Just a few shots from a visit to Yeovilton yesterday.
The RN Historic Flight...
All ready for the display season.
Almost ready for the display season - just awaiting "sign-off" by BAE of the re-furbished wings. Unfortunately, the Sea Fury in the background will not be flying this year. The enegine is being removed and shipped to a specialist company the States in an attempt to have a recurring engine-problem fixed.
The "office". Would you believe that not only does this aircraft have a transponder fitted but that it will soon have to be replaced by a Mode-S one! Bureaucracy gone mad.
A couple of visitors...
In the hangar...
I can't believe I actually flew one of these things once! I doubt I'd be able to fit in the cockpit these days. :-(
Nigel H-J wrote:As for the drip trays heaven help the poor guy who forgets and the SWO (If the Navy has one) sees' the mess!!
I was most impressed with the state of that hangar - spotless!
T6flyer wrote:Good to see Ralph Holden's old Auster 9 in a nice warm hangar.
Yes, I had a good poke around it and it looks to be in excellent condition.
XR219 wrote:Are the Wasps flyiers?
I'm not sure, Ben, but I think so. Apart from the Swordfish and Chipmunk without engines hidden away at the back, everything in that hangar seemed to be airworthy.
Garry Russell wrote:I love one of the Chipmunk with the cowls open
The "office". Would you believe that not only does this aircraft have a transponder fitted but that it will soon have to be replaced by a Mode-S one! Bureaucracy gone mad.
And if you look to the North of where that photo was taken you'll find a large number of aircraft starting with L and ending in ynx that still don't have Mode C. Seriously sod the non-authenticity of having a transponder fitted, it makes it so much easier transiting around the UK, without one the Swordfish couldn't cross controlled airspace which would limit its display options somewhat, without Mode C we can't legally conduct IF approaches to airfields in controlled airspace, even Mil ones.
Wonderful to see nothing but proper aircraft, but I wish the Sea Hawk was in the very first FAA paintscheme! I hope that the localised over-heating of the fuselage does not recur this year and that we may see the Sea Hawk flying for many more years!
With regard to the Swordfish - how on earth did the crew (av. age 19-20yrs) manage to return successfully to tiny escort carriers in all weathers from every ocean in the world with only compass and drift sight as nav aids. Should anyone feel in great need of adrenaline just find an illustrated book on the arctic convoys with the escorts pitching in an arctic storm and imagine landing on a deck in driving snow and no mirror sight, just a frozen bat man to guide one onto the arrestor wires.
