Those big 4-prop transport planes (Hercules?) lumbering up our valley in west wales are impressive. Looking down on one as it does a slow bank is like watching a bumble bee - theoretically they are too heavy to fly.
There was a Spitfire exercising overhead a few years ago.
The scariest moment was a funny looking jet with two tails, joined right at the back, as it came up the valley flying very low. It seemed to be aiming straight at the house, and making no attempt to climb. At the last moment the pilot gave it full blast, and trailing clouds of black smoke it lifted over the house.
I know planes are never as low as they look, but when you realise you are actually higher up than a plane that might be in trouble, your heart does stop for a moment.
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I know what you mean about low flying planes.
Many years ago while I was mowing the lawn, a mosquito - two merlin engines on full power - leapt over my bottom hedge and somehow cleared the house. It was coming into the nearby airfield for a film shot on 633 squadron.
I'd often go down to the airfield to watch the Mosquitos - they would sometimes have several on the taxiway warming up before take-off, just a few yards away.
I don't think there are any more of these magnificent planes still flying - there were a joy to watch, and hear.
At Farnborough one year, they had a spitfire 'chased' by a tornado - the Tornado was just sat on the spitfire's tail until they started to climb above the airfield - the Tornado just demonstrated its much greater power /weight ratio.
I'd love to see a flying B36 ...
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"I don't think there are any more of these magnificent planes still flying"
The UK one crashed - the fault was a generic Mosquito fault that had been known about, and cured, in the 40s, but the mod had not been made to it. Both were killed. The only other flyable one is in the US, and not in flying condition right now. There are plans to build one from scratch in NZ, but I don't think it's even close to completion.
Very good museum with Mosquitoes here www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/, just off the M25 near Hatfield.
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The UK one crashed - the fault was a generic Mosquito fault that had been known about and cured in the 40s but the mod had not been made to it.
According to the AAIB report, it was more a case of an essential, but poorly-documented, adjustment not having been made to the engine carbs at their last service, leading to one engine cutting out during an aerobatic manoeuvre.
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snip
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 28/05/2009 at 13:40
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Cliff Pope -
That sounds like an A10 'Warthog' using your house as target practice.
tinyurl.com/qc87kr - serious tank & building buster.
I fish a lot and one of the places I go to we get AH64 Apache attack helicopters 'buzzing' us some days.
You see them flying around and then they hide up in coppices etc., and all goes very quiet - but you can see them through binoculars bobbing up and down - theoretically blowing us and our cars up bank side.
They often fly towards us too and again at the last second pull up to a hover and dart off again.
Some of the pilots are real poseurs too - if they see you have a camera, they will come to you in their aircraft, hover close by, do a 360 deg turn and leave. This they normally do at the end of their training flight.
We don?t see them that often now though.
Edited by Tron on 27/05/2009 at 17:51
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A10 action
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhPwaApe4Rk
With the sound off.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS6cstOc9aQ
with the sound on
and how quiet it is compared with other military jet aircraft
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhT62ne-noM
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Mosquito due for completion (to flying condition) in Australia.
The Kermit Weeks owned one in Florida is no longer airworthy (nor is the Sunderland he bought and then stuck in a hanger).
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MLC - the deH museum would make a good BR meet-up point!
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ONB: I used to know the area, the museum and very well too - used to live a few miles away in Barnet (North London). It used to be advisable to call to ensure staff were present & the facility was open at one time - not sure if that still applies?
Big RSPCA centre and a huge Sainsburys savacentre complex at London Colney - are both still there?
I recall that the De Havilland aircraft museum is a lot closer to London Colney & South Mimms than Hatfield though.
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It is, Tron. A friend has a video of the last UK Mossie displaying over the museum, which is right by the M25. You can hear squeals of brakes in the background as amazed motorists see the shape and think "what the bleep was that?"
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How Strange.
It was last week, right over Halesowen (near to Hagley Bypass) I heard a mad sound outside, I thought a big American muscle car had pulled up outside my house.
but it sounded strange like going from front to back of my house.
went outside and looked up, there was a great stonking Spitfire or hurricane zooming around in the air above my house.
I was really taken aback and called my kids outside to see it.
I explained what it was and when it flew.
my son 16 was mesmerised by it.
as was I.
the sound of it was incredible.
the wings when it flew on its side were proportional so I am guessing at either of my favourite two planes.
the engines was a single prop and petrol thump thump.
bought a tear to my eye, and a lump in the throat.....
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I recall that the De Havilland aircraft museum is a lot closer to London Colney & South Mimms than Hatfield though.
tinyurl.com/Mosquito-museum
Zoom out as required or in to view the aircraft!
p
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Cliff Pope - That sounds like an A10 'Warthog' using your house as target practice. >>
No, nothing like that. This looked vintage. It had two fuselages joined at the back by the tail wing. Painted yellow.
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Cliff - De Haviland Vampire?
members.fortunecity.co.uk/colinspictures/images/ai...m
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Cliff - De Haviland Vampire? members.fortunecity.co.uk/colinspictures/images/ai...m
That's the one, I'm pretty certain. Thanks for identifying it.
It's got a sort of shark-like appeal, similar in its way to a Daimler Dart, which I secretly hanker after.
(I put that bit in to establish a MOTORING relevance)
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I saw a Daimler Dart on Sunday near Settle, unfortunately it was on the back of an AA truck. The joys of running a classic.
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My wife's first job was secretary to a guy who had a Dart and a Roller.
She got to drive both a couple of times.
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No nothing like that. This looked vintage. It had two fuselages joined at the back by the tail wing. Painted yellow.
Daveyjp beat me to it :(
I thought you said prop driven - awesome old Warbird - P38 lightening was my thought tiny.cc/Do3mu
Still (theoretically of course!) blew your house up though!
Edited by Tron on 28/05/2009 at 10:15
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