Hastings Wheels Up at Khartoum.
Be honest, matey...
.....at our age - we are. It's all very well my thinking that, right beside my backbone, I'm 35; however every now and again my body says "Oh no you're not !!" The last time was at an adventure park with my grandaughter, climbing the 18 metre pole to the platform where you step off on one of those inertia reel things. It's not the stepping off that's the problem - it's climbing the pole. But one cannot be seen to be outdone by a 12 yr old. Yeah yeah I know, stupid mach vanity.
The Ancient Mariner
The Ancient Mariner
I think the picture of the Hasting on its belly is actually TG562, I have a similar picture taken of what is obviously the same event, but with the registration visible. Most records state that this aircraft was written off at Topcliffe 14th March 1952 but some while ago I found an alternative version which states that it was with 242 OCU at the time and 'Crashed on takeoff and was written off at Al Fayid 14/3/52 when carrying two vampire jet engines being returned to the UK for repair, no casualties among the crew of four, the captain was F/Lt Pryzlucki'.
What puzzles me is did it just happen to end its accident conveniently on the apron next to the hangar or has it been dragged there, but as others have suggested perhaps the undercarriage somehow retracted before takeoff.
Richard
What puzzles me is did it just happen to end its accident conveniently on the apron next to the hangar or has it been dragged there, but as others have suggested perhaps the undercarriage somehow retracted before takeoff.
Richard
Sandringham
The Hastings sitting on its belly has its flaps fully down, and the props are bent due to rotation, but are not bent backwards. Pure conjecture, but engine runs and hydraulic checks, flaps selected down, and then undercarriage selected up instead of flaps would fit the evidence.
Rossian
Does BOF perhaps stand for Boring Old Fraser?
The Hastings sitting on its belly has its flaps fully down, and the props are bent due to rotation, but are not bent backwards. Pure conjecture, but engine runs and hydraulic checks, flaps selected down, and then undercarriage selected up instead of flaps would fit the evidence.
Rossian
Does BOF perhaps stand for Boring Old Fraser?
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Take another look at the photo of the Hastings sitting on its belly. I don't think the engines were running at the time the gear went up. The upper prop blades appear undamaged but the lower blades are splayed outwards. This would be consistent with the aircraft settling on stationary blades whereas, if the engines were turning, all the blades would be bent in the same direction (engine rotation clockwise when viewed from the front). It also seems probable that the incident occurred where the photo was taken. Look between the inboard and outboard engines and you will see that Tracjacks have been positioned to support the aircraft and provide the initial lift to get it high enough to allow main jacks to be positioned under the wings. Tracjacks could have been used to tow the aircraft from the site of the gear collapse to the phtographed position but, look at the No 3 engine and prop - it is (or appears to be) in contact with the ground. If the aircraft had been towed in on Tracjacks, all parts would have been raised clear of the ground - there seems to be no logical reason why, having been towed in, it would have been lowered again prior to the lift to get the main jacks in position. With regard to the flap position, fully down was the normal quiescent position for Hastings flaps - hydraulic power was needed to raise the flaps but they were lowered using accumulator pressure: it was potentially dangerous to leave the flaps in the up position. As far as the location is concerned, all I could say is that it wasn't El Adem (there are trees in the background!)
Arfer Minnit:
"The upper prop blades appear undamaged"
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you. I've just had another look at the photograph in the album, and although it not the sharpest photograph that I have ever seen, all of the upper blades are bent (backwards).
"The upper prop blades appear undamaged"
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you. I've just had another look at the photograph in the album, and although it not the sharpest photograph that I have ever seen, all of the upper blades are bent (backwards).
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JW411,
OK, it's not clear, as you say, but I can see what you mean. However, the fact that at least some of the lower blades appear to be bent in the wrong direction seems incongruous. Perhaps a swift engine cut as the gear started to fold meant that the props were turning as they hit the ground but were not under power and rotation stopped pretty promptly allowing the aircraft to settle on stationary blades. Whatever happened, and I doubt we'll ever know, I guess it was not the best day of someone's life. "It come off in me 'and, Chief" doesn't even begin to explain things!
OK, it's not clear, as you say, but I can see what you mean. However, the fact that at least some of the lower blades appear to be bent in the wrong direction seems incongruous. Perhaps a swift engine cut as the gear started to fold meant that the props were turning as they hit the ground but were not under power and rotation stopped pretty promptly allowing the aircraft to settle on stationary blades. Whatever happened, and I doubt we'll ever know, I guess it was not the best day of someone's life. "It come off in me 'and, Chief" doesn't even begin to explain things!
As to the location; I agree that it was definitely not El Adem. The original photograph was taken by Flt Lt Stan Guy cica 1952. He told me that he was at Habbaniya and I have always assumed that he knew where he was. Mind you, since he was a 53 Squadron pilot, that might not necessarily be the case!
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Won't hear a word said against 53 Sqn pilots; fine bunch of chaps who never failed to get me there and back safely (if not always on time) on those occasions when I acted as flying spanner on Belfasts.
