Unusual plinths at Dishforth

[diginagain]

Shortly after the Army gained control of RAF Dishforth, I would frequently hover taxi across the disused runway there to and from dispersal. I often pondered over the function of the remains of hard-standings, arranged in the shape of a petal, five in number that are still there, as shown in the image from Flash Earth:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=54.14...17&r=0&src=msa

I can confirm that they were structural rather than painted-on, as if they were used as anchor points, although they had been taken down to surface level at some point. I was wondering if an estemed member of PPRuNe might shed some light on their original purpose?

[teeteringhead]

That sparked a synapse somewhere in the little grey cells. When one was a baby pilot in Yorkshire (late 60s), there were big metal rings set into the Dishforth dispersals, presumably the remains of those are what are visible.

We were told they had been used in the past for tethering Beverleys which were too big for the hangars. Don't think I've though about it since, but had a quick check of the records and see that No 30 Sqn flew Bevs at Dishforth for a couple of years (1957-9??) before deploying to Kenya (Eastleigh).

Circumstantial evidence, but that's my first shot .........

[diginagain]

It's one possibility, I suppose. The Bev, designed originally as a glider if I remember correctly, would have needed a fairly robust tiedown system.

Thank you.

[Cornish Jack]

Was on 30 at the glorious Dishforth - magical days!!
Yes, the Bevs were normally kept outside, although they could be hangared by putting them on 'gear trolleys', tilting them tail down and towing them in sideways. Couldn't do that with all of them. Even at Abingdon they normally stayed outside but the big hangar was built to accomodate them untilted. That hangar was IIRC the biggest in Europe when built and was constructed roof first which was then progressively jacked up and the walls built underneath.

[Blacksheep]

That big hangar at Abingdon was later used for 2nd Line checks on the Belfast fleet while the big hangar at Brize was reserved for VC10s and Britannias. Even though it was a big hangar at Abingdon, the Belfast also had to have the nose jacked up to get the tail through the hangar door. The tail was then lowered to level once safely into the docking.

We never had to tether a Belfast to stop it being blown away though...