plantfit 7,597 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Ayup Beefsteak, Sorry could'nt get any pics of the Vulcan today but will try later in the week, It flew over our site at 16.15hrs and headed towards Horncastle and Louth at approx 3000ft in a big arc, it returned from what looked like the Boston area and landed without any fuss at 16.45hrs. Just as a point of interest for you and any other enthusiasts, the site I am working at housed the Dambusters (617)sqdr after the dams raids, they flew the tallboy and grandslam bombs out of the site to bomb the U boat pens, the Beilefeld viaduct and a the Saumer (sp) tunnel, it was also the base that Guy Gibson made his last flight from in a Mosquito before being shot down over Holland, pm me if you want any more info and I will see what I can find out Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Rog, Hadn't realised that 617 Squadron left Scampton after the Dambuster raids, or that Guy Gibson died in a Mosquito... Were you able to see if the Barnes=Wallis bouncing bomb still inhabits the Petwood Hotel car park? Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 ` but also sonic booms from aircraft breaking the sound barrier`. Although slightly off the subject,the famous lady pilot Diana Barnato Walker flew to heaven this week. Relevance? One evening in 1963 in the mess at RAF Middleton St George, the Wing Commander Flying, John Severgne, idly suggested that Diana might like to fly one of the RAF’s new supersonic Lightnings. She jumped at the chance and on August 26 1963, following clearance from the Ministry of Defence, she took off and reached a speed of Mach 1.65 (1,262 mph), making her the first British woman to break the sound barrier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Apparently the Blue Bell Pub was used by Dambuster Pilots and there is a lot of memorabilia in there including signed pictures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Ayup Rob, Went up to the Petwood which is a little way off the main road, I was in the company Toyota pickup which is a bit crapped up as you can imagine coming off a quarry so felt embarrassed going up the drive but will go up when i'm in the car, Beefsteak, have just watched the Vulcan take off at 12.15hrs from my office window, all very sedate with no fuss so a bit dissapointing but nice to see anyway, at the moment there are three Typhoons flying around and the sky is crystal clear, I wish you both could be here to enjoy the sights and sounds Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Must admit to being a bit jealous Rog but as I have said elsewhere , I would get the sack after a day for staring at the planes all the time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted May 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 ...have just watched the Vulcan take off at 12.15hrs from my office window, all very sedate with no fuss so a bit dissapointing but nice to see anyway... Which would tend to put S/L Dave Thomas in the Captain's seat. Flight instructor in his day job, which means he is rather 'by the book'. Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Ayup Rob, Know what you mean but it would have been nice to feel the ground shake as those engines were given their head. By the way just as I had entered my last post on this site from work about lunchtime we were treated to a bit of a flying display from a ME 109, trouble was it sounded like it was fitted with a Merlin engine, nice to see it put through it's paces though. I will try to find some info about the 617 sqdn and Woodhall Spa from the local shops in the next few days and try to get it to you and Beefsteak Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I was planning a family trip to Raf Cosford air display (Sunday 1st June anyone interested?) when I found a great link to another view of the Vulcans test flight http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk/Multimedia.htm It's a big 'un so it takes a bit of downloading but it's worth it , for fellow anoraks out there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Was told today the Vulcan has got to do a full display before it can get it's display license? apparently the only place it can carry this out is at Coningsby so I will keep my eyes open and ear plugs at the ready for that, here's hoping it's true Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 You'll need the ear plugs if she does her full scramble mode!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Don't forget the camera!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I went to Skeggy at the weekend and thought i would call in at the Blue bell on the way. It was closed, shut between 3 and 7. Have you been in there yet Rog? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Ayup Denshaw Not been in the Blue bell yet but I will, did you see Thorpe camp just around the corner from the pub? and about 1/2 mile further on towards Woodhall on the right is the site of RAF Woodhall where I am currently working. reason not been in the pub yet is, I don't drink but I will look for some excuse, by the way the bouncing bomb mentioned earlier, there is still a part of one outside the Petwood hotel in Woodhall spa Beefsteak, the camera is always with me now. Cheers Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Hi Rog. Yes i did see Thorpe camp as i drove past, is that a BAC Lightning at the gate? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 This one ?? (Photo courtesy of Rog ,,Plantfit) Not bad for my 5000th post (Shall we give them the Hawk Rog???) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Hi Beefsteak, The hawk would be nice, the lightening in the picture is based at Coningsby, No 11 squadron. I will send the Thorpe camp one to you along with the other gate guard at Thorpe,,, A Bloodhound missile Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I spent about an hour trying to put those pictures you sent me into photobucket Rog, but to no avail. I have to pop out now but will try again in a bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Here we go (I have know idea why they wouldn't download last night) I just love this picture of a Hawk (Put a prop on the front and it could be a Spitfire ......LOL) Here's the gate gaurds from Thorpe Camp 1 Blood hound missile 2 Lightning The Waddington gate keeper and the piece de resistance The new (Top secret ) Sentinal All photos courtesy of Rog (Plantfit) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Just found this site your a lucky man Rog !!! http://www.bbmf.co.uk/index.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Rog, or that Guy Gibson died in a Mosquito... Cheers Robt P. Just been doing a little bit of research on Gibson and found out the poor bu99er wasn't even shot down but simply 'ran out of fuel' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gibson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Hi all, Sad news about the Vulcan, she didn't fly today 6th July and the last day of Waddington airshow, some problem with the No 3 engine generator or something, terrible shame for all the people at the show today that they didn't get the chance to see her fly, also a shame for the Vulcan society who were using this airshow to promote the Vulcan and get future sponsorship to help keep her flying,(1.7million pounds for next year alone) I hope that future sponsors realise this is just a small hicup and will still lend their support to this wonderful aircraft Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 bu99er, thats next weekend scr**ed then, thanks for the info Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,597 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Hi Beefsteak, Don't give up that easy, just been listening to "Airshow Radio" 106.3 FM They interviewed the Vulcan crew and they said it is just a small switch box that operates the No3 engine generator, they have a spare but not with them, and if the Vulcan had been in RAF service she would have flown without it to no ill effect, but, the Health and Safety thats in place just wouldn't allow anything thats less than 100% which is fair enough. anyway they have the correct spare part so there's no reason why you won't see her fly next week Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Woo Hoo!! Cheers Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie 11 Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 Just been doing a little bit of research on Gibson and found out the poor bu99er wasn't even shot down but simply 'ran out of fuel'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gibson My uncle was a bomber pilot - flew Wellingtons. He was shot down and kept going while his crew bailed out and he flew clear of a dutch village, then he jumped too - The Gremans, according to his cre, were not best pleased and used him for target practice as he hung from his 'chute. I have an old 78rpm, made by the BBC, of him talking about life as a pilot - very quiet and matter-of-fact about some incredibly brave stuff that he did. It always makes me think of the phrase 'not worthy to lick his boots'. And now here we are, uled by the Germans and the French out of Brussels and our judges telling us we have to take up Sharia law, to be 'fair' to muslims............while at the same time they are letting all the prisoners out of jail! Sorry, rant over. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.