Aircraft General Discussion

[David TParticipant @davidt96864]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 08/05/2018 11:10:58:

David T – Tool tags like this one (1963 – 1966)

Ours were rather more agricultural! We were all assigned a number based on our locker number; corresponding tags were held in the storeroom. When something wasn't returned by the end of the day, the storeman would bellow across the workshop, "Number Sixty One! You have not returned your screwdriver!" Woe betide anyone who angered Brian the storeman…..

Several of our instructors were ex-BAE so no doubt that's where the practice stemmed from.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I went to Old Warden today to a Aeromodellers day and until the rain came crashing down it was a good day with control line, free flight and radio control aircraft.

The highlight of my day was the sixteen loose formation Tiger Moths in the distance over towards Henlow, I managed a picture of the specs.

The Blackburn's pilot had the required silk scarf could be seen blowing in the wind and the Autogyro was performing loops and rolls.

Martin P

[colin wilkinsonParticipant @colinwilkinson75381]

Hope there is a slot on the TV news

Lancaster will fly over Ladybower Dam on Dams Raid 75th anniversary – official

Colin

[Anonymous]

Every man and his dog seems to be out at Duxford today. I've just watched a Spitfire doing aerobatics over the bungalow. That's the fourth one today, plus a Harvard and a Tiger Moth.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Even more activity this afternoon. Another Tiger Moth went by; quite low, about 700ft. Another Harvard and Spitfire, which indulged in a little formation flying. Finally a Jet Provost flew over, again quite low, certainly below 1000ft.

Andrew

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Yesterday saw the Blenheim displaying over Shuttleworth then it and a Spitfire passed overhead in formation on their way to the Midlands around four pm, this afternoon after I had returned from Stockwood Park, Luton I was un hitching my trailer when the Spitfire passed over on its way to Duxford with the Blenheim two minutes behind.

Martin P

[David TParticipant @davidt96864]

Posted by martin perman on 20/05/2018 20:04:02:

Yesterday saw the Blenheim displaying over Shuttleworth then it and a Spitfire passed overhead in formation on their way to the Midlands around four pm, this afternoon after I had returned from Stockwood Park, Luton I was un hitching my trailer when the Spitfire passed over on its way to Duxford with the Blenheim two minutes behind.

Martin P

I've been meaning to venture out to see the Blenheim…… I've only seen it by accident, I was in the workshop and stuck my head out just in time to see it go over. At the time I didn't know there was one in flying condition, so it came as quite a surprise!

On Saturday we saw a Folland Gnat over Hanningfield Resevoir; didn't know there was any of those about either.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I've spent today at the Northampton Model Engineering society's track riding behind a friends latest engine, when I left to go home I got to the edge of Bedford when the BoBF Lancaster pasted very low over the road from right to left, when I got home Shuttleworks Lysander was performing wing overs above my head.

Martin P

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

WARNING – For insomniacs and people like me.

Readers may recall that back in 2015, I introduced a string of somewhat poor quality images of Concorde. See here about halfway down the page …

**LINK**

Taken in 1979 at Heathrow, the first picture showed the final stages of loading and, for what it’s worth, the visor was in the ‘up’ position. (Presumably, this latter aspect was part of pre-flight checks ?) My remaining pictures stepped through the few minutes of push back.

Not obvious at the time, I was quite surprised later to discover (from the paper prints), that the aircraft featured dual livery.

By that time (2015) I’d lost the negatives and was obliged to re-photograph the prints. With the help of Neil’s fairy dust, (ie. Deconvolution in Astra Image), one of my images (further down the page) cleaned up surprisingly well.

However, while reading the late Brian Trubshaw’s book ‘Concorde; The inside story’, I was pleased to read that G-BOAD was indeed painted with Singapore Airlines livery. With whetted curiosity, I scanned the Net and next found this chunky piece of text and photographs about G-BOAD.

**LINK**

The history record shows it was registered G-BOAD on 9th May 1975 to BA.

Scroll to the photograph, 3^rd from the bottom.

Singapore livery except its registration is six characters not the five of G-BOAD. [ZOOM TIP; (if you have a scroll wheel); to zoom in, hold down <ctrl> and <alt> while scrolling.

Zoom to the registration on the tail.

With more of Neil’s influence, thank you Neil, it is clear that the plane in my ’79 photograph was six characters – i.e. G-N94AD

Then on 5^th Jan 1979 this aircraft was re-registered as BA / Braniff Airways.

Further reading showed yet again that Concorde (210) was the only BA Concorde to be painted in another livery; it had Singapore Airlines’ livery on one side and that of BA on the other.

But what’s going on here?

**LINK**

Two photographs, both Singapore livery. The first plane has a six character registration, and the second clearly G-BOAD.

Then the pieces finally fell into place when I turned this one up.

**LINK**

For me, it wasn’t the end of the story because G-BOAD was soon back in full BA livery. It’s also practicing with the Red Arrows for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Flypast seen in this next link.

**LINK**

And, in conclusion, details of the flypast.

**LINK**

If you are not asleep by now, there’s nothing more I can do.

Regards to all,

Sam

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Very detailed search Sam, but can you answer this one? What are these big chunks of metal in front of the main U/c wheels.

And this bit on the nose wheel U/c

I don't suppose it is a "Wheel clamp" for illegal parking ?

[george AldousParticipant @georgealdous13656]

I think you are quite close to the truth with wheel clamp I think it is part of the tie down system.

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

They're actually water deflectors to stop spray from the wheels going down the engine intakes.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Gordon, if they are water deflectors, why are they at the front of the tyres and only on the leading axle ?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Apologies to Gordon, the following explains all:-
**LINK**

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

In answer to your two questions SB5,

IMO watter as fot ger'out u't way fre front pair, and not much gets past tut backuns cos front un's push it for'ard.

Them front brackits stop watter cumin up.

Please excuse my poor version of a Lancashire accent. I don't get much chance to practice down er.

Sam

By the way, that's a damned good link. 

Edited By Sam Stones on 10/06/2018 03:00:44

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

So if these "deflectors" worked so well on Concorde, why don't lorries have "rain deflectors" on the front of their tyres ? Is it something to do with the speed of the water and boundary layer etc. Where is Andrew J. when you need his input ?

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

Speedy – the real clue is in the name – 'deflector'. Their only purpose is to prevent the majority of the water from entering the engine intakes – I've seen a video of the testing and will post a link here if I ever find it again. The reason the rear wheels on the bogie don't have the deflector is that they are further aft and the water hits the nacelle behind the actual intake. Sorry, I'm unable to explain the theory of how they work – my job was just to fix things that went wrong.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Concorde's intakes were, probably, the most technically complicated bit of the aircraft. The designers had to take supersonic air and slow it down for the turbines, without 'strangling' its ability to 'breathe'. All quite complicated, and allowing large quantities of water spray into the mix on take-off wouldn't be helpful! Most unfortunately, the spray deflectors were not effective against bits of metal debris!!

rgds

Bill

[DrDaveParticipant @drdave]

I have just heard that John Farley (former Harrier Chief Test Pilot) died last night. He leaves a large hole in the aviation world. I only met him a couple of times, when I was working over in Farnborough, but I remember him as a real gentleman. Full of anecdotes and a complete disrespect of pomposity.

RIP John.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Sad news, indeed, although he has been in poor health for some time. SWMBO is particularly upset as she was his PA, at Dunsfold, for some years.

For those who wish for more information – **LINK**

farley.html

rgds

Bill

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Lovely chap, very humble despite his astonishing provenance. As previously said, could tell anecdotes all day and not repeat himself!

Sadly missed.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

House shook yesterday evening, peeped out and saw a Chinook heading south east at about 100 feet.

[DrDaveParticipant @drdave]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 15/06/2018 15:22:45:

House shook yesterday evening, peeped out and saw a Chinook heading south east at about 100 feet.

It is a little-known fact that helicopters do not fly: they make so much noise that the earth rejects them.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by DrDave on 15/06/2018 15:24:31:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 15/06/2018 15:22:45:

House shook yesterday evening, peeped out and saw a Chinook heading south east at about 100 feet.

It is a little-known fact that helicopters do not fly: they make so much noise that the earth rejects them.

[Edward CrouchParticipant @edwardcrouch25793]

Helicopter: a million parts rotating rapidly around an oil leak, waiting for metal fatigue to set in.

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