OT: Dixie's BBMF stuff

[Dixie]

This is a still from a video I took over Old Warden, as we came in for our first pass the previous display was just landing. It was a Spitfire and (the only flying) Sea Hurricane, which can be seen taxying in next to the crowd line.

[Dixie]

After a hard weekend she's earned a rest.

[Dixie]

Another week gone and another summer weekend means more work for the BBMF. Yesterday was busy, busy, busy as plans changed and things went U/S so there are no pictures from the 6th. However it was much quieter today and I was offered the chance of another trip in the Lanc, my third in the last four weeks [8D]

I had to pay a price for this one though, I had to prime the Lancaster's L/H engines. To do that someone needs to climb up onto the wheel in order to reach the priming pump. Then when the engine is primed they need to stay up there in case an engine doesn't start. Once the engines are up and running and the chocks are out it's time to jump on board.

This is the view before engine start.

[Dixie]

With today's flypast being a full display at RAF Waddington Airshow we had some company. This was my first trip with the fighters in attendance as well. No matter how close they look from the ground they look a lot closer from the air!

This is MK356, the Flight's Mk.IX Spitfire shortly after she joined up with us.

[Dixie]

And my (current) second favourite of the BBMF fleet, PZ865 in her SEAC colours. If she had a Vokes filter then she's be a clear winner in the best fighter competition. So I need you chaps (or lasses) to hassle my bosses until they at least agree to fit a dummy filter! [:D]

[Dixie]

In fact, she's so good here's a second picture of her. I find it strange seeing aeroplanes with their undercarriage retracted, a side effect of spending so much time around them on the ground I suppose.

[Dixie]

MK356 again, her silver paint looks fantastic in bright sunshine as she almost glows at times! This aeroplane flew 60 missions in 60 days over Normandy around the time of Overlord. In those 60 days she landed wheels up three times before her squadron went to France and left her behind in the UK after the third one.

[Dixie]

PZ865 again, the last Hurricane built by Hawkers (or anyone). She was bought back by Hawkers before entering RAF service and they kept her for various purposes. Unlike the other Hurricane (LF363) she has 20mm cannon barrels fitted. Mostly this picture is here to kmake sure there are more Hurricane pics than Spitfire ones!

[Dixie]

A Vulcan (and some other stuff in the background). Only ten years was between the Lancaster and Vulcan bombers, the chief designer for both was the same man. British manufacturing pretty much skipped the B-29 generation of advanced prop bombers and went straight into (for the time) advanced jets.

[Dixie]

The fighters break away to do their own displays.

[Dixie]

Two of RAF Waddington's usual residents. 8 Sqn E-3D Sentries, these were bought to replace another Avro aircraft, the Lancaster derived Shackleton which had been modified into an AEW variant.

[Dixie]

The Hurricane breaks away after a final pass from the three ship display as the Lanc prepares for a special display to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters.

[Dixie]

A formation display with a Tornado GR.4 of 617 Sqn! Absolutely fantastic and it even made the tail turret bearable! A definite highpoint of my time in the RAF and it's going to make it difficult to top this on my next trip...

[Dixie]

We must have been pushing our max speed in order to keep the Tornado at a safe airspeed.

[Dixie]

The rear turret gets lonely at times. Detached from the rest of the crew and flying backwards it's easy to understand why it's described as the loneliest position on the aeroplane. Luckily I had a friend in with me who also enjoyed the Tornado formation display.

[Dixie]

Stretched out of the turret after we landed, sat with my feet in the turret and the rest of me sat on the tailplane spar just outside the doors.

[Dixie]

A shot forwards from the rear turret, the mid-upper position can be seen here with the rear of the bomb bay where the step is. The rest of the crew are out of sight over two wing spars and past the main hydraulic jack for the wing flaps.

[Cap Mandrake]

Cool pics out of the tail gunner position!

[Mac Linehan]

Dixie -

Thank You for posting these wonderfully unique pictures - I am enjoying them very much!

Mac

[rjopel]

I am so envious.

Will the planes be landing at Duxford next weekend? Will you be with them?