Author Topic: Interesting or unusual planes? (Read 390218 times)

clarion · « **Reply #375 on:** 23 January, 2013, 02:08:26 pm »

That's kinda sad.

Ewan Houzami · « **Reply #376 on:** 23 January, 2013, 03:22:31 pm »

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.

fuzzy · « **Reply #377 on:** 23 January, 2013, 03:26:32 pm »

Quote from: Goldilocks on 23 January, 2013, 03:22:31 pm

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?

clarion · « **Reply #378 on:** 23 January, 2013, 03:32:04 pm »

Possibly, but it was likely meant to be a Fairchild Peacemaker, which was the US COIN variant.

Ewan Houzami · « **Reply #379 on:** 23 January, 2013, 03:40:40 pm »

Quote from: fuzzy on 23 January, 2013, 03:26:32 pm

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.

Adrian · « **Reply #380 on:** 24 January, 2013, 10:17:57 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 23 January, 2013, 02:08:26 pm

That's kinda sad.

It is like finning sharks

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #381 on:** 25 January, 2013, 09:55:54 am »

Quote from: Adrian on 24 January, 2013, 10:17:57 pm

Quote from: clarion on 23 January, 2013, 02:08:26 pm
That's kinda sad.
It is like finning sharks

Interceptor SOUP. Om nom nom nom!

TheLurker · « **Reply #382 on:** 25 January, 2013, 01:45:03 pm »

Looks like it's intended for display outside Dyson's at Malmesbury.

http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/northwilts/10167914.print/

Quote from: Jaded on 23 January, 2013, 01:51:41 pm

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.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #383 on:** 25 January, 2013, 01:52:07 pm »

Quote from: Goldilocks on 23 January, 2013, 03:40:40 pm

Quote from: fuzzy on 23 January, 2013, 03:26:32 pm
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

TimO · « **Reply #384 on:** 27 January, 2013, 03:50:52 pm »

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 25 January, 2013, 01:52:07 pm

Tricky to fly though.
http://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.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #385 on:** 27 January, 2013, 04:14:24 pm »

Quote from: TimO on 27 January, 2013, 03:50:52 pm

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 25 January, 2013, 01:52:07 pm
Tricky to fly though.
http://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.

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.

CrinklyAuntie · « **Reply #386 on:** 16 February, 2013, 06:47:30 pm »

Vulcan
by CrinkyUncle,
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

Bicycle Repair Man · « **Reply #387 on:** 17 February, 2013, 07:52:07 am »

Seen over the workshop on Friday

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

Dave Yates

bomber · « **Reply #388 on:** 17 February, 2013, 08:41:38 pm »

Interesting. Assymetric in a eurofighter?

Bicycle Repair Man · « **Reply #389 on:** 17 February, 2013, 08:48:30 pm »

Quote from: bomber on 17 February, 2013, 08:41:38 pm

Interesting. Assymetric in a eurofighter?

He did the whole routine on one burner. The last pic was actually taken on Thursday.

Dave Yates

TheLurker · « **Reply #390 on:** 13 April, 2013, 08:16:27 pm »

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.

Juan Martín · « **Reply #391 on:** 22 April, 2013, 09:52:06 am »

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.

Riggers · « **Reply #392 on:** 02 May, 2013, 12:27:42 pm »

Trip to Hendon Aircraft Museum last month (with m'boys) and just a tiny amount of their excellent selection:

clarion · « **Reply #393 on:** 02 May, 2013, 12:30:38 pm »

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.

TimC · « **Reply #394 on:** 02 May, 2013, 12:44:47 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 02 May, 2013, 12:30:38 pm

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. 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.

clarion · « **Reply #395 on:** 02 May, 2013, 12:57:01 pm »

I don't think we flew many Me262s

I know, I know:

Quote from: TimC

...or relevant to...

TimC · « **Reply #396 on:** 02 May, 2013, 12:59:41 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 02 May, 2013, 12:57:01 pm

I don't think we flew many Me262s

I know, I know:
Quote from: TimC
...or relevant to...

Actually, we had quite a few at Martlesham Heath (IIRC) after the war!

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #397 on:** 02 May, 2013, 02:24:13 pm »

Is that an F-35A or an F-35B?

clarion · « **Reply #398 on:** 02 May, 2013, 02:38:38 pm »

I didn't even know there was an A or B.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #399 on:** 02 May, 2013, 02:46:08 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 02 May, 2013, 02:38:38 pm

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.