John Lloyd
Warrant Officer
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Just to make up for all those unemployed aircrew
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I remember that tug being parked in the radome of the the nimrod, i remenber it was a warrant officer driving the tug, brilliant!
he_who_dares_rodney
Flight Sergeant
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Obviously I didn't take it but it must be a contender
The story behind a famous photograph of an ejection from a Lightning. - The photograph opposite was taken by Jim Meads on 13 September 1962. It was published in newspapers all around the world at the time and, as it was so widely seen, it naturally caught the attention of manufacturer Martin-Baker.
At the time Jim lived next door to de Havilland test pilot Bob Sowray in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and on this day both of their wives had gone clothes shopping in London. Bob had mentioned that he was due to fly a Lightning that day, and later Jim’s children asked if they could go to watch the flight. Although Jim was a photographer, he wouldn’t usually take his camera on an outing like this. However, on this occasion he decided he would get a picture of his neighbour flying. The camera he took had just two exposures on it.
The spectators found a good vantage point close to the threshold of de Havilland’s Hatfield airfield, and waited for the Lightning to return. As XG332 came in on final approach, at around 200ft high its nose pitched up and the pilot ejected. The Lightning had become uncontrollable after an engine fire had weakened a tailplane actuator.
Jim took one photo soon after the ejection, and as can be seen caught the pilot inverted with his parachute still unopened and the Lightning plummeting earthwards close to him. The tractor driver heard the bang of the ejection seat and is seen after quickly turning around to look at what was going on, no doubt very relieved he wasn’t working further over in the field. Jim’s one remaining picture recorded the subsequent plume of thick black smoke after the jet had crashed.
Fortunately the pilot survived after coming down in a greenhouse full of tomatoes. He suffered multiple breaks of his limbs and cuts from the shower of glass that rained down on him after going through the roof of the greenhouse. However, it hadn’t been Bob Sowray at the controls; he had decided to let fellow test pilot George Aird carry out the flight.
XG332 was one of 20 pre-production Lightnings and first flew on 29 May 1959. It was used throughout its flying life by BAC and de Havilland for Firestreak and Red Top trials, and its crash occurred while it was on latter programme.
With many thanks to Jim Meads for kindly supplying original prints of the images
The story behind a famous photograph of an ejection from a Lightning. - The photograph opposite was taken by Jim Meads on 13 September 1962. It was published in newspapers all around the world at the time and, as it was so widely seen, it naturally caught the attention of manufacturer Martin-Baker.
At the time Jim lived next door to de Havilland test pilot Bob Sowray in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and on this day both of their wives had gone clothes shopping in London. Bob had mentioned that he was due to fly a Lightning that day, and later Jim’s children asked if they could go to watch the flight. Although Jim was a photographer, he wouldn’t usually take his camera on an outing like this. However, on this occasion he decided he would get a picture of his neighbour flying. The camera he took had just two exposures on it.
The spectators found a good vantage point close to the threshold of de Havilland’s Hatfield airfield, and waited for the Lightning to return. As XG332 came in on final approach, at around 200ft high its nose pitched up and the pilot ejected. The Lightning had become uncontrollable after an engine fire had weakened a tailplane actuator.
Jim took one photo soon after the ejection, and as can be seen caught the pilot inverted with his parachute still unopened and the Lightning plummeting earthwards close to him. The tractor driver heard the bang of the ejection seat and is seen after quickly turning around to look at what was going on, no doubt very relieved he wasn’t working further over in the field. Jim’s one remaining picture recorded the subsequent plume of thick black smoke after the jet had crashed.
Fortunately the pilot survived after coming down in a greenhouse full of tomatoes. He suffered multiple breaks of his limbs and cuts from the shower of glass that rained down on him after going through the roof of the greenhouse. However, it hadn’t been Bob Sowray at the controls; he had decided to let fellow test pilot George Aird carry out the flight.
XG332 was one of 20 pre-production Lightnings and first flew on 29 May 1959. It was used throughout its flying life by BAC and de Havilland for Firestreak and Red Top trials, and its crash occurred while it was on latter programme.
With many thanks to Jim Meads for kindly supplying original prints of the images
can I believe what I'm seeing there ?
Three seats ?
Who's pulling what, here ?
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/466516.html
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Yep, I remember seeing this as a cartoon when Bosnia was in full swing. I guess they carried out the Modification then.
Pilot
Navigator
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John Lloyd
Warrant Officer
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Canberra evolution
Kellys garden
Kellys garden
Hi exraf,
that's me sitting in the middle on the ramp. I was the MT techie down there Oct '85 - Feb '86. Brought back many memories, I have a rare three ships in the air buzzing Kelly's, I'll have to dig it out and post it.
Kellys garden
Hi exraf,
that's me sitting in the middle on the ramp. I was the MT techie down there Oct '85 - Feb '86. Brought back many memories, I have a rare three ships in the air buzzing Kelly's, I'll have to dig it out and post it.
I was in the Stores on shift, with a SGT (on perm days) and a Corporal on the other shift until he was sent home sick.
Kellys garden
Kellys garden
Hi
not sure yet how to PM you, but I have a photo that was taken at the same time as the one that you posted where the four of us are facing the camera, I think we must have passed our cameras to the loadie to take them for us. If you know how to PM me send me your email and I'll send you a copy.
sioni
Kellys garden
Hi
not sure yet how to PM you, but I have a photo that was taken at the same time as the one that you posted where the four of us are facing the camera, I think we must have passed our cameras to the loadie to take them for us. If you know how to PM me send me your email and I'll send you a copy.
sioni
Which hangars had to be extended?
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Thought I would join in with a few Mighty Vulcan pictures. The first 3 are from when I had to rough it at Offutt AFB (Nebraska) in the early 80's. The last one is at Goose Bay when the Port Undercarriage when through the drain covers at the entry to the hangar. Incidentally, this aircraft later crashed in Wingate in Durham on 7th January 1971.
Attachments
Rambling Sid
Sergeant
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This is going back to the 60's or 70's but I thought the tail of the VC10 wouldn't fit into the hangers at Brize. I am sure I saw a photo of the front end of the 10 in the hanger and the tail unable to fit in. Like I said it was over 40 years ago so I might have been wrong.
themardyrigger
LAC
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There was a short term extension on "F" Shed at Abingdon I seem to recall,
made from HI-WAY staging and poly sheet, and there was definetly one on base hangar for a Tristar following a heavy landing. Sorry no pics just fading memories!
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Ah yes, the old "bit heavy for an auto-land landing",
"there isn`t an auto-land facility here, sir" routine.
Punched the main leg through the rear spar.
Nice or ouch?
With speed brakes out, is a shot of a pass or a wheels-up landing for this Lightning?
Thought two feathered engines on the same side was impressive for low level flight? How about three feathered and 20 feet below? This Avro Lancaster appears to be post war with the nose turret de-activated and a dome in the dorsal position. This is a very foolish maneouvre.The aircraft can't be flown on a single engine. It's done by a dive, a high speed pass and a zoom climb at the far end of the runway with a mad scramble to unfeather. The situation gets serious if the first unfeathering knocks the generator on the good engine off line, leaving only battery power. Photo via Blake Reid
With speed brakes out, is a shot of a pass or a wheels-up landing for this Lightning?
Thought two feathered engines on the same side was impressive for low level flight? How about three feathered and 20 feet below? This Avro Lancaster appears to be post war with the nose turret de-activated and a dome in the dorsal position. This is a very foolish maneouvre.The aircraft can't be flown on a single engine. It's done by a dive, a high speed pass and a zoom climb at the far end of the runway with a mad scramble to unfeather. The situation gets serious if the first unfeathering knocks the generator on the good engine off line, leaving only battery power. Photo via Blake Reid
Norman the Storeman
QA Acolyte
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East Wretham? NITAT?
Cornish_Pikey
Sergeant
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llewellyn237
LAC
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These are ****ing awesome. Make me proud to be British. Hopefully, in the early months of next year, I can contribute to this thread...