The plane enthusiasts thread

[gbb]

Lots and lots of activity around my old home of the 1970s, RAF Syerston near Newark this week apparently.
It was mothballed for decades, just the married quarters being used, it was then re-opened as a glider school years ago but apparently there are lots of sightings and lots of noise...Super Hercules, fast jets (Tornados i assume) and Osprey. An odd mix. Don't know if they're touching down or just buzzing the area.
Imagine as a 13 year old on a sleepy airbase where nothing ever happened...you wake up to an incredible cocophany of noise, open your bedroom curtains to see a Harrier hovering over the airfield within clear view
There was some big exercise then, soldiers, jump jets flying around, noise noise noise Yeaaaaah

 

[DaveReading]

Unlikely to have been Tornados that you saw/heard as the RAF retired their last ones 3 years ago.

 

[gbb]

Unlikely to have been Tornados that you saw/heard as the RAF retired their last ones 3 years ago.

Tornados ? i must have been distracted, Typhoons i meant of course.

For some reason i just recalled something i saw maybe in the 1990s . Overlooking the old (then active) brickpits, our canteen windows allowed you to see for miles. Youd often see a low (a few hundred feet) , very fast Jaguar or Tornado, headed east to west...there and gone in a couple seconds.
Around the same decade, you'd occasionally see an A10 Thunderbolt, headed south to north. Square miles of empty land, brickpits, fields and countrside below them.
One day i looked out to see an A10, maybe 1 to 2 miles away headed straight towards me...seemingly slowly oncoming.
At that moment, i saw a Jaguar /Tornado hurtling full tilt straight toward the same airspace, from the A10s side.

A10 must have seen him, (visual or radar) turned on a sixpence, lifted his nose and lunged off to one side. Jaguar / Tornado was going so fast if he did react, itd have been a mile or so before his attitude changed i'd think. They must have been within a mile of each other, seconds from potential impact.
I wonder if there were any heated phone calls between RAF and USAF bases that day

 

[Hornchurch]

I thought I would post a picture of this mighty brute! It was at Yeovilton 2015.

View attachment 116466

I saw THAT beauty, early in her 'display life' here in England - It was back in summer 2003, Baginton, Coventry.

Back then all the a-holes were MOANING & whining that it was painted-up in 'Red-Bull' colours.

I'm left thinking - "Quit whining, without THEM, it wouldn't have been in the air" anyway.

Thirsty Jets like that (& 'elderly'), needed a sponsor, so, for Red-Bull to come to the fore, was an admirable thing.

Still, all the wayne kerrs kept moaning & moaning, relentlessly (yawn).

I was just glad to see one airborne, which given they'd been retired by when I was about 9 y/o, was unthinkable (then)

Anyways, it was at the "Air Atlantique" airshow in 2003, I first saw it displayed in those Red-Bull colours.

It was on her first (slowish) "pass" that something unique happened - A panel "fell off" & onto the airfield grass.

They made her make several more passes, just to check that everything was ok (& of course, it was)

Later during that same show, a replica 'Spirit of St.Louis' crashed. The wing came off & plane came down like a Sycamore-leaf

Still (by far), one of THE best shows I ever attended (1974-2014), because of the twin DC.6 //Electra "daisychain-chase" at the end.

Lastly, it saddend me, that another beautiful Sea-Vixen bit the dust, about one-year beofre that, over at North Weald, Essex.

I was there regularly (aft'/eve's) & had been over to see it, covered in a camouflage-net, for the making of "Band of Brothers"

During the 'take-off' scenes (Richard Winter's brigade), they HAD to hide it, as they couldn't move it

Brakes had seized sometime earlier - It was NOT a flyer, nor active (at all)

Some bright spark decided that they'd put a camo'-net over it, w/scaffold-pole & make it look like an 'Anti-Aircraft-Emplacement'

At the time, THAT particular 'run-down' & unloved Sea-Vixen was owned by a company called "Aces High".

Crafty B'strds used to "palm-off" their unwanted airframes across the field, to "avoid" paying E.F.D.C "ramp-charges".

Over the years, I saw several Dakotas go this way, plus the former Southend Avro Lincoln, plus others.

Another "casualty" of Aces High was a lovely (& 'rare' in UK), Fairchild C.119 Box-Car cargo-plane.

I'd seen it fully intact (on the M.11 side), just before it got "dismantled" (for good), sadly.

About 4-5months later, it could be seen at the BACK of 'Aces-High's hangar, in fully dismantled state

(I went inside the cockpit/nose area)

The Avro Lincoln ('Napier Air Testing') was also "in bits" (sections), which saddend me, as I'd seen it as a kid (1973-1980)

That, sadly, ended-up in Australia, eventually - I always saw 'Aces High' as a bunch of "butchers" - The Auschwitz of planes !

Had to laugh tho', when Jim Siggins told me (amongst others), that they would always "avoid" paying E.F.D.C their ramp-fees**

** (Epping Forest District Council - their version of 'airfield parking fees')

When E.F.D.C "lost" the North Weald Fighter-Meet (show), they lost, singlehandedly, their biggest money-earner, by far....

.

 

[Illaveago]

I saw THAT beauty, early in her 'display life' here in England - It was back in summer 2003, Baginton, Coventry.

Back then all the a-holes were MOANING & whining that it was painted-up in 'Red-Bull' colours.

I'm left thinking - "Quit whining, without THEM, it wouldn't have been in the air" anyway.

Thirsty Jets like that (& 'elderly'), needed a sponsor, so, for Red-Bull to come to the fore, was an admirable thing.

Still, all the wayne kerrs kept moaning & moaning, relentlessly (yawn).

I was just glad to see one airborne, which given they'd been retired by when I was about 9 y/o, was unthinkable (then)

Anyways, it was at the "Air Atlantique" airshow in 2003, I first saw it displayed in those Red-Bull colours.

It was on her first (slowish) "pass" that something unique happened - A panel "fell off" & onto the airfield grass.

They made her make several more passes, just to check that everything was ok (& of course, it was)

Later during that same show, a replica 'Spirit of St.Louis' crashed. The wing came off & plane came down like a Sycamore-leaf

Still (by far), one of THE best shows I ever attended (1974-2014), because of the twin DC.6 //Electra "daisychain-chase" at the end.

Lastly, it saddend me, that another beautiful Sea-Vixen bit the dust, about one-year beofre that, over at North Weald, Essex.

I was there regularly (aft'/eve's) & had been over to see it, covered in a camouflage-net, for the making of "Band of Brothers"

During the 'take-off' scenes (Richard Winter's brigade), they HAD to hide it, as they couldn't move it

Brakes had seized sometime earlier - It was NOT a flyer, nor active (at all)

Some bright spark decided that they'd put a camo'-net over it, w/scaffold-pole & make it look like an 'Anti-Aircraft-Emplacement'

At the time, THAT particular 'run-down' & unloved Sea-Vixen was owned by a company called "Aces High".

Crafty B'strds used to "palm-off" their unwanted airframes across the field, to "avoid" paying E.F.D.C "ramp-charges".

Over the years, I saw several Dakotas go this way, plus the former Southend Avro Lincoln, plus others.

Another "casualty" of Aces High was a lovely (& 'rare' in UK), Fairchild C.119 Box-Car cargo-plane.

I'd seen it fully intact (on the M.11 side), just before it got "dismantled" (for good), sadly.

About 4-5months later, it could be seen at the BACK of 'Aces-High's hangar, in fully dismantled state

(I went inside the cockpit/nose area)

The Avro Lincoln ('Napier Air Testing') was also "in bits" (sections), which saddend me, as I'd seen it as a kid (1973-1980)

That, sadly, ended-up in Australia, eventually - I always saw 'Aces High' as a bunch of "butchers" - The Auschwitz of planes !

Had to laugh tho', when Jim Siggins told me (amongst others), that they would always "avoid" paying E.F.D.C their ramp-fees**

** (Epping Forest District Council - their version of 'airfield parking fees')

When E.F.D.C "lost" the North Weald Fighter-Meet (show), they lost, singlehandedly, their biggest money-earner, by far....

.

The previous owner of the Sea Vixen prior to the aircraft museum at Yeovilton used to do some very good air displays with it .

We regularly go to the Bournemouth Air Show and on one occasion he beat up the sea front in the morning . One person reckoned that he must have been getting close to the speed of sound with his flypast. The pilot was an ex naval pilot. He used to own a brightly painted Hawker Hunter Miss Demeanor.

 

[Hornchurch]

The previous owner of the Sea Vixen prior to the aircraft museum at Yeovilton used to do some very good air displays with it .

We regularly go to the Bournemouth Air Show and on one occasion he beat up the sea front in the morning . One person reckoned that he must have been getting close to the speed of sound with his flypast. The pilot was an ex naval pilot.

He used to own a brightly painted Hawker Hunter named Miss Demeanor.

Cheers I'llave,

I know that (particular plane) & used to see it a lot, before that other 'dick-head', A.Hill (A.hole), crashed the Shoreham Hunter !

Thanks to him (latter), both Jets & airshows practically came to a halt overnight, after his deathwish like "showboating".

I stood in a field, near RAF Marham back in 2010, filming outside with my Sony Alpha A.350 DSLR

I caught a few beautiful long-range shots of "Miss Demeanour" as she was lining up for the runway (curving-into-turn-approach)

My Dad has one (of those group of shots as his "screensaver", but, is always "moaning" as he's not into planes, at all !!!!!

Even more bizarre, given he WAS in the RAF during the late 1940's and also early 1950's - (& Yes, he's still amongst us, thankfully)

The one I mentioned (shot/photo'), is over on a USB somewhere, like a trillion/million/gazillion other shots of mine !
.

 

[Landsurfer]

I did my basic A Mech A training at RAF Halton on Sea Vixens, (and Whirlwinds, Jet and piston Provost). They had a very similar hydraulic and PFCU system to the in service Nimrod so where used for training in systems and maintenance. After leaving training i was posted to RAF St. Mawgan and very quickly saw the similarities both 2nd line and 1st line.

 

[Cycleops]

Always had a soft spot for the Hawker Hunter after having the Dinky one as a child. Anyone else have one? There was a Javelin as well.

 

[DaveReading]

I saw THAT beauty, early in her 'display life' here in England - It was back in summer 2003, Baginton, Coventry.

Back then all the a-holes were MOANING & whining that it was painted-up in 'Red-Bull' colours.

I'm left thinking - "Quit whining, without THEM, it wouldn't have been in the air" anyway.

Thirsty Jets like that (& 'elderly'), needed a sponsor, so, for Red-Bull to come to the fore, was an admirable thing.

Still, all the wayne kerrs kept moaning & moaning, relentlessly (yawn).

I was just glad to see one airborne, which given they'd been retired by when I was about 9 y/o, was unthinkable (then)

Anyways, it was at the "Air Atlantique" airshow in 2003, I first saw it displayed in those Red-Bull colours.

Happily, I'm old and ugly enough to remember these guys displaying:

 

[Illaveago]

Always had a soft spot for the Hawker Hunter after having the Dinky one as a child. Anyone else have one? There was a Javelin as well.

View attachment 642614

I have a Javelin somewhere and a tatty Meteor.

 

[Illaveago]

Cheers I'llave,

I know that (particular plane) & used to see it a lot, before that other 'dick-head', A.Hill (A.hole), crashed the Shoreham Hunter !

Thanks to him (latter), both Jets & airshows practically came to a halt overnight, after his deathwish like "showboating".

I stood in a field, near RAF Marham back in 2010, filming outside with my Sony Alpha A.350 DSLR

I caught a few beautiful long-range shots of "Miss Demeanour" as she was lining up for the runway (curving-into-turn-approach)

My Dad has one (of those group of shots as his "screensaver", but, is always "moaning" as he's not into planes, at all !!!!!

Even more bizarre, given he WAS in the RAF during the late 1940's and also early 1950's - (& Yes, he's still amongst us, thankfully)

The one I mentioned (shot/photo'), is over on a USB somewhere, like a trillion/million/gazillion other shots of mine !
.

I can remember that they had a mass flypast of Hunters over Kemble Airfield some time ago . I might have it on video somewhere . I think the Hunters formed up over the Bristol Channel before heading for Kemble .

 

[Oldhippy]

 

[Hornchurch]

View attachment 642920

Hi, O.H

Rather ironic you posted THAT subject matter = Heinkel 111 - (or more likely CASA.111)

I say that, as I posted a video - The "famous" one - from the 1969 film, at the (current) tail-end of my Oystercatcher thread

See below....

Heinkel 111 "Battle of Britain" Film-clip - "Help Yourself Everybody, There's No Fighter-Escort"


I've seen several of the CASA.111's which starred in the (now famous) 1969 film & even had my head inside one.

For a brief while, it was inside the hangar (by the M.11), at "Aces High" hangar, at North Weald.

They had an open-day & the ONLY other plane inside the hangar, was a Grumman F4 Wildcat, the FM2 version (tall-tail)

The "sterbett" gondola-hatch was open (hanging-down), so naturally, being curious, I poked my head in, looking around inside.

Was there for at least 15-17 minutes, before the active crew of an RAF Lockheed Hercules (XV.292) went inside the plane ('111)

I bailed-out after that (metaphorically) & went back outside - But not before noting the C'130's "pretty" female mechanic !


To my great surprise, about 90mins later, she was outside, "fixing" the engine on a B.25 Mitchell that they had there - (at the time)

No, it wasn't "Bedsheet Bomber", the ol' wreck they had from the former Southend Air Musuem - (after it's sad early 1980's closure.

It was instead, "A Flyer" (can't recall it's USA prefix/register)

It was painted-up in an M.T.O scheme (12th A.F), in Olive-Drab (& Grey), with Yellow cowlings AND a "camera ship" nose.

I know for a fact, that this machine DID (def') participate in the 1991 "North Weald Fighter-Meet" airshow.....

We were outside on the Saturday (fine weather), along the B.1393, the road that runs along the South of the main-runway

It was also the final-year of the Avro Shackleton in service, as I'd taken my expensive Mitsubishi VHS camera along, to film them.

Whilst we were waiting for the Shackelton to do it's display, THAT particular B.25 trundled past the southern-boundary.

It was sold back to the USA about 18-months later (sadly), leaving "Ol' Grumpy" as the (then) only UK based airworthy B.25 Mitchell.

So, given that, I'd guess that my "Head inside Heinkel" escapade, would be about 1990 itself - Wish I'd taken a DSLR camera !

The C.130 Hercules that we saw (short-nosed '130, IIRC), was "XV.292" & was open to the general-public.


O.H - Where did ya photograph that CASA 111 incidentally ?

I ask, because there's a museum in Kent, that THOUGHT they were "getting a CASA" - only to find, it's a REAL German Heinkel '111

My memory on it is a bit rusty, but, IIRC, it's the one a Hawkinge, Kent.


Lastly, did ya get my (additional) route suggestions/camping-point, for your projected May/June Swaffham cycling-trip ?

.

 

[Oldhippy]

Hi, O.H

Rather ironic you posted THAT subject matter = Heinkel 111 - (or more likely CASA.111)

I say that, as I posted a video - The "famous" one - from the 1969 film, at the (current) tail-end of my Oystercatcher thread

See below....

Heinkel 111 "Battle of Britain" Film-clip - "Help Yourself Everybody, There's No Fighter-Escort"


I've seen several of the CASA.111's which starred in the (now famous) 1969 film & even had my head inside one.

For a brief while, it was inside the hangar (by the M.11), at "Aces High" hangar, at North Weald.

They had an open-day & the ONLY other plane inside the hangar, was a Grumman F4 Wildcat, the FM2 version (tall-tail)

The "sterbett" gondola-hatch was open (hanging-down), so naturally, being curious, I poked my head in, looking around inside.

Was there for at least 15-17 minutes, before the active crew of an RAF Lockheed Hercules (XV.292) went inside the plane ('111)

I bailed-out after that (metaphorically) & went back outside - But not before noting the C'130's "pretty" female mechanic !


To my great surprise, about 90mins later, she was outside, "fixing" the engine on a B.25 Mitchell that they had there - (at the time)

No, it wasn't "Bedsheet Bomber", the ol' wreck they had from the former Southend Air Musuem - (after it's sad early 1980's closure.

It was instead, "A Flyer" (can't recall it's USA prefix/register)

It was painted-up in an M.T.O scheme (12th A.F), in Olive-Drab (& Grey), with Yellow cowlings AND a "camera ship" nose.

I know for a fact, that this machine DID (def') participate in the 1991 "North Weald Fighter-Meet" airshow.....

We were outside on the Saturday (fine weather), along the B.1393, the road that runs along the South of the main-runway

It was also the final-year of the Avro Shackleton in service, as I'd taken my expensive Mitsubishi VHS camera along, to film them.

Whilst we were waiting for the Shackelton to do it's display, THAT particular B.25 trundled past the southern-boundary.

It was sold back to the USA about 18-months later (sadly), leaving "Ol' Grumpy" as the (then) only UK based airworthy B.25 Mitchell.

So, given that, I'd guess that my "Head inside Heinkel" escapade, would be about 1990 itself - Wish I'd taken a DSLR camera !

The C.130 Hercules that we saw (short-nosed '130, IIRC), was "XV.292" & was open to the general-public.


O.H - Where did ya photograph that CASA 111 incidentally ?

I ask, because there's a museum in Kent, that THOUGHT they were "getting a CASA" - only to find, it's a REAL German Heinkel '111

My memory on it is a bit rusty, but, IIRC, it's the one a Hawkinge, Kent.


Lastly, did ya get my (additional) route suggestions/camping-point, for your projected May/June Swaffham cycling-trip ?

.

It is indeed Hawkinge Battle of Britain museum.

 

[Hornchurch]

It is indeed Hawkinge Battle of Britain museum.

Ahhh, then "that's the one" - It's a REAL Heinkel He.111 and not the early 1950's Spanish CASA version - (as they first thought !)

Absolutely tragic that they can't have (funds), or have it "inside", as being Heinkel//German built, makes it that much rarer.

As ya know, UK weather isn't exactly condusive towards aircraft-preservation - Aren't many German '111's about, either.

O.H - Heinkel's aside, I wanted to ask you about the LARGE handlebars on your bike/cycle - What are they ?

Whilst I have a reasonable knowledge on planes, my knowledge of pushbikes/cycles is pretty-pathetic !

So forgive me for asking, as they appear to be some kind of 'touring' bars, no ?

.