and grand father) had all been B-52 pilots from the 60s to the present day and all had at one time or another flown the same airframe..
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The RAF ran the Canberra* for 55 years (1951-2006), so there could be similar stories there though I have no idea if there are actually any. There are plenty of father/son stories, including my own.
*NASA still flies three WB-57F Martin-built Canberras for high-altitude research.
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Not necessarily an interesting or unusual plane.
But on Saturday evening I saw a Chinook heading west into Glen Coe at maybe 50m over the A82 from Tigh Creag Dubh on Rannoch Muir.
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I was cycling back to from the office to the station yesterday afternoon as usual, when I saw an big grey plane that had just taken off from Edinburgh airport.
"That's an unusual plane", I thought. "Looks military. Oh, hang on..."
So I've checked and I'm sure as I can be that that was the aeroplane carrying the Queen's coffin. That's as close as I'm going to get.
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I might have seen that passing just north of slough approx 6.40pm .
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I was cycling back to from the office to the station yesterday afternoon as usual, when I saw an big grey plane that had just taken off from Edinburgh airport.
"That's an unusual plane", I thought. "Looks military. Oh, hang on..."
So I've checked and I'm sure as I can be that that was the aeroplane carrying the Queen's coffin. That's as close as I'm going to get.
I might have seen that passing just north of slough approx 6.40pm .
You can check your sighting times on:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz177#2d73086f
Clears Edinburgh airport boundary at 16:43 UTC (5:43pm BST)
Passes over Slough at about 2000ft at 17:50 UTC (6:50pm BST)
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Something with wing-tip missiles and a single engine and tail fin. Immediate thought was F-16, but I didn't think the USAnians still flew those?
Does the F35 have wing-tip missiles? Doesn't seem very stealth to me.
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Something with wing-tip missiles and a single engine and tail fin. Immediate thought was F-16, but I didn't think the USAnians still flew those?
Does the F35 have wing-tip missiles? Doesn't seem very stealth to me.
At least one F16 up this morning heading north over Swaffham at 09:50 UTC on FR24.
F35 has twin tails and no wing-tip missiles (can be fitted with under-wing pylons but that makes it less stealthy). Store are normally carried in internal bays.
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There are loads of F-16s still in service - indeed they are still being made. There are none based in UK, but the Belgian, Dutch and Danish air forces still fly them, and the USAF retains one squadron (480th) at Spangdahlem airbase in Germany. Any if these are likely to visit UK fairly frequently.
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I was cycling back to from the office to the station yesterday afternoon as usual, when I saw an big grey plane that had just taken off from Edinburgh airport.
"That's an unusual plane", I thought. "Looks military. Oh, hang on..."
So I've checked and I'm sure as I can be that that was the aeroplane carrying the Queen's coffin. That's as close as I'm going to get.
I might have seen that passing just north of slough approx 6.40pm .
You can check your sighting times on:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz177#2d73086f
Clears Edinburgh airport boundary at 16:43 UTC (5:43pm BST)
Passes over Slough at about 2000ft at 17:50 UTC (6:50pm BST)
Thanks 6.50pm would be it :thumbsup: . I was on the tricon gr and didn't have my phone so I made a rough guess of the time. With my sense of timing I wasn't that far out :)
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There are loads of F-16s still in service - indeed they are still being made. There are none based in UK, but the Belgian, Dutch and Danish air forces still fly them, and the USAF retains one squadron (480th) at Spangdahlem airbase in Germany. Any if these are likely to visit UK fairly frequently.
There were F16s at Lakenheath a couple of weeks ago. They had f15, 16 and 35s up - lots of spotters, I saw it on youtube.
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I was cycling back to from the office to the station yesterday afternoon as usual, when I saw an big grey plane that had just taken off from Edinburgh airport.
"That's an unusual plane", I thought. "Looks military. Oh, hang on..."
So I've checked and I'm sure as I can be that that was the aeroplane carrying the Queen's coffin. That's as close as I'm going to get.
You can check your sighting times on:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz177#2d73086f
Clears Edinburgh airport boundary at 16:43 UTC (5:43pm BST)
Thank you for that. The timing seems right for me, too.
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...from Edinburgh airport.
OK. I'm old out and out of touch, but when did people start calling it "Edinburgh Airport" rather than just Turnhouse?
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...from Edinburgh airport.
OK. I'm old out and out of touch, but when did people start calling it "Edinburgh Airport" rather than just Turnhouse?
In my flying days over 25 years ago, I'd always known it as Edinburgh!
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...from Edinburgh airport.
OK. I'm old out and out of touch, but when did people start calling it "Edinburgh Airport" rather than just Turnhouse?
1977
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...from Edinburgh airport.
OK. I'm old out and out of touch, but when did people start calling it "Edinburgh Airport" rather than just Turnhouse?
I've lived here since 2003 and have never called it Turnhouse.
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...from Edinburgh airport.
OK. I'm old out and out of touch, but when did people start calling it "Edinburgh Airport" rather than just Turnhouse?
1977
Ta. I was driving some of the company's international suppliers to & from the centre to there in the mid/late 80s and we were still calling it Turnhouse then. "Edinburgh Airport" would probably have got you a blank look.
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The RAF base at the airfield was Turnhouse. Edinburgh Airport was a lodger until the RAF turned the airfield over to BAA in 1971. RAF Turnhouse remained in situ and active as a support base for RAF Pitreavie Castle until 1997.
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What I think was a Typhoon flew low over Furryboottoon this arvo. It looked like it was coming from the airport. It didn't show up on FlightRadar24 thobut.
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What I think was a Typhoon flew low over Furryboottoon this arvo. It looked like it was coming from the airport. It didn't show up on FlightRadar24 thobut.
adsbexchange is generally a better facility than flightradar24 for stuff like this.
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Saw some contrails circling about over the North Sea SE of Furrybootoon. Checked FR24 and it seems to be a US tanker. Checked other aircraft over the North Sea and there seems to be a lot of military activity from various countries.
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Saw some contrails circling about over the North Sea SE of Furrybootoon. Checked FR24 and it seems to be a US tanker. Checked other aircraft over the North Sea and there seems to be a lot of military activity from various countries.
Exercise Cobra Warrior?
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-waddington/news/international-participants-for-a-large-scale-raf-exercise-have-begun-arriving-in-the-uk/
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Could well be :thumbsup:
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May well explain the inordinate noise round here lately, thing circulating y the regular Increase and decrease of volume for about ten minutes yesterday. I could hear, not see, until they popped in and out of the clouds. Did not recognise what they were
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
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Lost Yank. Looking for St. Louis. :)
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And here we have the wild EC120 in it's natural habitat:
(https://i.imgur.com/3y00KFdl.jpg)
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Fancy paint job!
Is it true that Canadians plant helicopters in the hope that a baby helicopter will grow? Looks like that one is starting to take root.
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Yes, leave this one for a season or two and it'll grow into an EC130T2
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Is that D Attenborough lurking behind the shrubbery on the right?
[“No.” – Ed.]
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
they hatch on Portland (Dorset not US) seen them take off there. They also have Sea Kings :P
re F-16s only ever seen the Belgian NL and whatever ones were at RIAT this year;
Polish air force are due to receive some although that may involve donating their Su's to a neighbour :o
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
they hatch on Portland (Dorset not US)
No, they don't. Portland has no military facilities any more - and the last went many, many years ago. There are V-22's based at RAF Mildenhall (7th Special Operations Sqn), but nowhere else in UK.
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
they hatch on Portland (Dorset not US)
No, they don't. Portland has no military facilities any more - and the last went many, many years ago. There are V-22's based at RAF Mildenhall (7th Special Operations Sqn), but nowhere else in UK.
Not quite fully the case, yet. There is a magnetic range by the Bill, called MOD Portland Bill, and another Qinetic site at Grove Point. There are civilian refuelling facilities that are sometimes used by the military, and Ospreys are seen in the area sometimes although as you say they are not based there. There are civilian Sea Kings, however, which are used for Air Sea rescue training. There is also the Sir Tristram moored in Portland Harbour, a decommissioned landing ship used for SF training, which doubtless involves helicopters.
I lived near RNAS Portland the mid 70s for a while, and at that time there were all sorts of things going on. The Underwater Weapons stuff (infamous for the Portland Spy Ring) left in the 90s along with the naval base. The SBS had their minisubs there too.
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It was RNAS Portland I was referring to, HF, though I wasn’t aware that the range was still active. HeliOps have, I think, the last remaining operational Sea Kings in UK. Is anything else operating from the site? I remember there was a coastguard SAR flight there, but I think that closed about 5 years ago.
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It was RNAS Portland I was referring to, HF, though I wasn’t aware that the range was still active. HeliOps have, I think, the last remaining operational Sea Kings in UK. Is anything else operating from the site? I remember there was a coastguard SAR flight there, but I think that closed about 5 years ago.
Bit of googling suggests that HeliOps have a new Leonardo AW139, as well as two old Sea Kings. The actual coastguard helicopter (often seen near Swanage) is based at Lee-on-Solent, according to Google.
I found this, about the US Ospreys landing on Portland (as suggested earlier, probably refuelling at HeliOps)
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/april/01/20210401-osprey-mounts
Of course, the confusion might be that the Naval base was called RNAS Osprey....and was renamed Osprey Quay.
The Qinetic magnetic range is quite interesting. It is used for all sorts of calibration purposes, degaussing ships and so on.
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
they hatch on Portland (Dorset not US)
No, they don't. Portland has no military facilities any more - and the last went many, many years ago. There are V-22's based at RAF Mildenhall (7th Special Operations Sqn), but nowhere else in UK.
Well, quite.
So where was it flying to/from?
I don't think they have the range to get here from Mildenhall.
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The ferry range of an Osprey is 2,570 miles apparently so its possible.
Only 1000 miles normal range though.
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Range is a tad over 1,000 miles according to Wikinaccurate. And they can be refuelled in flight.
XP with pcolbeck
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Unless they are deciding they need to rehearse emptying their tanks and doing mid-air refuel . . .
Hmm, nato exercises started on Fri. I wonder if it was actually from a carrier, somewhere in the minch?
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Well, quite.
So where was it flying to/from?
I don't think they have the range to get here from Mildenhall.
Of course they have the range to reach Lewis and return to Mildenhall (the return flight is about 800 nautical miles), but that wouldn't give them a lot of flex. However, Mildenhall also is home to the MC-130Js of the 67th Special Operations Squadron. One of their roles is to refuel the Ospreys in the air, and that's a skill that needs regular practice (I used to teach it, both as dispenser and receiver), so I'd be surprised if that wasn't part of the trip. In UK, air-to-air refuelling is normally practised in one of several oversea AAR areas (it's not normally allowed over land at the altitudes the V-22 can do it), and the role of both aircraft also requires them to be able to fly at low-level over land. The west of Scotland provides the largest and best low-flying training area in UK, so to combine refuelling practice in AARA 14 (see here (https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/enr/ENR-6-14.pdf)) with some low flying over the Highlands and Islands makes for a good day's work.
If AAR isn't part of the trip, they have the option of stopping for lunch and a top up at Lossiemouth or Leuchars (now Army, but still available to aircraft) before or after the low-flying bit before returning home. Prestwick also has frequent USAF visitors, though I don't believe there's any permanent military support any more. And of course Stornoway is also very familiar with military users having been part RAF until 20 or so years ago, and still used for exercises from time to time.
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Vanguard Self Storage have form for putting odd things atop their building's tower on the A40 just west of Hanger Lane and today was no exception. They have a Spitfire. Not to be outdone, their branch on the A406 just west of Staples Corner has, in its multi-storey glazed atrium, a Hunter.
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Osprey thingy
V low, flew over Lewis, turned around and flew back.
On a sort of West-East track.
Trainee pilot getting in some hours?
they hatch on Portland (Dorset not US)
No, they don't. Portland has no military facilities any more - and the last went many, many years ago. There are V-22's based at RAF Mildenhall (7th Special Operations Sqn), but nowhere else in UK.
Yes sorry I didn't mean they were based there I've just seen one landing / taking off at the HeilOps site
Vanguard Self Storage have form for putting odd things atop their building's tower on the A40 just west of Hanger Lane and today was no exception. They have a Spitfire. Not to be outdone, their branch on the A406 just west of Staples Corner has, in its multi-storey glazed atrium, a Hunter.
There's still a gate guardian RN Hunter outside the former RAF Ford on the road South of Arundel, rode past it many times whilst trying to relieve lockdown boredom before AUKs started up again
The Selsey Arms on the A272 at Coolham built a life sized (ish) wooden Spitfire in their garden, it's looking much the worse for ear which is a shame as the pub has a Polish / RAF memorial near the former WWII airfield. I saw B17 Sally B fly over it several times in the summer think they were filming a documentary.
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That Ford Hunter is easily visible from the train. If you ride on down towards Climping, there some Commonwealth War Graves in St Mary's church yard
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There's still a gate guardian RN Hunter outside the former RAF Ford on the road South of Arundel, rode past it many times whilst trying to relieve lockdown boredom before AUKs started up again
While Ford was indeed RAF for a couple of years after WW1 (it had been one of the first British military airfields adopted by the Americans), and a couple of years of WW2, the majority of its military time was as HMS Peregrine, a Royal Naval Air Station. It closed in 1958. There's a decent history here: http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Ford.htm#.Y2XcX-TP1qg
The Hunter is an ex-FRADU GA11 (WW654) which ironically never operated from Ford and is now in very poor condition.
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My uncle used to say the Hunter was his favourite of the many types he flew in his career.
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There's still a gate guardian RN Hunter outside the former RAF Ford on the road South of Arundel, rode past it many times whilst trying to relieve lockdown boredom before AUKs started up again
While Ford was indeed RAF for a couple of years after WW1 (it had been one of the first British military airfields adopted by the Americans), and a couple of years of WW2, the majority of its military time was as HMS Peregrine, a Royal Naval Air Station. It closed in 1958. There's a decent history here: http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Ford.htm#.Y2XcX-TP1qg
The Hunter is an ex-FRADU GA11 (WW654) which ironically never operated from Ford and is now in very poor condition.
It would be a shame to see it go the way of that Lightning at Newark
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It looks like we might be getting a replacement An-225 (https://news.yahoo.com/second-mriya-aircraft-being-built-191006988.html) :thumbsup:
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It looks like we might be getting a replacement An-225 (https://news.yahoo.com/second-mriya-aircraft-being-built-191006988.html) :thumbsup:
"The project, he says, costs €500,000,000"
Yikes... :o
A breakdown of the project cost would be handy, to see how much covers new manufacturing facilities, personnel, testing and so on, as opposed to the materials and parts to build a new Mriya. And if anything, half a billion is low-balling it compared with estimates from earlier this year - per The War Zone in late May:
Last week, Zelensky announced his intentions of building a new Mriya during an online meeting with Ukrainian students.
"We wanted to build it, we needed $800 million,” he said, according to the Interfax Ukraine news agency. “I appealed to the President of Turkey with a proposal to build the 2nd MRIYA, but we did not find the money," he said.
...
Zelensky’s estimate to build a new Mriya, however, is far less than what Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian defense industry conglomerate of which Antonov is part, said it would take.
Ukroboronprom (https://ukroboronprom.com.ua/en/news/rosiyani-znishhili-an-225-mriya-vona-bude-vidnovlena-za-kosti-okupanta) said on Feb. 27 that building a new Mriya will cost more than $3 billion and take five years. This seemed like a massive figure at the time.
The funds, it said, will come from Russia via war reparations.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/800m-needed-to-build-a-new-an-225-mriya-cargo-jet-zelensky-says
By way of a comparison...
The cost to procure each B-2 was US$737 million in 1997 dollars (equivalent to US$1126 million in 2021), based only on a fleet cost of US$15.48 billion. The procurement cost per aircraft as detailed in GAO reports, which include spare parts and software support, was $929 million per aircraft in 1997 dollars.
The total program cost projected through 2004 was US$44.75 billion in 1997 dollars (equivalent to US$68 billion in 2021). This includes development, procurement, facilities, construction, and spare parts. The total program cost averaged US$2.13 billion per aircraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit#Program_costs_and_procurement
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The initial estimate for completing the unfinished AN225 (which survived the attacks) was around $3bn, though I've no idea how that figure was arrived at. $500m for a one-off, extremely large, aircraft seems pretty good value - that's not much more than the sticker price of a Boeing 777-9. So I'd guess that Ukraine has already secured a great deal of gratis help from agencies throughout aviation, who will obviously have as much interest in the marketing benefits of being involved with such a project as they will in helping out a worthwhile project.
There really isn't any pressing need for this aircraft other than to stick a middle finger up at Russia. In the interests of which, I hope that the Mk2 Mriya is very much better than the Russian-derived Mk 1.
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There really isn't any pressing need for this aircraft other than to stick a middle finger up at Russia.
Seems like a perfectly good reason to me. #VPDFO *
* © John Sweeney @johnsweeneyroar
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My latest post in Tune Association (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8.msg2766410#msg2766410) reminded me of this one (https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=13649), which I haven't seen in real life but disovered in a book about the type's history.
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An A400 just flew over at about 2,500 feet. It has flown over Fariford and carried on, now a bit lower.
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This just did 3 passes over Furryboottoon
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52648975130_3d37bcd62f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2odpL3w)
IMG_3168_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2odpL3w) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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That'll be this week's serviceable A400...
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An A400 just flew over at 500ft.
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Something very big and low flew over SW London yesterday evening - I guess it must have been related to the dress rehearsal for the fitting of King Charles' new hat.
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Definitely interesting and very definitely unusual at RIAT 2023. Replica Me-262 will be flying.
https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/23474672.messerschmitt-me262-will-fly-royal-international-air-tattoo/
And a Spanish Harrier.
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Yesterday I saw a chinook
showing off doing drills at RAF Odiham. It involved climbing steeply (i.e. with the fuselage pointing upwards at 60º or whatever) before levelling off and going into what looked like a correspondingly steep dive and levelling off. Then repeating. Several times.
Not the first time I've seen this, but every time I see it it's always one of the rare occasions I haven't taken a camera with me.
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Almost certainly the display crew practising. Display seasons these days are a pale shadow of what they once were, but nevertheless the remaining few military participants have to practice a great deal. And lots of higher-ups are watching intently, so no mucking about!
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So "showing off" wasn't as far from the truth as I thought.
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Indeed. There is essentially no need for spectacular manoeuvres that can be seen from a distance other than for entertainment. Almost all military flying is purposeful and without embellishment. There are elements of it that are spectacular to the casual observer, but they generally aren't confined to a small area and rarely include a significant vertical element, so the casual observer would normally only get a very brief sight of such manoeuvres. Obviously for display flying, the whole purpose is to be seen and to entertain, so that means the flying is kept within a tight radius and the vertical is used as part of the show so that those at the back get to see something!
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And another - ZM413 (the one upthread was ZM412).
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52917647646_6705300d45_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oC9M2h)
IMG_4019_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2oC9M2h) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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A Lancaster just flew over my house
It has just done it agsin. ;D
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A Lancaster just flew over my house
It has just done it agsin. ;D
Scotland or N?
I'm at taproom and heard something merliny
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It was 4xMerlin.
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Aww, not fair. Trade you the Red Arrows for the Lanc? They've been hanging around at Fairford for the last few days and they've been over the house a several of times.
In other news couple of B1s flew in a week or so ago, have buggered off again.
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Fingers crossed will see the Lancaster AND the Red Arrows next weekend :thumbsup:
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A bit late in the day, but the RAF is conducting a farewell tour with three C-130Js around the country today. They are led by ZH870, callsign Omen 1, if you wish to find them on FlightRadar24. They are over Lincolshire heading southwest just now, about to overfly Waddington.
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Over Duxford right now.
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On Sunday I saw the last appearance of a Hercules at an air show, and the last parachute drop from one.
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I was lucky enough to get a last flight in one a couple of weeks ago - 25 years after my last last flight!
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I was in the school RAF cadets and still have my log book. It shows that in June 1967 I had 30 minutes inside an Argosy XX137 which must have been at the very end of their time. Then in November 1967 there was an hour in Hercules VX188. 1969 there was 2 1/2 hours in a Hercules with the number not recorded. These were flights from Thorney Island, and I think the long one was to Brize (or perhaps Hullavington) and back with lots of touch and go landings which must have been quite a noisy and long experience for a 17 year old cadet. I recall that Thorney Island was a transport training base. As local cadets, we also had a short flight in a Westland Whirlwind XP333 and went to Tangmere for gliding.
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Unfortunately the wind was in the wrong direction otherwise I’d have seen them coming home.
tatanab you’re right the Hercules OCU was at Thorney Island in the early 70’s
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I was in the school RAF cadets and still have my log book. It shows that in June 1967 I had 30 minutes inside an Argosy XX137 which must have been at the very end of their time. Then in November 1967 there was an hour in Hercules VX188. 1969 there was 2 1/2 hours in a Hercules with the number not recorded. These were flights from Thorney Island, and I think the long one was to Brize (or perhaps Hullavington) and back with lots of touch and go landings which must have been quite a noisy and long experience for a 17 year old cadet. I recall that Thorney Island was a transport training base. As local cadets, we also had a short flight in a Westland Whirlwind XP333 and went to Tangmere for gliding.
As Paul says, Thorney was home to 242 OCU (Hercules, Argosy and Andover training) until the end of 1975, when Argosy and Andover training was devolved to the remaining operational units and Hercules training went briefly to Fairford before moving to Lyneham. 242 OCU ceased to exist in 1991, when it became 57(R) Squadron, on which I served for 5 years.
The Argosy remained in service in its E1 variant until about 1978, used for calibrating and checking military airfield radio aids. That role passed to the Andover E3, both aircraft operated by 115 Sqn from Benson.
A final last chance to see the Herc (unless you live near Marshall's of Cambridge) will be on today's Trooping the Colour flypast.
Oh - your Hercules flight was in C Mk 1 XV188, not VX188! All C-130Ks were XV registered. You've also misrecorded your Argosy registration, as XX was used for aircraft brought into service in the late 1970s. The Argosies were in the XN/XP/XR cohorts.
Couple of pics from my 'old boys' flight a couple of weeks ago...
(https://i.imgur.com/TtY2yGf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cdBzDHV.jpg)
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I saw the hercules flying towards London this afternoon as I was riding into Windsor and on the way back several fighter jets in formation with tailplanes extending behind the twin tailpipes ,euro fighter's maybe followed shortly after by a small private jet leading the Red arrows in formation. :)
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What's the recommended vertical separation distance for civil aviation ?
I've just watched my daughter's flight pass 1000' feet under a plane heading on the reciprocal course (according to flight radar - https://www.flightradar24.com/multiview/30d0280f,30cf6b73).
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1,000 feet is the standard in that situation.
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
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A solitary fast mover, yesterday, heading north west.
Bit odd, they were flying under low cloud cover.
Looked like maybe an F-35, but honestly I couldn't tell the difference between that and an F-22
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned altimeter' I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that ?
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned' altimeter I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that.
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
Oh I know my audience :) but yes a simple pressure gauge. There’s a mechanism to calibrate so that on the ground you set to “airfield pressure” so that when you’re on the ground your altitude is zero. Once above 10,000’ it gets set to 1013 so your 2 adjacent planes will be displaying the same altitude.
Some aircraft have a radar altimeter but that shows how far from the ground they are rather than the altitude/height above sea level and is used for low level flying or to assist when coming into land in poor visibility etc..
Don’t know about GPS for altitude- perhaps TimC could assist? And correct any errors I’ve made :)
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned' altimeter I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that.
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
Oh I know my audience :) but yes a simple pressure gauge. There’s a mechanism to calibrate so that on the ground you set to “airfield pressure” so that when you’re on the ground your altitude is zero. Once above 10,000’ it gets set to 1013 so your 2 adjacent planes will be displaying the same altitude.
Some aircraft have a radar altimeter but that shows how far from the ground they are rather than the altitude/height above sea level and is used for low level flying or to assist when coming into land in poor visibility etc..
Don’t know about GPS for altitude- perhaps TimC could assist? And correct any errors I’ve made :)
But how do they know they're at exactly 10,000' ?
If the atmospheric pressure changed on their way up to 10,000', and say they were a bit late setting the altimeter to 1013 when they thought they were at (but weren't really) 10,000', surely that introduces the potential for error ?
And if so, how much ?
Do they make inflight corrections based upon local meteorological conditions ?
And I know I could look this up, but what does a 1mb difference equate to in terms of altitude ?
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I hope that aviation-quality GPS systems are more accurate than Garmin jobs for motor-car use, which routinely put Larrington Towers 20’ below sea level.
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<snip>
But how do they know they're at exactly 10,000' ?
If the atmospheric pressure changed on their way up to 10,000', and say they were a bit late setting the altimeter to 1013 when they thought they were at (but weren't really) 10,000', surely that introduces the potential for error ?
And if so, how much ?
Do they make inflight corrections based upon local meteorological conditions ?
And I know I could look this up, but what does a 1mb difference equate to in terms of altitude ?
I think the convention is that they use the altitude that they set off from but that's a guess, the other factor is that according to your heading you're only allowed to fly at predefined levels so if 2 aircraft have slightly different settings, unless they're flying in the same direction, there'll be a safe vertical separation. So there is a potential for error, but, like at sea, keeping a lookout is paramount.
The difference of 1mb in altitude terms depends on what altitude you're at - as air is compressible the change in pressure per unit climbed is not linear. Pressure roughly halves per 10,000' (3000m) climbed.
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned altimeter' I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that ?
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
As you'll know from all the collisions that happen daily, establishing accurate altitudes is an inexact science...
Alternatively, the lack of such collisions might give you a clue that actually we know exactly what we're doing.
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned altimeter' I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that ?
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
As you'll know from all the collisions that happen daily, establishing accurate altitudes is an inexact science...
Alternatively, the lack of such collisions might give you a clue that actually we know exactly what we're doing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_sky_theory ;)
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*sigh*. Yeah, ok. Whatever.
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Thank you. And here's a follow-up question. What's the mechanism by which a plane's altitude is determined ?
Plumb bob ;D
Seriously though: an old fashioned altimeter. Once above a certain altitude, I think 10,000’ but it’s a long time since I used to need to know, the altimeter is set to 1013 millibars. That gives everyone in the same area a reference above sea level which is what the altitude refers to rather than above ground level.
Very good.
By 'old fashioned altimeter' I presume that's a pressure gauge (imagine you're talking to an idiot who knows nothing about aeroplane instrumentation).
Do modern commercial airliners not do anything with radar, GPS, or anything like that ?
What I'm driving at is whether or not two planes in flight at the same time and exactly the same height and roughly the same position will have precisely the same altitude displayed in their respective cockpits ?
As you'll know from all the collisions that happen daily, establishing accurate altitudes is an inexact science...
Alternatively, the lack of such collisions might give you a clue that actually we know exactly what we're doing.
Very good. :-)
I was merely pursuing this from a science perspective - how accurate are aeroplanes' altimeters ? Clearly the answer is 'sufficiently so', but I was trying to determine what difference might be seen in two separate planes' altimeters when flying alongside each other.
If it's never more than 10' then a 1000' vertical separation seems wildly generous. Could we get away with 500' ? And is there any advantage to doing so ?
Is manual altimeter setting 100% error proof ?
My guess would be that there there's never been a mid-air collision between two planes (is there any other type ?) where altimeter errors were a direct cause, but it would be nice to have that confirmed.
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For light aircraft in the UK, before take-off the pilot should have reset the altimeter before take-off to read 0, by setting the pressure to whatever the tower has deemed to be the current pressure. And when you take off, the altimeter is then displaying your height above the airfield. Some of the ancient Cessnas I used to fly might show perhaps 25 feet up or down from zero. But realistically if everyone is on the same pressure setting, then for example an actual height of 5,000 feet above the airfield is near enough going to be identical for all aircraft. Altimeters are fairly precise instruments and they're required to be checked and recalibrated every 2 years. They're allowed to be up to 60 feet out over 30,000 feet. And aircraft will have more than one (which have different air sources) and they're required to be cross-checked for discrepancies.
Once you're airborne you switch to the area pressure setting, which is deemed to be an average pressure setting to give your height above the average sea level (even if you're flying above land). And if you're tootling along at 5,000 feet and move to a different area, then there can be a different area pressure setting. So you reset the altimeter, and then have to either climb or descend to maintain that notional 5,000 feet above sea level. And as stated above, once you're at 10,000 feet, then you're normally on airways and everyone uses a standard pressure setting of 1013 hPa.
Currently, near me on the south coast, Brighton City Airport (or Shoreham) has a setting of 1018 hPa, whilst further west, Exeter is 1020 hPa.
And you can get GPS based altimeters, but they're only used as secondary devices.
Having 1,000 feet of vertical separation may seem a big amount but if you've got the wrong pressure setting by say 20 hPa, then closer to the ground that would make more than 500 feet difference. So having a bigger gap makes sense, for safety reasons.
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Thank you. That all makes a lot of sense now. I consider myself suitably (and appropriately) edumicated.
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Adam is correct, though he is (as he says) speaking from a light-aircraft perspective. Airliners don’t fly VFR, so regional pressure settings (at least in UK) and quadrantal flight rules are irrelevant to them.
All large airliners these days are maintained to RVSM standards (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) which is a standard of altimetric calibration (and other navigation instrumentation) introduced several years ago to allow 1000’ separation in remote areas not covered by radar, such as Oceanic airspace. The knock-on of that is that, for commonality, all airliners whether subject to RVSM or not are equipped with the same devices.
Above Transition Altitude, all aircraft must be on Standard Pressure Setting, which is 1013.2 Hectopascals (29.92” for USAnians). Transition Altitude is a bit of a variable feast in UK, being somewhere between 3 and 6000ft depending on the airspace. Other countries use a standard figure - 18,000’ in the USA, 14,000’ in Japan, for example.
The aircraft’s navigation systems know what the rules are in the bit of airspace you occupy (the database is updated monthly) and will prompt changes in pressure settings appropriately. The aircraft are also all fitted with transponders which transmit a lot of data about the aircraft’s altitude, speed, heading, and, on modern systems, selected altitude, speed and headings along with quite a lot of other information. That is readable both by ATC and pretty much anyone else who wants to know. That’s why FlightRadar 24 and FlightAware work. We also receive that information from other aircraft, and have systems (TCAS) which calculate the likelihood of flight paths conflicting, and give warnings appropriately. The latest versions of TCAS implementation in Airbus aircraft will initiate avoidance action automatically if necessary. On top of that, on my navigation display I can see all the aircraft around me with their identification, speed, flight level etc, and I have FR24 available on my iPad (using a discrete satellite-based internet) to find out more if I want to know.
This is a typical instrument display (Airbus A330-300; my photo):
(https://i.imgur.com/uXFnpI3.jpg)
This shows us climbing through 34,600ft on the way to 37,000ft to cruise (Flight Level 370). On the right hand (navigation) display, several aircraft can be seen, with their idents and relative altitude. The one with the blue circle around it (showing that I've selected it) is United 968. I can see that it has a groundspeed of 499kts and is 400ft above me (ie FL350). It is level, going in roughly the same direction, is about 35 miles ahead of me and 10 miles displaced to the left of my track.
(https://i.imgur.com/Tg1Q36X.jpg)
This photo shows the MCDU on the centre console showing one page of the information I can see about United 968, which tells me a bit more than I can see on the ND. There may be several pages depending on how sophisticated their transponding device is. From this page I can see that UAL968 is 34 miles away on a relative bearing of 051º, is now 200ft above me and has FL350 selected as its cruising level, is tracking 064º (about 20º to the left of my track)*, is doing 499kts groundspeed (9kts faster than me), and is neither climbing nor descending.
*in between the two photos, the United has turned maybe 10º to the left.
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If you're near Trowbridge today keep an eye out for a Lancaster at about 14:30 - 14:45 and the Red Arrows between 17:45 & 18:00.
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[Stuffs]
Thanks, Tim, most interesting.
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Adam is correct, though he is (as he says) speaking from a light-aircraft perspective. Airliners don’t fly VFR, so regional pressure settings (at least in UK) and quadrantal flight rules are irrelevant to them.
All large airliners these days are maintained to RVSM standards (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) which is a standard of altimetric calibration (and other navigation instrumentation) introduced several years ago to allow 1000’ separation in remote areas not covered by radar, such as Oceanic airspace. The knock-on of that is that, for commonality, all airliners whether subject to RVSM or not are equipped with the same devices.
Above Transition Altitude, all aircraft must be on Standard Pressure Setting, which is 1013.2 Hectopascals (29.92” for USAnians). Transition Altitude is a bit of a variable feast in UK, being somewhere between 3 and 6000ft depending on the airspace. Other countries use a standard figure - 18,000’ in the USA, 14,000’ in Japan, for example.
The aircraft’s navigation systems know what the rules are in the bit of airspace you occupy (the database is updated monthly) and will prompt changes in pressure settings appropriately. The aircraft are also all fitted with transponders which transmit a lot of data about the aircraft’s altitude, speed, heading, and, on modern systems, selected altitude, speed and headings along with quite a lot of other information. That is readable both by ATC and pretty much anyone else who wants to know. That’s why FlightRadar 24 and FlightAware work. We also receive that information from other aircraft, and have systems (TCAS) which calculate the likelihood of flight paths conflicting, and give warnings appropriately. The latest versions of TCAS implementation in Airbus aircraft will initiate avoidance action automatically if necessary. On top of that, on my navigation display I can see all the aircraft around me with their identification, speed, flight level etc, and I have FR24 available on my iPad (using a discrete satellite-based internet) to find out more if I want to know.
This is a typical instrument display (Airbus A330-300; my photo):
(https://i.imgur.com/uXFnpI3.jpg)
This shows us climbing through 34,600ft on the way to 37,000ft to cruise (Flight Level 370). On the right hand (navigation) display, several aircraft can be seen, with their idents and relative altitude. The one with the blue circle around it (showing that I've selected it) is United 968. I can see that it has a groundspeed of 499kts and is 400ft above me (ie FL350). It is level, going in roughly the same direction, is about 35 miles ahead of me and 10 miles displaced to the left of my track.
(https://i.imgur.com/Tg1Q36X.jpg)
This photo shows the MCDU on the centre console showing one page of the information I can see about United 968, which tells me a bit more than I can see on the ND. There may be several pages depending on how sophisticated their transponding device is. From this page I can see that UAL968 is 34 miles away on a relative bearing of 051º, is now 200ft above me and has FL350 selected as its cruising level, is tracking 064º (about 10º to the left of my track), is doing 499kts groundspeed (9kts faster than me), and is neither climbing nor descending.
Love it. Thank you.
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Just for interest, this is one of the displays we'd have up on the iPad on a transatlantic flight. It shows the Organised Oceanic Track Structure for the day, any airspace restrictions, and our planned route of flight. This is data that changes far more frequently than the aircraft systems allow for, and can reflect changes in real time. This was a few years ago; with the current iPad Pro they are issued with, they can have more than one app displayed at once, which can be quite useful if you want FR24 up (great at busy airports like JFK for working out how long you're going to be taxying for take-off). Or Sudoku, of course.
(https://i.imgur.com/sygOERn.jpg)
Then there is emergency navigation. When all else fails, we have a manual back up.
(https://i.imgur.com/Unw7AJX.jpg)
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Reminds me of an exercise I did in my time as a trainee navigator. Beautiful clear day, at 35,000’ and just North of Scotland. Instructor asked where we were, looked out of the window and said abeam Cape Wrath. Unfortunately to get full, or even any, marks on that exercise we were supposed to use the electronic aids the Queen had kindly provided us with ;D
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The plane doesn't fit the criteria, but I was taken with the little bit of colour in a monochrome sky.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53003545747_a6f26c406c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oKK2x2)
IMG_4953_02-1 (https://flic.kr/p/2oKK2x2) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
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2 B1s this morning. Loud.
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2 B1s this morning. Loud.
Yes. I am very pleased that the wind is now westerly because with the wind in east they'd been taking off over us; which was fine at 0730-0800, but not so much fun for the odd take-offs at 01:00/02:00
In other news; Sunday, 2 autogyros (one white, one dark - blue?) seen from Faringdon Folly heading roughly NE towards Brize / Witney
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P51 and a Spitfire just went over
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A guy I vaguely know flew this into Husbands Bosworth airfield this afternoon where they are holding the national gliding championships:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53033967701_ee71933e78_c.jpg)
Apparently it is a 1948 Percival Proctor 5. It sounded nice. Not loud, just nice.
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RIAT This weekend so today we've had various anonymous (to me) jets* zooming around, but on the plus side a nice view of a Spitfire, possibly a Mk IX, but I wouldn't swear to that, trundling over the house while I was watering the pot plants.
*They're a bit like modern euroboxen cars to my eyes. All come out of the same wind-tunnel/CAD software.
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Two Dutch F-16s have just roared over.
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RIAT This weekend so today we've had various anonymous (to me) jets* zooming around, but on the plus side a nice view of a Spitfire, possibly a Mk IX, but I wouldn't swear to that, trundling over the house while I was watering the pot plants.
*They're a bit like modern euroboxen cars to my eyes. All come out of the same wind-tunnel/CAD software.
RIAT had F15 16 18 and 35 4 Harriers (2 Italian 2 Spanish they are the US built versions) Typhoons an Italian Master Saab Sk60 and Gripen a Greek Phantom Tornadoes Rafale Meteor Me 262 Alphajet also Hawks Aermacchis and Casa c-101s from the 4 aerobatic teams
The only ones that look vaguely similar are the Typhoon Rafale (which started as the same design) and Gripen although it's single engine.
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The Typhoon and Rafale did not 'start as the same design'! The Eurofighter Typhoon project did originally include the French as a partner, but political and industrial disagreements saw them leave the programme in the early 80s and go their own way. No part of the design of the Rafale is inherited from the Typhoon. Their only relationship is that they started from the requirement to replace 3rd-gen fast jets (Tornado, Mirage F1/2000). As the roles are similar, it's not surprising that the solutions found are also similar.
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Meteor NF11 WD686. Croome Park / RAF Defford. Spent most (all?) of its useful service as a pack-horse for the TRE. Seems it was the last aircraft to fly out of RAF Defford.
(https://i.ibb.co/80YKgwz/Gloster-Meteor-WD686-00.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/CmJ0z96/Gloster-Meteor-WD686-01.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/WP1Bb48/Gloster-Meteor-WD686-02.jpg)
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The Typhoon and Rafale did not 'start as the same design'! The Eurofighter Typhoon project did originally include the French as a partner, but political and industrial disagreements saw them leave the programme in the early 80s and go their own way. No part of the design of the Rafale is inherited from the Typhoon. Their only relationship is that they started from the requirement to replace 3rd-gen fast jets (Tornado, Mirage F1/2000). As the roles are similar, it's not surprising that the solutions found are also similar.
apologies; I should have said the same programme / concept
from Wiki
In 1983, Italy, Germany, France, the UK and Spain launched the "Future European Fighter Aircraft" (FEFA) programme. The aircraft was to have short take off and landing (STOL) and beyond visual range (BVR) capabilities. In 1984, France reiterated its requirement for a carrier-capable version and demanded a leading role. Italy, West Germany and the UK opted out and established a new EFA programme. In Turin on 2 August 1985, West Germany, the UK and Italy agreed to go ahead with the Eurofighter; and confirmed France, along with Spain, had chosen not to proceed as a member of the project.[15] Despite pressure from France, Spain rejoined the Eurofighter project in early September 1985.[16] France officially withdrew from the project to pursue its own ACX project, which was to become the Dassault Rafale.
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Meteor NF11 WD686. Croome Park / RAF Defford. Spent most (all?) of its useful service as a pack-horse for the TRE. Seems it was the last aircraft to fly out of RAF Defford.
My dad flew the Meteor NF11 while training for the then brand-new Javelin - the NF11 was, at the time, the only two-seat radar-equipped aircraft in fighter command and was being replaced by the NF14 and the aforementioned Javelin.
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Warbird fuselage markings.
Why, on the Spitfire I flew in 2019 (for example) do the fuselage markings on the left side, almost 'reflect' those on the right side.
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.msg2433483#msg2433483
F'rinstance: Left side is 9G'roundel'Q
Whereas Right is Q'roundel'9G.
Why aren't they the same on both sides?
Wossat all about?
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Can't answer that, but it does remind me I saw a Spitfire last week in Devon. From its altitude it was either strafing some cows or had taken off from Dunkeswell.
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Warbird fuselage markings.
Why, on the Spitfire I flew in 2019 (for example) do the fuselage markings on the left side, almost 'reflect' those on the right side.
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40516.msg2433483#msg2433483
F'rinstance: Left side is 9G'roundel'Q
Whereas Right is Q'roundel'9G.
Why aren't they the same on both sides?
Wossat all about?
Here, LMGFY...
| Type of Marking | Detail | Location |
| (ii) Code letters to indicate squadrons and identity of individual aircraft. | (i) Two letters to indicate number of squadron. | Either forward or aft of the national marking on both sides of the fuselage. |
| (ii) One letter to indicate individual aircraft | On the other side of the aircraft national marking on both sides of the fuselage |
https://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn%20Markings/sqn_codes.htm
9G was the code for No. 441 Fighter Squadron, which was the designation for a Canadian unit while it was based in England during the latter part of the WW2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RAF_squadron_codes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._441_Squadron_RCAF#History
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(https://i.ibb.co/wNCmYX1/20230816-141926.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tMcr3t5)
Achtung!
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(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Aug%2016%202023%20Typhoon.jpg)
We haven't had many of these, but there have been high level passes by 3 or 4 F35s. Much noisier...
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Anyone on the Isle of Sheppy sticking their head out of the window should see the Avro Lancaster fly over in the next 20 minutes or so.
ETA - He's turned and heading for the Medway Towns.
ETFA - Now landed along with 2 x Hurricanes at Southend Airport.
On their way back from Eastbourne Airshow.
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Not a plane, but interesting...
We went off to see minke and dolphins and other stuff in The Minch.
However we had a more exciting visitor! Some Coastguard action.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Aug%2017%202023%20heli%201.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Aug%2017%202023%20heli%202.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Aug%2017%202023%20heli%203.jpg)
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Was someone being airlifted?
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It was all done quite seriously, but in the end was shown to be an exercise (by some waving by the whinchman)
Mrs J wondered why the ferry kept on going, I thought it was because of the heli rescue lift failed, they were that much nearer to Ullapool, which made more sense than stopping.
Was fascinating to see the Coastguard heli keeping an exact position to the ferry. Was impressed.
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To add, if it had been an actual airlift, I think they would have cleared everyone off the open decks.
That’s what happened when I was on a ferry when a body was recovered. :(
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Helicopters can hover but they work better when moving forward, so larger boats are usually asked to maintain a steady speed in a straight line into the wind. Small boats might be asked to stop because that might work better when no part of the boat is visible to the helicopter pilot overhead.
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Helicopters can hover but they work better when moving forward, so larger boats are usually asked to maintain a steady speed in a straight line into the wind. Small boats might be asked to stop because that might work better when no part of the boat is visible to the helicopter pilot overhead.
That’s pretty much exactly the scenario, thanks!
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It is mandatory for them to do x practices per month of different types of rescue.
The loch across from us is one of their fav exercise areas, so we see them a lot.
Must be one of the busiest coastguards in the country. They are constantly on the go, mostly ferrying sick people to hospital.
Just last week they picked up a sick passenger from a cruise liner, so the need is real.
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Yesterday I saw, in no particular order:
Avro Lancaster
Spitfire x 2
Hurricane
A quiver of Red Arrows
Typhoon
BAC Strikemaster x 2
Vampire
A Very Modified Jet Pitts
Slingsby Firefly
Hawker Fury
An unkindeness of RaVens.
A perfectly serviceable Cessna out of which eight people did jump while it was A Several Thousand of Feet Up in the Air.
Eastbourne Airshow, innit. I will see if any pictures I took are in focus.
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It is mandatory for them to do x practices per month of different types of rescue.
The loch across from us is one of their fav exercise areas, so we see them a lot.
Must be one of the busiest coastguards in the country. They are constantly on the go, mostly ferrying sick people to hospital.
Just last week they picked up a sick passenger from a cruise liner, so the need is real.
Yes. Saw them again today, flying out to you. Hadn't seen them fly in, usually we see both direction flights.
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Yesterday I saw, in no particular order:
Avro Lancaster
Spitfire x 2
Hurricane
A quiver of Red Arrows
Typhoon
BAC Strikemaster x 2
Vampire
A Very Modified Jet Pitts
Slingsby Firefly
Hawker Fury
An unkindeness of RaVens.
A perfectly serviceable Cessna out of which eight people did jump while it was A Several Thousand of Feet Up in the Air.
Eastbourne Airshow, innit. I will see if any pictures I took are in focus.
I watched much of that on the live stream / with an eye on Adsb-exchange.
I attended a few years ago.
At 4 days duration it surely is one of the larger airshows in the country.
ETA - Albeit RIAT probably has more interesting kit - different audience thobut - innit.
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Not photo’s as enjoying the sight
A supermarine walrus
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<envy>
First Airfix plane I ever built. Fiddly bastard.
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53151231806_861ba9a96a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oYMXso)
Lockheed T-33A (https://flic.kr/p/2oYMXso) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr. Just in case the Commies try to capture the bridges at Toko-Ri Chamberlain SD.
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Very loud and low whooshing. By the time I got to a window, no sign.
ADS-B Exchange shows an A400, flying at 575ft altitude
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English Electric Lightning and a Shackleton yesterday,both doing engine runs at Gatwick Aviation Museum. I spent a small amount of time wondering how good the brakes were on the Lightning, as we were stood in front of it.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc-FVLUU95BEhIso5kaZWiFy6CcTt0zQscM3v32Ai8QnhsGrc_A8cIAI2WxK9ytdVZi9EPLxDNoeQQR0PTOzYqwGThMt7cI2fsTWFnEzT1NmQ6KlLxMY=w600)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9PamvQ9_vsL4yFK57fKULShf91teXKyOXnnLJqoq69MFbVap0nM0m3-Cqx0QsQDbOo2JxDaKzgrLvaHax57qhTKUDHqZn7bic8No4EBnVZKPa3OVCi=w600)
Shout out to the man on the door. I explained that my Young Lady is the carer for one of her Many Many Children (aged 22, autism, learning difficulties, aeroplane nut) and were there any discounts. Tappity tap. "Yes" he said "I've just made one up."
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English Electric Lightning and a Shackleton yesterday,both doing engine runs at Gatwick Aviation Museum. I spent a small amount of time wondering how good the brakes were on the Lightning, as we were stood in front of it.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc-FVLUU95BEhIso5kaZWiFy6CcTt0zQscM3v32Ai8QnhsGrc_A8cIAI2WxK9ytdVZi9EPLxDNoeQQR0PTOzYqwGThMt7cI2fsTWFnEzT1NmQ6KlLxMY=w600)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc9PamvQ9_vsL4yFK57fKULShf91teXKyOXnnLJqoq69MFbVap0nM0m3-Cqx0QsQDbOo2JxDaKzgrLvaHax57qhTKUDHqZn7bic8No4EBnVZKPa3OVCi=w600)
Shout out to the man on the door. I explained that my Young Lady is the carer for one of her Many Many Children (aged 22, autism, learning difficulties, aeroplane nut) and were there any discounts. Tappity tap. "Yes" he said "I've just made one up."
That sounds like a result.
Envious of the Lightning thing.
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Nothing too interesting or unusual other than some members of this forum might have seen the one and the other was two days earlier, doing a similar job. Clue, I live in France; Q what were they doing and where?
(https://i.imgur.com/D8kUjTY.jpg) dated 20/08
(https://i.imgur.com/MZUqC8A.jpg) dated 18/08
(https://i.imgur.com/JaUMtPK.jpg) is a slightly more obvious picture although not as sharp. I find spotting these things in the viewfinder or screen very difficult!
I haven't a clue as to what make and model each was, not my speciality!
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English Electric Lightning and a Shackleton yesterday,both doing engine runs at Gatwick Aviation Museum. I spent a small amount of time wondering how good the brakes were on the Lightning, as we were stood in front of it.
Untold years ago I visited the Le Bourget salon, and some twin-engine military beastie did an engine run just outside the main hall. Son & I were ~10 metres behind it. Bloody hell. Nice and warm, though.
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The rotary wing jobs look like they're rigged for film or (agricultural) survey work. I have seen large drones being used hereabouts for that sort of thing.
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4 Apaches. Flying south and very low.
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The rotary wing jobs look like they're rigged for film or (agricultural) survey work. I have seen large drones being used hereabouts for that sort of thing.
Of my two, the helico was on duty over the Tour de Limousin.
The drone was over the start line at PBP, although I haven't a clue who it would be filming for. Perhaps France 3 IdF. Perhaps the ACP.
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The Dublin - Cardiff evening flight regularly comes in low over our Cardiff home and stops me dozing, as it did last night.
Flightradar showed it circling a very regular oval loop which it repeated half a dozen times.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d9/52/FaLg3c7c_o.png)
Overflew our house again in Roath on its way to Bristol via Newport .
FOG ! and still there this morning apparently
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Earlier, the Tui Tenerife - Cardiff flight did similar...
(https://images2.imgbox.com/f2/d8/Kq79Kbt1_o.png)
and then headed off up the M50 / M5 to Birmingham
(https://images2.imgbox.com/10/cd/kzstDqDT_o.png)
I don't think the passengers, expecting an 11pm arrival in Cardiff would be pleased with a bus ride home from Birmingham !
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The Dublin - Cardiff evening flight regularly comes in low over our Cardiff home and stops me dozing, as it did last night.
Flightradar showed it circling a very regular oval loop which it repeated half a dozen times.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d9/52/FaLg3c7c_o.png)
A perfect oval and then circle - how do they do that;
machines I s'pose
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The Dublin - Cardiff evening flight regularly comes in low over our Cardiff home and stops me dozing, as it did last night.
Flightradar showed it circling a very regular oval loop which it repeated half a dozen times.
(https://images2.imgbox.com/d9/52/FaLg3c7c_o.png)
Overflew our house again in Roath on its way to Bristol via Newport .
FOG ! and still there this morning apparently
The hold pattern for all approaches at Cardiff is detailed on this approach chart.
(https://i.imgur.com/4BmzovD.png)
If this aircraft woke you when it was flying at 10,000ft, you must be a very light sleeper.
A perfect oval and then circle - how do they do that;
machines I s'pose
Very easily.
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This flew over the igloo this morning:
(https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/668149_1693855421.jpg)
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About a week ago, a jet flew into Stornoway airport. Logannair jet.
Since Logannair operate out of stornoway, that wouldn't be unusual, except that all the planes using Stornoway are turboprops.
Very odd.
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Wikinaccurate claims they have a bunch of Embraer ERJ-145s, some of which were originally intended for the Glasgow–Stornoway route. I suspect the Plague may have put their introduction on hold.
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About a week ago, a jet flew into Stornoway airport. Logannair jet.
Since Logannair operate out of stornoway, that wouldn't be unusual, except that all the planes using Stornoway are turboprops.
Very odd.
Stornoway is perfectly capable of taking smallish jets. Loganair have 13 ERJ-145 jets, and had a number of ERJ-135s till last year. I used to regularly take C-130s into Stornoway, where the ATCO (Stuart) used to serve a very good cup of tea.
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Wikinaccurate claims they have a bunch of Embraer ERJ-145s, some of which were originally intended for the Glasgow–Stornoway route. I suspect the Plague may have put their introduction on hold.
It was certainly one of those.
Jets don't seem suitable for this route, to my understanding, turboprops are more efficient at the low altitude + take off landing phase.
The routes out of Stornoway basically take off, climb to altitude, cruise for 10 min, then start descending.
They could have been tailor-made for electric flights.
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About a week ago, a jet flew into Stornoway airport. Logannair jet.
Since Logannair operate out of stornoway, that wouldn't be unusual, except that all the planes using Stornoway are turboprops.
Very odd.
Stornoway is perfectly capable of taking smallish jets. Loganair have 13 ERJ-145 jets, and had a number of ERJ-135s till last year. I used to regularly take C-130s into Stornoway, where the ATCO (Stuart) used to serve a very good cup of tea.
If you had to go all the way to Stornaway to get a decent cup of tea maybe you should have sacked the loadmaster? ;D
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Wikinaccurate claims they have a bunch of Embraer ERJ-145s, some of which were originally intended for the Glasgow–Stornoway route. I suspect the Plague may have put their introduction on hold.
It was certainly one of those.
Jets don't seem suitable for this route, to my understanding, turboprops are more efficient at the low altitude + take off landing phase.
The routes out of Stornoway basically take off, climb to altitude, cruise for 10 min, then start descending.
They could have been tailor-made for electric flights.
No doubt you can point us to the 45-seater electric aircraft that Loganair could have bought instead of the ERJ145.
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About a week ago, a jet flew into Stornoway airport. Logannair jet.
Since Logannair operate out of stornoway, that wouldn't be unusual, except that all the planes using Stornoway are turboprops.
Very odd.
Stornoway is perfectly capable of taking smallish jets. Loganair have 13 ERJ-145 jets, and had a number of ERJ-135s till last year. I used to regularly take C-130s into Stornoway, where the ATCO (Stuart) used to serve a very good cup of tea.
If you had to go all the way to Stornaway to get a decent cup of tea maybe you should have sacked the loadmaster? ;D
Well, we had to go there anyway to let the Rock Apes throw Rapiers randomly around the Irish Sea. And, as I’m sure you’re aware, Her Majesty’s military tea was not of the highest quality, no matter who prepared it!
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[…] Her Majesty’s military tea was not of the highest quality, no matter who prepared it!
The military tea served up to us unfortunates at hours 03:00 by RAF Gan in September 1974 had, I think, been mashing since at least the Suez Crisis. The Her Majesty in question may even have been Queen Vic.
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[…] Her Majesty’s military tea was not of the highest quality, no matter who prepared it!
The military tea served up to us unfortunates at hours 03:00 by RAF Gan in September 1974 had, I think, been mashing since at least the Suez Crisis. The Her Majesty in question may even have been Queen Vic.
Probably hadn't travelled far enough from its origin to have matured adequately!
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[…] Her Majesty’s military tea was not of the highest quality, no matter who prepared it!
The military tea served up to us unfortunates at hours 03:00 by RAF Gan in September 1974 had, I think, been mashing since at least the Suez Crisis. The Her Majesty in question may even have been Queen Vic.
Probably hadn't travelled far enough from its origin to have matured adequately!
A grate frend of mine did some time wearing a Red Cap. He is of the opinion that there is no such thing as a bad cup of tea. There are good cups of tea and better cups of tea.
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About a week ago, a jet flew into Stornoway airport. Logannair jet.
Since Logannair operate out of stornoway, that wouldn't be unusual, except that all the planes using Stornoway are turboprops.
Very odd.
Stornoway is perfectly capable of taking smallish jets. Loganair have 13 ERJ-145 jets, and had a number of ERJ-135s till last year. I used to regularly take C-130s into Stornoway, where the ATCO (Stuart) used to serve a very good cup of tea.
If you had to go all the way to Stornaway to get a decent cup of tea maybe you should have sacked the loadmaster? ;D
Well, we had to go there anyway to let the Rock Apes throw Rapiers randomly around the Irish Sea. And, as I’m sure you’re aware, Her Majesty’s military tea was not of the highest quality, no matter who prepared it!
Fair point!
Were you allowed to leave the Rock Apes there and see if they could make their own way home?
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Wikinaccurate claims they have a bunch of Embraer ERJ-145s, some of which were originally intended for the Glasgow–Stornoway route. I suspect the Plague may have put their introduction on hold.
It was certainly one of those.
Jets don't seem suitable for this route, to my understanding, turboprops are more efficient at the low altitude + take off landing phase.
The routes out of Stornoway basically take off, climb to altitude, cruise for 10 min, then start descending.
They could have been tailor-made for electric flights.
No doubt you can point us to the 45-seater electric aircraft that Loganair could have bought instead of the ERJ145.
I thought the Es-30 was further ahead than it is.
The ERJ145 doesn't normally operate out of Stornoway, that's why it surprised me. They normally operate the Saab 340, which I've flown on multiple times.
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I thought the Es-30 was further ahead than it is.
The ERJ145 doesn't normally operate out of Stornoway, that's why it surprised me. They normally operate the Saab 340, which I've flown on multiple times.
The Heart ES-30 is putatively projected to enter service in 2028. With a view to the normal extended timelines of aircraft development, realistically a prototype may fly by then. The technical issues that that prototype will reveal, coupled with the extreme caution aviation authorities will employ when considering certification of the aircraft suggest to me it'll be lucky to be in service by 2035. I suspect that, by then, the original developers will have gone bust and the project will be picked up by someone else if it has any genuine technical merit. It's also quite likely that other aircraft will have been developed by then that have taken advantage of more efficient battery and motor developments that Heart will have missed by being among the first to commit. Such is life.
The ERJ-145 is in Loganir's fleet to be used where and when it's needed. The Saab 340 is fairly heavily tasked, and if one goes tech the company will employ whatever else it has available. Stornoway is one of the less demanding airfields that Loganair services, so it's an easy choice if a substitution is necessary. I'm sure Jonathan will explain it in more detail if you ask him - he's very approachable! He's also a mate from our Virgin days, so by all means tell him I told you to ask.
Fair point!
Were you allowed to leave the Rock Apes there and see if they could make their own way home?
I certainly tried a couple of times!
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Wikinaccurate also says they’re retiring their remaining Saabs, allegedly by “mid-2023”.
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Wikinaccurate also says they’re retiring their remaining Saabs, allegedly by “mid-2023”.
I flew out on a Saab earlier this year.
It sounded like it needed retiring.
The cabin liners were almost shaking loose.
I think they are being replaced by ATR 42-500. I'm flying on Nov, so hopefully see if they are an improvement.
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Two B1-B bombers flew over my house just now, presumably from US and heading west to Fairford to join the two already there.
They have been very frequent visitors this last 18 months
Normally only two, but four seems precautionary. Putting them in place in case the Israel conflict spreads to Iran I guess.
(https://i.ibb.co/SdFwTZJ/20231014-154337.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YyHB9Vb)
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Out for a walk today in the autumn sunshine on the South Downs, we were plodding across a field near Sutton (West Sussex) when there was the noise of engine. Moments later a biplane flew over , having just taken off from the grass strip in the adjacent field.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHeOZ-wcxHN2-fdmjRk8T-GPaMFTSx8fEUjtet3ORalIXTzweDsa9FhzL_v2HXwx4D2NlR9IzbA_SutF-RfL7oe7QKsbd2t7FdmdKA-mU1gcLJ5P3Ezc=w600)
A swift bit of web based research tells me it's a 1934 Tiger Moth.
There's a note on https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html (https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html) that says
I found this aircraft in 1974 and rebuilt it. I wrote an article on its postwar history that I could send a copy of if you wish including photos of the crash... in exchange for any photos you might have of her!
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My Dad learned to fly on the Tiger Moth on Birmingham UAS in 1948. He always said it was one of the nicest aircraft he flew. Sadly, I've never been lucky enough to have a go.
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My Dad learned to fly on the Tiger Moth on Birmingham UAS in 1948. He always said it was one of the nicest aircraft he flew. Sadly, I've never been lucky enough to have a go.
A few years ago I bought my father a flight in one as that was what he’d also learned to fly in. Think it was these people https://www.aerolegends.co.uk/experiences/tiger-moth-experience/
He told the pilot he was still a qualified instructor so was given control for the whole flight
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My Dad learned to fly on the Tiger Moth on Birmingham UAS in 1948. He always said it was one of the nicest aircraft he flew. Sadly, I've never been lucky enough to have a go.
A few years ago I bought my father a flight in one as that was what he’d also learned to fly in. Think it was these people https://www.aerolegends.co.uk/experiences/tiger-moth-experience/
He told the pilot he was still a qualified instructor so was given control for the whole flight
That looks remarkably good value for money - in comparison to my flight in a Spitfire.
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Out for a walk today in the autumn sunshine on the South Downs, we were plodding across a field near Sutton (West Sussex) when there was the noise of engine. Moments later a biplane flew over , having just taken off from the grass strip in the adjacent field.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHeOZ-wcxHN2-fdmjRk8T-GPaMFTSx8fEUjtet3ORalIXTzweDsa9FhzL_v2HXwx4D2NlR9IzbA_SutF-RfL7oe7QKsbd2t7FdmdKA-mU1gcLJ5P3Ezc=w600)
A swift bit of web based research tells me it's a 1934 Tiger Moth.
There's a note on https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html (https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html) that says
I found this aircraft in 1974 and rebuilt it. I wrote an article on its postwar history that I could send a copy of if you wish including photos of the crash... in exchange for any photos you might have of her!
I saw that land at Goodwood whilst cycling back home on Sunday. Or a similar red Tiger Moth.
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Out for a walk today in the autumn sunshine on the South Downs, we were plodding across a field near Sutton (West Sussex) when there was the noise of engine. Moments later a biplane flew over , having just taken off from the grass strip in the adjacent field.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHeOZ-wcxHN2-fdmjRk8T-GPaMFTSx8fEUjtet3ORalIXTzweDsa9FhzL_v2HXwx4D2NlR9IzbA_SutF-RfL7oe7QKsbd2t7FdmdKA-mU1gcLJ5P3Ezc=w600)
A swift bit of web based research tells me it's a 1934 Tiger Moth.
There's a note on https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html (https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-ACDA.html) that says
I found this aircraft in 1974 and rebuilt it. I wrote an article on its postwar history that I could send a copy of if you wish including photos of the crash... in exchange for any photos you might have of her!
I saw that land at Goodwood whilst cycling back home on Sunday. Or a similar red Tiger Moth.
EXIF says I took the photo at 1611.
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A miscellany of static display aircraft at Tangmere Aviation Museum.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHdJ0FaklD-Pe7gn2o4yxj3xqiChseGeWkds8b43l_8XTChVOdNaXIeShSxW0Bo0qcCxFBO4eyb2dW_DNiq2x4136U6EhcnGSOpv7EQ-USDmQbggtEGC=w600)
This is (possibly) the innards of an English Electric Lightning
They've got a Lightning Simulator. Not the full on feel-the-g-force-banking-and-turning job, but a screen that you definitely interact with as you fly around the south coast, buzzing an aircraft carrier in the Solent, from the comfort of a mock up cockpit, fitted with real parts.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHeGWuJDJNzXOn1CdX7Brqo9Cc5kKCkC-G78UBP-Lp20BP-nHco4Uj7ZO3XaH2wKUldSUlwiNNm1owbkGw21DgMZD8PSJqZdVwZE7-N2zBRve5Auq1Zb=w600)
Here's me ready to go. There's a museum volunteer hidden by my head, who guided me through it. He was very good, as he should be. Ex 74 Squadron RAF, over 2000 hours on Lightnings. He's flown the one they have on display. How cool is that?
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHfnZnez34OSi0_bEddLa3d7qAiu19TzvOARiKFSzOKkbNVoZ2Cwrv1QvtGneWk9ucpwU8RmgQYQdsYssXYl0jMXJQ-FIV8K7udjxxJe18aUKuU6ZfVj=w600)
About to attack The Needles
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"fitted with real parts" I read that as fitted with real pants
Thort you were provided with a G-suit
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A miscellany of static display aircraft at Tangmere Aviation Museum.
They've got a Lightning Simulator. Not the full on feel-the-g-force-banking-and-turning job, but a screen that you definitely interact with as you fly around the south coast, buzzing an aircraft carrier in the Solent, from the comfort of a mock up cockpit, fitted with real parts.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHeGWuJDJNzXOn1CdX7Brqo9Cc5kKCkC-G78UBP-Lp20BP-nHco4Uj7ZO3XaH2wKUldSUlwiNNm1owbkGw21DgMZD8PSJqZdVwZE7-N2zBRve5Auq1Zb=w600)
Here's me ready to go. There's a museum volunteer hidden by my head, who guided me through it. He was very good, as he should be. Ex 74 Squadron RAF, over 2000 hours on Lightnings. He's flown the one they have on display. How cool is that?
Sadly there never was a full-motion Lightning simulator. Or an any-motion simulator! And what we did have didn't have any visuals either. It was. much as you experienced, a cockpit sitting on a box of electronics (well, electrical gubbins - it wasn't advanced enough to be 'electronic') and an instructor sitting outside making strange noises and banging the side to indicate various bits breaking. The cockpit had obscure glass and you couldn't see out at all. And this level of technology came long, long after the aircraft entered service. My Dad's first flight in the Lightning (31st December 1959) was without the benefit of any dual time; just straight into the F Mk 1.
Who was the ex-74 dude?
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Trevor MacDonald Bennett. There's an interview with him in the museum magazine here. Page 10.
https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TT-Autumn-2022_merged.pdf (https://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TT-Autumn-2022_merged.pdf)
Really modest bloke and so helpful.
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All very cool.
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I don't think I know him. I remember the Tiger meet he speaks of - I was in my last year of primary school at Leuchars when a French Super Mystere at that meet ploughed into a hill just a mile or two away. My dad was a flight commander on 23 Squadron at the time, and reformed 11 Sqn as OC when 74 moved to Singapore. Ken Goodwin, who Trevor mentions, was the station commander at Wattisham in 1971/72 when my Dad was OC 111 Sqn. Ken was an outstanding pilot, and a fine pianist. He was a regular visitor to Lyneham during my years there and unfailingly persuaded me to consume outrageous amounts of alcohol while he kept up an unstoppable monologue about those years!
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Anyone else going on to Flight Radar 24 today to track the first transatlantic airliner fly to New York fuelled by re-cycled cooking oil?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67548961
I wonder if they've sold many tickets for that flight....
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There are no paying passengers on board.
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Ta for that, Tim.
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You can track it here: https://www.flightradar24.com/VIR100/
The flight number is VIR100 if you want to use another tracker. It's due to land at 1:50pm Eastern (6:50pm GMT).
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(https://i.imgur.com/jErFjsL.jpg)
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Very pretty picture.
Is nearly-in the frozen lake the only safe area to land?
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Yeah, winter makes it both harder and easier. A lot more of the wetlands become landable, but the snow will also hide all kinds of surprises.
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https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/230390103337964/?ref=browse_tab
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https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/230390103337964/?ref=browse_tab
Blah its a T7 twin seater. If it was a single seater F.6 or FGA.9 I might be looking at how big a crane would be needed to get it into my back garden. Such a beautiful aircraft.
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I was waiting at the bus stop post-Asda this afternoon when I heard the rotor slap.
"That's a Chinook or similar", I thought.
Yup. Right over Crawley.
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"Come, friendly Chinooks, and drop things on Crawley"
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They used to fly down the Lea Valley when work was based next to the River Lea.
Stuff on desks would vibrate when they were at their closest.
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What's that noise? A bunch of Eurofighters going over Furryboottoon according to FR24.
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A Chinook with 2 netfulls of cargo dangling on cables or somesuch. Given that it had only flown a short distance from RAF Odiham (a couple of fields distance at most) before it looped round above me to return, I guess it was some sort of training exercise. By the time I reached the other side of the airfield, it was hovering near the ground, with only one dangly thing.
With a totally unsuitable 20mm lens
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53539716295_d0554f3578_w.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pz83mP)
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I did a DIY which went past RAF Odiham in January; it was an operational day and I saw at least 4 Chinooks flying. You could hear them from the Meon Valley.
Booked a campsite for RIAT :thumbsup: can't believe how many people get stuck in horrendous queues to get there when you can just ride straight up to the fence
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RAF Airbus 400M just flew down the loch at only 175ft altitude.
Erm, that's lower than many of the surrounding hills.
Took off from Elgin, been flying close to ground through Skye, through the loch valleys of Harris and Lewis ('through' not over). Then Buzzed stornoway airport.
Now doing a pass over the middle of Lewis, still sticking to no more than 150ft off the deck.
Low level flight training?
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There used to be a lot more low level activity than there is now. I don't think they have enough planes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable
This is somewhat useful...
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RAF Airbus 400M just flew down the loch at only 175ft altitude.
....
Low level flight training?
Nah, it can't get any higher 'cos the engines are knackered. :)
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RAF Airbus 400M just flew down the loch at only 175ft altitude.
Erm, that's lower than many of the surrounding hills.
Took off from Elgin, been flying close to ground through Skye, through the loch valleys of Harris and Lewis ('through' not over). Then Buzzed stornoway airport.
Now doing a pass over the middle of Lewis, still sticking to no more than 150ft off the deck.
Low level flight training?
How are you judging its altitude? You do realise that the Mode C squawk works only on ISA numbers unless you have ATC conversion equipment. The barometric pressure at Lossiemouth is 1024mb. That means the altitude reading from Mode C transponders needs to be adjusted by 11mb (approximately 330ft) to get a reasonable approximation of the aircraft's height above sea level. If you had datalink (as Mode S supplies and the military and civil air traffic authorities can interpret), the radar altitude of the aircraft above the ground can be derived. The Minimum Separation Distance under normal circumstances for low flying fixed-wing military aircraft is 250', and it's not easy to maintain anything close to that in lumpy terrain. Within LFA7T (tactical training area) specially-qualified crews can fly down to 100ft MSD, but it's incredibly difficult to get down to that anywhere other than over ridges or large amounts of water or very flat ground.
It's likely that the A400 was operating to 250' limits, and was in fact around 3-400ft most of the time.