Name that Flying Machine

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by BEagle

Westlands used to have a site at RAF Merryfield (it's now an official gypsy site); nearby were a couple of tunnels under the concrete hardstanding with large 90° ducts at one end, venting to atmosphere at the other. As a small boy, once the RN's Sea Venoms had returned to Yeovilton and the aerodrome virtually abandoned, I explored the tunnels wondering what they'd been used for. Doubtless the def-jet Meteor was positioned over them to test the installation. Pictures exist of RA490 at what is clearly Merryfield (there's a particular type of tree in the background which I well remember!), but I think that the aircraft was flown to RAF Farnborough for trials work, also at RAE Bedford.

safetypee, you had the best answer, so over to you!

During the period some undergrowth at Farnborough was being cleared (c 1995 to 2001) next to the area known as 'the dump' where various aircraft were 'dismantled', some sort of deflector or attenuator was exposed buried in the ground; it appeared to exhaust downwards and the efflux came out from a sort of culvert below ground level a few feet away.

[safetypee]

With a 'tenuous' connection with the previous challenge.

[BEagle]

I'm hunting for the answer.....!!

[chevvron]

Well blow me!

[BEagle]

Min speed 28KIAS - max probably not a lot more!!!

[Noyade]

[safetypee]

You blew that one away quite quickly; first to the post takes the next one.

A rare photo showing the airflow.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/dat...eecb1945b6.jpg

[Noyade]

Originally Posted by Self loading bear

All contenders,
I am currently at post 900 (almost 100 challenges) to make an inventory of all challenges.
If you want to help please send a PM and I will share the excel file with you and we divide the work.

PM sent.
Cheers.

[Noyade]

G'day @ safetypee!

Originally Posted by safetypee

first to the post takes the next one.

There is a sorta 24 hr rule - which I've never fully grasped. But for me - it will be Open House.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Noyade

I happened to visit Bedford one day in 1974 to see the H126 being driven past the end of the runway on a low loader on its way to a museum; don't know where it went.

[BEagle]

I believe the H.126 is now at the RAFM Cosford?

Another OH challenge:

[Beamr]

A Miles Mercury?

[Asturias56]

Gawd! we're running hot on this thread!!!

[BEagle]

Not a Miles Mercury!

[Noyade]

A rare twin-finned Messenger?
The big reveal (when you show the full photo) will be interesting.

[chevvron]

Messenger had fixed u/c.

[BEagle]

Noyade is closest! In fact it was the prototype Messenger. It was subsequently fitted with a single fin and rudder, but that proved inadequate and the aircraft was refitted with the triple fin layout.

That photo is sometimes incorrectly captioned as a Mercury. However, the prototype was indeed converted from a Mercury.

Clever little STOL aeroplane, the Messenger - it had a 22KIAS stalling speed!

[Noyade]

Looking at Brown's Big Book on Miles Machines - if you cropped your challenge image from the HM583 photo seen above - then it's definitely a Miles M.28 Mk.II Mercury.


It was U-0232 that was used for the prototype Messenger, not U-0237/HM583.....



So I'm for giving the baton to Beamr
Cheers!

[Beamr]

Interesting caption from that book, I just had a vague idea I've seen that tail somewhere and stumbled on the picture trying to figure out what it was...

To keep things going here's the next one, though I reckon this'll be solved in a flash.

[Beamr]

Apparently this takes a bit more time...
It runs a US made engine but otherwise is entirely designed in EU.