The plane enthusiasts thread

[wiggydiggy]

We went there several times when my brother and I were kids. We must have spent hours each time, and back then (mid 80s) a lot of the static exhibits were accessible and seemed to be totally unsupervised. I have fond memories of trying to work out what all the switches did in the Buccaneer.

Definately could have spent more time there, but had a visit booked to Tantallon castle for the afternoon.

The Blackburn Buccaneer is in the maintanence shed now being restored, they mentioned this particular one was retired after a hard landing buccled the airframe/gear. They also talked about how low they used to fly compared to other aircraft (low enough to hit fences he said!).

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

In the right hands, Buccs flew under fences. They famously took off then descended.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

In the right hands, Buccs flew under fences. They famously took off then descended.

and conversely part of the standard landing procedure involves climbing in order to make space for the wheels to go down


I heard of an incident in the Iraq war where a plane landed and the ground crew noticed a big dent in one wing
so they asked the pilot what cause it when he climbed down

He looked at is and commented

"Apparently camels are over 12 foot tall - who knew!!"

and walked off

 

[DaveReading]

The Buccaneer was built like the proverbial brick outhouse.

 

[Badger_Boom]

The Buccaneer was built like the proverbial brick outhouse.

I’ve never been able to find it online but back in the 80s the RAF Yearbook carried a spoof version of a cockpit layout drawing for a Buccaneer that had random stuff like spade handle for a joystick and a cuckoo clock for the HUD.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I’ve never been able to find it online but back in the 80s the RAF Yearbook carried a spoof version of a cockpit layout drawing for a Buccaneer that had random stuff like spade handle for a joystick and a cuckoo clock for the HUD.

The WWW is full of interesting comments about their prowess at low flying

some are probably true

I read a proper article once that said they were easy to fly very low on flat land/sea because the aerodynamics created an air cushion below them at speed and they literally refused to hit the ground
Presumably unless there was a hill or tree of anything - which must have kept the spirits up!!!

 

[gbb]

and conversely part of the standard landing procedure involves climbing in order to make space for the wheels to go down


I heard of an incident in the Iraq war where a plane landed and the ground crew noticed a big dent in one wing
so they asked the pilot what cause it when he climbed down

He looked at is and commented

"Apparently camels are over 12 foot tall - who knew!!"

and walked off

That is an epic tale, typical of services mentailty

 

[wiggydiggy]

The WWW is full of interesting comments about their prowess at low flying

some are probably true

I read a proper article once that said they were easy to fly very low on flat land/sea because the aerodynamics created an air cushion below them at speed and they literally refused to hit the ground
Presumably unless there was a hill or tree of anything - which must have kept the spirits up!!!

Sounds interesting to try and land one, might explain the hard landing story of the one I saw if when flying you had to actually get the plane to go slow enough to virtually stall its way to the floor!

Decided to order this book, found a used copy for £4, bargain!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

That is an epic tale, typical of services mentailty

I do wonder if my Dad would have some good stories to tell of his time in the RAF during the war

He did tell me a few things but I never pushed it because he left with serious injuries so I was worried about asking the wrong thing

there were a few tales from the spinal injuries hospital - including going out one night and the owner of the car had no legs
which was "no problem" as his mate had no arms so between them they could drive
to and from a pub - naturally

He did comment that as a Armourer he was always first onto the plane when it got back from a mission after the crew came off , including any wounded
they had to be first to remove anything that might go bang

which meant any that had died were still there
apparently German canon fire is not kind to the human body
he said some of them pretty much had to be removed with a hose
then he changed the subject

anyway - sorry about that - back to more pleasant things

 

[gbb]

I do wonder if my Dad would have some good stories to tell of his time in the RAF during the war

He did tell me a few things but I never pushed it because he left with serious injuries so I was worried about asking the wrong thing

there were a few tales from the spinal injuries hospital - including going out one night and the owner of the car had no legs
which was "no problem" as his mate had no arms so between them they could drive
to and from a pub - naturally

He did comment that as a Armourer he was always first onto the plane when it got back from a mission after the crew came off , including any wounded
they had to be first to remove anything that might go bang

which meant any that had died were still there
apparently German canon fire is not kind to the human body
he said some of them pretty much had to be removed with a hose
then he changed the subject

anyway - sorry about that - back to more pleasant things

Dad did 22 years i think in the RAF, while he joined in 49, I don't think I know a tiny fraction of what he did.

He talked of working on Mosquito's, doing engine run ups which he said scared him, having a huge propeller hurtling round just a few feet from you.

He.must have done a bit of work on Spitfires because he said he hated them, no access, you needed tiny hands and very flexible arms.
He much preferred the V bombers (Valiants and Vulcans)
He talked of Germany, maybe early 50s when he was on a recovery crew, recovering bodies from crashed transports etc, he was disgusted with some colleagues who were taking the cigarettes out the breast pockets of dad airmen.

Repaired a wingtip on a Vulcan that had accidentally hit the hangar door, much consternation from officers, dad studied the tech bulletins etc, not structural, filled the dent with a big tub of 2 pack epoxy. He said (and it still may be true) that it may have still been there when he left .

Hand painted the Dumbo roundels onto self adhesive film of some sort, for the tail fin of a Vulcan (he was an artist). There are lots of photos of Vulcans with the Dumbo roundel, I'd dearly love to know if dad did all of them or if his was a first mock up.

Found cracks in the Valiants while they were maintaining them...the whole fleet was eventually scrapped.


Lots of funny small stuff...but 22 years worth, there had to be a lot to tell

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Hand painted the Dumbo roundels onto self adhesive film of some sort, for the tail fin of a Vulcan (he was an artist). There are lots of photos of Vulcans with the Dumbo roundel, I'd dearly love to know if dad did all of them or if his was a first mock up.

This?:

 

[gbb]

This?:

View attachment 778009

That's the one (or one of them) I remember as a kid dad coming home and drawing them out and painting them, he was at Scampton on 617 Sqdn I think. I seem to remember there was a flight going to the States and it was at that time some anniversary with Disney, I think it would have been a nod to the Americans.
Wherever this, or another Vulcan is currently parked, I contacted them and asked if the roundel was painted onto a self adhesive material which they confirmed...but there's nothing to indicate it's likely to have been one of dad's. He'd be cockahoop to think it's still on there.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

That's the one (or one of them) I remember as a kid dad coming home and drawing them out and painting them, he was at Scampton on 617 Sqdn I think. I seem to remember there was a flight going to the States and it was at that time some anniversary with Disney, I think it would have been a nod to the Americans.
Wherever this, or another Vulcan is currently parked, I contacted them and asked if the roundel was painted onto a self adhesive material which they confirmed...but there's nothing to indicate it's likely to have been one of dad's. He'd be cockahoop to think it's still on there.

That was Vulcan '823 at Carlisle (Solway Aviation Museum), sorry the picture wasn't better (the weather was crap anyway).

I was there today and will post up my photos tomorrow, including pictures inside the Vulcan too! 😍