Mini silverback, needs some GCSE aircraft photo's any ideas?

[silverback mike]

Hi Folks,
My lad wants to take pictures of military flying aircraft this weekend, I've looked around and can't see any airshows, we live not far from RNAS Yeovilton, but as far as I remember military aircraft don't really fly on weekends.

Any ideas?

[Puggit]

I'd suggest posting in boats, planes and trains forum. They are a special breed in there

[mattnunn]

Can you get over to Afghanistan?

[NormalWisdom]

Few airshows at this time of year. RAF only tend to fly weekdays unless there are particular exercises on. The C130s at Brize Norton fly a bit at the weekend and there are often other movements (civil and military though not many fighter aircraft)also there are some good viewing spots at the East end of the base though probably a little too far from Yeovil area.

[tomsugden]

I live in Farnham, and there are always lots of chinooks flying over from RAF Odiham. We quite often see fast jets too (and the red arrows on a couple of occasions), using Odiham as a base for airshows in the South of England.

[timbob]

Not flying, but perhaps the next best thing - isn't there a Fleet Air Arm museum somewhere just off the M5 in Somerset? I recall passing a sign for it regularly when I used to bomb up and down the M5 from Exeter to Bath every week... Might be worth a look - gotta be closer than Duxford to you!

[silverback mike]

Thanks folks, yes the fleet air arm museum is Yeovilton, generally not much flying about during weekends, Odiham is a good idea, thanks

[Eric Mc]

The airshow season in the UK is now over. The best way to see a variety of military aircraft is to go to one of the museums. Obviously, in most cases the aircraft will be static and indoors although some of the larger ones will be outside. Depending on where you live, you might consider the following -

RAF Museum Hendon
RAF Museum Cosford
Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton
Imperial War Miseum London
Science Museum
Duxford
Shuttleworth Trust, Old Warden, Bedfordshire

Duxford and Old Warden are active airfields and even though the airshow season is over, you might get to see one of the historic military aircraft based there flying.

Although not strictly speaking an airshow, this weekend there is the largest static scale model show in the UK being held at Telford, Shropshire. This year there will be a full size Royal Navy Lynx helicopter on display as well as a genuine Spitfire cockpit and an full size Spitfire replica. Being geared towards modellers, I am pretty sure that all of these will be available for people to look inside and take internal pictures etc.

The models (of which there will be thousands) are good too.

[Ranger 6]

You missed Middle Wallop of that list Eric

[Eric Mc]

I did. Sorry.

[silverback mike]

Hi Eric, hope all is well,
We've done the majority of those, due to my lad's consistent aim (since he was 5) to become an RAF pilot, which is why he's nuts on aircraft of all types.
Currently learning to be a glider pilot, which confirms the fact he is truly nuts.

Aircraft / no engine

[daz3210]

Aircraft with engine = pilot
Aircraft with no engine = aviator!

Missing from the list too is Elvington Air Museum at York.

What would likely be the reaction at the guard house if the OP just rocked up to the gatehouse at RNAS Yeovilton and told them what they were looking to do? Any chance of the commander allowing a guided tour?

[JoeBolt]

Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare.
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, near Chichester, West Sussex.
Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey.
Newark Air Museum.

Also a few airports have some old military aircraft on display. Bournemouth, Norwich. A Jaguar has appeared at Aberdeen. I'm now sure how accessible it is though.

[silverback mike]

daz3210 said:

Aircraft with engine = pilot
Aircraft with no engine = aviator!

Missing from the list too is Elvington Air Museum at York.

What would likely be the reaction at the guard house if the OP just rocked up to the gatehouse at RNAS Yeovilton and told them what they were looking to do? Any chance of the commander allowing a guided tour?

Might be a go'er Daz, I'm ex Royal Navy so may swing it a bit.
Worth a pop maybe...

[Eric Mc]

Apart from the museum, the bulk of stuff at Yeoviltion will now be choppers of various sorts. Do they train their technical people there? If they do, there may be a few fixed wing aircraft to look at as wel.

The RAF technical training school at Cosford used to be excellent.

[Puggit]

I can confirm that Chinooks are currently flying out of Odiham

[silverback mike]

[EdBarrett]

silverback mike said:

Currently learning to be a glider pilot,which confirms the fact he is truly nuts.

Get him in the ATC... They paid for 12hrs of my PPL and my glider training, at 18 I was teaching the little'uns to 'fall with style'. PM me if you want to know about some of the other opportunities there for him in the ATC, literally just left so still in the loop.

[silverback mike]

He's already in ATC and doing well, brilliant organisation, loves it!

[EdBarrett]

Where about are you from Mike? As I said, I've done pretty much everything that a cadet can do. If theres anything I could help him with I'd be more than happy, just recently returned from 2 weeks in singapore courtesy of the ATC, ALL paid for...