Blenheim Bomber emergency crash land at Duxford
Discussion
The worlds only flying Blenheim bomber has made an emergency belly flop landing at Duxford this evening, the 2 pilots on board were not hurt. No Other news on the damage.
This is the 2nd serious Blenheim accident, some years back the previous (sole flyer) crashed at Denhem and was written off.
This is the 2nd serious Blenheim accident, some years back the previous (sole flyer) crashed at Denhem and was written off.
Sad to hear about this. It sounds like it might be repairable though. That's the problem with flying these "one of a kind" aircraft. When it's gone, it's gone.
The previous restored Blenheim only lasted a few months before it was written off at Denham. That accident happened in 1987.
>> Edited by eric mc on Monday 18th August 22:35
The previous restored Blenheim only lasted a few months before it was written off at Denham. That accident happened in 1987.
>> Edited by eric mc on Monday 18th August 22:35
60 year old plane crashes?
Its a shame, but I am sure they will manage to sort it out again.
The other option of making these things static displays does not really bear thinking about...seeing the TSR2 display just makes me want to strangle someone.
And to think that I went for a joy ride in the DeH 'Rapide'. Magic but kinda scary
Its a shame, but I am sure they will manage to sort it out again.
The other option of making these things static displays does not really bear thinking about...seeing the TSR2 display just makes me want to strangle someone.
And to think that I went for a joy ride in the DeH 'Rapide'. Magic but kinda scary
eric:-my point about the TSR2 is a rant against the cancellation of a potentially brilliant machine by short-termism by the UKgov of the day.
Thankfully the ruskies and mates gave up on the idea of communist hegemony and the monies saved went elsewhere.
Still a gorgeous bit of kit IMHO
Thankfully the ruskies and mates gave up on the idea of communist hegemony and the monies saved went elsewhere.
Still a gorgeous bit of kit IMHO
planetdave said:
eric:-my point about the TSR2 is a rant against the cancellation of a potentially brilliant machine by short-termism by the UKgov of the day.
Thankfully the ruskies and mates gave up on the idea of communist hegemony and the monies saved went elsewhere.
Still a gorgeous bit of kit IMHO
Does sir want it flying? No probs - some Photoshopping and rendering by some clever fellow or other et voila!
Taken from www.aemann.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/aircraft/virtraf/tsr2gallery.html
And yes you're right it is quite pretty!
Phil
I'm not convinced that the TSR2 would have been as great as many people expected. The specifications that were set out for the 'plane were right on the capabilities of the technology of the time and I think it would have taken many years to sort it out. Virtually every test flight made by the one and only TSR2 that actually flew ended with some sort of major problem. They were lucky on a few occasions not to lose the aircraft. No doubt, with enough time and money, the TSR2 would have been a world beater but there is absolutely no doubt that it would have overun the proposed budget by a factor of three or four.
If it had entered service (it flew in 1965 so I guess it would have been ready for service by 1972/73) it would only be in the process of being replaced now.
If it had entered service (it flew in 1965 so I guess it would have been ready for service by 1972/73) it would only be in the process of being replaced now.
The first Blenheim prang was caused when the pilot opened the throttle too quickly and flooded the engine/s. A belly landing would imply an undercarriage problem?
It's a damn shame that these irreplaceable planes are only kept flying by bands of dedicated people working in their spare time and endlessly scratching for funds. A minuscule fraction of HM Govt's tax waste could not only maintain them all with proper funding but also restore all the lovely buidlings in that 'Restoration' series...
It's a damn shame that these irreplaceable planes are only kept flying by bands of dedicated people working in their spare time and endlessly scratching for funds. A minuscule fraction of HM Govt's tax waste could not only maintain them all with proper funding but also restore all the lovely buidlings in that 'Restoration' series...
Thanks for the piccy, its a cracker.
The 'rapide' is scary to me thinking that
'Ye gods, this thing is 70+ years old and made out of bits of string and glue'.
And if the TSR2 had been developed then the knock on (no MRCA etc) would have changed the face of european aviation. And if the moon was made of cheese...........
The 'rapide' is scary to me thinking that
'Ye gods, this thing is 70+ years old and made out of bits of string and glue'.
And if the TSR2 had been developed then the knock on (no MRCA etc) would have changed the face of european aviation. And if the moon was made of cheese...........
To be fair, the Government (i.e. you and me) do fund some historic aircraft, notably the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and (sadly reduced by the loss of the Firefly a few weeks ago) the aircraft of the Royal Navy Historic Flight.
The "new" Blenheim, like the first resatoration, was put together by the same team. The two aircraft were made from various Canadian Bolingbroke hulks that had sat out on a prarie airfield in Canada since the end of World War 2. They were brought to Britain by Ormond Haydon-Bailee in 1975 but he was sadly killed in a mUstang crash before restiration work began, The 'planes were bought by Graham Warner and put together by his "boy band" of helpers. One of these "boys", John Romayne, has become the main disply pilot of the current Blenheim. Does anyone know if he was flying the aircraft today?
The main difference between a Bolingbroke and a Blenheim was that the Bolingbrokes were powered by US built Pratt and Whitney engines. Blenheims had UK built Bristol engines. Although these restorations were based on Bolingbrokes, they were restored as true Blenheims with a pair of Bristols.
The "new" Blenheim, like the first resatoration, was put together by the same team. The two aircraft were made from various Canadian Bolingbroke hulks that had sat out on a prarie airfield in Canada since the end of World War 2. They were brought to Britain by Ormond Haydon-Bailee in 1975 but he was sadly killed in a mUstang crash before restiration work began, The 'planes were bought by Graham Warner and put together by his "boy band" of helpers. One of these "boys", John Romayne, has become the main disply pilot of the current Blenheim. Does anyone know if he was flying the aircraft today?
The main difference between a Bolingbroke and a Blenheim was that the Bolingbrokes were powered by US built Pratt and Whitney engines. Blenheims had UK built Bristol engines. Although these restorations were based on Bolingbrokes, they were restored as true Blenheims with a pair of Bristols.
planetdave said:
Thanks for the piccy, its a cracker.
The 'rapide' is scary to me thinking that
'Ye gods, this thing is 70+ years old and made out of bits of string and glue'.
It was the deHavilland Moth meeting at Woburn Abbey this weekend just gone, Dragon Rapide's, Tiger Moths and Gypsy Moths flew in plus others. Was only £10 per vehicle, better value than some events.
But if you want flying string & glue you should try the Shuttleworth Collections fly-ins.
TSR2--now there was a HOT ship if ever there was one.............The story goes something like this.....TSR2 is on a test flight with a lightning chase aircraft. They are at about 50,000+' and want to do some performance tests. So Rolly Beaumont says to the lightning pilot basically il'l open it up and you see if you can keep up.
So the lightning jock goes for it both Avons plugged into re-heat and is dismayed to see the TSR2 pulling away easilly----but only with ONE olympus in re-heat!!!!
So the lightning jock goes for it both Avons plugged into re-heat and is dismayed to see the TSR2 pulling away easilly----but only with ONE olympus in re-heat!!!!
I had the opportunity to go visit Cosford at the weekend.
Guess which aircraft was my favourite? Yup the TSR2!
Looks evil, love the droops on the wing edges.
Absolutley wicked design i think.
National disgrace THAT was never put into production.
Was impressed with the Lincoln Bomber too.
Wonder why some of the rockets and missiles had "classified" as to range and date of manufacture???
I found out by looking at the date of chip manufacture on the tail section of the one missile...1986..
All in all a great day out...but the simulator was tat.
...
Guess which aircraft was my favourite? Yup the TSR2!
Looks evil, love the droops on the wing edges.
Absolutley wicked design i think.
National disgrace THAT was never put into production.
Was impressed with the Lincoln Bomber too.
Wonder why some of the rockets and missiles had "classified" as to range and date of manufacture???
I found out by looking at the date of chip manufacture on the tail section of the one missile...1986..
All in all a great day out...but the simulator was tat.
... Restored Spitfire - it depends on the version and whether it has a war record or not. Genuine combat Spits from World War 2 would have values easily over £3 to £4 million. Even a late post war Mk 24 would be at least £1 million.
There are more flying Spitfires around now than there were twenty years ago. I'd say over 30 airworthy Spitfires exist. In the late 80s the MoD realised that they were sitting on a goldmine with all those Spitfires sitting on poles outside RAF stations. They were all auctioned off to raise money for the Treasury. Most have been restored to airworthy condition, some have gone abroad and an unfortunate few have crashed.
Two TSR2s are preserved, one at Duxford and one at Cosford. I can't remember off hand which was the one that actually flew. In addition, a fuselage section used for temperature testing lies outside one of the hangars at Brooklands.
As for TSR2s outpacing Lighnings - I'm sure that was no surprise to the pilots on test flight duties. The TSR2 was ten years more advanced than the Lightning with much more powerful engines.
There are more flying Spitfires around now than there were twenty years ago. I'd say over 30 airworthy Spitfires exist. In the late 80s the MoD realised that they were sitting on a goldmine with all those Spitfires sitting on poles outside RAF stations. They were all auctioned off to raise money for the Treasury. Most have been restored to airworthy condition, some have gone abroad and an unfortunate few have crashed.
Two TSR2s are preserved, one at Duxford and one at Cosford. I can't remember off hand which was the one that actually flew. In addition, a fuselage section used for temperature testing lies outside one of the hangars at Brooklands.
As for TSR2s outpacing Lighnings - I'm sure that was no surprise to the pilots on test flight duties. The TSR2 was ten years more advanced than the Lightning with much more powerful engines.
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