Ahhhhhh - Merlins!!
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Defiant to the last
Time and place. RR Flight test establishment Hucknall. Sublime early morn, early 1970's. Of all things turn corner of hangar and fall over a Defiant someones left lurking unattended. SATCO, Geroge by name is dragged from his morning sport chipping glof balls into the signals square. Where's the Defiant from George ?
'What Defiant, wake up lad your dreaming'
Was I ? Someone please confirm that in early 70's a B roundeled night fighter black Defiant was still airworthy 'cos I never sawthe damn thing leave.
'What Defiant, wake up lad your dreaming'
Was I ? Someone please confirm that in early 70's a B roundeled night fighter black Defiant was still airworthy 'cos I never sawthe damn thing leave.
Thread Starter
The RAF had a Defiant in store for many years; it was at Finningley in 1968 or 69 as I remember looking around it in the small museum which used to be there at the time. It was refurbished and later delivered to the Battle of Britain Museum, Hendon, in 1978 where it currently resides.
Perhaps it was refurbished at Hucknall?
Perhaps it was refurbished at Hucknall?
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makes you wonder
what other goodies are in store in dockyards and airfields around the country.
Rumour has it that a few years ago some people at a railway marshalling yard in Florida got curious as to what some wagons were that had been there a long time. They opened them up to find they had been supply wagons for the 1898 war and had loads of stores onboard - the supply officers had forgotten about them though.
Anyone else got any good stories about ancient kit / stores being rediscovered?
Rumour has it that a few years ago some people at a railway marshalling yard in Florida got curious as to what some wagons were that had been there a long time. They opened them up to find they had been supply wagons for the 1898 war and had loads of stores onboard - the supply officers had forgotten about them though.
Anyone else got any good stories about ancient kit / stores being rediscovered?
Thread Starter
BŁoody cold morning in 1969 at RAFC Cranwell and we were due to do yet more drill on the JMPG. But our kindly drill Sgt, Les Rodda (heart of gold - gave 5 of us a lift in his car to Grantham railway station when the taxis failed to turn up), arranged with a mate of his for us to drill in the relative warmth of an obscure stores hangar. Whilst milling around in the early morning gloom I peeked behind a wall of packing cases - and there in all its glory was a Gloster Javelin! I wonder whatever became of it?
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FJJP
Lancasters were never fitted with Griffins.
The Shackleton had Griff's but chose never to run all four at one time except for take off.
Lancasters were never fitted with Griffins.
The Shackleton had Griff's but chose never to run all four at one time except for take off.
Thread Starter
Lovely early summer evening here in British West Oxfordshire - and the sound of Merlins was heard coming from the North. The BBMF Lanc has just gone overhead at 1850Z. Terrific sight!!
....and let's never forget that, 59 years ago this very moment, the guys on 617 were getting ready for the raid on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams.
....and let's never forget that, 59 years ago this very moment, the guys on 617 were getting ready for the raid on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams.
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Not only an excellent sight and sound (we got TWO flypasts!) but followed shortly after by an excellent dining in at the Purple Learning Centre from which my frail body is suffering as I type. You dont get demos by warships or armoured vehicles on Trafalgar Night or Arbitrary Regimenatl Dinner nights 
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Hmmm, Merlins. 135,000 produced (R-R & Packard)
Instead of the incredible Tornado, why didn't we produce hundrerds (thousands?) of Mosquito's, attach GPS, a Navigator (job creation scheme), and a smart 1000lb bomb. That would have been cost effective, fun and we would never get a noise complaint from joe public!!
I wonder.......
Instead of the incredible Tornado, why didn't we produce hundrerds (thousands?) of Mosquito's, attach GPS, a Navigator (job creation scheme), and a smart 1000lb bomb. That would have been cost effective, fun and we would never get a noise complaint from joe public!!
I wonder.......
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In Aden mid-60s Shacks were described as 10,000 rivets flying in close formation. Had first-hand description from engine fitter friend of engine overspeed when flight crew had insisted he went (reluctantly) with them. Frightening even to the brave by all accounts.
I also had the interesting experience of regularly watching sons of Lancs (aka Lincolns) doing 20 minute circuits from Changi bombing terrorists in Johore Bahru in 1953 and then grandsons (aka Shackletons) doing the same from Khormaksar over Radfan in 1965-7.
I also had the interesting experience of regularly watching sons of Lancs (aka Lincolns) doing 20 minute circuits from Changi bombing terrorists in Johore Bahru in 1953 and then grandsons (aka Shackletons) doing the same from Khormaksar over Radfan in 1965-7.
4wings:
I wish it had been me. But if Afghanistan every occupy the range marker bouy in the middle of the Moray Firth, I'm your man. As long as it involved flame floats and marker marines. I really do wish I had flown Shacks when they had the nose gun and lots of rag'eds as targets.
I wish it had been me. But if Afghanistan every occupy the range marker bouy in the middle of the Moray Firth, I'm your man. As long as it involved flame floats and marker marines. I really do wish I had flown Shacks when they had the nose gun and lots of rag'eds as targets.
Dunhovrin,
Glad to say I did get to fire said 20mil Hispanos - we missed the r*****s, but did get the radar bouy! Last time they were fired too(using up the last of the stock of cannon shells at Changi), but I still have the cases as a memento -Sad but true.
Nothing beats the smell of cordite in the morning.
Pertama - (and still hovering)
Glad to say I did get to fire said 20mil Hispanos - we missed the r*****s, but did get the radar bouy! Last time they were fired too(using up the last of the stock of cannon shells at Changi), but I still have the cases as a memento -Sad but true.
Nothing beats the smell of cordite in the morning.
Pertama - (and still hovering)
Free Man, Not a Number
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Sorry - wandering Penguin here - YWIW senior flew Shackeltons with No 8 in Lossie - apparently it was considered a punishment posting in the early 70's. We had some happy times in Fochabers and thanks for reminding me! 
Gotta love the sound of those engines, not as good as night tests with Vulcans, but still loud
Gotta love the sound of those engines, not as good as night tests with Vulcans, but still loud
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Man-on-the-Fence. Apologies, you are right. Got confused - it was the Mk XIX Spit that was fitted with the Shack Griffin.
Research shows - the early Spitfires, the Mark IIa and Mark V have 30 series Merlins and the Hurricanes, Spitfire IX and Lancaster have Merlin 500s. The Mark XIX Spitfires have Griffon 58s, formerly fitted to Shackeltons, which have had the contra rotating prop gearbox replaced.
Research shows - the early Spitfires, the Mark IIa and Mark V have 30 series Merlins and the Hurricanes, Spitfire IX and Lancaster have Merlin 500s. The Mark XIX Spitfires have Griffon 58s, formerly fitted to Shackeltons, which have had the contra rotating prop gearbox replaced.
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FJJP
Steve Hinton of Fighter Rebuilders over at Chino in the States has just flown a Spitfie XIX whith a Shack Engine that HASNT had the Contra Props removed. It looks mighty fine and apparently goes like stink.
Steve Hinton of Fighter Rebuilders over at Chino in the States has just flown a Spitfie XIX whith a Shack Engine that HASNT had the Contra Props removed. It looks mighty fine and apparently goes like stink.
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Having spent some 4000hrs, sitting between the props that were attached to four Griffons I can say that it was the greatest sound in the world. Note I say was, I cannot hear a b----y thing nowdays!!!!