Aircraft at Dunsfold?

[Seloco]

Through binos from the south downs I could vaguely see (wx poor on 27/05) a 747 and a 4 engined low wing prop-plane on the ground at Dunsfold. Can anyone advise what these are please? Is Dunsfold still operational?

[Slavedriver]

The 747 is an ex BA aircraft that was used by Air Atlanta. It is G-BDXJ (or it was). There are rumours of it being used as a film set. It's a shame because it was a fantastic aircraft. Unfortunately I missed out on doing it's last flight :{

Don't know what the other aircraft is though.

[Phileas Fogg]

http://www.airshows.org.uk/2005/airshows/dunsfold/photographs/747.jpg

[jammydonut]

You would get a better view by watching BBC2 TV where its often in the background during the Top Gear programme.

[BOAC]

Courtesy of 'search'!
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=175682&highlight=dunsfold

[Seloco]

Thanks BOAC, but nothing there about the four-engined propeller aircraft. DC7? IL18? I was a long way away and it was very misty.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Take a peek a little lower down the page... thread about Marauder over Swindon and all will be revealed. (Sorry I can't post the link - always seem to cock it up).

[Gulf4uk]

Resident Check 01.05.2006 this list is last i have seen updated May Have changed slightly by now

G-BCEE American Aviation AA-5

G-BDXJ Boeing 747

G-BGPA Cessna 182

G-BIMO Stampe

G-BITA Piper PA-18

G-BKCV EAA Acro-Sport

G-BKFY Beech King Air 90

G-BNCX Hawker Hunter

G-BRVG North American T-6

G-BUXJ Slingsby T61 Falke

G-BWDF PZL-104 Wilga

G-BYFG Europa Aviation Europa

G-BYLZ Co-Z Developments Cozy

G-BZFJ Aerospatiale SA341

G-DDBD Europa Aviation Europa

G-DUKK Extra 300L

G-EXPL Bellanca 7

G-JJAB Jaribau

G-PEPA Cessna 206

G-RVAL Van's RV-8

G-SCLX FLS Sprint

HA-YAF Yakovlev Yak-18

N402VP Partenavia

N8702K Cessna 340A

NX71MY Vimy

ZS-MRU DC-3

TONY (farnborough)

[VP8]

The DC6 belongs to Air Antique and flew in the other day to take part in the new remake of the James Bond film Casino Royale:ok: so I was informed

VEEPS

[Gulf4uk]

hi

BIZ-Jets often go in there for new Paint Jobs so its a very
busy place there AIR-GROUND is 119.1 I believe although not
Always Manned there is no Radar anymore


Tony

[Seloco]

Thanks all; it must have been the AA DC6 that I saw. Must get better binos and/or wx next time!

[Caledonian]

hi folks

a virgin a340 went in there today, any ideas what it was doing?

thanks!

[Right Way Up]

Does anyone know what was going on with the A340 low level this afternoon luchtime. I saw it over Ockley heading west, and a friend of mine saw it low level near Slinfold.

[AlphaWhiskyRomeo]

hi folks
a virgin a340 went in there today, any ideas what it was doing?
thanks!


Well they are filming James Bond at Dunsfold at the moment, and recently filmed a Virgin A346 at PRG as part of the film as well, so there's a good chance it's all related.

[Dylan35]

Hi all, I work on the airfield. The A340 was here for the Casino Royale remake. After a quick flyby to check the area and a very late "Go Around" the Virgin crew got the A340 on the deck, nice bit of video as well, cheers Virgin!!

It left on Saturday and was here mainly for the landing shot, taxi filming and take off.

What was more impressive was the spirited low, loud and VERY fast DC-6 flyby about 3 hours later! Straight down the runway and then pulling around hard to land in just half a circuit!!!!

Nothing much happening here today!

Cheers, Dylan

[Dylan35]

Hi all, on site today are the following;

G-BNCX/XL621 Hunter T. RAE C/S
ZS-MRU DC-3 www.naturelink.co.za (http://www.naturelink.co.za/) C/S
XW861/52 Gazelle RN C/S Sharks Anniv.
G-EXPL Citabria Explorer
G-RVAL Extra ??
HA-YAF YAK-18
G-JJAB ???
G-BGPA Cessna
SNJ-7 VX-932 ?? Harvard US Navy Markings WWII
G-BBPX Piper (twin)
G-ARXG Commanche
G-DDBD ?? home built ??
NX71MY Vickers Vimy
G-BUXJ Vigilant
N402VP P68C Vulcan Air
G-DUKK Extra 300L
G-BKCV Pitts ??
G-BITA Piper Cub
G-SCLX Sprint
G-BKFY King Air C90
No.394 SV-4C (some old biplane thing)
N8702K Navajo ?
ZD610/N/002 Sea Harrier FA.2 RN
G-BDXJ 747-200 Currently wearing N8892
G-BWDF PZL 104 Wilga
????? DC-6 Air Atlantique

Sorry if some of the types are incorrect, I am a Mil and Airline spotter so do not follow the SPAM (small stuff). If anyone knows the Reg. for the DC-6 or A340 the other day I would be grateful, I did not take the time to get the reg, just enjoyed the "show"!!

I hope this helps someone out there?

Cheers, D

[Pressure Carb]

The DC-6 was G-APSA. Did you get any footage?

[No comment]

The A340 was G-VHOL.

Cheers, NC

[treadigraph]

G-APSA did some wonderful low passes at Biggin yesterday - looked and sounded absolutely wonderful that close, and for my money was the best display of the day. A very very close second was whoever was flying Spitfire MH434 in the tribute to Ray Hanna. Lovely stuff... :D

[No comment]

Annoyed I missed 'SA now... sounds like she became a bit of a Dunsfold regular over the last week too!

Nice to see an old airfield with a nice old aircraft back in it!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Where's the best place to view the aircraft at Dunsfold please? Last time I went there I was very kindly allowed in by the Airport manager but I don't want to trouble him further. I'd sure like to see the Dakota, DC6 and any other oldies. Thanks...

[Dylan35]

Hi all

Many thanks to Pressure Carb and No Comment, I actually needed the A340 :uhoh: but Im happy to say it was the last of the Virgin fleet I needed! Also for the DC-6 number, its here again but is parked as usual in just the wrong place for me to get the number!

Happy to hear the DC display at Biggin was a cracker and yes its lovely to see the old girl performing so well!

G-ELVE was out on the taxi ways today, red high wing monoplane about 50s vintage (sorry) and there were 2 AAC Lynx having some fun out there today but busy in the office, anyone got the numbers?? Also a new one in the main hangar (for me anyway) is G-BSNE, very nice little prop with "Bees knees" art on the tail!!!

Cheers, Dylan

[chevvron]

G-ELVE departed to Popham this pm

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Do you chaps mean G-ELVE, or G-EVLE? If the latter, here's a snap:
http://www.brendan-mccartney.fotopic.net/p27890561.html

[Rudolph Hucker]

As HD says, I think you'll find it's G-EVLE (it's a Rearwin 8125, or Cloudster as some call it) . It belongs to one of the commentators for the forthcoming Wings and Wheels event on 27 August.

Shameless advertising......from the voice of 119.1 on that day!

Cheers

RH

[chevvron]

Yes I should have spotted that, especially as I had another -LE (G-AZLE) on frequency also going to Popham!

[Stand 22]

A heads up. G-SIXC will be joining G-APSA at Dunsfold on Thursday afternoon. No time yet and subject to serviceability!

[Dylan35]

Hi, any idea on what time G-SIXC is coming in here? No rumours on the field that I have heard of so far today! If anyone can let me know I would be grateful as I would like a landing photo!!

Cheers, D

[Stand 22]

If it is Thursday it will be after 5pm as Top Gear film until then.

[Rudolph Hucker]

Top Gear are on their hols (as they said at the end of the programme last week) due to some football event starting today....?

[treadigraph]

So... did it arrive?

[m5dnd]

Heathrow Director,

Please check Your PM's .. Message sent!..

M5DND

[alright jack]

Flying over Dunsfold last Friday it appears that the 747 stored there has been modified !!! Looks very realistic from 900 feet.Anyone know any more ??:ok: :eek: I can't upload an image unfortunately

[Dylan35]

The 747 has twin pod engines "a'la B-52" on the inboard pylons and fuel tanks on the outer, these are all fibre glass and have been fitted for "Casino Royale".

Cheers, D

The second DC-6 never turned up as far as I know!

[Dylan35]

RAF Chinook ZA704 has just carried out 3 circuits, practise approaches and grass landings!

Loads of junk flying around and not done any favours for my hay fever!

Nice to see though!!

Cheers, D

[Stand 22]

G-SIXC leaving coventry in about 15-20 mins. ETA Dunsfold 1530 ish.

[Dylan35]

G-SIXC has not turned up as yet and the cones are still on the runway!

[Dylan35]

G-SIXC just touched down a few seconds ago accompanied again by the Devon.

Again a very nice low and fast flyby with a tight circuit!

Cheers, D

[Prop Freak]

Dylan35, I came down to Dunsfold yesterday to get a photo of the DC3 got turned away by a real miserable security guy. Is there anywhere that you can get a photo? I drove all round the airfield couldn't see a thing.
regards
PF

[Dylan35]

Hi PF

At the moment you have virtually no chance of getting on the airfield. Filming for casino Royale is due to continue for another 3 weeks (maybe 4) so until that is done no body can get on without a pass or having a legitimate business reason.

My best suggestion is to either wait until the film crews have left or I can e-mail you some photos?

By the way, Wings and Wheels is on 27th August, I dont think the Dak is going anywhere for a while!

Cheers, D

[email protected]

[snoopstah]

If you have a sporty car you could book it into Plans Motorsport (http://www.plansmotorsport.com/) for some work, or even just an oil change - their workshop is on the Dunsfold Aerodrome site, and when I was there last it was easy to see many of the aircraft on site.

I'm sure there are other businesses on the site that you could have a legitimate reason to visit, as well :)

Of course, the Casino Royale lot might still frown on you taking photographs.

[scudpilot]

I work in Guildford, so might take a trip down at some point, is there much to be seen there? (filming wise)

[wub]

Regarding the Casino Royale filming, tis was in Flight International this week
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/07/07/Navigation/179/207680/Picture+James+Bond+film+Casino+Royale+features+modified+Boei ng.html

[TheAuditor]

Has anybody seen the new James Bond film?
There is a plane being towed out of a hanger and I was wondering if anyone knew what type it was.

The Plance had a larger upper deck than a 747, but not as long a 380. It had two engines on each wing, but they were duel mounted (side by side about mid wing) not like on the 747. It was a low wing (hope that is the correct term - it was like a boeing rather than an anternov!)

Any ideas?!
Thank you!

[Wycombe]

It's an ex-BA 747-200 that was modified for the film. If you are a "Top Gear" watcher, it's the one you can see in the background when they are using Dunsfold Airfield as a race/test track.

The aircraft was also recently used by VW for a publicity stunt, which involved it being towed by a Touareg 4x4.

[flyingtalk]

Probably been asked before, but I'm new: what's the story on the two-engines-per-pylon 747 you sometimes see in the background when Clarkson and co are doing some low flying on Top Gear?

[lexoncd]

Modified for the recent James Bond film. EX BA/European 747.

[aerotech07]

I believe the 747 at Dunsfold park where Top gear is filmed, was used in the filming of the last James Bond film, Casino Royale. The opening scenes of that film show the launch of a new aircraft...

[hellsbrink]

Seemingly, the plane was modified for Casino Royale.

Pics, etc:- http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/08/29/207684/pictures-james-bond-casino-royale-modified-boeing-747-xxx-on-show-ahead-of-movie.html

[GOLDEN LION]

Aircraft was G-BDXJ, finished life with Air Atlanta Europe operating the Travelcity Direct / XL flights to Sanford.

[Basil]

Flew XJ many times for BA and EAAC but not in that configuration :)

[take-off]

Do Asda still have their 747 parked up somewhere?

[jedigtr]

The 747 at Bruntingthorpe is in ASDA colours

[PPRuNe Pop]

Well that's enough advertising for Asda. I prefer Morrison's myself.

[Heidhurtin]

Apologies if this has been asked elsewhere, I've done a search but can't find it. I've just watched an episode of "Fifth gear" - I don't know how old it was - check out my location! Anyway, they showed somebody towing a 747 using a Volkswagen Tuareg. (I don't know why either).

The 747 seemed to have the two starboard engines podded together, a-la B52. By the time I noticed it the piece was ending, and I obviously wasn't able to watch it again and can't comment on the port side arrangement. Does anybody have any ideas? The A/C was white with a dark blue tailfin, but I didn't notice any markings.

[diddy1234]

yes its this aircraft :-

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N88892&distinct_entry=true

This was adapted for the film James Bond 'Casino Royale' and is a non flyable Boeing 747.

The aircraft is based at a place called 'Dunsfold Park'.
Part of the filming for 'Casino Royale' was at this location.

The aircraft also features (as a backdrop) in a program called Top Gear alot (search for it on you tube and you will see it).

hope it helps.

[Cpt_Pugwash]

See here http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228001 for at least one of the previous threads on this topic.:)

[Heidhurtin]

Thanks to Capt P and Diddy - seems I have to brush up on my search techniques! :bored: