If the RAF had had B-52s...
On USAF navigation some few years back a B52 due to display at Farnborough ended up doing its flyby at Blackbushe( a few miles tot he north west and on the other side of the M4 motorway the main visual clue for the area) no doubt to the shock of the airfield users. I believe there were some mitigating circumstances but it certainly didnt look very clever at the time
A few days later when I vectored it, I made sure the same thing didn't happen again!
Last edited by chevvron; 4th Dec 2020 at 08:42.
With its manoeverability, size and overall presence, a skilled crew should be able to demonstrate the aircraft at Blackbushe, Farnborough and possibly Shoreham simultaneously.
Getting back to the OP; as well as UK avionics, engines and weapons (including 4 x .303 Brownings in the tail, obviously), the thing would have needed a British moniker. Beginning with V.
Getting back to the OP; as well as UK avionics, engines and weapons (including 4 x .303 Brownings in the tail, obviously), the thing would have needed a British moniker. Beginning with V.
Vildebeast MkII
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Personal interest - spent nearly 6 months at the new RAF Mount Pleasant working on the hangar doors many moons agp.
Horrid place in southern summer; bazillion bitting midges , smelly penguins( they really are !), mud to the waist, bloody cold and wet , utterly crap contractor accommodation, and locals not exactly friendly or helpful to be honest.
However that’s for another story.
Horrid place in southern summer; bazillion bitting midges , smelly penguins( they really are !), mud to the waist, bloody cold and wet , utterly crap contractor accommodation, and locals not exactly friendly or helpful to be honest.
However that’s for another story.
Yes, southern summer at these latitudes are not as warm as Southern England, more on a par with Shetland, and I can’t argue with your assessment of the contractor accommodation. ;-)
The pilot saw the correct airfield, it was just that all 8 engines on full power increased his radius of turn so it looked to the spectators as though he was going for Blackbushe by mistake. I was standing behind the radar controller at the time and heard him continually updating the pilot to try to correct him.
A few days later when I vectored it, I made sure the same thing didn't happen again!
A few days later when I vectored it, I made sure the same thing didn't happen again!
After that I suspect the pilots were briefed to use a certain maximum AOB during low level manouevres hence the pilot of the Farnborough one couldn't turn into the 'correct' airfield without exceeding this angle.
Last edited by chevvron; 9th Dec 2020 at 17:49.
