Buzzed by Spitfire!

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

The latest display list for for Vulcan XH558 in 2014 is here.

**LINK**

Some them are the same as for the Lancasters, an opportunity not to be missed, IMHO.

I lived a few miles from a Staff College (now gone), there used to be an annual fly past by the BBMF, one day I was standing in the garden and heard a tremendous noise nearby, looked up to see the Lanc going along the line of our road at just above tree height .

It was rather spectacular but the camera was indoors, typical!

Edited By V8Eng on 02/06/2014 20:45:11

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by John Hinkley on 02/06/2014 17:10:34:

the Vulcan had, indeed, descended "a bit" – to less than 50 feet – and then stood it on its tail with full re-heat on and went near- vertical to 3000ft. That rattled the windows for miles around and generated one of the biggest series of noise complaints ever.

I just quite simply DO NOT understand these people. Absolutely 100% they are definitely people of a mindset I will NEVER understand, nor have I any wish to meet any of them.

graham.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Graham.

I used to watch Concord routinely as it flew near my workplace, wonderful sight and sound, the complainers could be ignored.

Brilliant experience when it flew over the road In Reading, filling the space with thunderous sound.

I really miss that plane.

 

Edited By V8Eng on 02/06/2014 22:21:40

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

Winkle Brown is a living legend and a damn nice guy.

Met him a few years back when he was only 82 ! He recalled preparing to take off and evaluate a Heinkel twin jet , which had total loss lubrication( basically it ran until the bearings disintegrated after about 16 hrs flying time as I recall). He lined it up for take off and the engine blew up !

Nine lives didn't come close.

Ian

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

on the Vulcan tail I went to Mildenhall US base ( now defunct) for a brilliant air display. The US pilots were demonstrating aerodynamic braking ( put nose up, land on rear wheels and allow plane to slow by drag for those who don't follow these things). The F16's were doing ok but wobbling as they touched on one wheel then another and rocking a bit. Great display though.

Next thing the Vulcan came down perfect touch down on all rear wheels, absolutely level and rolled slowly along the crowd line before gently kissing down he nose wheel as she left the crowd line. The announcer was dumb struck! The crowd just deaf!

He then proceeded to take off and go vertical with reheat. You breathed in sympathy with the engine roar / sound pressure.

Great days. a beautiful bird to watch- you can climb in the one at Newark!

Ian

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

I went to an air display at North Weald in the early 60s. An English Electric Lightning did a very low, very slow approach then stood vertically on it's tail. It seemed to hang there for some time then went straight up into the air at a phenomenal rate of climb. It was out of sight within a few seconds.

One of these aircraft stood in a field by the A1 for many years, slowly becoming more and more dilapidated. I always felt a bit sad when I went by.

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

Regarding Lancasters:

Has anyone ever heard of the children's book "Walter the Farting Dog". That story is based on a Bull Mastiff that was owned by a personal acquaintance here in Fredericton. The gentleman (in every sense of the word) was also a Lancaster pilot. In my opinion, Paul's outlook on life was typical of the many brave airmen who served in the RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces. If you take a moment to read this 2005 posting in the Toronto Globe and Mail **LINK** (scroll down to Paul Burden) I am sure you will agree.

Cheers

Bill

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

You mean you actually heard an old plane and there was no music accompaniment? Not on the TV, then was it?

It is just the same with old cars or locomotives. But they never add background music to the Proms. Double standards, I call it.

Tim

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Has it occurred to any of you that this is an international forum and for many these sounds and sights marked the death of their loved ones.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bazyle on 04/06/2014 17:29:40:

Has it occurred to any of you that this is an international forum and for many these sounds and sights marked the death of their loved ones.

.

Bazyle,

I don't want to fall out over this, but I think that is an inappropriate remark.

This is an engineering forum and, so far as I can see, every post on this thread has been related solely to the engineering. … You are the first to make any political comment.

In my opinion, it is impossible to draw the line that you want to draw.

Sincerely

MichaelG.

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Sorry to tell you this chaps but the Vulcan didn’t have reheat / afterburners.
Mark P.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I'm trying to understand your concerns Bazyle but I must admit I'm finding it difficult.

My Dad flew in Lancaster Bombers during the war and didn't even get a medal for it. Fifty thousand of his comrades in B/C weren't so lucky and didn't survive the experience. Some of my parents friends were also killed in the Blitz, something I don't remember but which they clearly did.

When I was in Canada I went to see the Lancaster in Hamilton and saw where my Dad sat (as Flight Engineer). I cannot really imagine the guts it took to get into a plane fully loaded with explosives and fuel and then fly it through fighters and flak (he survived two tours).

I have German friends and whilst I've never discussed the war with them, I have to assume that their fathers probably also fought for their country. I am also pretty sure that they are just as proud of their fathers as I am of mine. Perhaps some of their family were also killed or injured. If so, that's a great shame but many died on both sides.

So whilst we certainly shouldn't glorify war, we most certainly shouldn't forget what happened either – nor the sacrifices made. Many brave men and women fought (and died) on both sides. This is unfortunate but true.

I'm sorry if this is off-topic – but there we go – a nerve was tweaked..

Regards,

IanT.

.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Thanks Ian,

I think that's a very fair view. I haven't read any jingoism in this thread.

For the record, I grew up with a Mum who couldn't stand air raid sirens because the house next door was bombed when she was a toddler. One of Dad's strongest childhood memories is a Lancaster going over very low; none of the crew survived.

As a boy when I found out that the chap, Heinz, who used to come and talk planes all evening with my dad was a Messerschitt pilot, i found it hard to understand. I do now.

We can look back on things like the saturation bombing of Koln or Hamburg with a different perspective now, but that doesn't invalidate pride and nostalgia for very real sacrifice and achievement.

We have the National Memorial Arboretum a few miles from home, and the German Cemetery on Cannock Chase about fifteen miles away. These days veterans on both sides can make their peace and remember together.

Neil

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

Ian

Thank you for this. Running up to June 6 each year, I always find it important to mention such issues to my family and friends. My Dad ended up in the Canadian Army because of his mechanical training. Six of his neighborhood chums ended up tail gunners on Lancs. Of the six, only one came home. Of the five lost, only one has a grave.

Lest We Forget.

Bill

[GarryCParticipant @garryc]

I'm so glad to see people have responded to Bazyle's Post in this way.

I'll not have anyone say to me I shouldn't talk about what my family did or what equipment they used in the war for fear of upsetting someone – not here or anywhere else..

As Bill said, Lest We forget…

Allan.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Neil, my mum had a similar dislike of sirens, she was a WAAF radar operator. In 1958 we moved to a town where there was a volunteer fire brigade, a few days after we moved in, the siren sounded in the middle of the night, mum didn't hear it, but woke up under the bed. Ian S C

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Civil defence used to sound a siren about a quarter of a mile from our house, right up into the late seventies.

I always thought it was just an annoyance for her, but she told me the full story when she heard me listening to 'War Pigs' by Black Sabbath, which starts with the same sound.

Neil

[BubbleParticipant @bubble]

Hello all

I was working at Rolls Royce Hucknall in the late 60's. The company's Spitfire (Mk X1V, Griffon, 5 blade prop.) was loaned for the making of the Battle of Britain film. Being a clip-wing variant from 1944, it was disguised by adding elliptical tips. When the aircraft was returned to Royces it looked a right mess, camouflage paint and dummy bullet holes. It was hastily rebuilt and re-painted in light blue. Tragically later destroyed in fatal accident, but I did hear from somewhere that it was subsequently rebuilt.

Jim

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 02/06/2014 15:

Geoff [and Paul]

This might make an amusing alternative to a Spitfire

Get those Premium Bonds and Lotto tickets working for you!

MichaelG.

MichaelG,

Interesting design.

I'm ex-navy but have absolutely no interest in those things, except from the engineering stand point.

The 'Mine's bigger/faster/more expensive than yours' always springs to mind.

Slow and sedate for me, as I did my speed thing when racing at Kyalami.

Geoff – Lunch then roast more coffee beans

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Jim and others,

Just to briefly complete the history

After the accident a replacement Spitfire was found and bought by Royce's for an undisclosed sum in 1996; later fully rebuilt to rectify corrosion damage in the wings and elsewhere, repared again after damage on the ground when the undercarriage was retracted by mistake and now fully operational

She flies as Mk XIX PS853 with 2050hp Griffon engine, 5 blade prop and is again in the blue livery as delivered for squadron service in Europe early 1945 as a photo reconnaissance aircraft for high altitude work, mainly seeking V1 and V2 launch sites.

Brian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by OuBallie on 05/06/2014 12:45:35:

… I'm ex-navy but have absolutely no interest in those things, except from the engineering stand point.

.

Just thought you would like the engine, Geoff

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Buzzed by a couple of Hercules earlier. they often go right over, probably at under 200 feet. You can see why they fly low, if this was in theatre, then anyone on the ground would have no more than a few seconds to react.

We don't get as many planes or as much variety since they blew up the Drakelow cooling towers. We do get a lot of microlights following the A38, I do wonder if they and the Hercules are aware of each other? Fortunately the microlights usually fly higher than the hercs.

Neil

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 05/06/2014 21:04:45:

Posted by OuBallie on 05/06/2014 12:45:35:

… I'm ex-navy but have absolutely no interest in those things, except from the engineering stand point.

.

Just thought you would like the engine, Geoff

MichaelG.

Indeed I did and certainly didn't mean it to appear to be a put-down.

Sorry if it came across as such, which it may have, reading my post again.

Grey cells don't always flag up possible wrong interpretations that my posts may generate.

Geoff – Forgot to set up bread maker last night, before pillow time – aargh!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

No problem at all, Geoff

I couldn't link directly to the picture of the engine, so wasn't quite sure if you had seen it.

Best Wishes

MichaelG.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Loads of gee gees no doubt, but very strange that RR siamesed the last two front/rear exhaust stubs.

That arrangement would surely be thrown out due to interfering with each other?

Could it be just for that installation I wonder?

Geoff – Who am I to question RR engineers!

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