What plane did I see?
Discussion
Just seen an aircraft flying low over the house, it circled a few times, then flew off.
I was a twin prop aircraft, it was painted in camoflage, and it had roundels on the side. The only letters I saw were A1 I think. It looked fairly old, and was a sort of small passenger aircraft...Not a light aircraft, but not massive either.
I know thats not much to go on, but someone may know. It sounded lovely being so low. I'll check back later to see if anyone has found an ID for me.
Thanks
Colin
I was a twin prop aircraft, it was painted in camoflage, and it had roundels on the side. The only letters I saw were A1 I think. It looked fairly old, and was a sort of small passenger aircraft...Not a light aircraft, but not massive either.
I know thats not much to go on, but someone may know. It sounded lovely being so low. I'll check back later to see if anyone has found an ID for me.
Thanks
Colin
She used to be based here at Farnborough as part of the RAE fleet. In those days she was painted up in the RAE's red, white and blue scheme. You will notice that her serial - ZA947 - is a much later allocation (1980s) than the normal British military Dakotas.
This is her in her RAE days.
This is her in her RAE days.
colinjm said:
Just seen an aircraft flying low over the house, it circled a few times, then flew off.
I was a twin prop aircraft, it was painted in camoflage, and it had roundels on the side. The only letters I saw were A1 I think. It looked fairly old, and was a sort of small passenger aircraft...Not a light aircraft, but not massive either.
I know thats not much to go on, but someone may know. It sounded lovely being so low. I'll check back later to see if anyone has found an ID for me.
Thanks
Colin
Flew past us, down the Hamble River as we were eating lunch in the 'Floating Bridge' restaurant in Swanwick.I was a twin prop aircraft, it was painted in camoflage, and it had roundels on the side. The only letters I saw were A1 I think. It looked fairly old, and was a sort of small passenger aircraft...Not a light aircraft, but not massive either.
I know thats not much to go on, but someone may know. It sounded lovely being so low. I'll check back later to see if anyone has found an ID for me.
Thanks
Colin
Edited by shakotan on Sunday 28th June 17:55
65th 
(I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".
Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
(I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 29th June 08:05
Eric Mc said:
65th (I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".
Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
You got me... (I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 29th June 08:05
Yes indeed, DC3's can be picked relatively cheaply even now - £300k will see you nicely. Wonder if I could sneak that through the company expenses as an advertising medium...?
Eric Mc said:
65th (I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".
Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
A few years back as part of the FAA's aircraft life designation program, they acquired a DC3 and stripped it down in order to assign it a fatigue life. During their analysis they found no signs of fatigue, or potential fatigue issues and therefore the DC-3 has no official 'life' beyond which it cannot be flown. That is why there are so many left today - it was a very good over-design. (I presume 56th was what we accountants call a "transposition error".Because DC-3/Dakotas have survived to the present day, it is often forgotten that other aircraft were used for parachute dropping and glider tugs by the RAF. The Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle were all heavilly used in these roles. Unfortunately, not a single Stirling or Albemarle exists today - even on static display.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 29th June 08:05
There is a group called 'The Stirling Project' which aims to build a replica forward fuselage:
http://www.stirlingproject.co.uk/index.htm
They recently removed many large sections of a crashed Stirling from the moors near where I live. There were many large recongisable pieces (some of which still had camouflage) and it was one of the largest crash sites in the area. Not a well visited site, since it was on private land.
Cheers,
With enough dedication and resources, it's amazing what can be done. The two Halifax projects are good examples of aircraft rescued after they became officially extinct.
It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
Yeah there's somerthing like that. I was booked on one of the last commercial dc3 flights last year but the trip was cancelled because of bad weather.
I'll try to find the link, I found one for sale in good nick at a remarkably low price.
Changing the subject slightly, since we're talking about restorations, I wonder what it would cost to build a mosquito from scratch, assuming all the drawings/specs were available? It was mostly ply/timber construction which I would have thought would make it easier, quicker and cheaper to build than an all-metal ww2 era aircraft.
I remember seeing a mossie as a kid at some airshow and it left quite an impression on me due to the speed and elegance of the thing!
I'll try to find the link, I found one for sale in good nick at a remarkably low price.
Changing the subject slightly, since we're talking about restorations, I wonder what it would cost to build a mosquito from scratch, assuming all the drawings/specs were available? It was mostly ply/timber construction which I would have thought would make it easier, quicker and cheaper to build than an all-metal ww2 era aircraft.
I remember seeing a mossie as a kid at some airshow and it left quite an impression on me due to the speed and elegance of the thing!
Eric Mc said:
With enough dedication and resources, it's amazing what can be done. The two Halifax projects are good examples of aircraft rescued after they became officially extinct.
It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
A quick look on Google says that there are two "surviving" Stirlings: one in the North Sea, and one in Russia somewhere (presumably underwater). It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
I suppose it wouldn't be beyond imagination to use a recovered Short Sunderland as the basis for a replica? Similar wings and upper fuselage etc. The Stirling Project are reproducing the entire front fuselage and seem to be making good progress. There is a Sunderland underwater in Pembroke Dock that is due for recovery soon hopefully. There is a nice little museum in one of the gun towers at Pembroke, with a lot of info on Sunderlands.
Cheers,
dr_gn said:
Eric Mc said:
With enough dedication and resources, it's amazing what can be done. The two Halifax projects are good examples of aircraft rescued after they became officially extinct.
It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
A quick look on Google says that there are two "surviving" Stirlings: one in the North Sea, and one in Russia somewhere (presumably underwater). It would be great to see a Stirling restored the way the Halifaxes have.
I wonder are there any at the bottom of any lakes?
I suppose it wouldn't be beyond imagination to use a recovered Short Sunderland as the basis for a replica? Similar wings and upper fuselage etc. The Stirling Project are reproducing the entire front fuselage and seem to be making good progress. There is a Sunderland underwater in Pembroke Dock that is due for recovery soon hopefully. There is a nice little museum in one of the gun towers at Pembroke, with a lot of info on Sunderlands.
Cheers,
Regarding the Mossie, there is on ebeing restored to flying condition which is almost a "new build" project.
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