Thumper

[soddim]

Good to see Thumper airborne again today after so long - looked and sounded like an airtest so maybe it will appear at displays again soon.

[Pontius Navigator]

Over around 1130, over Woodhall at around 3,000 feet so seen by the 40s weekend crowd then returned about 12 at about 1,000 feet for a pass.

Yesterday we had the Mark V at 2pm. And at 3pm the Mark IX and Hurricane which made passes at about 300 feet.

As I wrote this we had the Mark IX which made passes again and over ourd garden at about 200 feet.

[Pontius Navigator]

Blow me another Spit at 3.45 well below 200

[Pontius Navigator]

And again at 5.15 wrapping up our 40s weekend. No more than 250 feet her black paint gleaming in the sunlight.

[Tankertrashnav]

Please - what is Thumper?

[wub]

BBMF Lancaster

[Hot Charlie]

Please - what is Thumper?

City of Lincoln. ;)

[GeeRam]

A good day for WW2 era 4-engined bombers, with Thumper back in the air as well as the first flight today from MConnell AFB, after a 16 year restoration, of B-29 Superfortress 'Doc', and its original birthplace from Boeing's factory.

[Geordie_Expat]

TTN


Thanks for asking that. Not having been aircrew I thought I was the only one who didn't know what Thumper was.

[Pontius Navigator]

Life were simplert when I were on her - Papa Alpha!

[brakedwell]

Never heard of it either, why thumper?

[Treble one]

Her 'nose art' is a rabbit called Thumper.


Previously she was 'Phantom of the Ruhr' and I dare say, others way before that too.

[NutLoose]

And as GeeRam says, it's not just Thumper that got some air under her wings, that other famous Disney character Doc, the B-29 took to the skies today after a 16 year rebuild, having been recovered from the White Sands ranges, it's the first time in 60 years she has flown.

It wasn?t easy, but B-29 Doc takes to Wichita skies | The Wichita Eagle (http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article90144877.html)

[sandiego89]

Nutloose.....Recovered from the White Sands range...

Minor correction Nut, Doc, like several other B-29 survivors was recovered from China Lake, California, not White Sands, New Mexico. She was the final recovery of an essentially intact B-29 from China Lake.

Glad to see them back up!

[Stanwell]

So good to hear about 'Thumper'.
No noise on this earth is better music than four Merlins at take-off.
No, I tell a lie .. eight of them sharing the air together.

There's been an ongoing thread on the Wix Hangar about 'Doc'.
It's been fascinating to follow the adventures of a collection dedicated 'fools' who never took NO for an answer.
Well done, guys.

[NutLoose]

Thanks Sandiego, my error, I remember reading the story of the epic journey to recover her. Such as laying a sleeper bridge etc to overcome some of the hurdles

[GeeRam]

Her 'nose art' is a rabbit called Thumper.

Previously she was 'Phantom of the Ruhr' and I dare say, others way before that too.

Indeed, and why most refer to her as Papa Alpha or City of Lincoln (and another more derogatory term :E) and after her service over the winter she will likely emerge in another scheme representative of another wartime aircraft........

But, of all her previous 'identities' somehow 'Thumper' just seems the most fondly appropriate :ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

She was so close last night you could see every detail if you weren't marvelling at the overall brilliance of her finish.

[andytug]

So good to hear about 'Thumper'.
No noise on this earth is better music than four Merlins at take-off.
No, I tell a lie .. eight of them sharing the air together.

There's been an ongoing thread on the Wix Hangar about 'Doc'.
It's been fascinating to follow the adventures of a collection dedicated 'fools' who never took NO for an answer.
Well done, guys.

How about ten.....

http://i.imgur.com/mP7HIpf.jpg

[pontifex]

When I flew her we just called her "The Lanc", and when we were on our own our callsign was "Lancaster". No air trafficker seemed to have a problem with that. It even worked in Europe (Germany included).

[NutLoose]

Cough..... Cough..... ahem.... 12

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/Lancs/Lanc2_zps632efd0a.jpg

[andytug]

:D Excellent!

[Pontius Navigator]

Up again today about 10.30

[Buster11]

Possible thread drift, but looking at one of the videos of Doc shutting down, number 4 prop appears to be ‘free-wheeling’ slowly in opposite directions, as if disconnected from the engine itself. It’s too slow to be a strobe effect. It’s at about 00:40 here: It wasn?t easy, but B-29 Doc takes to Wichita skies | The Wichita Eagle (http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article90144877.html)
Any comments?

[gr4techie]

Her 'nose art' is a rabbit called Thumper.


Previously she was 'Phantom of the Ruhr' and I dare say, others way before that too.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/rafcms/mediafiles/53922D0A_5056_A318_A8A0E6A12803D056.jpg
History behind "Thumper"...
RAF BBMF - Lancaster Thumper Mk III (http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/lancasterthumpermkiii.cfm)

[Pontius Navigator]

Back over just before 11 and joined by Spit and Hurri

[BEagle]

Hmmm...

I do hope that the use of the 'Thumper' character has been approved by Disney. They are fiercely protective of their brand (it was reported that they once threatened a charity nursery with being sued, because they had Disney characters on their walls)......

I guess it wasn't a problem during WW2 though - and the artwork on PA474 is simply a replica of the original.

No doubt there's some dusty old 1943 letter from Walt himself languishing in the 617 Sqn archives, approving the original...;)

[NutLoose]

Here is Thumper with friend, and 1/2 the RAF skiving off

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/waddington/NewLanc_zps73473ced.jpg~original

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/waddington/twolancs5_zps3a3d2e56.jpg~original

I really need to rework these now I have the software to do it

Last of the Avro bombers flying

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/waddington/Avro3some_zps7009ec87.jpg~original

[Martin the Martian]

BEagle said:

Hmmm...

I do hope that the use of the 'Thumper' character has been approved by Disney. They are fiercely protective of their brand (it was reported that they once threatened a charity nursery with being sued, because they had Disney characters on their walls)......

I guess it wasn't a problem during WW2 though - and the artwork on PA474 is simply a replica of the original.

No doubt there's some dusty old 1943 letter from Walt himself languishing in the 617 Sqn archives, approving the original...

Just think of the publicity.

My barber is a Star Wars nut, and his business is very much themed around it to the extent that he names it Jabba the Cutt. We have discussed the copy right issues, even more now that it is a Disney brand and, as he says, just think of all the publicity he will get when -and he reckons it is a when- the cease and desist letter comes through the door.

It is a great name for a barber, though.

[Wander00]

Great news, great pics

[Lyneham Lad]

No fancy artwork in the mid 70's (at Valley).

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/Lyneham_Lad/Aircraft/Lanc_Valley001.jpg

[NutLoose]

and even earlier

Lincoln & Lancaster in B&W (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=41448)

I do like the "Entrance other side" stencilled on the solid fuselage...... Sigh....only in the RAF

[CoffmanStarter]

Well done everyone at BBMF ... Mind you it still looks a little odd to see the last amendment date on the FRC's as Nov 2013 ... along with the black zip ties to bind them ;)


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnjC0wUWAAAqU3m?format=jpg&name=large