Hubba hubba........
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Boba Fret

Original Poster:

438 posts

185 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
quotequote all
yummy!
(and VERY large! Had it in my head that it was a fair bit smaller!)

perdu

4,885 posts

228 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Two questions

Did you get into all of the exhibitions?

If you did

how much bl00dy time did it take you eek

One of the most impressive museums on the planet for an Aviophile


It is blinking massive innit

amazing beastie

Waynester

6,514 posts

279 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
To walk & see Duxford properly can take days!

Love going there, particularly the hangars with works in progress, smells of old aircraft, oil..etc

Love the history! cloud9

Simpo Two

92,642 posts

294 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Not to mention the 'Museum of Land Warfare' which is another whole museum in its own right!

Save your feet a little and get the litle train back from the far end smile

Boba Fret

Original Poster:

438 posts

185 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
We (my son and I) got there at about 930 and left at 430.

Saw MOST of it, certainly all the main displays, but not in great great detail (tricky with a little un in tow)

Probably been nearly 30 yrs since my last visit and I have to say I was EXTREMELY impressed with the place. Really well presented and organised. Top marks!

Zippee

14,118 posts

263 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
I was there on Saturday but unfortunately my Dad came over ill so only made it as far as Hangar 5.
The maintenance hangars are most interesting, seeing the WW2 bombers and fighters stripped right down and under restoration is fascinating, though there were only 3 guys working on the twin seat spit that day.
Also got to see Carolyn Graces Leopard Moth being wheeled out (presumably by the lady herself? - blonde, quite well to do?) and made ready for flight up by the Catalina.

perdu

4,885 posts

228 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Not to mention the 'Museum of Land Warfare' which is another whole museum in its own right!

Save your feet a little and get the litle train back from the far end smile
I did it the other way

after leaving the first "main display" we took the train and went to the end first, so Land Warfare (magical display of rarities in there) then back via USAF and the rest of the hangars.

My old legs felt their age that day smile

NathanJones

713 posts

242 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Waynester said:
To walk & see Duxford properly can take days!

Love going there, particularly the hangars with works in progress, smells of old aircraft, oil..etc

Love the history! cloud9
and to a plane fan what more could you ask for cloud9

Fat Albert

1,462 posts

210 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
NathanJones said:
and to a plane fan what more could you ask for cloud9
Flying in!

The first time I flew in I was asked to Expedite my approach so that a Harvard could do a run and break alongside me which was very impressive!

When I left later I finally got to the front of the queue and then an Aircobra pushed in front of me at the holding point! (he had a big gun so I let him....)

The other benefit is that you can wander around on the correct side of the fence:


Flew into Old Warden last week, they have now dropped their landing fees on non-display days to encourage more activity

eharding

14,648 posts

313 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Fat Albert said:
The first time I flew in I was asked to Expedite my approach so that a Harvard could do a run and break alongside me which was very impressive!
A solo run & break is just pure onanism.

In a Harvard it's pure onanism wearing boxing gloves.

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

213 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
eharding said:
A solo run & break is just pure onanism.

In a Harvard it's pure onanism wearing boxing gloves.
In a low powered prop maybe.

In a jet its the fastest way on to the ground.

Impresses the studes too, especially when you do it at speed with max G.




Ok it's onanism, lol.

eharding

14,648 posts

313 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
In a low powered prop maybe.

In a jet its the fastest way on to the ground.

Impresses the studes too, especially when you do it at speed with max G.




Ok it's onanism, lol.
You're right. I was referring to the solo run & break in the propellor world. You may as well call 'initial for a beat-up', and at least you'd be being honest.

Even in the propellor world, it is the most efficient way of getting a formation onto the ground.

I remember the "Gorilla" 14-ship opposition break-to-land at North Weald - now that guaranteed a slightly more hairy behind after landing than before take-off, regardless of gender!

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

213 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
What year was that?

My memories of North Weald with the Herc are a bit fuzzy from the (cough) alcohol drunk.

You might remember our 'Disco Herc' - it was a hit with the punters and, I am told, our Loadies did very well that night.






I can neither confirm, nor deny this statement, owing to being safely tucked up in bed at a reasonable hour at the time.


eharding

14,648 posts

313 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
What year was that?
2005-2006 - the formation courses taught by 50% Valley creamies, 40% AVMs (or AVM wannabes) and a couple of AMs, and 10% retired legends who never got beyond Squadron Leader despite a full-term service, probably on account of being the best pilot he could possibly be, and not knowing when to stop letting AVMs and AMs know they weren't. Some of the low-level antics at St.Athan probably didn't help is career prospects, either.

Happy days - I remember one debrief where the subject of level turns (your favourite) being hotly debated by a current AVM and one of the Legends, with an ex-Snowbird looking on. I just sat there, in awe, with my mouth clamped shut, as the Legend wiped the floor with the AVM, much to the Canadian's muffled mirth.

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

213 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
I'd have loved to be a fly on the Wall at THAT debrief!



There are any number of senior Air Force Officers who THINK they are good but shouldn't be allowed near a flying machine!



Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Tuesday 19th April 11:49

Waynester

6,514 posts

279 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Zippee said:
I was there on Saturday but unfortunately my Dad came over ill so only made it as far as Hangar 5.
The maintenance hangars are most interesting, seeing the WW2 bombers and fighters stripped right down and under restoration is fascinating, though there were only 3 guys working on the
twin seat spit that day.
Also got to see Carolyn Graces Leopard Moth being wheeled out (presumably by the lady herself? - blonde, quite well to do?) and made
ready for flight up by the Catalina.
Not unless Caroline has decided to dye her hair!
She maybe a step above us all 'the great unwashed' but she does not lack the 'muck-in/fighting spirit' so bravely demonstrated after her husband Nicks death & subsequent determination to fly his Spitfire!

Amazing lady


Fat Albert

1,462 posts

210 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
eharding said:
A solo run & break is just pure onanism.

In a Harvard it's pure onanism wearing boxing gloves.
Maybe, but when you are just touching down on the grass in a PA28 and one appears a few yards to your right over the tarmac it certainly wakes you up a little!

Ginetta G15girl: Loadies always did well in my experience....