Hatfield pictures
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Hatfield pictures
Hi All
Just stumbled across a couple of Photos from Hatfield (de havilland) and wondered if anyone else had pictures / experiences they would like to share.
In my younger days I do remember the Hatfield site being used by BAE 146 jets flying in and out but that was about it.
Heres the pics :-
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...mTony/5061.htm
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...mTony/5056.htm
The airfield is still shown if various maps are used here :-
http://www.flashearth.com/
enter hatfield england. then select from the various map types on the top left.
Just stumbled across a couple of Photos from Hatfield (de havilland) and wondered if anyone else had pictures / experiences they would like to share.
In my younger days I do remember the Hatfield site being used by BAE 146 jets flying in and out but that was about it.
Heres the pics :-
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...mTony/5061.htm
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...mTony/5056.htm
The airfield is still shown if various maps are used here :-
http://www.flashearth.com/
enter hatfield england. then select from the various map types on the top left.
Last edited by diddy1234; 6th Feb 2008 at 11:08. Reason: update
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Still got some video somewhere of me doing circuits in a PA28 not long before Hatfield shut and I did take some shots of some 146 displays again not long before it closed, I think, but am not sure, it included the Comet Racer which I'd watched being re-built. Hope I didn't wipe them but no idea where they are.
Memory is not as good as it was - but probably not as bad as is going to get!
Mike Echo
Memory is not as good as it was - but probably not as bad as is going to get!
Mike Echo
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I lived close to Hatfield growing up in a village called Brookmans Park and my folks still live pretty close.
A friend of the family worked for British Aerospace's Missile Division at Hatfield (on Firestreak and Red Top at one point I seem to recall) for many years and I did work experience there about 17 years ago!
Best memories though are from the open days and I remember seeing my first Lightning display, Comet, Tornado fly past and a Buccaneer there.
The 146 (Whispering Jet!) was of course a familiar sight and one of the big success stories at the time.
More recently I spent a few years working for T-Mobile - their UK HQ is on the site and all that really remains is part of the old tower, which I think is a health / gym complex now!
I'll have a plough through the old photo albums and see if I've got any photos from the open days.
Cheers
Gareth
A friend of the family worked for British Aerospace's Missile Division at Hatfield (on Firestreak and Red Top at one point I seem to recall) for many years and I did work experience there about 17 years ago!
Best memories though are from the open days and I remember seeing my first Lightning display, Comet, Tornado fly past and a Buccaneer there.
The 146 (Whispering Jet!) was of course a familiar sight and one of the big success stories at the time.
More recently I spent a few years working for T-Mobile - their UK HQ is on the site and all that really remains is part of the old tower, which I think is a health / gym complex now!
I'll have a plough through the old photo albums and see if I've got any photos from the open days.
Cheers
Gareth
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Fascinating pictures.
Makes an interesting comparison with one of my own taken a few years later.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Briti...300/0744362/L/
I worked in the Flight Development Dept at Hatfield for a few years in the late 1980s before being relocated to Woodford.
Makes an interesting comparison with one of my own taken a few years later.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Briti...300/0744362/L/
I worked in the Flight Development Dept at Hatfield for a few years in the late 1980s before being relocated to Woodford.
Ground Gripper
No photos I'm afraid.
However, I do remember working at De Havillands the year before going to University and watching the first flight of the Trident.
A few weeks later I overheard the older experienced workers watching the aircraft on approach and grumbling it "didn't fly like a proper aeroplane but was just a machine that flew" (or something like that).
Years later I heard all the stories but I always envied colleagues who had flown the "Gripper".
However, I do remember working at De Havillands the year before going to University and watching the first flight of the Trident.
A few weeks later I overheard the older experienced workers watching the aircraft on approach and grumbling it "didn't fly like a proper aeroplane but was just a machine that flew" (or something like that).
Years later I heard all the stories but I always envied colleagues who had flown the "Gripper".
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As a 16 year old aviation nut I wrote everything down and just discovered an old notebook which includes the following:
1st July 1989 - BAe Open Day: Hatfield:
XX255 - Hawk T1A 2TWU/63SQN RAF
VP955 (G-DVON) - DH Devon
ZA101 (G-HAWK) - Hawk 100 BAe
XV206 - Hercules C1P - RAF
XX897 - Buccaneer S2B - RAE
XN637 - Jet Provost - Vintage Aircraft Team
WZ507 (G-VT11) - Vintage Aircraft Team
XP294 - Sea Vixen - RAE Llanbedr
XS235 - Comet 4C A&AEE
Not a bad line up eh! I assume the serials are correct but it was a long time ago - and I clearly didn't bother with any of the 'home team' 146's etc etc!!
Gareth
1st July 1989 - BAe Open Day: Hatfield:
XX255 - Hawk T1A 2TWU/63SQN RAF
VP955 (G-DVON) - DH Devon
ZA101 (G-HAWK) - Hawk 100 BAe
XV206 - Hercules C1P - RAF
XX897 - Buccaneer S2B - RAE
XN637 - Jet Provost - Vintage Aircraft Team
WZ507 (G-VT11) - Vintage Aircraft Team
XP294 - Sea Vixen - RAE Llanbedr
XS235 - Comet 4C A&AEE
Not a bad line up eh! I assume the serials are correct but it was a long time ago - and I clearly didn't bother with any of the 'home team' 146's etc etc!!
Gareth
I can remember going to the Hatfield open day in 1975 and seeing all those Tridents for China/CAAC being made. There were also a large number of 'Moth' variants there, and well as a number of other DH/Hawker types.
I found the program for it a few weeks ago, I will have another look to see if I can 're-find' it.
I found the program for it a few weeks ago, I will have another look to see if I can 're-find' it.
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http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.76....9&r=0&src=msa
Looks like someones started to dig up the runway about 3/4 way along...
All a very sad story from it's heydays, should never have happened
Best memories are of the last late lost Mosquito cavorting around while we worked, possibly John Farley (?) doing a Harrier demo for some Chinese, that nearly blew me over, the pass was so low and pullup so vicious... and the Moth days, so many Meuths on one superbly mown grass field.
Oh, and that beautiful Senior Staff Restaurant, art deco style building... Geoffrey senior did things in style alright... thank goodness he can't see the mess it all is now!
Progress? Bah humbug!
Looks like someones started to dig up the runway about 3/4 way along...
All a very sad story from it's heydays, should never have happened
Best memories are of the last late lost Mosquito cavorting around while we worked, possibly John Farley (?) doing a Harrier demo for some Chinese, that nearly blew me over, the pass was so low and pullup so vicious... and the Moth days, so many Meuths on one superbly mown grass field.
Oh, and that beautiful Senior Staff Restaurant, art deco style building... Geoffrey senior did things in style alright... thank goodness he can't see the mess it all is now!
Progress? Bah humbug!
Last edited by HarryMann; 11th Mar 2008 at 21:08.
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HarryMann,
The run way went years ago. The whole place is a business park now. The flight shed is now a gym. The last memnants of the "new" hangar have just been dug up. I think the only other bit left are the old design block and the gate house(KFC). Astwick manor and the apprentice training centre are flats. Had some of the best years there when I was an apprentice. Was a sad day when it all closed. Not sure if I have any pics, but will look.
The run way went years ago. The whole place is a business park now. The flight shed is now a gym. The last memnants of the "new" hangar have just been dug up. I think the only other bit left are the old design block and the gate house(KFC). Astwick manor and the apprentice training centre are flats. Had some of the best years there when I was an apprentice. Was a sad day when it all closed. Not sure if I have any pics, but will look.
Hatfield airfield was one of the locations used by Steven Spielberg when he filmed "Saving Private Ryan" in 1997.
The scenes involving the street fighting in and around towns and the final battle scene where the main American force and aircraft attack the Germans were filmed at Hatfield. Not sure if Spielberg "ruined" existing buildings or built the "ruins" as a set, but if you've seen the film the battle scenes are very imressive.
Other scenes for the film were shot at Elstree Studios and Borehamwood. The Omaha Beach scenes were fimed in Wexford in Ireland.
The scenes involving the street fighting in and around towns and the final battle scene where the main American force and aircraft attack the Germans were filmed at Hatfield. Not sure if Spielberg "ruined" existing buildings or built the "ruins" as a set, but if you've seen the film the battle scenes are very imressive.
Other scenes for the film were shot at Elstree Studios and Borehamwood. The Omaha Beach scenes were fimed in Wexford in Ireland.
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British aerospace
Hi, this is just a quick msg in the hoperiod that someone that used to work at be in Hatfield gets to see this and please reply, so that I know I am doing this right. This is on behalf of my neighbour and close friend who also used to work there. Please reply so that he can share some of his memories.
Thank you.
Paul kemp.
Thank you.
Paul kemp.
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Old Thread!
I only worked there for less than a year at the Hatfield Executive Aviation (offshoot of Rogers) I did find the video of some flying I did around the airfield (still blame the runway for the rough landing) but seem to have lost a lot of the other videos showing the 146, comet racer, and a mini airshow with Harrier.
I only worked there for less than a year at the Hatfield Executive Aviation (offshoot of Rogers) I did find the video of some flying I did around the airfield (still blame the runway for the rough landing) but seem to have lost a lot of the other videos showing the 146, comet racer, and a mini airshow with Harrier.
Hatfield airfield was one of the locations used by Steven Spielberg when he filmed "Saving Private Ryan" in 1997.
The scenes involving the street fighting in and around towns and the final battle scene where the main American force and aircraft attack the Germans were filmed at Hatfield. Not sure if Spielberg "ruined" existing buildings or built the "ruins" as a set, but if you've seen the film the battle scenes are very imressive.
Other scenes for the film were shot at Elstree Studios and Borehamwood. The Omaha Beach scenes were fimed in Wexford in Ireland.
The scenes involving the street fighting in and around towns and the final battle scene where the main American force and aircraft attack the Germans were filmed at Hatfield. Not sure if Spielberg "ruined" existing buildings or built the "ruins" as a set, but if you've seen the film the battle scenes are very imressive.
Other scenes for the film were shot at Elstree Studios and Borehamwood. The Omaha Beach scenes were fimed in Wexford in Ireland.
Last edited by chevvron; 21st Jun 2017 at 07:28.
Hi, this is just a quick msg in the hoperiod that someone that used to work at be in Hatfield gets to see this and please reply, so that I know I am doing this right. This is on behalf of my neighbour and close friend who also used to work there. Please reply so that he can share some of his memories.
Thank you.
Paul kemp.
Thank you.
Paul kemp.
I worked at Hatfield from starting as a de Havilland apprentice in 1956 via Hawker Siddeley, Brutish Aerospace and Corporate Jets until 1993. For much of the time I was in Tech Sales but from 1985 it was Future Projects. Aircraft side rather than DH Props/HS Dynamics etc.
Apologies for the thread hijack, but I'd be very interested in making contact with anyone who previously worked for DH Props and had anything to do with the Firestreak/Red Top flight trials programme.
