RAAF Canberra Low Flying... Did This Happen?

[windriver]

Aeronautics Magazine Sept (Not April 1st) 1956 - I`ve seen this picture published elsewhere... Is this a genuine photograph?


http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/canberra.jpg

Seen here at the end of a very accurate V D F ` let-down ' is an Australian-built Canberra bomber of 82 Bomber Wing, R A A F. Taken whilst the Wing were on exercise at the Townville base, this pilot cut taxying time to the maintenance bay to a minimum. Although the pilots do this kind of thing every day, the mechanic seen here still feels prudence is the better part of valour. He had been newly posted

[Beeayeate]

You're joking, right?

:suspect:

[chevvron]

Hope the doors at the other end were open.

[treadigraph]

Ah, I can just hear the nay-sayers screaming "Ye olde Photoshoppe"... :}

[tail wheel]

Yes, of course it is true. Daily occurrance in the RAAF. Canberras were recently replaced with our new Stealth bombers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Woomera/CopyofNewStealthFighter.jpg

And would you believe - the RAAF can't find three aircraft already!!

:}

[Brian Abraham]

"Ye olde Photoshoppe"...

treadigraph - Remember photographers of the day were quite skilled and adept at the art of montage and wielding an airbrush.

[windriver]

The caption suggests a spoof "Seen here at the end of a very accurate V D F ` let-down" - I seem to remember a good VDF letdown was one where you ended up in the right county.

Whilst I never really thought it was a genuine picture... it is notable that it appeared in more than one mainstream publication in the news sections without subsequent comment.. hence the posting

[jabberwok]

It makes you wonder though..

What is the largest aircraft that has been flown through a hangar?

[windriver]

In 1950 Swede Ralston flew through a dirigible hanger at the Tillamook Naval Air Station in a N.A. AT-6A aircraft (650 HP Pratt-Whitney engine) at an altitude of 50 feet and a speed of 250 miles per hour(?!). While flying through the hanger, Ralston and his aircraft executed a 180 degree roll and emerged upside down.

[jabberwok]

Tillamook doesn't count. You could loop an aircraft in that hangar.. :8

[Howard Hughes]

You could loop an aircraft in that hangar..
And the big softee only did 'half a roll'...;)

What the hell am I doing in history and nostalgia? I started out in D&G...:confused:

[Buster Hyman]

Same here Howard...one minute I'm in Dunnunda then ...*POOF*... H&N!!!:confused:

[noip]

Saw this photo a lifetime ago ....

The aircraft was up on jacks and they just airbrushed the supports out of the picture.......


N

[sir.pratt]

James Bond flew a BD-5 through a hangar

[jabberwok]

My granny could fly a BD5 through a hangar.. :E:E

[PaperTiger]

The aircraft was up on jacks and they just airbrushed the supports out of the picture.......Empty cockpit being a bit of a giveaway. Engines not lit either :} .

[PaperTiger]

Tillamook doesn't count. You could loop an aircraft in that hangar..http://www.nastillamook.org/gallery/hangarb/hb-train3.htm

[Taildragger67]

Jabberwok,

Not this one (http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=29246), she couldn't. :eek:

PPRuNe thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=276855) on it (of course).

As for the original question - I reckon it's the sort of thing that Milt would know.

[PaperTiger]

This is real, however:
http://www.gchudleigh.com/images/santarosaproof.jpg
"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963).

[chevvron]

George Formby did it first in a Magister about 1938.

[wiccan]

And I thought that it was a "Hart" variant......
bb

[RatherBeFlying]

So who can find a piccy of the Bonanza flying between the lower legs of the Eiffel Tower:E

[PaperTiger]

So who can find a piccy of the Bonanza flying between the lower legs of the Eiffel TowerNo piccy, fillum:
http://www.airspacemag.com/multimedia/video/eiffel.php :cool:

[Milt]

Taildragger67
What is Milt supposed to know?

Two of my claims to fame in Canberras are

1. Flight for a while in the middle of an air show with no engines and a fire going in one nacelle. The nav was quite purturbed.

2. First successful firing of full bins of ammo from a weapon bay gun pack. Wonder what the Flight Test Observer is doing now. Where are you now Miss Williams?

[Taildragger67]

Milt,

I would've thought that, had someone flown a Canberra through a hangar, you've have known about it and so be able to verify or debunk it.

[Lukeafb1]

noip,
I would like to see the Canberra jacks which would lift it that high off the hanger floor. I don't know how the photo was doctored, but airbrushing out jacks ain't the answer. I know, I jacked enough of em' up in my day..:p
However, I'm almost certain that the stealth photo is genuine.

[Milt]

Never did hear of the flight of a RAAF Canberra through a Townsville hangar. The hangar looks like the big old one at Darwin.

PhotoShop could readily combine two or more photos. The big mistake in the shot is the airman on the floor. He would not have known of the approach of the aircraft in time to go prostrate.

The forward view from that terrible Canberra canopy would be a huge deterrant to such a blatant act even though I had much subdued asperations to loop a Canberra around the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The visual target of the open mouth of a hangar seems incredibly small until one is very close and this would be enough to deter anyone in an aircraft at speed unless both occupants were prepared for inevitable nasty consequences. Unknowns would be obstructions hanging down from the hangar roof and what clearance to allow for the fin.

There seems to be something wrong with the top of the nacelle of the right engine.

[ChrisVJ]

I was at a small museum in Comox CFB (Canadian Forces Base) in BC this last weekend and there, to my amazement, was a picture of a 409 Squadron RCAF Mosqito flying under the Eiffel Tower. (and it looks a damned sight bigger than that Bonanza.)

It is labelled "Sweeping out the cobwebs."

I have quite a good copy in my camera but probably ought to get permission before publishing here as it may belong to a private donor.

[Mr BlueSky]

Now, this is flying... ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v187/Secudus/WellieFake.jpg

[Beeayeate]

But this is more believable . . . . :E

.
http://www.canberra.plus.com/pics/hangarhunter.jpg

.
:ok:

[Mr BlueSky]

I think all the aircraft shown are real, as is the hanger... You can see the passage of time in Beeayeate's picture with the appearance of the buildings outside... :rolleyes:

The only thing that is showing it's age is the old theatrical dummy they keep using to show some sort of scale... ;)

[sidtheesexist]

The George Formby film incident was real - done at RAF Debden and the pilot was a certain "Dickie" Lee who flew hurries in the battle of France and then the BoB with 87 Sqn I believe. He was a double ace at least by the time he was shot down and killed..............Believe he flew a biplane in the footage

[pendrifter]

Seeing the previous pics reminded me of this!
http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/wow/wow.htm
The story and repercussions I particularly enjoyed:)

[Fareastdriver]

I believe a RAuxAF Spitfire blatted the far end of a blister hanger at Aldergrove in the fifties..

[Taildragger67]

Pendrifter,

What would've been really fun is if he'd hit Mach 1!

Wouldn't have been a window left in-tact for miles around! :}