View Full Version : Humber Bridge
MadsDad
8th Apr 2006, 10:54
A bloke I know in my local pub, who was apparently an ex-RAF pilot, was claiming yesterday that he was the first person to fly under the Humber Bridge (in a JP5 while it was still under construction, so this would presumably be in the 79/80ish).
Not that I'm a cynic or anything but does anyone know if this was done and by whom?
rudekid
8th Apr 2006, 11:13
I've heard a lot of rumours about this and from some of the names of possibles, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it's true.
I've seen the old film of the hunter and tower bridge though, which is quality!:eek:
Also, the Spitfire in Piece of Cake, flown by Mr Hanna I believe, is an awesome piece of flying.
I always fancied having a go at the bridge on the M62 as you go over the moors. It looks like it would be very easy from the ground as you drive by. However, having tried to line it up for a bit of fun in a Tucano, it drove home to me just how difficult a skill this would be. :{
My cajones aren't big enough, my pension not too distant and my body still has some living to do! Leave it to better pilot's than me...:E
Green Flash
8th Apr 2006, 11:42
There was some TV a few years ago of a French? registered Cessna? flying under the Ballachulish bridge (down the coast from Fort William). Believe the pilot was up in front of the Sherriff eventually.
MadsDad
8th Apr 2006, 12:12
Rudekid. There would have been more than rumours, at the time anyway, since the authorities knew about it and who it was. I forgot to mention that he had a quite serious 'Hat on, no coffee' the next day.
He blamed the fact that he forgot to switch his transponder off.
Gainesy
8th Apr 2006, 12:33
With 30m from the bottom of the deck to high water, its not exactly eye-of-the-needle stuff is it?
ShyTorque
8th Apr 2006, 13:21
No, it's not particularly difficult.
Is 6 metres clearance above, 3 metres laterally, 2 metres beneath still the SH minima for crossing underneath wires etc?
Albeit meant to be done via a low speed recce. It can be a little more exciting on the way back - if done at 140 kts. Allegedly :E
Hummingfrog
8th Apr 2006, 13:32
Don't know what all the fuss is about.
I have flown under the Severn Bridge, Kessock bridge on the A9 by Inverness and the cantilever bridge by Pembroke in S Wales:eek:
I was in a Seaking/Wessex looking for "jumpers" though;) . Biggest fear was some yob trying to drop a brick through the rotor.
HF
passpartout
8th Apr 2006, 19:13
There's a book called 'Pathfinder' by Dennis Warner (I think).
It's about an, erm, Pathfinder pilot during WW2, who after his tour, visited Australia with his crew
On the cover of the book is a photograph of him flying his Lancaster under the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Training Risky
8th Apr 2006, 21:33
FJ jessies!
Try a hover-taxy under powerlines at 30' msd in a Chinook. That'll have anyone reaching for their prayer books and magic carpets:)
markflyer6580
8th Apr 2006, 21:52
I cross the humber bridge daily and fly over it at least once a week,the temptation to switch off the transponder and have a go is pretty high!:E
You could get a globemaster under there no dramas,or probably a diamond formation by the reds! :ok:
Kim Il Jong
9th Apr 2006, 00:44
Once Did a high-speed under-wires number in a very tight V-shaped kosovan valley (No double entendre intended) much to the shock of my Nav, who saw the funny side in the debrief. Had to spend about 10 minutes enduring cockpit silence and a death stare that burnt a hole in the side of my bonedome though. Opps Soz mate!! you out there angry one??
buoy15
9th Apr 2006, 00:49
MadsDad
At the time, was the JP5 under construction or the bridge?
Interesting:hmm:
Fortyodd2
9th Apr 2006, 08:53
Lynx Fits - Allegedly!! :D
I heard a tale from the RAFG Canberra days of a rather neat photographic set-up. A crew filmed an autobahn bridge as they approached it at LL, descending towards it as if to fly underneath. They then filmed the rest of the 'flight' under the bridge from the roof of a car, matched up the photo formats and left this series of photos lying around the ops desk. Got quite a good reaction, I understand.
ronnell
9th Apr 2006, 22:03
Rudekid- I believe the bridge in question is Scammonden:
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/media/desktop/
The longest single-span, none-suspension bridge in the world when built.
That would certainly amuse the motorists.
Letsby Avenue
9th Apr 2006, 22:51
I remember tracking HMS Grafton up the Orwell on her first visit to Ipswich with a RN photographer on board. As we approached the Orwell bridge I just kept following the boat and under we went, no big deal really - it wasn't as though we were tight for space.... Unfortunately the bridge was packed with TV and press... and that shot of a Lynx flying under the bridge made all of the evening TV news that night; As I watched I thought my career might be about to take a nosedive when the CO phoned me at home to say 'Very sporty and well done' apparently he would have been disapointed if I had wimped out in front of the Navy.... They were the days:)
Onan the Clumsy
10th Apr 2006, 02:08
I have flown under the Severn BridgeThat's nothing! When I were a lad, I flew under the Six Bridge. Now that were tight...
Onan.
How about the Fifth Bridge? That'll be the one next to the Forth Bridge.
Letsby Avenue
10th Apr 2006, 09:58
Is that the one the Navy's new carriers won't be able to get under?
ACW599
10th Apr 2006, 10:01
>That's nothing! When I were a lad, I flew under the Six Bridge. Now that were tight...<
(adopts Yorkshire accent):
"Bridges? Luxury! When I were a lad on a VGS, we 'ad to fly ower Vigilants through railway tunnels!"
c-bert
10th Apr 2006, 10:37
>That's nothing! When I were a lad, I flew under the Six Bridge. Now that were tight...<
(adopts Yorkshire accent):
"Bridges? Luxury! When I were a lad on a VGS, we 'ad to fly ower Vigilants through railway tunnels!"
Railway tunnels? Ha! We used to dream o'railway tunnels. Boss used to make us fly down mine shafts! Thems were the days....
LOMCEVAK
10th Apr 2006, 11:12
What's the problem? I have flown a Tucano between the towers and wires of the Humber bridge over the road at about 10 feet - it was easy. Oh, sorry, did I forget to say that it was in the Linton simulator?!
mallardpi
10th Apr 2006, 15:51
The second severn bridge has been flown under by a military aircraft and it was not the centre section either.
KnightHawk
10th Apr 2006, 16:12
How about a Beach Bonaza under the eiffel tower!
Video here:
http://www.airandspacemagazine.com/ASM/Web/Site/QT-HR/Eiffel.html
Onan the Clumsy
10th Apr 2006, 18:04
How about flying through a hangar?
You think that's tough? I tried it once and when I got inside I realised instead of A hangar wot had a door at each end, I'd unfortunately entered B hangar and that one only had one door, so I had to do a wingover, roll inverted and come out the way I went in.
sucksqueezeBANGstop
10th Apr 2006, 18:49
How about flying through a hangar?
You think that's tough? I tried it once and when I got inside I realised instead of A hangar wot had a door at each end, I'd unfortunately entered B hangar and that one only had one door, so I had to do a wingover, roll inverted and come out the way I went in.
:D I think the line between fantasy and reality just got smudged ;)
I heard a chopper was being sought by police a few years ago for flying under the bridge that links skye and scotland twice?! Did I imagine it?
BEagle
10th Apr 2006, 19:46
Having been driven down to RAF St Athan many times to fly VC10 Full Air Tests, it would oft cross my mind, whilst stuck in the queue to pay to get in to Wales (much as you would pay to get in to a zoo, I guess), that it'd be a doddle to fly a Vickers FunBus under the new Severn Bridge.....
Never did though!
Onan the Clumsy
10th Apr 2006, 20:13
the bridge that links skye and scotland twiceisn't that rather redundant, or is it part of a scenic loop?
Ssmudged? I thought there really WAS a guy who flew through a hangar and rolled it...intentionally.
Ok, it was a BD-5 in Octopussy apparently :8
VigilantPilot
10th Apr 2006, 20:44
How about this from Jurgis Kairys:
http://www.nearlygood.com/video/underbridgeinvert.html
Skidkid
11th Apr 2006, 00:48
To rudekid & ronnell
A friend of mine flew his Police helicopter under the Scammonden bridge a few years ago. He had a good excuse, though. The cloud base had dropped unexpectedly and he had a seriously injured casevac on board from a road accident on the M62.
He owned up to the CAA as soon as he got back to base and, initially, they said "well done - no further action". Unfortunately a disgruntled airline pilot, who had been stuck in the backlog of traffic from the road accident and was late for work, complained to the CAA who were then forced into giving him a slap on the wrist.
That would certainly amuse the motorists.
didn't actually work in his case.
rab-k
11th Apr 2006, 11:10
Links to the Scottish incidents referred to earlier:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3066565.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3066565.stm)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3043308.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3043308.stm)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3022948.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3022948.stm)
and a nice pic...
http://www.vividcontrast.com/Airplanes/Airplane-under-a-Bridge.jpg
:eek:
GeeRam
11th Apr 2006, 12:15
How about flying through a hangar?
Been done.
I remember reading an article yonks ago about the filming of the early 60's comedy 'Mad, Mad World' when the guy (well known stunt pilot) flew that Beech 18 through that blister hanger and through the advertising hording.......
Can't remember his name though.....:hmm:
rab-k
11th Apr 2006, 12:20
GR - You mean this one...
http://www.gchudleigh.com/images/santarosaproof.jpg
Stunt pilot was Frank Tallman (1919-1978)
From: http://www.gchudleigh.com/madworld.htm
See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Tallman
GeeRam
11th Apr 2006, 12:40
Frank Tallman.......yup that's the one.
Seem to remember he had something to do with the filming of Battle of Britain as well....suppling the B-25 camera ship..??
Rescued and restored many a vintage warbird, including the Corsair currently operated by the Fighter Collection at Duxford.
Onan the Clumsy
11th Apr 2006, 12:54
Are you sure he flew that Beech through the hangar? It looks like it's in a time warp. :confused:
green granite
11th Apr 2006, 13:12
they are not the same hangars the horizon on the left is different :confused: :confused:
GeeRam
11th Apr 2006, 13:29
they are not the same hangars the horizon on the left is different :confused: :confused:
They are the same hangers.....
Horizon view's do change over a timespan of nearly 45 years.....:rolleyes:
rab-k
11th Apr 2006, 14:11
The movie still is taken from a point a couple of meters to the right of the still shot from 2005.
The view into the hanger interior differs between shots and this also accounts for the profile of the distant hill in the lower r/h corner altering.
The link I posted http://www.gchudleigh.com/madworld.htm explains all.
EnginEars
11th Apr 2006, 17:51
Mr Bond did the flying through a hangar thing years ago in one of these little beauties. :)
http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/vehicles/acrostar-mini-jet.php?id=004
However, I believe the plane might have been attached to the back of a conveniently edited out flat-bed at the time. :hmm: