Crossing the Atlantic in barely functional aircraft.
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Crossing the Atlantic in barely functional aircraft.
I do not know how I missed this one and apologies if you've already seen this, but it's an absolutely gripping tale of late madman/stunt pilot/adventurer Jeff Hawkes journey to get 6 decrepit old B25 bombers across the Atlantic. Engine failures, oil leaks, IMC, icing - you name it. Not the kind of guy that would wear a high vis west I think....
B-25 Mitchells do fly I.M.C. - YouTube
Although I can't say I've ever come close to these B25 adventures, I do somehow share the common thread of flying old and oil-leaky mid-century piston aircraft with no heating...
Instantly in my top 3 list of best avaition documentaries alongside Frozen in Time (about the B-29 rescue).
B-25 Mitchells do fly I.M.C. - YouTube
Although I can't say I've ever come close to these B25 adventures, I do somehow share the common thread of flying old and oil-leaky mid-century piston aircraft with no heating...
Instantly in my top 3 list of best avaition documentaries alongside Frozen in Time (about the B-29 rescue).
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 18th Nov 2012 at 15:33.
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Ha - no, I'm not that mad yet.
Mr. Hawke seemed like a very interesting character. The Google rumours make it appear as if he might have been running guns or something illegal and could possibly have been shot down. Jeff Hawke didn't appear to have a valid license at the time of his crash. Aircraft was G-OESX and the accident report is here.:
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...SX%2008-94.pdf
Mr. Hawke seemed like a very interesting character. The Google rumours make it appear as if he might have been running guns or something illegal and could possibly have been shot down. Jeff Hawke didn't appear to have a valid license at the time of his crash. Aircraft was G-OESX and the accident report is here.:
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...SX%2008-94.pdf
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 18th Nov 2012 at 06:14.
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I met Jeff Hawke at Blackbushe on a winter day that is typical in the UK 5000m vis and overcast at about 600 ft.
He has come along to get a few of the T28 aircraft that he had parked for some time at Blackbushe going, all the battery's on the aircraft were flat so we got him some ground power and he started one of the aircraft, after about 10 min he had persuaded most of the cylinders to fire.
He then took off, at first he seemed to have a problem gaining height but towards the end of the runway he did a slow roll with the gear down.
We then got an aerobatic display in the vertical that we only saw half of because the upper half of the loops were hidden in the cloud.
I will leave it to the forum to decide the wisdom of flying an aircraft with a semi functioning engine that had been standing in the open for months in this way.
He has come along to get a few of the T28 aircraft that he had parked for some time at Blackbushe going, all the battery's on the aircraft were flat so we got him some ground power and he started one of the aircraft, after about 10 min he had persuaded most of the cylinders to fire.
He then took off, at first he seemed to have a problem gaining height but towards the end of the runway he did a slow roll with the gear down.
We then got an aerobatic display in the vertical that we only saw half of because the upper half of the loops were hidden in the cloud.
I will leave it to the forum to decide the wisdom of flying an aircraft with a semi functioning engine that had been standing in the open for months in this way.
Last edited by A and C; 18th Nov 2012 at 08:20.
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Somewhere on PPRuNe I have made a comment about watching Jeff Hawke take one of Doug Arnold's Ju52s around the circuit at Blackbushe, rather low level due I suspect to the asthmatic state of his steed, and the approach just cleared the chest-high fence truncating the eastern end of the runway - the wheels were about head-height to me standing to one side. I learned NEVER to stand directly underneath the end of a runway! I think the Ju52 in question subsequently emigrated to South Africa for the SAA Historic Flight.
There is some stuff about the B-25s on PPRuNe as well - the film they were used in, should you wish to see it, is Hanover Street starring Harrison Ford, Christopher Plummer and Leslie Anne Down. The documentary is excellent, shame it's not included with the DVD of the film.
There is some stuff about the B-25s on PPRuNe as well - the film they were used in, should you wish to see it, is Hanover Street starring Harrison Ford, Christopher Plummer and Leslie Anne Down. The documentary is excellent, shame it's not included with the DVD of the film.
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Tredigraph
I was on the JU52, it was not flown by Jeff.
The problem was with the ASI under reading, there was about a week between us doing the pump up checks on the pitot/ static system and the flight.
During that week water must have got into the pitot line and frozen putting a small split in the lowest part of the system ( there was no water drain in this system).
After the flight we found the problem, in fact the aircraft had been flying well above stalling speed but the ASI was indicating that it was just above the stall, that is why the aircraft seemed not to be performing well as the pilot was flying the aircraft according to the indicated speed.
If you observed the landing you might have remembered that the touchdown from a normal approach path was two thirds of the way down the runway with a short ground run, as we taxied we had already decided to do a new pitot/static test.
The problem was with the ASI under reading, there was about a week between us doing the pump up checks on the pitot/ static system and the flight.
During that week water must have got into the pitot line and frozen putting a small split in the lowest part of the system ( there was no water drain in this system).
After the flight we found the problem, in fact the aircraft had been flying well above stalling speed but the ASI was indicating that it was just above the stall, that is why the aircraft seemed not to be performing well as the pilot was flying the aircraft according to the indicated speed.
If you observed the landing you might have remembered that the touchdown from a normal approach path was two thirds of the way down the runway with a short ground run, as we taxied we had already decided to do a new pitot/static test.
Last edited by A and C; 18th Nov 2012 at 12:16.
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I don't recall the actual landing, just have a vision of the wheel going past little more than a wingspan in front of my nose!
It was September 1980 during Farnborough week, same flight?
It was September 1980 during Farnborough week, same flight?
How many of these six are still in one piece? Saw one at North Weald being pulled apart and another wrotting at Duxford.
Heard the C-54s at North Weald are going or have gone the same way.
Heard the C-54s at North Weald are going or have gone the same way.
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Tredigraph
I can't remember the dates in that sort of detail, but I know we were very low as we went over the end of the runway.
The fact that we had the pitot line damaged by frost seems to suggest that the flight was not in september as I can clearly remember the ASI system being checked a week or so before the flight.
I would be surprised if two of the Ju52 flights got that close to the fence at the end of the runway but it was a long time ago and maybe time is playing tricks on my mind.
Unfortunatly I was not part of the flight crew ( I was just taking the numbers to check the engine performance ) so the flight did not go in my log book.
The fact that we had the pitot line damaged by frost seems to suggest that the flight was not in september as I can clearly remember the ASI system being checked a week or so before the flight.
I would be surprised if two of the Ju52 flights got that close to the fence at the end of the runway but it was a long time ago and maybe time is playing tricks on my mind.
Unfortunatly I was not part of the flight crew ( I was just taking the numbers to check the engine performance ) so the flight did not go in my log book.
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May well have been a different occasion then - my close up view was certainly September as I was there to watch the Farnborough visitors arrive. Only time I was there for more than a few minutes (especially if trying to see Doug Arnold's hangared treasures! 
).
No idea where Jeff Hawke's name came from; Roger Russell (who sadly died in the Invader crash a few weeks later) was in the tower all week, and the name may have come from him via a mutual friend.
Actually, I'm wondering if it was the original DA '52 G-BECL which was in Luftwaffe uniform I think... Wish I'd taken a pic, the memories are definitely fading...
I remember those T-28s there as well, ex Moroccan AF I think they were.
).No idea where Jeff Hawke's name came from; Roger Russell (who sadly died in the Invader crash a few weeks later) was in the tower all week, and the name may have come from him via a mutual friend.
Actually, I'm wondering if it was the original DA '52 G-BECL which was in Luftwaffe uniform I think... Wish I'd taken a pic, the memories are definitely fading...
I remember those T-28s there as well, ex Moroccan AF I think they were.
Last edited by treadigraph; 18th Nov 2012 at 20:40.
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T28's
There were in about 1976/77 five T28's at Biggin parked where the self refueling pumps are nowadays. They had been brought in by Euroworld which was Don Bullock and Ted White. I believe they came from Chad airforce. Rumour said that one of them force landed in France and some of the baggage/cargo had to be quickly collected from the downed aircraft !!! When the aircraft were sitting at Biggin they were occasionally run and eventually all flew off to USA. I was offered a seat, but had to pay for some of the fuel, but being a new PPL with no money I declined.
What mistake for the experience !!
What mistake for the experience !!
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GEMA
Unbelievable:
"Unfortunately, this SME-music-content is not available in Germany because GEMA has not granted the respective music publishing rights.
Sorry about that."
To anyone outside of over-regulated Germany: Enjoy watching.
;-)
"Unfortunately, this SME-music-content is not available in Germany because GEMA has not granted the respective music publishing rights.
Sorry about that."
To anyone outside of over-regulated Germany: Enjoy watching.
;-)
Last edited by Rhino25782; 19th Nov 2012 at 18:23.
Thanks Adam,
I can see why you're in love with your own twin a/c.
I too was brought up in the war but didn't know much about the B25, except one poor thing which was parked out at Shoreham some 30 or so years ago.
If they were considered 'old' when that film was made they're double that now.
mike hallam.
I can see why you're in love with your own twin a/c.
I too was brought up in the war but didn't know much about the B25, except one poor thing which was parked out at Shoreham some 30 or so years ago.
If they were considered 'old' when that film was made they're double that now.
mike hallam.