AI Traffic for Ford/HMs Peregrine

[SkippyBing]

Hobby, I think the only cat was at Boscombe, there's an interesting but about it in the From the Cockpit book on the Bucc S.1. Part of the conversion course was to go down to BD and do a launch from the cat. Suffice to say after using pretty much full throttle to taxi up the ramp to it, and then having to stand on the brakes to avoid falling off again, it wasn't quite as powerful as a ship based unit so the poor crew got thrown off the end, fell back to the ground but still moving fairly quickly and then had to decide whether to take off or stop in the remaining runway before a housing estate. I'm guessing it didn't stay in the course long after that!

[hobby]

For Skippybing: Now that 'conversion' sounds very hairy indeed! Best avoided I think. Was that terrifying experience, or the thought of subjecting oneself to it, the real reason the FAA went vertical with Sea Harriers and helicopters?

[phixer]

I'm guessing it didn't stay in the course long after that!

I recall Phantom F4Ks being thrown off that during 1969 whilst we, on VL NASU, were working frantically fitting no end of MODs and carrying out endless engine changes as we worked our way through the colours of the Phantom Spey MOD states. Spent days out in the fresh air on the V-bomber dispersal doing engine runs.

One entailed lying on ones back with ones nose inches from a redundent fuel valve of the re-heat FCU who's guts had been stripped out but the valve left in place pending reworked pipe runs. The valve was just a couple of feet forward of the exhaust exit and one had to get in position underneath whilst the engine was running and when ready with the Mk 1 eyeball ready to spot leaks signal towards the front for a signal to be passed on to the guy in the cockpit to engage after-burner. Quite something being that close to the hot end of a Phantom Spey whilst in full AB.

[phixer]

I have started on my AI traffic program for Ford/HMS Peregrine in Sea Hawk days and now have a Station Flight consisting of an incorrectly painted Chipmunk and the Yeovilton Station Flight Meteor T7.
I wonder what types of aircraft actually made up the station flight at ford between 1955-61?

A bit late with this hobby but I have not been around on this forum long.

I have, using information in Ken Delve's Airfields of Southern Britain and the Air-Britain 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' compiled lists of units and types operated at Ford whilst in FAA hands.

I have put them on the web:

http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Ford/Table1a.png
http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Ford/Table1b.png
http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Ford/Table2.png
http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Ford/Table3.png

Table 1 was split to suite placing in a magazine article.

Hope that helps.

[rich byrne]

Hobby, I think the only cat was at Boscombe, there's an interesting but about it in the From the Cockpit book on the Bucc S.1. Part of the conversion course was to go down to BD and do a launch from the cat. Suffice to say after using pretty much full throttle to taxi up the ramp to it, and then having to stand on the brakes to avoid falling off again, it wasn't quite as powerful as a ship based unit so the poor crew got thrown off the end, fell back to the ground but still moving fairly quickly and then had to decide whether to take off or stop in the remaining runway before a housing estate. I'm guessing it didn't stay in the course long after that!

The catapult was at RAE Bedford, there's an interesting bit of film here showing a Vixen being launched off it. Note the FDO in his smart No.5's!

http://www.seavixen.org/index.cfm?fa=co ... eId=157857

[phixer]

The catapult was at RAE Bedford, there's an interesting bit of film here showing a Vixen being launched off it. Note the FDO in his smart No.5's!

http://www.seavixen.org/index.cfm?fa=co ... eId=157857

:doho: Doh!

You are correct. Time has played havoc with my little grey cells (well a myocardial infarction did that is for sure :o ).