Airplanes I wish I could fly but probably never will
Agree 100%, henry'! When I was on the 45/58 sqn Hunter wing at Wittering, I loked through 45's photo album. Lots of brilliant Hornet photos - how disappointed they must have felt when the Vampires turned up....
I understand that, regrettably, all the far east Hornets suffered from the effects of temites and were scrapped on the spot; not a single example remains. Perhaps the most elegant ahhh-de Havilland design ever was the Hornet!
There was an old boy at the Secret Oxfordshire Airbase back in the early 80s who'd flown the Hornet - he had some great stories to tell. One day he spotted a flight of Oz Sabres well below him, so he positioned carefully above and behind them, dived down as fast as he could and then shut one down just before going past with the prop feathered, aileron rolling as he did so... He said they flew low and fast for hours and had few vices.........
[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: BEagle ]</p>
I understand that, regrettably, all the far east Hornets suffered from the effects of temites and were scrapped on the spot; not a single example remains. Perhaps the most elegant ahhh-de Havilland design ever was the Hornet!
There was an old boy at the Secret Oxfordshire Airbase back in the early 80s who'd flown the Hornet - he had some great stories to tell. One day he spotted a flight of Oz Sabres well below him, so he positioned carefully above and behind them, dived down as fast as he could and then shut one down just before going past with the prop feathered, aileron rolling as he did so... He said they flew low and fast for hours and had few vices.........
[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: BEagle ]</p>
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You got it in one Beagle, the most elegant aircraft that came out of DH's.
We had a Sgt pilot on 29 who flew them in the far east and he had nothing but praise for the speed and long range, as well as being an excellent gun and rocket platform.
He told us that it wan't only the termites that finished them but also the humidity badly affected the glue joints.
We had a Sgt pilot on 29 who flew them in the far east and he had nothing but praise for the speed and long range, as well as being an excellent gun and rocket platform.
He told us that it wan't only the termites that finished them but also the humidity badly affected the glue joints.
The Mossie had the same problem in the Far East, hence the popularity of the Beaufighter out there. The Hornet must have been so much better to fly than the Bristol Brigand. Definately dh's best even prettier than the Albatross.
My dad's wartime Squardon Leader was a Wing Commander in Chiangi when they had Lincolns. Brigands and Vampires. Wingco gets one of the chaps "to show him the taps and clocks" and takes the Vamp up for a jolly. First time in a jet, loads of experience on Hurris, Spits and Halifaxes though. Proceeds to do a loop over the airfield, closes throttle over the top expecting big wind shovel on the front to slow him down. ooops, no prop. Comes out of the loop at 10' agl. Flys away for 10 mins to settle the nerves for landing. All the young pilots thought he was a whizz
He never admitted it was a cockup of course
My dad's wartime Squardon Leader was a Wing Commander in Chiangi when they had Lincolns. Brigands and Vampires. Wingco gets one of the chaps "to show him the taps and clocks" and takes the Vamp up for a jolly. First time in a jet, loads of experience on Hurris, Spits and Halifaxes though. Proceeds to do a loop over the airfield, closes throttle over the top expecting big wind shovel on the front to slow him down. ooops, no prop. Comes out of the loop at 10' agl. Flys away for 10 mins to settle the nerves for landing. All the young pilots thought he was a whizz
He never admitted it was a cockup of course
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Id love to fly a spitfire or hurricane, a jet fighter (anyone eg: tornado, F-16 etc..) and a whole bunch of WW1 aircraft like : Se5a, Camel, Bristol Fighter. I'd particularly like to fly a DH2 or Fe2b because of the way you are right out in the open with a great view and it looks so old because their fuselages are not even covered.
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I hate to be a party-pooper, but I think that, although the Mozzie was termite-fodder, the Hornet was all-metal. Perhaps I talk bollux; if so, apologies. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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Since I love fighters, adore flyingboats and demand two engines, I should like to have had a go at the Saunders Roes SR1 flying boat fighter, with two Metrovick Beryls. Only two were built, I believe, and at least one of them pranged in the solent. In about 1946. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
FV - from my Boy's Book of Whizzy Whooshy things:
DH Hornet - Single-seat long-range fighter (or fighter-bomber, but we'll ignore such desecration!). Wooden fuselage and composite plywood and light alloy wing. Max range 3000 miles!
Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - first flew 16 Jul 47 with Geoffrey Tyson at the helm; 2 months later demo'd at Farnborough (inverted!). 3 were built, 1 crashed in a flight from Felixstowe and a second was lost when it hit driftwood landing off Cowes. The only survivor stopped flying in 1951 but is now safely preserved at Duxford. Oh - and max range was all of 482 miles....
I still want a Hornet for Christmas!!
DH Hornet - Single-seat long-range fighter (or fighter-bomber, but we'll ignore such desecration!). Wooden fuselage and composite plywood and light alloy wing. Max range 3000 miles!
Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - first flew 16 Jul 47 with Geoffrey Tyson at the helm; 2 months later demo'd at Farnborough (inverted!). 3 were built, 1 crashed in a flight from Felixstowe and a second was lost when it hit driftwood landing off Cowes. The only survivor stopped flying in 1951 but is now safely preserved at Duxford. Oh - and max range was all of 482 miles....
I still want a Hornet for Christmas!!
Just so long as it's only the forelock which you're tugging, old chum!
I remember hearing from someone who'd been out on 'Firedog' that, when the dramatic nibbling effect of the termites had been realised, all the Hornets were simply bulldozed aside.....
Please tell me it wasn't true......
I remember hearing from someone who'd been out on 'Firedog' that, when the dramatic nibbling effect of the termites had been realised, all the Hornets were simply bulldozed aside.....
Please tell me it wasn't true......
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The Blackburn Firebrand
Why? My first chief pilot (Harry Gee... anyone know him?) used to tell me wonderous stories about climbing into this beast (like climbing into the black hole of calcutta.. he said)
Always wondered if he was winding me up.
Rgds Bex
(Harry also flew Sea Furies and had lots of stories about the m as well).
Why? My first chief pilot (Harry Gee... anyone know him?) used to tell me wonderous stories about climbing into this beast (like climbing into the black hole of calcutta.. he said)
Always wondered if he was winding me up.
Rgds Bex
(Harry also flew Sea Furies and had lots of stories about the m as well).
I've been pretty lucky so-far in the 60 or so types in my logbook to cover most bases, but I've always had a real hankering to have a go in the back of a Tornado. Not for the performance and handling, which I know are crap, but to see how the worlds only genuine 2-crew fast jet works. The CRM pilot.v.Nav fascinates me.
Aside from that, well maybe a whimsical desire to have a go in a Sunderland, and at some point in my career I'd like to do a bit of airship flying. My old chum Dragcurve has been off playing with them, and keeps sending me Emails that send me green with envy. Neville Shute's "Slide Rule", fascinated me on that subject.
A little lower down the list, Spitfire and Meteor, to see how the best ever piston-prop fighter, and the first ever jet fighter worked and compared.
G
Aside from that, well maybe a whimsical desire to have a go in a Sunderland, and at some point in my career I'd like to do a bit of airship flying. My old chum Dragcurve has been off playing with them, and keeps sending me Emails that send me green with envy. Neville Shute's "Slide Rule", fascinated me on that subject.
A little lower down the list, Spitfire and Meteor, to see how the best ever piston-prop fighter, and the first ever jet fighter worked and compared.
G
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29351 I would join the chuch of scientology if John would let me fly his 138B.
A Saunders Roes SR1 inverted ? WOW !!! Is there any way I could possibly get a photo ?
A Saunders Roes SR1 inverted ? WOW !!! Is there any way I could possibly get a photo ?
