RNAS Culdrose 60th Anniversary Air Day : DIAL-UP CAUTION

[DaveB]

Hi Andrew,

All of those were taken on a secondhand Eos300D body (albeit one with not much wear) and the lens is a cheapo Sigma 28-300 f3.5-6.3 I got as a temporary measure (from new) after buying my first 300D and finding none of my Sigma lenses worked on it!! :@ One day (and I tell myself this every year).. I'll get my hands on a 100-400 IS L Canon but until then, the old Sigma has to fill the gap Fear not.. I have a few blurred shots too but unusually, the majority of the 400 or so I took came out ok.. for a change

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[sketchy]

I shoot on a EOS300d body (starting to get a dodgy auto focus servo :-( ) and Sigma lenses too, never had any complaints.

I too have dreams of a Canon 100-400mm zoom, but guess until the Long Haired General (The Wife) gives me the green light I think it will stay a pipe dream for a while!

[DaveB]

Long Haired General

Nice one Sketchy

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[sketchy]

She does let me get the last word however......"yes dear" !!

[petermcleland]

I suppose the most unusual thing about this particular aircraft, other than the fact it's Raspberry Ripple, is that it's an F6.. quite a rarity as the majority of airworthy Hunters tend to be twin-holers. She still has her gunpods in situ which give her a lovely distinctive 'howl' as the air rushes down/past them :dance: Simply stunning ;-)

Dave...Did they actually say it was an F6? It has the tail parachute housing of the FGA9.

All your pictures are fabulous Dave...Shame I didn't manage to get there

[DaveG]

From the Hunter Flying Club web site

XE601's service history

Hawker Aircraft Limited, at its Kingston-Upon-Thames factory, built XE601 as a Hunter F.6.
The aircraft took its first flight on 2nd May 1956, in the hands of Frank Bullen.
Instead of going to the RAF, it was retained by the manufacturers and designated a certification aircraft.

In 1964, XE601 was included in the final batch of RAF Hunter F.6 airframes selected for upgrade to FGA.9 specification at Dunsfold, though it was never officially re-designated as such.

[petermcleland]

OK...Yes, I've just looked it up here are its details:-

XE601 ff 02-05-56 Frank Bullen. Cen. Fuse. C/N 41H-679959 Fwd. Fuse. C/N HABL 41H6799. CA
aircraft, HAL, 1956; progressively modified up to FGA Mk.9 standard,
though it was never officially designated as such. Built as an F.Mk.6
and progressively modified to FGA.Mk.9 standard, spending most of
its life with the Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe
Down, Wiltshire on various trials including biological warfare spraying
tests (fitted with special underwing water tanks known as ‘Porton
Tanks’), gunnery and instrumentation trials. It was initially painted in a
grey and red scheme in 1971 and finally adopted the Red White Blue
and Black colour scheme in 1992 which is known as "Raspberry
Ripple". 09-98, Drone target chase aircraft to replace Hawk Mk.1 at
RAE Llanbedr, Wales. It was retired after its last flight at Boscombe
Down on 15-07-99 and preserved there at the Museum, with 1 hour
airframe life left. Bought by Northern Lights, Group, Canada 04-04.

[DaveB]

Hi Peter,

Yes.. the chap did indeed say it was an F6 but since then, the majority of info I'd found on it said it was an FGA9. Tks to you and DG for clearing the water ;-) It seems it was to FGA9 spec but never officially designated so retains its original F6 title

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[petermcleland]

Yes I think most, if not all of our FGA9s started life as F6s:-


Here is my old "Echo" (XE609) when she was a Mark 6 with 54 Squadron.

Here are her details:-

XE609 ff 10-06-56. Cen. Fuse. C/N 41H-679967. No 33MU. No.54 Sqn. ('R'). Returned to
HSA, 1959. Conv. to FGA Mk.9, which involved installing a full
tropical kit, gun blast deflectors, stronger inboard pylons, Explosive
Release Units on the outboard pylons, braking parachute and fitting of
an Avon 207 engine.. No.8 Sqn. ('A'). No.208 Sqn. ('E'). Engine fire at
Khormaksar. W/O, 07-04-66.

As you can see, she died a fiery death in 1966, five years after my last flight in her:-

August 3rd 1961Hunter FGA9 E XE609 Self Solo Aerobatics, Ahmadi, Magwa Area 45mins

[DaveB]

Thanks for that Peter ;-) I have to admit that when I actually looked at the shots fullsize on the pc.. the different jetpipe fairing and explosive release units visible on the upper wing surface had me start doubting the 'F6' tag Glad to learn the reason behind it and more to the point, that the commentator wasn't talking out of his hat. Officially.. she's F6 but in name only ;-)

Would it have been the gun blast deflectors or the canon holes themselves that caused the distinctive whine?? Many of us will be aware of the lovely sound P51's make in the dive.. this caused by the gun holes not being taped up

ATB

DaveB :tab: