Wrong kind of rain...

[Fat Albert]

Thanks Baughany, we're liking it here, I did venture across the river yesterday and the locals weren't too scary...


The Crewman commented that he must have met every Spaniel in the world whilst they were sat there!

It sounded pretty awful when it took off and appeared to be flying very slowly. I imagine they were flying at minimum power speed, which was 55kts in the Wessex, so probably 60-70kts in a thing that size

(Minimum power speed is when they get maximum translational lift through the forward speed of the aircraft and thus need less power to hold the darn thing up, above this speed drag increases requiring more power)

Edited by Fat Albert on Thursday 7th June 09:25

Edited by Fat Albert on Thursday 7th June 10:07

[DamienB]

Departed from RAF Stanwick a short while ago.

[LotusOmega375D]

I popped over with the kids to watch it as well. They had her running for a fair time, then hovered for a few more minutes and then headed off West along the A45. It's quite a sight for us in these here parts! Noisy too at close quarters.

NB: I wonder if they just "happened" to park up next to the Courtyard Hotel for the night, rather than camping in Thrapston?

Edited by LotusOmega375D on Thursday 7th June 10:39

[Fat Albert]

Camping is for grunts, aircrew will generally seek out more commodious and salubrious accomodation to ensure that they are bright and focussed for flying the following day...that was our excuse anyway...

[mrloudly]

Made the news!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonsh...

[LotusOmega375D]

Fat Albert said:

Camping is for grunts, aircrew will generally seek out more commodious and salubrious accomodation to ensure that they are bright and focussed for flying the following day...that was our excuse anyway...

Just seen the local TV news: sure enough they turned up at the hotel and got fed, bed and beered!

[HoHoHo]

'Mechanical problems'

Perhaps a bit embarrassed to state the real problem was non-sticky Sellotape

[baughany]

I told the Mrs they'd be in the Courtyard overnight - good for them.

Albert - our spaniel was really excited, it's the biggest bird he's ever seen go down in a field, he was a little overwhelmed I think. It might be him they were referring to!

[anonymous-user]

Fat Albert said:

Also the fact that the engineer had to come by road, in my day another cab would have been despatched with said engineer, obviously things have changed somewhat!

You're not wrong. What your photo shows is the entire UK Merlin fleet.