Happy Birthday Firebirds.

[claron]

Happy 100th Birthday to 56(f) Squadron.

3 great years at Wattisham 1979-82. Happy days!!

[RAFEngO74to09]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7f/4f/66/7f4f66b9ae7d63b90ace1b37b59e8f17.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/38/bf/f8/38bff891b0fbb3ef7cc006baaa082245.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy325/stevemclaughlan/aircraft%20pics/Tornado%20Firebird%20build/croppedfullview.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

http://aerobaticteams.net/images/raf-teams/firebirds-lightning-09.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2933/14242882243_b488edcd79_b.jpg

[Bernoulli]

Splendid pictures EngO. Somehow though, the F3 just doesn't cut the mustard alongside the Lightning and Phantom; it looks too delicate. The F4 is just brutal in comparison. In a good way :E

[Lima Juliet]

Bernoulli

But the 'Fin' is so much better at doing this than the 'Tomb'!

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/54/70/0f/54700f8cb604ff525052a15943eaaa48.jpg

Happy Birthday Firebirds!

LJ

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/524cb04ae4b0b5e2e07fd7ee/54cd3a80e4b0ced12d00a489/54cd3a80e4b0ced12d00a494/1422714255000/

[RAFEngO74to09]

Banter Mode ON

Bernoulli - I agree ref the Phantom and Lightning.

LJ - really - depends which unit is flying it perhaps !


http://static.wixstatic.com/media/3720e5_7a7d7cb169d651131260a736c905f26b.jpg_srz_299_374_85_2 2_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz


Not photoshopped. I remember getting the original put on the back cover of a Flight Safety magazine back in the day.

Nevertheless, Happy Birthday "Firebirds".

[RAFEngO74to09]

Firebirds Lightning Display Team - videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn1DtoKV69U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGkpHyeGUnk

[Lima Juliet]

Engo

This is definately a shifty-fix jet flown by Parky and Jabba...

http://www.sky-flash.com/mildenhall/059.jpg

http://www.sky-flash.com/mildenhall/057.jpg

And I think this one was Dicko and Gaz...

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/leuchars/rafleucharsairshow/images/tornado05-450.jpg

http://jaffapix.com/reheat/tornf3.jpg

:ok:

[RAFEngO74to09]

http://www.fox-two.com/images2/Tornado-F3-56-Sqn-ZE839-002.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

http://www.fox-two.com/images2/Tornado-F3-56-Sqn-ZE735-006.jpg

[whalebone]

My grandfather Sgt WS Appleton joined at London Colney in the August and at one time was Albert Ball VC's fitter/armourer. He earned a Meritorious Service gong for his work on interrupter gear. The family donated some of his memorabilia to 56 at Wattisham on their 75th anniversary.

[Lima Juliet]

I can't seem to find the flying version of this...

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/wattisham/56sq/threetails.jpg

...although these days this might be more appropriate for 56(R) Sqn...

https://hushkit.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/img002576.jpg?w=830

:ok:

[RAFEngO74to09]

Alcock & Brown(e) 60th Anniversary Commemorative Transatlantic Crossing 21 Jun 79 - 5 hours 40 minutes Goose Bay to the UK.

XV424 was allotted to 56(F) Sqn at the time.

Sqn Ldr AJN Alcock MBE was a 56 Sqn Flt Cdr.

Flt Lt Norman Browne was an ex-Phantom nav brought back from a Buccaneer sqn for the flight.

XV486 Backup Aircraft
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/fredM_photos/XV48656SdnAlcockBrown07-79.jpg

XV424 Primary Aircraft
http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8384/8600351308_50f40ce523.jpg

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1994-1348-A-Phantom-FGR2-XV424.pdf

[bobward]

Is't the jet in post 9 from 92 (East India Sqn? It looks very much like a Cobra on the tail to these ancient eyes of mine.......







...anyway, it's still a great picture of a great machine!:ok::ok::ok::D:D

[Minnie Burner]

Such a shame whalebone's contribution is almost lost in amongst the hideous ADV pictures.

Can we try harder, please? Best wishes to all ex Firebirds :D

PS Good spotting, Bob!

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bobmem3.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

AB(RAF) photo - Swift of 56 Sqn based at RAF Waterbeach in 1954.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_zghJ8XAAA9SJf.jpg

[RAFEngO74to09]

Usual RAF Akrotiri APC shenanigans. The Nav on that sortie went on to have a distinguished career retiring as an AVM.


http://www.f4phantomeers.org.uk/images/56/aircraft/56cyprusbeatup.jpg

[Lima Juliet]

http://www.captainalbertball.uk/CCI13072015_3gggg.jpg

56 Sqn SE5s

[CoffmanStarter]

Leon ... Is that your post OCU Graduation picture ;)