Page 4 of 12

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:42 pm
by Dixie
The Dak's data plates, just behind the cockpit.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:59 pm
by Dixie
A few from earlier in my career, during the Operations over Libya. A Tornado sliding into position to refuel.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:00 pm
by Dixie
Whilst his wingman waits patiently on the other wing.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:01 pm
by Dixie
Another Tornado. There was plenty of time to take pictures on a flight down to the Med and back.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:02 pm
by Dixie
A Tornado receiving fuel, as viewed through the CCTV camera.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:03 pm
by Dixie
Yet another Tornado sitting just off the TriStar wingtip.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:04 pm
by Dixie
It wasn't just the RAF we fuelled either, we saw trade from the French as well.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:05 pm
by Dixie
Sunset, high in the sky.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:37 pm
by moonraker65
@ Dixie - What do you think of the new A330/Voyager ? Could've sworn I saw a C5 Galaxy come over Swindon on its way in to Fairford at a guess this weekend too

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:21 pm
by geofflambert
ORIGINAL: Dixie

This is a bridge. I don't know where it is, but as I'm not a navigator no-one was bothered [:D] But speaking of the navigator, it may be surprising to know that the nav was constantly giving instructions to the crew. At one point he was telling them that they were 16 seconds ahead of schedule.

Image

Sure looks like an aqueduct. Did the Romans build those in Britain? Probably.

On second thought I think that's a RR trestle, but certainly not a highway bridge.

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:31 pm
by wdolson
I would guess it's one of the canals built in the 1800s. Some sections of some of the canals looked like Roman aqueducts.

Bill

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:18 pm
by Dixie
ORIGINAL: moonraker

@ Dixie - What do you think of the new A330/Voyager ? Could've sworn I saw a C5 Galaxy come over Swindon on its way in to Fairford at a guess this weekend too

I've not seen a lot of the Voyager, certainly not close up. The first one had just arrived at Brize shortly before I left. From what I've heard they're a step up from the 60/70s era airliners we were using.

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:21 pm
by Dixie
ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Sure looks like an aqueduct. Did the Romans build those in Britain? Probably.

On second thought I think that's a RR trestle, but certainly not a highway bridge.

After a quick visit to Google, I believe that it may be Welland Viaduct, near Corby. The Romans did build aquaducts and we've also got plenty of canal bridges around the country.

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:54 pm
by moonraker65
I'll miss the VC-10's though. Grew up with them coming over here on the Lyneham circuit

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:18 pm
by Dixie
ORIGINAL: moonraker

I'll miss the VC-10's though. Grew up with them coming over here on the Lyneham circuit

I won't! Noisy, dirty, oily, leaky and difficult to work on at times. Not to mention that it used Skydrol as a hydraulic fluid [:@] I can understand why some people get all nostalgic for them, but not me. Perhaps my opinion is tainted having worked 12 hour shifts in the freezing cold or out in the desert?

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:34 pm
by Dili
ORIGINAL: Dixie

Yet another Tornado sitting just off the TriStar wingtip.

Image

Nice with a Paveway and a Brimstone pair or triple.
What designator pods they use? Litening?

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 2:57 pm
by Dixie
ORIGINAL: Dili


Nice with a Paveway and a Brimstone pair or triple.
What designator pods they use? Litening?

I think so. I will qualify that by stating that weapons are not my area of expertise. In fact they are a bit too warry for my liking [:D] Having worked on AT/AAR fleets for most of career, the world of small, fast and pointy is a bit of a mystery to me in many areas not least of which is the stuff they hang from their 'planes.

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:04 pm
by Dixie
I managed to get another trip on the Lancaster yesterday, after a few days of hard work with lots of aircraft flying and not many people to look after them. The main focus of the trip was a display at Old Warden.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:07 pm
by Dixie
And this time I got a room with a view! Plenty of space to stretch out in the bomb aimer's position and watch the world go by. It's very hot on the ground with the sun shining through the perspex, but once she gets some forward momentum there's a nice breeze through the front turret.

Image

RE: OT: Planes, Planes and More Planes

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:09 pm
by Dixie
The front turret was operated by the bomb aimer, instead of lying prone in the nose he sttod up with his upper body in the turret. It's not comfortable when flying through turbulence, especially when you're trying to get into the turret without smashing into all the protrusions! [:D]

Image