Author Topic: Interesting or unusual planes? (Read 390631 times)

TimC · « **Reply #675 on:** 27 July, 2014, 09:49:27 pm »

Quote from: TheLurker on 27 July, 2014, 09:09:50 am

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.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #676 on:** 27 July, 2014, 10:56:34 pm »

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!

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #677 on:** 28 July, 2014, 12:10:57 am »

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

spesh · « **Reply #678 on:** 28 July, 2014, 01:17:29 am »

Quote from: sg37409 on 27 July, 2014, 04:54:31 pm

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 !!

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.

TheLurker · « **Reply #679 on:** 28 July, 2014, 07:32:47 am »

Quote from: TimC on 27 July, 2014, 09:49:27 pm

Quote from: TheLurker on 27 July, 2014, 09:09:50 am
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.

TimC · « **Reply #680 on:** 28 July, 2014, 08:15:41 am »

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.

fuzzy · « **Reply #681 on:** 02 August, 2014, 11:17:24 pm »

The most recent sighting was of a 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.

clifftaylor · « **Reply #682 on:** 09 August, 2014, 01:38:13 pm »

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??

TimC · « **Reply #683 on:** 09 August, 2014, 02:03:41 pm »

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.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #684 on:** 09 August, 2014, 02:05:58 pm »

Did the Canadian Lanc fly across the Atlantic?

TimC · « **Reply #685 on:** 09 August, 2014, 02:08:27 pm »

Yes, though I'm not sure whether it went via Iceland or the Azores.

Edit: the two of them at Coningsby.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #686 on:** 09 August, 2014, 04:13:37 pm »

Blimey, that would have been an epic flight! Must see if I can find an account on the web.

Juan Martín · « **Reply #687 on:** 16 August, 2014, 06:47:51 pm »

Lancs by JuanM58, 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!

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #688 on:** 16 August, 2014, 07:16:40 pm »

Ar, they said on the news yesterday am that the Lancs were at Eastbourne.

trekker12 · « **Reply #689 on:** 18 August, 2014, 10:39:36 am »

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.

Adam · « **Reply #690 on:** 19 August, 2014, 07:54:46 pm »

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.

Bicycle Repair Man · « **Reply #691 on:** 21 August, 2014, 10:56:33 pm »

Now then chaps,

Seen over the workshop today

Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.

Dave Yates

clarion · « **Reply #692 on:** 21 August, 2014, 11:03:07 pm »

Gosh.

spesh · « **Reply #693 on:** 21 August, 2014, 11:29:13 pm »

I'm not jealous. Oh no, not at all.

OK, maybe just a bit...

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

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #694 on:** 21 August, 2014, 11:45:57 pm »

The Shackleton was a development of the Lancaster.

Quote

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

fuzzy · « **Reply #695 on:** 22 August, 2014, 12:05:26 am »

Quote from: Bicycle Repair Man on 21 August, 2014, 10:56:33 pm

Now then chaps,

Seen over the workshop today

Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.

Dave Yates

Mr insistance that you Sir, are a Git, still stands.

TheLurker · « **Reply #696 on:** 22 August, 2014, 05:59:58 am »

Quote from: Bicycle Repair Man on 21 August, 2014, 10:56:33 pm

Now then chaps,

Seen over the workshop today

Once in a lifetime scene, never to be repeated.

Dave Yates

Ah. The Roy Chadwick Memorial Flight.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #697 on:** 22 August, 2014, 08:51:16 am »

What fuzzy retd. said.

GIT!!!1!1!

hatler · « **Reply #698 on:** 22 August, 2014, 09:20:04 am »

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.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #699 on:** 22 August, 2014, 10:06:46 am »

Quote from: TheLurker on 22 August, 2014, 05:59:58 am

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