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Anyone else like Birds AND planes? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter wolfbirder
- Start date
Papa 10
Miserable Old Git
Dakota
You are half right. Unfortunately it is the second half: there has not been an airworthy Mossie in Britain since RR299, BAe's example, crashed fatally at Barton in 1997.
There are two flying in North America, a fighter-bomber in USA and a bomber in Canada. It is the biggest hole in our British flying heritage. If I win the lottery I will sort it out.
The D-day stripes reflect the Allies' air superiority in 1944. Risks of friendly fire were far greater than the benefit of camouflage against a numerically far inferior enemy could negate. Instant, easy identification was therefore prioritised.
Your photo shows a Dakota.
John
Thanks yet again for expanding my knowlege.
Having no aircraft literature I did a google search and the Mosquito was the nearest match to my inexperienced eye, so pleased I have Birdforum experts to turn to.
If I applied the same concept to birds who knows what I'd find locally.
Geoff Brown
Well-known member
I'm a lucky sod as I live about ten miles from Coningsby so see Lancasters, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Dakotas, Chipmunks, Euro fighter Typhoons, Tornadoes, AWACS, and Cranwell and Barkston training aircraft as a regular daily event. Also Red arrows fairly regular going somewhere flying overhead. Going in the other direction I am about eight miles from RSPB Frampton Marsh and RSPB Freiston shore for all they have to offer in the wildlife category. It's a hard life but someone has to look at all these events!
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Papa 10
Miserable Old Git
I'm a lucky sod as I live about ten miles from Coningsby so see Lancasters, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Dakotas, Chipmunks, Euro fighter Typhoons, Tornadoes, AWACS, and Cranwell and Barkston training aircraft as a regular daily event. Also Red arrows fairly regular going somewhere flying overhead. Going in the other direction I am about eight miles from RSPB Frampton Marsh and RSPB Freiston shore for all they have to offer in the wildlife category. It's a hard life but someone has to look at all these events!
Makes me wonder where I went wrong in life---still we have Red Grouse 8-P
Foxy
Well-known member
I've had a love of aeroplanes since I was a kid, long before the birds came along, I only got into birding when cycling over the Pennines and fascinated by the birds I saw on the way. I now mix my birding with flying aerobatics in a Slingsby T67, cycling and playing Rugby League. That's probably why I'm a rubbish birder: too many distractions!
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Well these were a fab surprise as I locally twitched a Wryneck!
Circled Pagham Harbour three times before heading off the The Revival at Goodwood.....wow!!!
Circled Pagham Harbour three times before heading off the The Revival at Goodwood.....wow!!!
Farnboro John
Well-known member
You caught both of them then: the first Lancaster is PA474 from BBMF, the second is KB726 (actually FM213 but painted as KB726) from Canada.
From the top, the fighters are TE311 Spitfire LFXVIe, PZ865 Hurricane IIc and P7350 Spitfire IIa, all from BBMF.
I'm going to have a go tomorrow from the top of the downs, hope I get the weather you've had!
John
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Cheers John - the weather's supposed to be ok again tomoz I think.
Certainly can't beat the sound of a Lanc.....let alone 2 in formation with 3 escort fighters behind!
Certainly can't beat the sound of a Lanc.....let alone 2 in formation with 3 escort fighters behind!
West End Birder
Well-known member
I believe the Mosquito crashed at Barton, not pleasant and indeed was the last one flying in the UK. I met the crew once in 1983 at Duxford when it had just flown in from Brough and was clicking as it was cooling down - magnificent aircraft.
Here is the unfortunate end to RR299, not nice viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag5ut3tP3ZM
and the AAIB report - it was 1996, not 1997
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_501355.pdf
The Comet Racer I have to agree with FJ that it is indeed a very beautiful aircraft, I think that is the only one flying although at least one other (G-ACSP) exists somewhere.
If any of you are interested in 'wrecks and relics' then I can highly recommend the biannual book 'Wrecks and Relics' by Ken Ellis which lists what is around the country flying, grounded or rotting, you would be surprised how many 'planes there are.
I am lucky enough to live not too far from Acres Down in the New Forest, that is excellent for combining birdwatching and 'plane spotting.
Here is the unfortunate end to RR299, not nice viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag5ut3tP3ZM
and the AAIB report - it was 1996, not 1997
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_501355.pdf
The Comet Racer I have to agree with FJ that it is indeed a very beautiful aircraft, I think that is the only one flying although at least one other (G-ACSP) exists somewhere.
If any of you are interested in 'wrecks and relics' then I can highly recommend the biannual book 'Wrecks and Relics' by Ken Ellis which lists what is around the country flying, grounded or rotting, you would be surprised how many 'planes there are.
I am lucky enough to live not too far from Acres Down in the New Forest, that is excellent for combining birdwatching and 'plane spotting.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
Weather was uphill but not as much as having the display postponed first to 1600 (from 1130) then to 1800 and finally 1815. There was a fair bit of vis mig with 500+ House Martins West and an indeterminate trickle of Mipits ditto.
When the two Lancs finally arrived there was a cheer from the hilltop (and fair play to the chopper pilot who flashed his nav lights at us , too!) I'll put a pic or two up tomorrow with luck.
John
When the two Lancs finally arrived there was a cheer from the hilltop (and fair play to the chopper pilot who flashed his nav lights at us , too!) I'll put a pic or two up tomorrow with luck.
John
Kentbloke
Ah, yes, well
I have somewhere, a VHS video of Mosquito RR299 displaying at the North Weald 'Fighter Meet' that I filmed in 1995/6 (?) - an unforgettable experience which I must dig it out and put up on youtube! I was heartbroken at her terrible end, particularly as it was due to poor maintenance.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, as a schoolboy I sat in the prototype Mossie several times when the Salibury Hall museum first opened in the mid 60's. The then curator, a Mr Wright, who happened to have been one of the system designers on the prototype, gave me a book, which he signed for me and which I still have, "How Men Fly" by Gertrude Bacon (1911), which had fired his interest in flying, which in turn had led him to eventually be working at De Havilland. o
NUMENIOS
Don't understand me too quickly, please!
A bad imitation ...
I certainly don't want to spoil the fun here, but the title of the thread immediately reminded me of a birding area I used to go to. It was a protected area, but very close there was an airport (a small one, but still). If you got near to the airport you'd hear the planes rising with a lot of noise, and even farther away they would rather often cross your field of view when you were watching a bird in flight.
Seeing one so close to the other, I always thought planes were very clumsy imitations of birds. This also makes me think of those falcons engaged to chase away other birds at some airports: somehow they still cannot fly without nature helping them ... All in all, I felt little enthusiasm about them.
But those who love planes are certainly at an advantage: since they are here anyway, why not enjoy them. At least I like to travel by plane - as close to a bird as you can get, unless you feel like risking you life.
Ivan
I certainly don't want to spoil the fun here, but the title of the thread immediately reminded me of a birding area I used to go to. It was a protected area, but very close there was an airport (a small one, but still). If you got near to the airport you'd hear the planes rising with a lot of noise, and even farther away they would rather often cross your field of view when you were watching a bird in flight.
Seeing one so close to the other, I always thought planes were very clumsy imitations of birds. This also makes me think of those falcons engaged to chase away other birds at some airports: somehow they still cannot fly without nature helping them ... All in all, I felt little enthusiasm about them.
But those who love planes are certainly at an advantage: since they are here anyway, why not enjoy them. At least I like to travel by plane - as close to a bird as you can get, unless you feel like risking you life.
Ivan
Farnboro John
Well-known member
I have somewhere, a VHS video of Mosquito RR299 displaying at the North Weald 'Fighter Meet' that I filmed in 1995/6 (?) - an unforgettable experience which I must dig it out and put up on youtube! I was heartbroken at her terrible end, particularly as it was due to poor maintenance.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, as a schoolboy I sat in the prototype Mossie several times when the Salibury Hall museum first opened in the mid 60's. The then curator, a Mr Wright, who happened to have been one of the system designers on the prototype, gave me a book, which he signed for me and which I still have, "How Men Fly" by Gertrude Bacon (1911), which had fired his interest in flying, which in turn had led him to eventually be working at De Havilland. o
I went to the 1993 Dambusters at Derwent do, the Red Arrows displayed in the valley (cross-overs below us on the hill!) Lancaster through at 100 feet, and then RR299 turned up unannounced.... I've seen a Mosquito low-level in the hills. Spotting doesn't get better than that! I have some old wet film photos, I might scan one for on here.
I have also blagged my way into W4050's cockpit in the past, taking hold of that control column was at the time the big moment of my life. (I'm married now, got to be careful about statements like that!)
John
Jon Turner
Well-known member
One of my biggest regrets was when we lived at RAF Andover (look left as you travel west on the A303 just past Andover - it's an industrial estate now). I went out for a walk one day and walked right by a dark blue Spitfire with a bunch of men chatting, why didn't I at least ask to sit in it? My Dad was a Group Captain at the time so I'm sure I could have blagged it!
West End Birder
Well-known member
RAF Andover! The only plane I remember seeing there was a DH Devon which was there for years
Jon Turner
Well-known member
Twas a grass airfield good for hitting a golf ball and collecting mushrooms. This was back in my student days, don't recall much flying going on at the time.
Papa 10
Miserable Old Git
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RayE
Well-known member
West End Birder
Well-known member
I think the Devon was there in the early 70s
Farnboro John
Well-known member
I found my photo album (youngsters ask your parents) from May 1993 and unless I missed something completely the running order at the Derwent Reservoir was:
Chipmunk WK590 coded 69 (this may have been privately owned)
Hercules C1 XV186 (just on a training flight)
Sea King HAR3 ZE370 which did a full SAR demonstration including rescuing a survivor from the middle of the reservoir
4 x Tornado GR1 from 617 Squadron (haven't got the serials for these) which did a run at hilltop level as a four-ship, then came through the valley below us in trail - spectacular!
2 x Hercules C1 just passing, slightly above us
Mosquito TIII RR299
Lancaster B1 PA474 (marked at the time as PM-M2 (squared - implies the squadron had more than one -M)
9 x Hawk T1 the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - The Red Arrows.
My notebook says there was also a Gazelle HT1 coded W that I couldn't read the serial from. I expect that brought a VIP.
Pretty decent for a free show. We watched from quite high on the hill, which is definitely the thing to do at Derwent: anybody can go to an airshow and look up at aeroplanes, the trick is looking down at them.
We also had two Goshawks in the valley, not much chance of that these days.
John
PS: In aid of the above contention about looking down:
Lancasters (and BBMF Spitfires and Hurricane) from above Goodwood. They are B&W in case anyone thinks their eyes have gone funny.
Chipmunk WK590 coded 69 (this may have been privately owned)
Hercules C1 XV186 (just on a training flight)
Sea King HAR3 ZE370 which did a full SAR demonstration including rescuing a survivor from the middle of the reservoir
4 x Tornado GR1 from 617 Squadron (haven't got the serials for these) which did a run at hilltop level as a four-ship, then came through the valley below us in trail - spectacular!
2 x Hercules C1 just passing, slightly above us
Mosquito TIII RR299
Lancaster B1 PA474 (marked at the time as PM-M2 (squared - implies the squadron had more than one -M)
9 x Hawk T1 the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - The Red Arrows.
My notebook says there was also a Gazelle HT1 coded W that I couldn't read the serial from. I expect that brought a VIP.
Pretty decent for a free show. We watched from quite high on the hill, which is definitely the thing to do at Derwent: anybody can go to an airshow and look up at aeroplanes, the trick is looking down at them.
We also had two Goshawks in the valley, not much chance of that these days.
John
PS: In aid of the above contention about looking down:
Lancasters (and BBMF Spitfires and Hurricane) from above Goodwood. They are B&W in case anyone thinks their eyes have gone funny.
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