Buccaneer 50th a few shots...
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Vitesse, I think I have seen the video as part of the Red Flag exercises in the US. Don't know where to find them but I would like to see them again. As I recall. even the range controllers were whooping and hollering!
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Low Level Buccs
Yes I saw that clip in the Ops Wing at RAF Honington in 1977 (??) -the 1st participation by an RAF sq (12 ??) in Red Flag. The film was taken from a SAM bunker looking out through the slit windows and after the Bucc went over the sand from blew over the windows accompanied by 'whoops' from the US obervers.
But the best has got to be the Caribbean 1975- ship turned downwind after a launch at which time it was usual to get a bit of 'bronzy' on the round down and watch the splash target bombing...walking towards the back end and the port mainplane of a Bucc sliced across from rear stbd to rear port of the flight deck - that's all that was visible until the aircraft popped out on the port side - rolling wings level at v low level -yes thats all that was initially visible was the port mainplane slicing across left to right looking aft...a certain exchange freckle faced red haired Flt Lt had a following on interview with Cdr (Air) after recovery.
But the best has got to be the Caribbean 1975- ship turned downwind after a launch at which time it was usual to get a bit of 'bronzy' on the round down and watch the splash target bombing...walking towards the back end and the port mainplane of a Bucc sliced across from rear stbd to rear port of the flight deck - that's all that was visible until the aircraft popped out on the port side - rolling wings level at v low level -yes thats all that was initially visible was the port mainplane slicing across left to right looking aft...a certain exchange freckle faced red haired Flt Lt had a following on interview with Cdr (Air) after recovery.
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XT283 - Rest in Peace (Pieces)!
Sad news!
B3-05-65 XT283 Buccaneer S2A d/d 07/12/1965, b/u 09/1992 Lossiemouth and sold as scrap to George F Williamson, Elgin scrapped 1997
Foldie
B3-05-65 XT283 Buccaneer S2A d/d 07/12/1965, b/u 09/1992 Lossiemouth and sold as scrap to George F Williamson, Elgin scrapped 1997
Foldie
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Thanks for the replies...Sorry to be late replying.
It must be thirty years ago I saw that footage!
Now I know to google for Red Flag, I see there is a bit of interest in this clip
Cheers!
It must be thirty years ago I saw that footage!
Now I know to google for Red Flag, I see there is a bit of interest in this clip
Cheers!
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XT 283 Michael Turner painting
If my memory serves me correctly, MT came on board for a spell and took lots of photos, made sketches, etc., then painted that great picture of the Bucc landing on Ark. I am pleased to say that I was flying said aircraft when the appropriate photos were taken, and, when I left 809, had a print signed by the squadron.
It was a nice momento of a wonderful time, spent flying a great British aircraft, the like of which will never be seen again.
As Dark Blue aviator, I would like to express my admiration for the way that the RAF squadrons embraced the Bucc, despite it being an 'interim' solution, as has already been pointed out in this thread.
The recent gathering at Yeovilton (and down in South Africa), and the ongoing enthusiasm of the members of the Buccaneer Aircrew Association (BAA), speak volumes for the affection we still hold for that wonderful aeroplane.
GW
It was a nice momento of a wonderful time, spent flying a great British aircraft, the like of which will never be seen again.
As Dark Blue aviator, I would like to express my admiration for the way that the RAF squadrons embraced the Bucc, despite it being an 'interim' solution, as has already been pointed out in this thread.
The recent gathering at Yeovilton (and down in South Africa), and the ongoing enthusiasm of the members of the Buccaneer Aircrew Association (BAA), speak volumes for the affection we still hold for that wonderful aeroplane.
GW
greywings,
And so you should hold her in great affection - she was British! So was the Canberra, the Hunter, the Lightning, the Victor, the Vulcan...... oh I must stop the old mince pies are misting up with nostalgia.
And so you should hold her in great affection - she was British! So was the Canberra, the Hunter, the Lightning, the Victor, the Vulcan...... oh I must stop the old mince pies are misting up with nostalgia.
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Thanks for the link. I have seen many of the films already but they never cease to please me.
I am also amazed that we never lost more aircraft / crews when I am reminded how fast and low we operated on a regular basis.
Mind you, that is probably why we never lost people!
As for other British classics, I was also fortunate enough to have flown the Hunter, Canberra and - under supervision - the Lightning.
I also remember the Farnborough show when it had something new - and British - every time one attended. Not a glorified shop window for rather boring civilian types, as it is now.
I am also amazed that we never lost more aircraft / crews when I am reminded how fast and low we operated on a regular basis.
Mind you, that is probably why we never lost people!
As for other British classics, I was also fortunate enough to have flown the Hunter, Canberra and - under supervision - the Lightning.
I also remember the Farnborough show when it had something new - and British - every time one attended. Not a glorified shop window for rather boring civilian types, as it is now.
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Nutloose
Nutloose,
apologies for taking an age to reply, I’m in Cape Town.
Thanks for the heads up on the program and no I didn't mind at all.
I appreciate the effort.
However, I must say it all seems VERY alien to me using programs to alter
ones photographs!!! VERY ALIEN indeed!
I come from an era where there was great debate amongst photographers at end of runways or air shows in the skill in choosing
ones film for a particular show or photo shoot etc. Then of course you only had 38 pics (if you loaded the film correctly) and THEN even after taking said pics, you still had the responsibility of deciding WHO was going to develop the film and then what to do with the end result?
What I mean, in the 'olden days' of film and not digital, there was a lot more involved in getting the end result onto a screen or print on the wall!
Today, another skill has taken over, computer skills!
I’ve been using Photoshop for years now and know without doubt I only use a10th of what it’s capable of but that is mainly to make my negative or transparency film acceptable for screen (computer monitor) or for digital printing labs to enlarge prints for customers.
I am sponsored by various brand name companies with kit and to me, the process of scanning a neg or transparency with a scanner was a mission in itself. I gave up long ago
So for me, using Photoshop (or a computer program as you’re suggesting here) was only for removing dust marks post scanning at hi res or making some colour correction etc and that was an accepted part of modern photography in my book! In fact, sometimes, grain added to the atmosphere of the image.
The point I’m making is I’m all for new tech and new toys and digital is AMAZING! (Ive only recently moved over to digital SLR) but I can't help feeling
somewhere that 'something' has been lost with the new era of cameras and photographers that now pursue the 'shot' of a lifetime!
It’s just too easy now! You can make a pigs ear of a shot and as long as it’s reasonably in focus and you’ve taken it at high enough resolution, you can, if you know what you're doing, change so much about the original image its unreal! Then you can reduce it down and down for a computer monitor (72 dpi) and it looks as sharp as a scalpel! Prints are made around 250 dpi and that's when you see how sharp the quality REALLY is?
Guess I’m just not into image manipulation and I stay with what I took on the day! ALL of my Buccaneer images on here (albeit taken 14 years ago) were taken with Fuji 100 asa print film and most with a 500mm mirror lens fixed on f8 at about 90th - 125/sec (if I was lucky with the light
)
The aircraft were going a tad fast I recall?
My air to air work was always Fuji 50 or 100 asa transparency (that's not because Fuji sponsor me, it’s because I always used it and think it’s the best colour reproduction) Having said that, it doesn't matter anymore does it?
I look forward to trying out the digital in the air!
Anyway, THANK YOU again for letting me know about the program, I shall, I’m sure take a look and within a short time shall forget my reservations on the whole new digital scene and maximise the ease of the new breed to the fullest!! I do agree, your image after using the program was better than my original!
Brooksy
apologies for taking an age to reply, I’m in Cape Town.
Thanks for the heads up on the program and no I didn't mind at all.
I appreciate the effort.
However, I must say it all seems VERY alien to me using programs to alter
ones photographs!!! VERY ALIEN indeed!
I come from an era where there was great debate amongst photographers at end of runways or air shows in the skill in choosing
ones film for a particular show or photo shoot etc. Then of course you only had 38 pics (if you loaded the film correctly) and THEN even after taking said pics, you still had the responsibility of deciding WHO was going to develop the film and then what to do with the end result?
What I mean, in the 'olden days' of film and not digital, there was a lot more involved in getting the end result onto a screen or print on the wall!
Today, another skill has taken over, computer skills!
I’ve been using Photoshop for years now and know without doubt I only use a10th of what it’s capable of but that is mainly to make my negative or transparency film acceptable for screen (computer monitor) or for digital printing labs to enlarge prints for customers.
I am sponsored by various brand name companies with kit and to me, the process of scanning a neg or transparency with a scanner was a mission in itself. I gave up long ago
So for me, using Photoshop (or a computer program as you’re suggesting here) was only for removing dust marks post scanning at hi res or making some colour correction etc and that was an accepted part of modern photography in my book! In fact, sometimes, grain added to the atmosphere of the image.
The point I’m making is I’m all for new tech and new toys and digital is AMAZING! (Ive only recently moved over to digital SLR) but I can't help feeling
somewhere that 'something' has been lost with the new era of cameras and photographers that now pursue the 'shot' of a lifetime!
It’s just too easy now! You can make a pigs ear of a shot and as long as it’s reasonably in focus and you’ve taken it at high enough resolution, you can, if you know what you're doing, change so much about the original image its unreal! Then you can reduce it down and down for a computer monitor (72 dpi) and it looks as sharp as a scalpel! Prints are made around 250 dpi and that's when you see how sharp the quality REALLY is?
Guess I’m just not into image manipulation and I stay with what I took on the day! ALL of my Buccaneer images on here (albeit taken 14 years ago) were taken with Fuji 100 asa print film and most with a 500mm mirror lens fixed on f8 at about 90th - 125/sec (if I was lucky with the light
)The aircraft were going a tad fast I recall?
My air to air work was always Fuji 50 or 100 asa transparency (that's not because Fuji sponsor me, it’s because I always used it and think it’s the best colour reproduction) Having said that, it doesn't matter anymore does it?
I look forward to trying out the digital in the air!
Anyway, THANK YOU again for letting me know about the program, I shall, I’m sure take a look and within a short time shall forget my reservations on the whole new digital scene and maximise the ease of the new breed to the fullest!! I do agree, your image after using the program was better than my original!
Brooksy
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Doesn't it look old fashioned nowadays. Hard to believe that this was considered state of the art! Anyone who has been in the cockpit will know what I mean. Still, a proper aeroplane built with lumps of metal not plastic!
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Old style maybe.. But, it did the business!
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Buccaneer 50th
As one who had a little to do with the things the bucc carried, I think it was the last aircraft the UK had with an internal bomb bay that could carry stores at low level at high airspeeds. Most others with external stores had limited high speed capability in dense air.
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