Hurricane over Glos/Warks Railway

[CS Garth]

I was en route to Prescott about 1pm today and just as I passed Toddington a Hurricane flew over at about 300 feet tops, banked and came back over before beetling off. Lovely stuff.

There was an event on at the GWR - anyone know if it was 'booked' for this or just someone friendly giving a cold crowd a treat?

Also my son (6) believes there are only 2 Hurricanes flying in the UK - is this correct?

Regardless this made a little (and big) boy's day -a lovely sight

[Eric Mc]

More than 2.

There are about 15 airworthy Hurricanes now worldwide. Quite a few of these are in the UK.

My goodness, you would expect a six year old to be better at doing his research. Young people of today - tsk.

[aeropilot]

CS Garth said:

Also my son (6) believes there are only 2 Hurricanes flying in the UK - is this correct?

Actually, there's currently 9 in airworthy condition in the UK.

Although, 2 are currently non-airworthy for technical reasons, Mk.1 R4118 has engine issues, and the ex-Peter Teichman Mk.11b BE505 is back at Hawker Restorations to be converted into two seat configuration.

[CS Garth]

Thanks chaps very helpful

[aeropilot]

CS Garth said:

There was an event on at the GWR - anyone know if it was 'booked' for this or just someone friendly giving a cold crowd a treat?

Its a bit off the beaten track to be a coincidence, so given it was a WW2 themed event this weekend at GWR, I would say it was likely booked for a flypast.
This time of year a lot of operators/pilots will be getting in airtime after winter maintenance in preparation for the coming display season, so often a flypast or two can be accommodated within a scheduled air test for a cheaper rate than a full-on display slot.

[CS Garth]

Ahh, I hadn't appreciated the nature of the event so sounds right and I could have missed some of the earlier action as I was just driving past.

Has inspired me to get to Flying Legends this year

[aeropilot]

CS Garth said:

Ahh, I hadn't appreciated the nature of the event so sounds right and I could have missed some of the earlier action as I was just driving past.

Has inspired me to get to Flying Legends this year

Just found out it was one of the BBMF Hurricanes you saw, but don't know which one.

[CanAm]

CS Garth said:

I was en route to Prescott about 1pm today and just as I passed Toddington a Hurricane flew over at about 300 feet tops, banked and came back over before beetling off. Lovely stuff.

There was an event on at the GWR - anyone know if it was 'booked' for this or just someone friendly giving a cold crowd a treat?

Also my son (6) believes there are only 2 Hurricanes flying in the UK - is this correct?

Regardless this made a little (and big) boy's day -a lovely sight

Right or wrong, I'd be really pleased that he was that interested and knowledgeable at the age of 6.

[aeropilot]

CanAm said:

CS Garth said:

I was en route to Prescott about 1pm today and just as I passed Toddington a Hurricane flew over at about 300 feet tops, banked and came back over before beetling off. Lovely stuff.

There was an event on at the GWR - anyone know if it was 'booked' for this or just someone friendly giving a cold crowd a treat?

Also my son (6) believes there are only 2 Hurricanes flying in the UK - is this correct?

Regardless this made a little (and big) boy's day -a lovely sight

Right or wrong, I'd be really pleased that he was that interested and knowledgeable at the age of 6.

Absolutely

[Vocal Minority]

CS Garth said:

I was en route to Prescott about 1pm today and just as I passed Toddington a Hurricane flew over at about 300 feet tops, banked and came back over before beetling off. Lovely stuff.

There was an event on at the GWR - anyone know if it was 'booked' for this or just someone friendly giving a cold crowd a treat?

Also my son (6) believes there are only 2 Hurricanes flying in the UK - is this correct?

Regardless this made a little (and big) boy's day -a lovely sight

Bugger - I was at prescott all day and didn't see hind nor hair

[CanAm]

Vocal Minority said:

Bugger - I was at prescott all day and didn't see hind nor hair

A Hurricane is only a Hind with one wing missing.

[aeropilot]

CanAm said:

Vocal Minority said:

Bugger - I was at prescott all day and didn't see hind nor hair

A Hurricane is only a Hind with one wing missing.

Unless its a 'slip-wing' Hurricane...........

[Eric Mc]

More like a monoplane Hawker Fury rather than a Hart or Hind (which were light bombers).

Indeed, the initial project instigated by Hawkers was based on a monoplane development of the Fury biplane fighter - powered by a Goshawk engine. Problems with the Goshawk and the realisation that a retractable undercarriage was the way to go led to the Fury Monoplane concept being abandoned in favour of a new design.

[CanAm]

aeropilot said:

Unless its a 'slip-wing' Hurricane...........

Gosh, I'd forgotten about that one!
My dad's squadron was still flying Hinds in Egypt in 1941.

[aeropilot]

The magnificent Historic Aircraft Collection Hawker Fury was to be seen outside in the sun at Duxford a few days ago

[yellowjack]

A bit late to the party, and not linked to Prescott, but I went with my wife to a couple of stately houses over the last few weeks.

On two visits we were treated to fly-pasts by Spitfires.

18th April it was Penshurst Place in Kent, and we saw two flights over the grounds by a two-seat Spitfire. Presumably operating from Biggin Hill?

20th April it was Uppark house, in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex. Another two-seat Spitfire doing a single fly-past. Presumably operated out of Westhampnett by Boultbee Flight Academy.

In both cases we heard the aeroplane first, and made sure we were in a position to see it. All the more special for being "random" Spitfire spots rather than linked to air displays.

[CS Garth]

CanAm said:

Right or wrong, I'd be really pleased that he was that interested and knowledgeable at the age of 6.

Indeed! I have tried to encourage it with him as my father did with me without being too pushy - as has been mentioned, what made this for me was that it was an unexpected spot rather than a planned viewing.

On a related point I have recently got back into the Biggles books in my late 30s and I can't put them down - gripping stuff

[Eric Mc]

I dip into my Biggles books from time to time. W E Johns certainly knew how to write with pace - and leave cliffhangers at the end of each chapter.

[eccles]

yellowjack said:

A bit late to the party, and not linked to Prescott, but I went with my wife to a couple of stately houses over the last few weeks.

On two visits we were treated to fly-pasts by Spitfires.

18th April it was Penshurst Place in Kent, and we saw two flights over the grounds by a two-seat Spitfire. Presumably operating from Biggin Hill?

20th April it was Uppark house, in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex. Another two-seat Spitfire doing a single fly-past. Presumably operated out of Westhampnett by Boultbee Flight Academy.

In both cases we heard the aeroplane first, and made sure we were in a position to see it. All the more special for being "random" Spitfire spots rather than linked to air displays.

For the last 3 years we've had our annual holiday in a place on the Dover cliffs (right on the cliffs at St Margaret's), and I think a day doesn't go by without having a warbird of some sort fly past. Sometimes it's stuff transiting from Europe, others are photo shoots, on the Battle of Britain anniversary we had big formations of Hurricanes and Spitfires with associated camera ships.
Because of the height of the cliffs and the fact that the garden goes right to the cliff edge with no fence, some times you get these aircraft flying past almost level with you!