Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)

[Europa1]

Dont like rolls said:

Is that not a HP 70 Halton without the stores/luggage pannier fitted ??

I thought the Halifax had twin tails?

[NM62]

Dont like rolls said:

FourWheelDrift said:

naturals said:

I know it was circa 1943. Pretty sure the exact date will be in his logbook - I'll check with the parents.

Mk V Stirling's entered service in late 1944.

Is that not a HP 70 Halton ?

Halton's had twin Tails ( a la Lancaster and Halifax ) not the single like the Stirling

[naturals]

Dont like rolls said:

It will not be 43 for sure....it will be post war...

You're quite correct - it has 1945 written on the back of the photo, but no specific date.

[anonymous-user]

Big old plane wasn’t it?

[yellowjack]

naturals said:

Dont like rolls said:

It will not be 43 for sure....it will be post war...

You're quite correct - it has 1945 written on the back of the photo, but no specific date.

XK Squadron code applied only after January 1945. They re-equipped with Short Stirlings in february 1945, and by February 1946 they'd re-equipped again with Dakotas. Based at RAF Stoney Cross, of which a fair amount remains, just yards from the main A31. In fact you can drive down the main runway (it, or a part of it's width, is now a public road) and some of the taxi ways/peri track. And you can stay in your caravan on some of the old 'frying pan' concrete dispersals (so long as you're not too fussed about showering )... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stoney+Cross,+Ly...


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/491877590547980742/

I've seen better photos of Stirlings at Stoney Cross, but can't find them right now. I've been there recently too, exploring. No buildings left ~(water tower was the last to be demolished in the last decade or so, I think) but there is plenty of evidence at ground level, including runway lighting remnants alongside the road that used to be a runway,

[mybrainhurts]

irocfan said:

.................... RIGHT TURN, CLYDE

[Sk00p]

Unusual sight at Bournemouth. There's five 747s arrived but this one is the coolest

[CrutyRammers]

yellowjack said:

Developed to take Barnes Wallis' Highball bouncing bombs into action against Japanese capital ships, originally. But although they deployed onto carriers, they never saw action before the Japanese surrendered.

More work was then done with them, and they went into service after the war, but not aboard carriers, only at RNAS Ford, Sussex, and then only for a year. They came about too late, the world was changing, a lighter DeHavilland aircraft, the Sea Hornet, replaced them at first, then the jet age changed naval aviation forever.

Scary job being the landing Batsman for a Mosquito landing, mind...

https://airscapemag.com/2015/07/26/secrets-of-the-...

Origin of the phrase "cut and run" perhaps?

The batsman couldn't be seen by a Mossie pilot in his normal position to the side of the arrester gear, as he was obscured by the engines. So he had to stand near the centre line, and duck and run to avoid losing his head on the wing leading edge...

This is the bit of Eric Brown's book which really stuck with me. He describes the mossies stall behaviour as being "frighteningly violent" IIRC, which is probably something coming from a test pilot. Then how they had to land at below stall speed under full power, which gave you virtually no margin for error when trying to get it stopped on the deck. Crazy stuff.

[ou sont les biscuits]

CrutyRammers said:

This is the bit of Eric Brown's book which really stuck with me. He describes the mossies stall behaviour as being "frighteningly violent" IIRC, which is probably something coming from a test pilot. Then how they had to land at below stall speed under full power, which gave you virtually no margin for error when trying to get it stopped on the deck. Crazy stuff.

I haven't read the book, but I did see a programme about him shortly after his death. One of the things that stuck in my mind too was an interview with him talking about landing Mosquitos on carriers, and how he basically had to "hang on the props' - his words - to get it on the deck. Brave stuff.

[BrettMRC]

Wings on my sleeve is essential reading.

Was fortunate enough to meet him at a dinner at RNAS Yeovilton, absolutely in awe of the gentleman.

The museum at Farnborough is well worth a look too - especially the "landing without under carriage on a rubber runway" stuff

[Eric Mc]

Some interesting footage of Sea Mosquito deck landings. You can see why they were never a practical proposition for operating off ships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMjjrp6axWs

[Steve_D]

Just watched that video but then another loaded up after it with 'Winkle' describing the deck landing trials and other bits.
An even better video IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Hjne0OA4w

LOL at the "managed to prang all 5" bit.

Steve

[MartG]

I didn't know the Su-33 had a folding tailplane...

[Ayahuasca]

BrettMRC said:

Wings on my sleeve is essential reading.

Was fortunate enough to meet him at a dinner at RNAS Yeovilton, absolutely in awe of the gentleman.

The museum at Farnborough is well worth a look too - especially the "landing without under carriage on a rubber runway" stuff

Awesome, certainly. Nice person, not so much.

[Eric Mc]

Do you know more about him?

[Voldemort]

[MartG]

"Make smoke"

[irocfan]

[ou sont les biscuits]

Voldemort said:

Now that IS an amazingly cool picture.

[TheJimi]

irocfan said:

That a bit low!

Some beast, the A10.