OT: Dixie's BBMF stuff

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Flying with another Lancaster in line astern less than 50 metres away is an amazing sight! This is over Goodwood

warspite1

I say it everytime you post - but I just can't help it, it HAS to be said. Just. Beautiful [&o][&o]

[Gunner98]

Amazing photos and opportunity!

The only downside is that I was down in Hamilton over the weekend and decided to pop into the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum - great little collection BTW - only to find out that the Lank was off in England doing this sort of stuff [:D] and I'll have to go back and see it when it returns[X(] Oh curses...

B

[obvert]

Amazing job! Great photos too!

Hey, next time you guys are flying around London give me a shout or maybe post something beforehand. I live on the 18th floor and have seen a few flights go over, but I'm often late with the camera as I only know when I hear the planes.

Here is a shot from June. You guys flew nearly over my building!

[Jellicoe]

Fabulous!

The only thing better than the sound of four merlins is eight merlins (or possibly 10!)

I guess that it's only fair that Canada gets a go with 2 lancasters next

Overseas trip planned Dixie?

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

How much do you pay to work at the BBMF????

(Pommy taxpayers money at work, no wonder the Scots want out[:'(])

Oh I've paid alright! [:D] In fact, I'm still paying...

And I'll have you know I'm part Scottish. [;)]

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Jellicoe

Fabulous!

The only thing better than the sound of four merlins is eight merlins (or possibly 10!)

I guess that it's only fair that Canada gets a go with 2 lancasters next

Overseas trip planned Dixie?

I think that's unlikely, although I'd love to do it. The old girl is off for a major servicing next year and by the time she comes back I'll most likely be out of the RAF.

For various reasons I haven't had much to do with the Lanc this year, I've only been away with her twice, and I've been looking after the fighters more often.

[Dixie]

I took this one at Jersey between flights. I came over all arty and stuff, this is probably one of the best pictures I've taken.

[rjopel]

Wave Dixie.

[Gunner98]

Here is some video of the 2 Lanks  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAQ3lcAgef0&feature=youtu.be
 
B

[traskott]

Great pictures. Those Lancaster are beautiful [:)]

[Dixie]

Sadly, Vera has gone home now. The BBMF hangar feels a bit empty now and the display season is almost done. This time next week most of the aircraft will be in pieces for their winter maintenance. The plan is for the Lancaster to have her nose removed for some work, if we can get some trestles made up in time to hold it.

The two MkXIX Spitfires are already in less than airworthy states, this is how PS915 looked before the engine was taken out on Wednesday.

[Dixie]

On a sort of related to the Canadian Lancaster note, I have a stash of 1:72 diecast aeroplanes waiting until I leave the RAF and get a place to display them. It started with a few random ones I liked the look of before I narrowed down my buying to three areas. I've got my 'career' collection, aeroplanes (or types) I've worked on. That's made easier by the fact that most of the BBMF planes have been made in one form or another. I've got a 'nachtkrieg' bit, mostly RAF stuff but a few Luftwaffe nachtjaeger types thrown in. I've also got a War in the Pacific collection, mostly the RAF in India/Burma so far. There isn't much of a choice of Japanese Army types, especially for the SEA theatre unfortunately [:(]


The latest addition (and Mrs Dixie wasn't exactly chuffed about it) is this Corgi Lancaster. It's a model of the Canadian Lancaster that I got signed by the Canadian crew and the crew who've flown the BBMF Lancaster whilst Vera was in the UK.

The reason Mrs D wasn't too chuffed is that I've already got four Lancasters, a Halifax, two Liberators, a Wellington, two Beaufighters, a Do 217, Bf110 and a Coastal Command Halifax plus a bunch of smaller fighters stored away [:D]

[Dixie]

Last night was a late one for us. As the aircraft are flown under VFR and have minimal nav aids they need to be on the deck by sunset. P7350 was up and about last night and just about managed to sneak in before the curfew [:D]

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Great pictures. Those Lancaster are beautiful [:)]

Considering the fact that she's basically a bomb bay with some fuel tanks they did a good job of making her look nice [:D] Better than the Stirling, B-17 and Halifax (IMO) for sure! I'd put her on a par with the B-29 (but I'm biased like that)

[JeffroK]

Explain to your wife that your models are an investment, just like wine, coins or stamps.

I'm sure if you could get your other models signed by relevant flyers y=they would increase in value.

[Lecivius]

Dixie,

In another post I posted it was explained to me that B 17's carried a very limited amount of ammo for their .50's. About a 3 second burst for each weapon. This actually makes sense to me upon consideration. I was shown limited ammo storage bays as proof. Does this information dove tail with your experience on Lancasters? I'm not doubting my sources at all, but you are The Voice Of Experience. An inquiring mind would like to know [8D]

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

Dixie,

In another post I posted it was explained to me that B 17's carried a very limited amount of ammo for their .50's. About a 3 second burst for each weapon. This actually makes sense to me upon consideration. I was shown limited ammo storage bays as proof. Does this information dove tail with your experience on Lancasters? I'm not doubting my sources at all, but you are The Voice Of Experience. An inquiring mind would like to know [8D]

30-50 rounds per gun? That seems very low... They probably carrier more then that...

[Symon]

ORIGINAL: Dixie
Sadly, Vera has gone home now. The BBMF hangar feels a bit empty now and the display season is almost done. This time next week most of the aircraft will be in pieces for their winter maintenance. The plan is for the Lancaster to have her nose removed for some work, if we can get some trestles made up in time to hold it.

The two MkXIX Spitfires are already in less than airworthy states, this is how PS915 looked before the engine was taken out on Wednesday.

That's an incredible photo, Martin. It makes it very clear what that whole cantilever wing thing was all about. Still blown away over how they could stay on, but mechanics, is aerodynamics, is physics. Woof !! JWE

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

30-50 rounds per gun? That seems very low... They probably carrier more then that...

Agreed. I was thinking on 1-3 min, and what they told me was incorrect. An M2 puts @ 800 rounds a min down range. The storage looked like about that many rounds, give or take. So I am thinking 1-2 min actual prolonged burst capability. Therefore, I go to The Source looking for clarification [;)] Wiki would just be a waste.

<edit>
From U.S.Army weaponology data base you can alter an M2 from Rapid Fire to Slow Rate Of Fire (40 rounds a min). That still does not seem to dove tail with the stowage I saw, so I'm just curious.

[pontiouspilot]

Thanks to the Brits who managed to fix the Lanc we sent over. I'm damm sure we wouldn't have been able!

While you are at it maybe you can fix those damm 2nd hand subs we were stupid enough to buy.