Am i the only person here interested in Heavy Aviation Metal?

Trainfish · January 27, 2015, 04:15:53 AM

I think I just saw the hole in the ozone layer opening up

Agrippa · January 27, 2015, 10:15:22 AM

Smokin' !

austinbob · January 29, 2015, 06:39:27 PM

I posted a photo of a Constellation from 2014 Farnborough airshow on another photography thread. Tom U suggested I posted it here. So here it is together with a few other airshow pictures from the last few shows.
[smg id=20752 type=preview align=center caption="D3655 - Constellation"]

[smg id=20753 type=preview align=center caption="D5171 Military airbus"]

[smg id=20754 type=preview align=center caption="D5182 - Vulcan"]

[smg id=20755 type=preview align=center caption="D4395 - Airbus 380"]

[smg id=20756 type=preview align=center caption="D4442 - Lancaster"]

[smg id=20757 type=preview align=center caption="D4453 - Low flying Red Arrows"]

[smg id=20758 type=preview align=center caption="D3650 - DC7"]

[smg id=20759 type=preview align=center caption="D2655 - Red Arrows"]

busbar · January 30, 2015, 03:29:01 PM

Quote from: Trainfish on January 25, 2015, 11:39:00 AM
Not sure if the number of stops was just due to fuel, I was only 9 when we last did it and the memory isn't so great these days. I'll do some digging and see if I can find the route we took. I seem to remember we stopped in Cyprus and Singapore and also somewhere in the middle of the night which was infested with frogs. And I don't mean French people.

I was flying RAF Britannias from 1966-1975 and the typical route to the Far East was- Brize Norton to Akrotiri (Cyprus) to Muharraq (Bahrain) or Masirah Island (Oman) after Bahrain closed, to Gan Island (Maldives) and Singapore (Changi and Tengah in the later days). Somewhat tedious but not only did this service RAF bases en route but the routing was extended for diplomatic reasons to avoid flying over certain countries.

I think the Belfast repair in Guam was probably Gan.

Dave

Trainfish · January 31, 2015, 04:34:53 PM

That sounds more like it but there were definitely more stops. Certainly was Gan island rather than Guam, well done that man. I'll have to ask my mum about the other stops but then her memory is worse than mine

Tom U · January 31, 2015, 05:11:20 PM

Hi Dan "Busbar",
I was on TASF at Akrotiri from 1972 to 1975 so am sure to have done transits on your Brit.
My last posting 1975/6 was VC10 Base hangar Brize.
Cheers,
Tom U

busbar · January 31, 2015, 06:38:20 PM

Hi Tom U

Yes I'm sure you would have looked after me at Akrotiri as it was our most common stop. Probably missed you at Brize as I departed for Northolt on HS125's when the Britannias were sold off.

Dave

austinbob · January 31, 2015, 08:22:51 PM

Here's a couple of photos I took at Heathrow back in 1962 (yes I am that old) when you were actually allowed to go on top of the 'whatever' building it was to view the aircraft. Colours a bit faded as they were only scanned in the last few years.

[smg id=20918 type=preview align=center caption="T0003 - Constellation at Heathrow"]

[smg id=20919 type=preview align=center caption="T0006 - Vanguard at Heathrow"]

acko22 · January 31, 2015, 09:30:57 PM

For those that like something a bit more vintage, if you are every down near Stonehenge you do see a Buccaneer and Hawker Hunter flying from Boscombe Down airfield at least 2 days of the week.

Don't ask me for tail numbers I have no idea but they fly over camp enough times!

Trainfish · February 01, 2015, 01:28:04 AM

I think one of them probably fles over on Friday. Wasn't a Herc, wasn't a helichopper etc but I did look twice thinking it was an oldy worldy type plane. I then had to re-focus on the road ahead as I didn't really want to crash

B757-236GT · February 21, 2015, 09:38:19 PM

I didnt realise there were any buccaneers airworthy in the UK right now. Hunters are plentiful especially at St Athan or Kemble. I think there is a Canberra airworthy at Kemble at the moment but i understand its being a bit of hanger queen so its rare to see it out. Also all the old HS 125 Domonies that were at Kemble are slowing departing. Consider how long some have been stored and the fact most werent prepped for long term storage (they were due to all be parted out at Kemble) im suprised as many were still able to depart in one piece.

Richard

acko22 · February 21, 2015, 11:26:51 PM

The Buc at Boscombe is still flying was up again this week. As to when it flies its rather adhoc but its owned by thales I think for testing new flight equipment.
There are 4 airframes I know of based there a buc, hawk and bae 125 the final one I am unsure I know its an older type but not sure what.
I will get pics if I get a chance.

DELETED · February 27, 2015, 02:01:05 AM

Do Concordes count in this thread?

I took my late Father down to see the preserved one in East Fortune a few years ago. One of his first jobs was to build the engineering deck flight simulators for them. I couldn't believe how small the Concorde was up-close, nor could I believe he still remembered most of the dials and mech functions of the engines after so long!! He could still talk me through most of the dials and switches and the tour guide went very quiet talking about the cockpit. One of the guys he went to uni with ended up on the "konkordski" programme. I met him once completely out of chance (small world) who had some interesting stories also!

We have a very small air museum in Inverness which s largely just cockpits chopped off aircraft. Nevertheless he still knew his way around a Tornado, Buccaneer, H Page, Valiant cockpit etc. When the avionics and radar were robbed he could still reel off what should have been there, the development of the radar kit etc. He was fairly involved In the Nimrod project which got cancelled 15 years or so ago and figured "why bother" any more when he got a good deal to leave.

I thought I had memories of an open day on HMS Ark Royal maybe 30 years ago now. Checked with my Mother and turns out it was a private day for friends and family of postings. I can remember Jump Jet Demo's up top, going round the officer decks and some of the engine rooms. Never knew it was a private affair, I can still just remember watching Harriers take off at close range (loud).

My earliest experience of "heavy metal" was the Vulcan. I think I've only sen one flying once or two mid eighties (again my old man knew most of the flight deck), but the sound will never leave me. I still look it up on youtube every now and again.

Tom U · March 02, 2015, 02:42:31 PM

And here is some really heavy stuff!
Bit of history now that the A380 is a mature airliner...but here are some pictures of the development flight trials. The aircraft is exploring the minimum rotate/take off speed. You can see the tail skid is doing its joband protecting the aft fuselage from runway contact.
Glad I am not on board!!

steve836 · March 02, 2015, 04:23:45 PM

Some pics from my latest flight & my first on the A380
[smg id=22271 type=preview align=center caption="520"][smg id=22272 type=preview align=center caption="522"][smg id=22273 type=preview align=center caption="524"][smg id=22274 type=preview align=center caption="525"][smg id=22275 type=preview align=center caption="526"][smg id=22276 type=preview align=center caption="527"][smg id=22277 type=preview align=center caption="529"][smg id=22278 type=preview align=center caption="530"][smg id=22279 type=preview align=center caption="531"][smg id=22280 type=preview align=center caption="532"]