the best/most amazing flyby (official or otherwise)?
Camel driver - the VC10 at WW , G-AVRM was the one standard VC10 BA operated, just used for training - mostly at SNN and PIK. It wasn't officially used by the RAF, it's now at the Cosford air museum - although it does still fly in spirit as bits of it are reguarly 'borrowed' to keep Brize's flying museum pieces airborne!
The Flying Training School graduations were halted at Cranwell when I was there as a student. They were getting out of hand, and an accident would have happened IMHO. I was giving the CFI at Cranwell a good listening to one day while standing to attention in his office on one such grad day when there was a roar and a Hawk tailfin went past the window behind the CFI's back. I stood there open mouthed while the CFI carried on with his 'chat' obviously impressed with the effect his words of wisdom was having on me!
The IOT graduation with the Phantom flypast lower than the level of 'Winking Willy' is the stuff of legends. The pilot's punishment - posting to the Low Level Training Squadron at Finningley (the bad boy's unit!). I supposed he proved he was eligible to lead such a Sqn - nice one Mike!
Another boring war story - I was back at Cranwell a few years later - as an instructor this time. A bit of idle chat on the 'dial a mate' system (the MoD phone lines) to a mate at Conninsby indicated that we would be airborne at the same time, me in a Tucano, him in a Spitfire. After a comment to the effect of "Well, I don't want to see you over Louth at 10 grand at 4 o'clock", we subsequently met up for a magnificent dogfight. A cutting from the local Louth paper arrived in the post addressed to me a week later, apparently some old dear in the wilds of Lincolnshire has phoned the paper to say she had seen a Sptifire and ME109 dogfighting - just like she saw in 1943!
The Flying Training School graduations were halted at Cranwell when I was there as a student. They were getting out of hand, and an accident would have happened IMHO. I was giving the CFI at Cranwell a good listening to one day while standing to attention in his office on one such grad day when there was a roar and a Hawk tailfin went past the window behind the CFI's back. I stood there open mouthed while the CFI carried on with his 'chat' obviously impressed with the effect his words of wisdom was having on me!
The IOT graduation with the Phantom flypast lower than the level of 'Winking Willy' is the stuff of legends. The pilot's punishment - posting to the Low Level Training Squadron at Finningley (the bad boy's unit!). I supposed he proved he was eligible to lead such a Sqn - nice one Mike!
Another boring war story - I was back at Cranwell a few years later - as an instructor this time. A bit of idle chat on the 'dial a mate' system (the MoD phone lines) to a mate at Conninsby indicated that we would be airborne at the same time, me in a Tucano, him in a Spitfire. After a comment to the effect of "Well, I don't want to see you over Louth at 10 grand at 4 o'clock", we subsequently met up for a magnificent dogfight. A cutting from the local Louth paper arrived in the post addressed to me a week later, apparently some old dear in the wilds of Lincolnshire has phoned the paper to say she had seen a Sptifire and ME109 dogfighting - just like she saw in 1943!
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Bruntingthorpe, 1999 I think. Me and about 4 other people on the airfield when a familiar engine noise makes us start searching. Found the source - a P-51 - making a lazy circle round the airfield. Once he'd done about 2/3rds of the circle, straightened up on the runway heading and poured on the power to come screaming down it at an outrageous altitude, pulling up at the end and rolling once.
RIP Mr. Morgan.
RIP Mr. Morgan.
Back in 1968/9, Wyton's runways were being resurfaced and we were detached to Honington for a few months, the banana bomber O.C.U. and 12 Sqd.were in residence. We were inside one of our aeroplanes on the huge A.S.P. when we heard this Buccaneer, very low and very loud, so all rushed outside to watch. Beautiful late summer afternoon, and said Bucc. was flying a circle at about 200ft, very fast, almost looked to us to be in a vertical bank, and keeping well within the airfield boundary, went over us a couple of times, then dropped the gear, hook, opened the bomb doors, and proceeded to circle in the opposite direction, now not only low but very slow, also LOUD.After about three or four circuits he cleaned up as he got over us and teardropped for what appeared to be a downwind left, climbing slightly he derry turned and exited on to the runway heading at about two miles, we saw the exhaust blacken as he opened up then started dropping, he came past us going like the proverbial bat out of hell, pulled up and must have done 4 or 5 vertical rolls, pulled the power at god knows what height then dropped into the circuit and landed,he taxied past us as we all clapped like mad, don't know who had the biggest grin, him or us. The general concensus of opinion was that if he had put his gear down on the final run then he would have risen 5 feet! Whoever you were,thankyou
regards Dinsdale
regards Dinsdale
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1971 in East Sale, Victoria. the squadron commander was leaving soon and the morale was low in the squadron. he took out a HS748 (used for Nav training) and came back to do a last fly-by. the airplane crossed the tarmac so low that if the wheels had been down the tires would have been torn off. the props were only inches from the ground. he flew between hangars, and did a superb job. after pulling up to around 200 feet, the airplane did an aileron roll to the right, a wingover, and a roll (360 degrees each time) to the left.
needless to say, that was the last time he flew in the Airforce, and thankfully nobody had the g*ts to copy him, but what a show! and what an airplane. i don't know about anyone else, but it bucked my morale!
needless to say, that was the last time he flew in the Airforce, and thankfully nobody had the g*ts to copy him, but what a show! and what an airplane. i don't know about anyone else, but it bucked my morale!
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Three in particular will stick in my mind forever.
For sheer awe-inspiring "wowness" the flypast at Ringway by the NASA 747 complete with Space Shuttle will take some beating. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
Then, there was the final "what the hell" multi-ship scramble and general naughtiness-fest by 16 (I think) Lightnings at the last Binbrook Open Day ever. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
But the prize goes to the anonymous USAF RF4E pilot at a RAF Church Fenton Display in the 80s who, after a couple of fairly ordinary standard-issue USAFE whizz-pasts, disappeared into the distance only to enter stage right unannounced a few minutes later in full-on "Wrath of God" mode. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
The sound of the engine noise trying frantically to catch up with the rapidly-receding airframe, mingled with cries of "My word, that was rather loud" and "Gosh, how unexpected" (or words to that effect) will follow me to my grave. Well played, that man!
For sheer awe-inspiring "wowness" the flypast at Ringway by the NASA 747 complete with Space Shuttle will take some beating. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
Then, there was the final "what the hell" multi-ship scramble and general naughtiness-fest by 16 (I think) Lightnings at the last Binbrook Open Day ever. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
But the prize goes to the anonymous USAF RF4E pilot at a RAF Church Fenton Display in the 80s who, after a couple of fairly ordinary standard-issue USAFE whizz-pasts, disappeared into the distance only to enter stage right unannounced a few minutes later in full-on "Wrath of God" mode. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
The sound of the engine noise trying frantically to catch up with the rapidly-receding airframe, mingled with cries of "My word, that was rather loud" and "Gosh, how unexpected" (or words to that effect) will follow me to my grave. Well played, that man!
Avoid imitations
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Caslance,
I agree about the last Lightning show, it was in 87. I was lucky enough to get a VERY close look at that; I was there displaying the Puma and we were parked on the disused about 100 metres away from the active.
The departing Lightnings got lower and lower over the upwind end till number 5 blew the overrun barrier down on departure and got a severe b0ll0cking as it meant the remainder of the aircraft didn't have the benefit (not that I'm convinced it would have stopped one)!
There won't ever be another diamond 9.
ShyT
I agree about the last Lightning show, it was in 87. I was lucky enough to get a VERY close look at that; I was there displaying the Puma and we were parked on the disused about 100 metres away from the active.
The departing Lightnings got lower and lower over the upwind end till number 5 blew the overrun barrier down on departure and got a severe b0ll0cking as it meant the remainder of the aircraft didn't have the benefit (not that I'm convinced it would have stopped one)!
There won't ever be another diamond 9.
ShyT
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QFIs' Crew Room, "X" Sqn, RAF Church Fenton, c.1979. Squawk box goes - "Duty Stude here Sirs, just thought you might like to know that a 747 is on short finals." Appropriate scything sarcastic comments made by steely-eyed instructors...
Twenty secs later, the whole hangar shook as 747 breezed on by!! Apparently, studes had chatted up an airline trg captain at local event, and he duly appeared a week later with company jet. Spent 10 mins putting his machine through low-level manoeuvres that we never thought we'd see!!
Twenty secs later, the whole hangar shook as 747 breezed on by!! Apparently, studes had chatted up an airline trg captain at local event, and he duly appeared a week later with company jet. Spent 10 mins putting his machine through low-level manoeuvres that we never thought we'd see!!
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Talking of 747s.....
Did anyone else go to North Weald 10++ years ago and remember the 747 in formation with most of the Duxford Warbird Fleet?
I've seen video from the cockpit of the P-40 during the flypast and its amazing, reminds me of whales & minnows!
Did anyone else go to North Weald 10++ years ago and remember the 747 in formation with most of the Duxford Warbird Fleet?
I've seen video from the cockpit of the P-40 during the flypast and its amazing, reminds me of whales & minnows!
WHC,
Yep, I was at NW to see the Northwest Jumbo and its fighter escorts.
The 747 wing vortices stirred up dust from the neighbouring cornfields at one point!
Very impressive, and pretty hard to do for all involved I should think.
Yep, I was at NW to see the Northwest Jumbo and its fighter escorts.
The 747 wing vortices stirred up dust from the neighbouring cornfields at one point!
Very impressive, and pretty hard to do for all involved I should think.
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DAN.W out of interest the Mike you thank in your post wouldnt be the same Mike who flew a Hunter over a wing comanders house inverted,low level and at night, was spotted and when asked to explain said that he(Mike) had dropped his pencil and had rolled so as to allow gravity to assist in its retrieval.
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The displays by Flt Lt Toby Elwood (son of AM Sir Aubrey) of Driffield around 1952. Toby had flown Sunderlands during the war, left the Service, didn't "fit" in civvy street and came back in. It wasn't just "low and noisy" in the days when there were no restrictions about headings and heights in relation to the crowd (ie, before John Derry's DH110 broke up at Farnbrough and killed about 70 spectators.) It was all negative 'g' manoeuvres at very low level. I saw him at Newcastle airport on BoB day 1952, I think, one of a party of QFIs and stus from Middleton who went North just to see Toby perform. As I remember it he rolled the Meatbox onto its back while the gear was still retracting and pushed it over into a half-bunt, rolled upright to refil his fuel traps and then pushed it under to complete the bunt. From then on it was outside Derry turns etc - not spectacular to the great unwashed, but mind-boggling to the afficianados. Mates at Driffield said that his eyes were getting redder and redder as the season went on. Then he had the idea (for bad weather shows) of looping off the deck by uncaging his (suction) DI on North as he entered the loop (it did not topple on N/S headings) and using it to keep his wings roughly level (the AH used to topple at about 60 deg pitch, if I remember). He had to judge the amount of 'g' to pull by instinct. He tried this at Driffield one day through a low cloud-base and almost made it. RIP.
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Another hoary old Meatbox legend happened at CFS Little Rissington at the beginning of the '50s, when CFS had one or two Mk4s on Type Sqn. In those days most stations held their own BoB Day "At Homes" including displays by own and visiting aircraft. Reading the Sunday papers on the morrow, it sometimes seemed that we had lost more aircraft than during the Battle itself!
Remember that in those days the sight of a jet aircrft belting along low at about 500 kts was a rare one and wowed the punters. Our "Ace" was a Flt Sgt (A1 QFI) who did his low run and then reefed it up intending a series of vertical rolls. We will never know how much 'g'he pulled, but a main gear uplock failed and the aircraft came apart. No bang-seat, of course, (only in Mk8s and subsequent marks), but the cockpit section must have opened up like a sardine can and our hero was thrown clear. He does not remember pulling the D Ring, but his chute opened just before he landed in a very prickly hedge alongside the lane down to Bourton-on-the Water. He extricate himself with difficulty and, badly shaken and in some pain, he stood beside the lane with his chute folded over his shoulder. Along came a pair of dear old ladies in an old Austin 7 or similar and stopped by him.
"We saw you come down in your parachute, young man, are you all right?"
Our Hero, being understandably sarcastic: "I do this everyday for a living, Ma'am".
"Oh well that's all right then. You can walk back to the aerodrome from here!" And drove on! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]</p>
Remember that in those days the sight of a jet aircrft belting along low at about 500 kts was a rare one and wowed the punters. Our "Ace" was a Flt Sgt (A1 QFI) who did his low run and then reefed it up intending a series of vertical rolls. We will never know how much 'g'he pulled, but a main gear uplock failed and the aircraft came apart. No bang-seat, of course, (only in Mk8s and subsequent marks), but the cockpit section must have opened up like a sardine can and our hero was thrown clear. He does not remember pulling the D Ring, but his chute opened just before he landed in a very prickly hedge alongside the lane down to Bourton-on-the Water. He extricate himself with difficulty and, badly shaken and in some pain, he stood beside the lane with his chute folded over his shoulder. Along came a pair of dear old ladies in an old Austin 7 or similar and stopped by him.
"We saw you come down in your parachute, young man, are you all right?"
Our Hero, being understandably sarcastic: "I do this everyday for a living, Ma'am".
"Oh well that's all right then. You can walk back to the aerodrome from here!" And drove on! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]</p>
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In '91 my parents took my brother and I to Weston-Super-Mare in my dads fire appliance red Ford Orion. We were enjoying the view along a small back road when some bright spark armed with an RAF issue Jaguar (we recognised the tailpipes as it disappeared into the distance), at what seemed like 50ft, strafed us. The sudden noise was incredible! We must have been a very inviting target!
(Not exactly a flypast...) In the early 90's I was at Bruntingthorpe when they fast-taxied the Lightning down the runway. It must have been the first time they did it as a photo opportunity as on the way in they gave us these yellow foam ear plugs and let us stand along the edge of the runway. . .I have some great nose and side-on pictures but nothing more. It passed us at full chat, with diamonds out the back, at which point all we could do was hit the deck. By the time the noise was bearable again, the 'chute was deployed and the aircraft was turning back.. .F..(bloody)..g amazing!! My ears rang for days!. .They don't let you stand that close any more.
(Not exactly a flypast...) In the early 90's I was at Bruntingthorpe when they fast-taxied the Lightning down the runway. It must have been the first time they did it as a photo opportunity as on the way in they gave us these yellow foam ear plugs and let us stand along the edge of the runway. . .I have some great nose and side-on pictures but nothing more. It passed us at full chat, with diamonds out the back, at which point all we could do was hit the deck. By the time the noise was bearable again, the 'chute was deployed and the aircraft was turning back.. .F..(bloody)..g amazing!! My ears rang for days!. .They don't let you stand that close any more.
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1976 or was it ’75? Heaven in Devon – one of the numerous closing down parties:. .Arrows equipped with Gnats then leaving late Saturday morning after a most memorable Happy Hour(s) the previous night. Watchers all lined up on the croquet pitch in front of the mess. One of the watchers was an ex-Red who was spotted by one of the departing team and his position noted. Arrows take off in their usual fashion and promptly split up to “do” the airfield from 9 separate points of the compass. Ex-Red watcher threw himself to the ground to avoid being spiked on his buddy’s pitot boom; buddy had to do immediate sharp pull up to avoid concrete street light (about 20ft high) outside the mess. What a departure!. . <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
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I believe this happened in 1987. I was living in Schevenigen (spelling) in the Netherlands. The city was sponsoring an international air show. The Red Arrows put on a fantastic display and as they were heading back to the UK a Fokker 100 (factory test bird) came in and was flying about 50 feet over the surface of the North Sea. His wake vortex stirred up a lot of water long after he disappeared heading back the Schipol Airport.
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Top Loadie - they let you stand within 4 or 5 feet of the runway edge at Bruntingthorpe still, it's plenty noisy believe me. First time I went there, about 9 years after I'd last seen a Lightning moving under its own steam, I came away with a fixed grin that lasted for hours.
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Did anyone see Flt Lt Alan Pollock of I Squadron fly his Hawker Hunter under Tower Bridge on April 5 1968 to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF? He had apparently dropped toilet roll "bombs" on the bases of rival squadrons, flew under the top span of the bridge and then went on to beat up a few more bases.
Nice report on this ultimate fly-by at this Hunter site:
. .<a href="http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html</a>
Nice report on this ultimate fly-by at this Hunter site:
. .<a href="http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html</a>