The plane enthusiasts thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

I always thought flying in a 'small' aircraft is something most of us never will do but would be great fun (and sometimes a bit scary too)

My first ever flight was in a 'Finnistere' aircraft, probably a Cessna or similar, in Brittany, north west France when I was 5.

Single engined thing (I think). I just remember seeing the coast down below and being able to see out the back window, like it was a car (although I was 5, so might be mistaken).

I, many years later flew on a Brittain Norman Islander around the Orkney Islands on the inter - island flights from Kirkwall, including the Westray - Papa Westray bit.

All good fun and a fantastic way of seeing the islands if you have limited time.

 

[Bristolian]

A few days ago I was taking photographs at a charity track day. As usual they closed the track during the lunch break and this Harvard T-6 aircraft appeared and gave us a ten minute display. These are just a few of the 200+ photos I took ...

The organiser of the track day was a Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew Buccaneers so I guess that's the connection with Navy Wings.

 

[Illaveago]

A few days ago I was taking photographs at a charity track day. As usual they closed the track during the lunch break and this Harvard T-6 aircraft appeared and gave us a ten minute display. These are just a few of the 200+ photos I took ...
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The organiser of the track day was a Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew Buccaneers so I guess that's the connection with Navy Wings.

Our group of cyclists were down in the village at the time and saw it through the trees. We wondered what it was all about. As we headed back towards Biddestone we saw 2 Red Arrow Hawks flying towards the circuit.

 

[DaveReading]

A few days ago I was taking photographs at a charity track day. As usual they closed the track during the lunch break and this Harvard T-6 aircraft appeared and gave us a ten minute display. These are just a few of the 200+ photos I took ...

The organiser of the track day was a Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew Buccaneers so I guess that's the connection with Navy Wings.

That Harvard has had a interesting career:

Built in Canada in 1952, delivered to New Jersey, then dismantled and shipped to Belfast for reassembly. Used by the US Air Force in Germany before being transferred to the Luftwaffe. Overhauled by Messerschmitt prior to delivery to the Portuguese Air Force, then used in Africa where it found its way into the hands of the Popular Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique. Eventually abandoned at Maputo, recovered and taken to South Africa, then shipped to the UK in 1989. Restored at Thruxton and finally took to the air again in July 1991.

 

[gbb]

A few days ago I was taking photographs at a charity track day. As usual they closed the track during the lunch break and this Harvard T-6 aircraft appeared and gave us a ten minute display. These are just a few of the 200+ photos I took ...
View attachment 784099

View attachment 784100

View attachment 784101
The organiser of the track day was a Fleet Air Arm pilot who flew Buccaneers so I guess that's the connection with Navy Wings.

There is one, maybe two of these to be seen locally over Cambs, they don't spare them, its certainly an aircraft you can chuck around, you'll nearly always see them doing mild acrobatics here

 

[gbb]

Three F15s or 18s over 15 minutes ago, not fast, but loud aren't they ?
Probably headed to Mildenhall given their travel direction. Unusual to seen three, at that altitude (a few thousand feet)
A few minutes later, another two, but it could be the same ones circling. Not showing on ADSB or Freedar but np surprise there.

I can never tell 15s from 18s on the move
..

 

[a.twiddler]

Perhaps jet fighters were more distinctive from each other in earlier eras when there was still some experimentation going on. Nowadays the form is much more its function and the designs have converged, or merged together.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Perhaps jet fighters were more distinctive from each other in earlier eras when there was still some experimentation going on. Nowadays the form is much more its function and the designs have converged, or merged together.

Which is why there is so much love for the older designs
they are different

a quick look nowadays and it is difficult to tell an F15 from an F18

Eurofighters are a bit different but even then not a huge amount

whereas vulcan and B52 and Victor and all very different

 

[Tashman]

F15 and F18 are pretty different to my eye. A Typhoon and Rafalle at a distance though are quite tricky. 5th Jen stuff is all very similar now too though. F35, F22, J20, KF21 all have a very similar look. I guess moving to a minimal radar signature pushes everyone in the same direction.
The SU-57 seems most distinct from the current crop

 

[gbb]

Today's sights...
I may have mentioned a Catalina headed North, I could hear it but not not see it.
Today, same Catalina G-PBYA (you can see what they did there) flew right over the house, headed South, probably back to Duxford, ran to get the phone and photo it, too late...

Slightly earlier...a Gypsy Moth meandered across the sky, too distant to get a decent photo so I shan't bother . Ages since I saw one...

 

[Bristolian]

Our group of cyclists were down in the village at the time and saw it through the trees. We wondered what it was all about. As we headed back towards Biddestone we saw 2 Red Arrow Hawks flying towards the circuit.

The whole Red Arrows team flew through as a 7-ship and a pair. they came directly over the paddock area but unfortunately no-one knew they were coming so my camera was about 50m away at the time

 

[Bristolian]

That Harvard has had a interesting career:

Built in Canada in 1952, delivered to New Jersey, then dismantled and shipped to Belfast for reassembly. Used by the US Air Force in Germany before being transferred to the Luftwaffe. Overhauled by Messerschmitt prior to delivery to the Portuguese Air Force, then used in Africa where it found its way into the hands of the Popular Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique. Eventually abandoned at Maputo, recovered and taken to South Africa, then shipped to the UK in 1989. Restored at Thruxton and finally took to the air again in July 1991.

Wow! Great information, thanks

 

[Illaveago]

The whole Red Arrows team flew through as a 7-ship and a pair. they came directly over the paddock area but unfortunately no-one knew they were coming so my camera was about 50m away at the time

We must have just caught the tail end of them.

 

[Bristolian]

I'm surprised you didn't see the 7-ship, there was like 1 or 2 seconds between them and the pair.

 

[Illaveago]

I'm surprised you didn't see the 7-ship, there was like 1 or 2 seconds between them and the pair.

We had ridden up a tree lined road and just saw the last pair as we reached an open bit so 1 to 2 seconds would have meant quite a distance for them to travel. Also the rest of the bunch might have been obscured by the trees we had just passed. Whichever way we were treated to an unexpected air display on our ride.