Belfast????
My latest on the Belfast was that in the first few weeks of November she flew over 100 hours and NO TECH! She must like the weather........and I remember in 1980 and '81 GBEPE and GBEPS spent many hours flying out of Seletar and I can't find any cases of tech problems in my logbook! (Perhaps we weren't so regulated in those halcyon days!).
They hope to relocate to Cairns or Brisbane in the near future after flying both Mil and civ flights to the islands recently.
Anyone out there any more recent news?
Veeps, thanks for the info on H&P, good luck in your search for pastures new!
They hope to relocate to Cairns or Brisbane in the near future after flying both Mil and civ flights to the islands recently.
Anyone out there any more recent news?
Veeps, thanks for the info on H&P, good luck in your search for pastures new!
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Admiral; Do you what the condition of the Belfast at SEN is and I am fascinated to know who is the owner of the a/c. From across the field it looks to be all closed up and in a reasonable state minus engines of course.
HZ, you don't say exactly where GBEPS is moored at SEN; that would give me a clue as to what the possible future is. I do know that the owner is the same gent who owns GHLFT (as was). And all the doubters said that FT would never fly again!
They are a very "can do, will do" set of people and it wouldn't surprise me if we did hear four RR Tynes roar off the end of SEN runway one day. Bound for PIK, of course! (initially).
They are a very "can do, will do" set of people and it wouldn't surprise me if we did hear four RR Tynes roar off the end of SEN runway one day. Bound for PIK, of course! (initially).
HZ, in that case I am pretty sure they mean business. When she was over in the "wreckers" yard I had my doubts, but mooring on the concrete must cost between £50 and£100 per day. And if there were no further plans she certainly wouldn't be there.
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Only issue there is that the Bac 1-1 5N-HHH has resided on concrete for about 5 years and surely there are no plans for that. Though interestingly it has been moved to the hotel side amongst the two F27s that are being stripped.
I saw the machine parked at BNE airport yesterday. Seems to be in pretty good condition, and as it disappears every now and again, I have to presume it is doing some revenue flying. Have heard that it operates up to the Solomom Islands, but cannot confirm that.
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G'day all
The Belfast is operating out of Brisbane as a Heavylift freighter to the Solomon Islands. It goes once or twice a week with a British crew, running in competition with pacific air express and thier AN-12. It spends its downtime at the Logistics (freight) apron on Lomandra Drive. Well worth watching it take off! Nice crew, too.
The Belfast is operating out of Brisbane as a Heavylift freighter to the Solomon Islands. It goes once or twice a week with a British crew, running in competition with pacific air express and thier AN-12. It spends its downtime at the Logistics (freight) apron on Lomandra Drive. Well worth watching it take off! Nice crew, too.
Brizvegan, G'day
I guess from your comment " take off is interesting" that you fly modern jets?
The Belfast at MTOW (231000lbs) in temps around 31 degs C is just on its WAT limit at sea level and 1013mbs. Water Meth is injected into each engine to keep the power up to ISA levels (about 5750 SHP!) She really is on the limits and must be flown very accurately in the event of EFTO after V1. When allowed we used to practise such things at a minimum of 10000lbs below MTOW; we had some very interesting comments from various International airports, most who thought that normal take offs were exciting enough!
In fact the planning involved for a flight with terrain drift-down problems and ambient temps much above ISA was considerable; every leg with a MORA or MEA much above 10-12000ft ( and lower immediately after t/off) had to be closely scrutinised, we freqently had to climb in holding patterns.....a vastly different world to that known by most wide bodies! Fortunately with Pacific flights they shouldn't have too many of those problems out of Brisbane.
I know the crew very well and two of them for over twenty years of operating the Queen! It was an exciting and rewarding career, we visited most disasters and war zones in those days.......but that's another story!
I guess from your comment " take off is interesting" that you fly modern jets?
The Belfast at MTOW (231000lbs) in temps around 31 degs C is just on its WAT limit at sea level and 1013mbs. Water Meth is injected into each engine to keep the power up to ISA levels (about 5750 SHP!) She really is on the limits and must be flown very accurately in the event of EFTO after V1. When allowed we used to practise such things at a minimum of 10000lbs below MTOW; we had some very interesting comments from various International airports, most who thought that normal take offs were exciting enough!
In fact the planning involved for a flight with terrain drift-down problems and ambient temps much above ISA was considerable; every leg with a MORA or MEA much above 10-12000ft ( and lower immediately after t/off) had to be closely scrutinised, we freqently had to climb in holding patterns.....a vastly different world to that known by most wide bodies! Fortunately with Pacific flights they shouldn't have too many of those problems out of Brisbane.
I know the crew very well and two of them for over twenty years of operating the Queen! It was an exciting and rewarding career, we visited most disasters and war zones in those days.......but that's another story!
Belfast!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fris B, Hi
and did the sound of those four RR Tynes not bring back memories of another age? (The prop tips can be nigh on supersonic- about the only thing on the Queen that much exceeds 0.4mach!)
How long did the u/c take to retract? It should be within 25 secs but has known to be hours!
And a small warning: although the Queen is in cat "medium" in wake turbulence, cos of its weight, the actual turbulence from four 16 ft diameter props at 5000+ SHP has been known to invert an Argosy on finals.
"and what was a bloody Argosy?" you might ask (being a wild colonial boy)
"a small Beverly" I might reply!
It was all great fun at the time!
and did the sound of those four RR Tynes not bring back memories of another age? (The prop tips can be nigh on supersonic- about the only thing on the Queen that much exceeds 0.4mach!)
How long did the u/c take to retract? It should be within 25 secs but has known to be hours!
And a small warning: although the Queen is in cat "medium" in wake turbulence, cos of its weight, the actual turbulence from four 16 ft diameter props at 5000+ SHP has been known to invert an Argosy on finals.
"and what was a bloody Argosy?" you might ask (being a wild colonial boy)
"a small Beverly" I might reply!
It was all great fun at the time!
Hi Admiral
Although I have seen a Belfast before, this was the first time I had ever heard one, and what a pleasant sound it is too. I live not far to the west from Brisbane Airport and I heard the take-off of what I assumed must be the Belfast, so I didn't get to observe the u/c retraction time. What did strike me though was the fact that, having departed from RW19 heading (not unreasonably!) south, it was some considerable time later that the aeroplane appeared overhead heading north. This caused me to wonder just how far south he went to effect the turn. I imagine he was heavy but the temp can't have been above 25C at the time. Made my day just the same.
And yes this colonial does know what an Argosy is. We had three "Whistling Wheelbarrows" on the Australian register and all were scrapped with seemingly indecent haste with apparently no consultation with the local preservation movement. Considering how comparitively recent this was we didn't exactly cover ourselves with glory where the Argosy is concerned.
Cheers
Although I have seen a Belfast before, this was the first time I had ever heard one, and what a pleasant sound it is too. I live not far to the west from Brisbane Airport and I heard the take-off of what I assumed must be the Belfast, so I didn't get to observe the u/c retraction time. What did strike me though was the fact that, having departed from RW19 heading (not unreasonably!) south, it was some considerable time later that the aeroplane appeared overhead heading north. This caused me to wonder just how far south he went to effect the turn. I imagine he was heavy but the temp can't have been above 25C at the time. Made my day just the same.
And yes this colonial does know what an Argosy is. We had three "Whistling Wheelbarrows" on the Australian register and all were scrapped with seemingly indecent haste with apparently no consultation with the local preservation movement. Considering how comparitively recent this was we didn't exactly cover ourselves with glory where the Argosy is concerned.
Cheers
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It's certainly worth a diversion down Lomandra Drive to get a close up look at 'Hector'.
Does anyone know if it flies out on regular days/times. I would love to see and hear the take off. Alternately, how can I contact someone who may be able to advise the flight times. I've tried searching the phone book/internet for the operating company but no luck so far.
Thanks, Spec.
Does anyone know if it flies out on regular days/times. I would love to see and hear the take off. Alternately, how can I contact someone who may be able to advise the flight times. I've tried searching the phone book/internet for the operating company but no luck so far.
Thanks, Spec.
Guys, Hello,
Sorry but I missed out an 'r' !!! It is: [email protected]
if you wish to contact him. Engineer, who are you that you know my fanily?
Sorry but I missed out an 'r' !!! It is: [email protected]
if you wish to contact him. Engineer, who are you that you know my fanily?