Aussie Aircraft Thread

Invasion stripe tip - the wobblier they are, the more likely they were painted on D-1. There was a bit to get done that evening and not much time for rulers and masking tape

 

+1 billion

watching the different planes taking off, it was notable how the Spitfire just wants to leap into the air, whereas others seemed to be dragged reluctantly up.

One Spit pilot was airborne in about 200', then stood the thing on it's tail and went almost straight up, the whole crowd gasped, just amazing what they can do and unbelievable for something designed in the 30's.

 

Now THAT would have been something to see (and hear)!

 

Are you talking about PeePee again?

 

The airframe can stand 10G I believe.

 

not sure if this belongs in aircraft or motorsport thread...

Brooklands museum today, what a great place. Not many interesting cars (unless you like Austin 7's and suchlike) but amazing memorabilia and the aircraft are amazing. All sorts of craft from WW1 to Concorde.

First photo is inside one of the "sheds", unfortunately the Napier Railton wasn't there, but lots of interesting old bikes.

Cabinet after cabinet of trophies including one with lots of Innes Ireland memorabilia.

Then onto the aircraft - this hanger was where they build Wellingtons and Hurricanes in WW2. This Welly was retrieved from Loch Ness, great way to see the geodesic structure.

Last, Sopwith Camel and Vickers Vimy.
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photos 3 and 4
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the famous banking. About 25% of the original circuit is still there.
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Oooooh I like that Wellington. Lovely.

Cars, schmars....

Do you know if they're going to complete that Wellington?

This place is now on my list for next year.

 

That's how it came out of the lake, bullets still in the guns, crew's stuff in the cabin, etc. But too much corrosion, so will never be airworthy again. Only one other Welly survives.

Definitely a must-see for aircraft fans

 

That's cool!

 

From a couple of weeks ago. Vulcan has a problem with the nose gear, and an RAF BBMF Spitfire stops in to politely offer assistance. So British I almost broke out singing God Save the Queen.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxshOMFTZdM[/ame]

 

Nice landing

 

I was wondering if keeping the nose up for so long was a good idea or not - it reduces the speed and amount of time rolling on it, but does the nose come down with a bigger (thus potentially more problematic) thud when it eventually touches the ground? I suppose they know better than me

It ferried back to base gear-down after that, anyway. Fixed by the next day, IIRC.

 

that's a precious aircraft - the only airworthy Vulcan. They're raising money in the UK now to restore another one.

Built at Brooklands too

 

In the final season of flight now I hope you got to see her somewhere whilst you were there!

I didn't know about any plans for another! Makes sense I guess, since XH558 is retiring mainly due to hours on the airframe being well beyond all the others into "we don't know what happens now" territory. I certainly hope that comes to pass, because it's always a huge draw at airshows.

 

Seems to be a standard procedure as I saw a USAF F-111 do the same thing when it's landing gear had a front gear failure where the nose wheel was at 90 degrees to the direction it should be facing ....... the nose was off the ground for 90% of the runway until the speed reduces to a level where hopefully little damage will be caused.

The 111 was ferried into a hangar we were using , the maintenance crew did 2 or 3 extensions and sent it back to the flight line. If it had been one of ours we would do over 100 extensions and retractions before sending it out.

Next day I watch a crew chief get under the engine cowl after start up on this same aircraft, he had a BIG C spanner and was tightening up some of the red and blue hydraulic nuts that were leaking !!!

He gives the thumbs up to the pilot and off it goes .... has another IFE and this time the crew have to bail out.

I don't think the crew chief was qualified to do that to a live aircraft , it would only have been signed off by an engine fitter and his supervisor in the RAAF

 

You see a lot of things while you're washing the planes

 

ROFL. Apparently they think "have you tried turning it off and on again?" works for landing gear too

 

Olio

 

I blame Micro$oft


CTL-ALT-DEL generation of fixers

 

That's just how you load Task Manager. I've fixed lots of stuff that way

 

In the olden days you did it twice and it rebooted the PC

 

I know, I was there! But now I'm sad that I was around in the olden days. S'pose I'll be off to grumble about the noisy kids skateboarding next door then.

 

You're taking away my fun there JM.