RAF Documentary - Sat 13 Feb.
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RAF Documentary - Sat 13 Feb.
On the "Talking Pictures" channel (Sky 328) tomorrow (Saturday 13 Feb) at 15.15 - "RAF" a documentary film made in 1935. Apparently it features recruit training and aircraft of the period. May be of interest.
Polecat
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Cool I’ll keep a look out for some of you 
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I take it the start is Halton, certainly looks like the old place.
Thanks for flagging this up, it was a real time capsule, especially the 9 Hawker Furies in formation.. Not being an aerobatic pilot of any sort, could somebody enlighten me as to how you do the "line abreast" formation with 9 aircraft? I believe the Canadian Snowbirds do it with their Tutors. I thought the ""cross" shape and the 3 vics of three aircraft might give the Arrows some new ideas perhaps.
Just close your eyes ....................
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Thanks for flagging this up, it was a real time capsule, especially the 9 Hawker Furies in formation.. Not being an aerobatic pilot of any sort, could somebody enlighten me as to how you do the "line abreast" formation with 9 aircraft? I believe the Canadian Snowbirds do it with their Tutors. I thought the ""cross" shape and the 3 vics of three aircraft might give the Arrows some new ideas perhaps.
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Bader's crash was in 1931 so he wouldn't be there. But when we saw shots of the Hawker Fury pilots in their cockpits I did wonder how many would still be alive five or six years later.
1935, a period of time for British Military activities which has for many decades been scarcely touched, certainly relatively, on by popular historic endeavour. Its about time there was more reflection and review of the era often lightly referred to as "between the war years". As Polecat says, how many of the young fellahs in the film got to see the outbreak of war, or indeed, the end of the war, which at the time,1935, all were hoping and expecting not to materialise?
FB
PS
The haunting sound of Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 6 was always the most evocative of WWII.
FB
PS
The haunting sound of Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 6 was always the most evocative of WWII.
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Oh, lovely! Thanks for the link, longer ron!
At c. 22:00, is that hump on the carrier deck an early form of ski-jump?!
At c. 22:00, is that hump on the carrier deck an early form of ski-jump?!
LINE ABREAST FORMATION
Line abreast is like any other line formation (echelon, line astern, etc.), The leader flies straight and level and the pilot next in line lines up known formation reference points to ensure the correct angle – and also flies the correct separation. The next pilot in the line merely has to line up the head of the No2 and the lead’s head , and he is also in the right place. And so on for any more on the end of the line. The longer the line and the more turbulent the air, the more difficult it gets as the line bounces around in the air currents. If the guys on the inside of the line fly roughly then it becomes very difficult for the people on the end.
If the leader wants to start manoeuvring then the fun really starts! If the lead turns into the line then the poor suckers on the end have to push down hard to keep the line straight. I was once nearly flown into the Caribbean by a poor leader who turned into the echelon when we were very low over the sea doing a flyby of a ship.
Line abreast is like any other line formation (echelon, line astern, etc.), The leader flies straight and level and the pilot next in line lines up known formation reference points to ensure the correct angle – and also flies the correct separation. The next pilot in the line merely has to line up the head of the No2 and the lead’s head , and he is also in the right place. And so on for any more on the end of the line. The longer the line and the more turbulent the air, the more difficult it gets as the line bounces around in the air currents. If the guys on the inside of the line fly roughly then it becomes very difficult for the people on the end.
If the leader wants to start manoeuvring then the fun really starts! If the lead turns into the line then the poor suckers on the end have to push down hard to keep the line straight. I was once nearly flown into the Caribbean by a poor leader who turned into the echelon when we were very low over the sea doing a flyby of a ship.
Thanks "mudmover" for the explanation. I hope it's not a further daft question but in a 9-abreast formation would the leader be in "position" number 1 or number 5 i.e. in the middle of the line?
VictorGolf, Ihope the pic shows how it would be flown..I don`t see aircraft`numbered` on the video but the Leaders a/c has a dark coloured fin; other formations at the time had coloured streamers on the wing struts.There will be differences of opinion as to how it is done `now` in the modern Forces...On the r/h pic there are `alternative numbering`,but that depends on how the `Leader `decides at the `briefing`....briefing,wot briefing`?!!!
The pic on the left shows `the `Plan` that we would use at the` Formation school`week held at N Weald, a few years ago,mainly for those who wanted to learn `formation `flying on Yaks,Chipmunks Harvards,or jets...We did actually fly a 15-ship(mixed bag) around Essex on a few occasions...the `scatter-plan` was a `bomburst` with smoke...!!
Others may comment...!
The pic on the left shows `the `Plan` that we would use at the` Formation school`week held at N Weald, a few years ago,mainly for those who wanted to learn `formation `flying on Yaks,Chipmunks Harvards,or jets...We did actually fly a 15-ship(mixed bag) around Essex on a few occasions...the `scatter-plan` was a `bomburst` with smoke...!!
Others may comment...!