Possible to go inside a Hastings?
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire
Age: 58
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Lack of spinners etc
I was looking at the picture posted by Brakedwell, and I was wondering, how common was it for the Hastings to not have the spinners on the props.
I also have a Hastings question, which I was reminded of by brakedwell's Mt. Kenya picture.
Why did the Hercules have those baffles in front? For improved cooling? If so, how did that work?
Why did the Hercules have those baffles in front? For improved cooling? If so, how did that work?
Lack of Spinners etc
It was a long time ago and my memory ain't what it used to be, but ISTR around half of the 99 squadron Hastings sported spinners in 1957/59. They either had all 4 spinners fitted or none at all. I vaguely remember someone telling me the reason for the shortage of spinners was fatigue cracks in the mounting brackets/holes.
I missed this thread until its recent revival. I'd just like to second the favourable remarks about Newark Aircraft Museum. Having helped organise several V Force reunions there I have always found them very helpful and friendly and it is certainly worth a visit.
As regards Hastings TG 517, I had a look round inside on the occasion of our 2014 reunion, first time I'd been in it since 1970/71 when it appeared several times in my logbook. I do however have one complaint. The museum staff seemed to have moved the fixed row of seating at the NBS students' station several inches nearer to the table, as getting in was a much tighter squeeze than I remember
As regards Hastings TG 517, I had a look round inside on the occasion of our 2014 reunion, first time I'd been in it since 1970/71 when it appeared several times in my logbook. I do however have one complaint. The museum staff seemed to have moved the fixed row of seating at the NBS students' station several inches nearer to the table, as getting in was a much tighter squeeze than I remember
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Rutland UK
Age: 82
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See Inside A Hastings
Newark Air Museum (NAM) have one to go inside. It is one of those converted that we trained Navigator Radars for the V-Force before going onto the V-Bombers and I instructed on them. Latterly we trained also Phantom and Buccaneers navigators at 230 OCU RAF Scampton on the radar.
Hence the bulbous radar dome underneath the aircraft. We Nav Radar instructors also used them in the 'Cod War' for spotting Icelandic gunboats (on the radar) harassing our fishing fleet. We used to go on 9 and a half hour trips to Iceland waters and back, detached to Lossiemouth, and also drop mail out of the door to our naval vessels that we were homing in on to the gunboats. Aircraft not open every day as volunteers man it. Telephone Museum to find out when. Trust that helps.
Hence the bulbous radar dome underneath the aircraft. We Nav Radar instructors also used them in the 'Cod War' for spotting Icelandic gunboats (on the radar) harassing our fishing fleet. We used to go on 9 and a half hour trips to Iceland waters and back, detached to Lossiemouth, and also drop mail out of the door to our naval vessels that we were homing in on to the gunboats. Aircraft not open every day as volunteers man it. Telephone Museum to find out when. Trust that helps.
