John Privett Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 From the BBMF facebook page, posted by "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Official)" "An update for you,all of the BBMF events tomorrow are cancelled except Sywell which may or may not happen. Sorry I can not give you any more info than this at this time. Paul B" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas oliver 1 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Another little addition to my recounting of scrapping about 30 Mustangs, I was asked to do an oil cooler change and thermostat change on a MK2 Spitfire at Millfield, Northumberland, in 1944. I had to remove the wing fillet to do this- an awful lot of screws. But I had my own secret weapon - a spiral ratchet screwdiver. When lying on the wing with the spars exposed, I noticed a crack in one of the reinforcing gussets. By this time it was 5.15pm and all personell were at dinner. I reported to the Flight Sergeant who was still in his office. He then had a message sent over the tannoy for all fitters and riggers to report back to the flights to check all the 60 Spits on the traming unit . I never let on that it was I who started it or I would have been somewhat unpopular. As a result, all the Spits were declared fit only to be flown to the scrap heap, which they immediately were. We has a little holiday for a few days to compensate until we received repacement aircraft - Spit. MK 9s in good condition, compared to the old ones. which were old and a bit clapped out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.B. Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 It's broken. **LINK** The Canadian Lanc has lost an engine and the team have said it will not be apearing this week end. Bum. We were going to Shoreham to see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.B. Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 From the BBMF web site.. " 29 August 2014 News articles by date During a local flight from Durham Tees Valley Airport this morning, the Canadian Lancaster performed a precautionary engine shutdown. The aircraft landed safely without incident. It is now hangared and is undergoing maintenance. Regrettably it will not attend the weekend events and advice will be given regarding other events" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Posted by Mr.B. on 29/08/2014 15:09:34: We were going to Shoreham to see them. Ditto... Looks like it will have to be Goodwood or Duxford two weeks later. Fingers crossed it's fixed by then. Anyone got a spare Merlin they could borrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I saw them at W&W at Dunsfold last sat - rather good, not often you get to hear 10x Merlins in air at once some footage (not mine): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moDOsH2WXAs I really enjoyed W&W - I took my parents along too. the highlight for me was the Canberra - twin turbojet flypast at 200' makes a good noise my Dad enjoyed the Hunter as he'd watched its record-breaking speed trials on the south coast back in the early 50's hope everyone gets to see the 2x Lancs Andy Edited By andyh on 29/08/2014 22:23:27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daithi O Buitigh Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Actually looking at that, it's nine Merlins and a Griffon (the Spit is a later mark) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Posted by andyh on 29/08/2014 22:22:48: ...my Dad enjoyed the Hunter as he'd watched its record-breaking speed trials on the south coast back in the early 50's Slightly off-topic... but the museum at Tangmere has the Hunter that Nevil Duke flew to break the world speed record near Littlehampton in 1953. Worth a visit if you find yourself down there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Posted by Daithi O Buitigh on 29/08/2014 22:54:33: Actually looking at that, it's nine Merlins and a Griffon (the Spit is a later mark) top pedantry sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Claridge Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 my elder brother cycled to tangmere to watch the hunter take off, then belted back to bognor regis to see it fly past going for the record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Price 2 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Nevil Duke!!!!! A hero in my school playground for sure. Ask me if I feel old suddenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Interesting information about Neville Duke's record breaking Hunter and the fact that it was a gate guardian at Melksham in Wiltshire. My older brother Ron who is 83 lives in Brougton Gifford just outside Melksham . He served an apprenticeship with Hawkers in the 1950's at Kingston and assisted in the manufacture of the red Hunter. Ron was most surprised a year or two ago to notice a red Hunter parked in a field off the B3107 road from Melksham to Trowbridge. I assume it is still there just past the roundabout on the left? I have just looked on Google map and the place where the Hunter is or was is photographed in 2009 with a helicopter a Wessex I think located in the field. This must have been swapped for the Hunter? Edited By Mike Etheridge 1 on 30/08/2014 21:45:54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Wilson Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I still haven't managed to photograph both Lancs together, saw them but the schedule was different to published so only just turned up on time, heres a few shots of vera at Humberside airport last week. Edited By Lee Wilson on 30/08/2014 23:06:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 They have a \merlin now... **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Whybrow Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Lee, those are some very impressive photos; may I ask what gear you're using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Wilson Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thanks Martin. Nikon D610 with a 70-300mm zoom. You could get pretty close that day. The sound as she took off directly overhead was amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Posted by Paul Marsh on 30/08/2014 23:30:41: They have a \merlin now... **LINK** Excellent news! I look forward to seeing the two flying together in 2 weeks at Duxford - fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Fingers crossed and toes crossed, I will be at Duxford on 14 September, something hopefully to really look forward to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 It seems that both Just Jane and BBMF offered a spare engine to Vera. The decision has been made to use the BBMF one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 27 stunning litres. One of the greatest creations ever by man. Beats anything by Michaelangelo for me. Rolls Royce got more power out of every litre than the Germans did, right through the war. Can't wait to see the two Lancs together on 14 September, I thought I'd forgotten how to be excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Took a day out to the LAA (light aircraft association) national rally at Sywell today. With an estimated 400 aircraft in attendance it was an impressive sight. The day was made all the better when at 3:15 the BBMF Lancaster flew over, just a single low pass down the line of the runway. Quite unexpected (no public address to advise people), a terrific sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gilder Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Has anyone heard if they have got Vera airworthy again? Hoping to go over to Holmfirth on Sunday for the flypast but wont be worth it if only going to be BBMF lanc alone! Are there any websites I can look at to see whats happening? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I did read somewhere this evening that the Canadian Lanc has now been flown back to Coningsby, so all appears well. Hopefully I'll see them both fly at Duxford in a bit over a week from now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Yep she flew back to Coningsby yesterday Dave. News article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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