Hawker Sea Hawk W.I.P

[nazca_steve]

I had read something to the same effect, Skippy, although I had to laugh - you just have to hope enemy fighters would be so obliging to turn on their lights in a real attack ;-)

I do agree though chaps, there is something about the light which adds some extra-'coolness' to the already cool black FRU bird. I can see this particular rig making for some good screenshot, or formation light work! And cheers for the Harley light info there Techy, although I didn't see anything that confirmed it was Harley-Davidson manufactured - where was that part?

[Techy111]

Maybe wishful thinking Steve...... :roll:

Must of mis-read something.....

Harley light close up on a Hunter........

http://www.fradu-hunters.co.uk/vlad2000 ... e689_o.jpg

Tony

[SkippyBing]

you just have to hope enemy fighters would be so obliging to turn on their lights in a real attack

To be honest I think it's so the gunners can at least see the jets during training, otherwise it'd just be a massive waste of jet fuel and people going 'where the **** did that come from?!?'

[nazca_steve]

Just joking mate, although it just goes to show how despite all our radar and other modern equipment, when enemy a/c penetrate a ship's defences, the Mk.1 eyeball still plays a prominent role.

And Techy, I stand fully corrected, there it is, right down to the sticker!

On the subject of the training and Harley lights, would anyone perchance have any old photos of the FRU Sea Hawks at work? I know there are some nice pics on FRADU-Hunters but I have yet to see more of the earlier era. I was impressed though that the FRU kept going with the old Sea Hawks till the late 60s. Not bad at all, although I suppose India still takes the crown for service life.

[SkippyBing]

Just joking mate, although it just goes to show how despite all our radar and other modern equipment, when enemy a/c penetrate a ship's defences, the Mk.1 eyeball still plays a prominent role.

No worries, to be honest I used to think the same myself, but after a few Thursday Wars taking part in the chaos that's trying to track a fast moving contact inside a fleet of ships it started to make sense! Despite the PWO calling out bearings to the contact before about a mile or so they're pretty hard to spot, and that's before people start throwing clouds of lead up in the sky.

[nazca_steve]

I can only imagine the chaos. There was a good documentary that I'm sure you saw about when the Coventry got hit during the Falklands, and it shows how frantic things were including the clouds of lead going up. It becomes increasingly clear how effective the Dark Sea Grey colour (and respective foreign schemes) must be when a contact is coming in that low from the deck.

[SkippyBing]

I'm actually briefly in one documentary on the sinking of the Coventry! I think it was called Sea of Fire, it was based on the book Four Weeks in May by the CO of Coventry (or one of the other big cheeses). We did point out that we were flying the wrong Mark of Lynx off the back of the wrong Type of ship and perhaps they should consider using Liverpool and it's Mk.3 which was just over there, although we pointed this out quite quietly from the other end of the ship because my Pilot wanted to be on TV! We're in it for about 2 seconds getting out of the cab and walking to the hangar, my big scene ended up on the cutting room floor obviously!

[nazca_steve]

That is the same one I was talking about, except I only saw parts of it on You Tube and did not see the Lynx part. I'm definitely going to have to revisit 'Sea of Fire' then! I thought that was really well done by the way, even if there were some inaccuracies in equipment types!

[nazca_steve]

Looking better every time you post a "teaser" Steve.

Graham

How's this for a 'teaser', Graham? Not entirely standard attire for Sea Hawk pilots, but perhaps the Lordships at the Admiralty could make the odd exception...

[DaveG]

Nice bum(p) mapping ;-)