Messages

961

Combat Warplanes / Re: Harbin SH5 Flying Boat

« on: January 26, 2008, 04:23:45 PM »

http://www.combatreform2.com/chicomharbinSH5seaplane.jpg

Sorry Wingman81 I may have missed something, why did you post this image here 

962

Combat Warplanes / Re: Quizzzzz

« on: January 25, 2008, 08:11:44 PM »

See I said you were all to good for me, well done santynus 

963

Combat Warplanes / Re: Quizzzzz

« on: January 25, 2008, 07:15:22 PM »

I dont know...is it a Westland model?

It is a Westland  but which one 

964

Combat Warplanes / Re: Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire Part-1 Type A to F

« on: January 24, 2008, 08:38:21 PM »

Spitfire PR.XI PL965



Turn the lights down and the sound up 

965

Combat Warplanes / Re: Quizzzzz

« on: January 22, 2008, 11:35:56 PM »

Sorry that it's out of turn, but I can not research as fast as you lot 
I bet you get this one very quickly. 

966

Combat Warplanes / Re: Jastreb recce

« on: January 22, 2008, 11:17:01 PM »

The cameras were in the wing tank?, is this aircraft still used? 

967

Warplane Art / Re: Ta152H

« on: January 22, 2008, 11:15:03 PM »

One hell of an airplane, great detail in the pilot No.1 

968

Combat Warplanes / Re: The BAC TSR 2

« on: January 20, 2008, 04:02:06 PM »

I know so I wonder how there was possible to make books about this aircraft. By the way- where is stored this aircraft? Maybe some of the members could help with the some images

I know of two, one at Duxford and the other at Cosford

969

Combat Warplanes / Re: The BAC TSR 2

« on: January 20, 2008, 03:51:39 PM »

There are not a lot of images left of this aircraf. 

970

Combat Warplanes / Re: The BAC TSR 2

« on: January 20, 2008, 03:07:52 PM »

Here are some more images of the TSR.2

971

Combat Warplanes / Re: Mosquito

« on: January 20, 2008, 12:37:03 PM »

I know that this has been posted before, but to me it has to be one of the greatest graphic films ever made and the  sound is perfect.

972

Combat Warplanes / Re: EE Lightning video

« on: January 20, 2008, 12:33:19 PM »

And- please tell us more or better- give keyboard to your wife and let her made few words

I will get the information from her, she will only use a computer if she has too!  she sees them as -

973

Combat Warplanes / Re: Warplanes in Movies

« on: January 20, 2008, 12:23:10 PM »

Looks like something from the series the Twilight Zone 

974

Combat Warplanes / Re: EE Lightning video

« on: January 20, 2008, 12:17:06 PM »

Great video  My wife was stationed at a Lightning Unit during her service career. 

975

Combat Warplanes / Re: Mosquito

« on: January 20, 2008, 12:08:35 PM »

nice photo mate 

Thank you - Here is the history of this great aircraft

1945   Constructed by de Havilland's at Hatfield to contract No.555 for 80 Mosquito B.35 aircraft, serial numbers TA617-8, TA633-70, TA685-724, delivered 29 Mar 45 - 16 Jul 45.  Merlin 113/114 engines.

13Apr45   To No.27 MU Shawbury, Salop for storage.

19May52   Taken out of store and sent to Brooklands Aviation Ltd, Sywell, Northants for conversion to Target Tug standard as a Mosquito TI35 - one of those aircraft fitted with the under fuselage mounted ML type G wind-driven target winch.  (Photo: Mosquito Crash Log).

30Sep52   Work completed.

17Oct52   To station flight, RAF Ballykelly, Londonderry, Northern Ireland -sharing the airfield with two Shackleton squadrons.

05Dec52   To RAF Aldergrove Station Flight, Antrim, Northern Ireland.  Shared the base with Shackletons and, as more likely `customers', No.502 Squadrons' Vampires.

16Dec54   To No.38 MU Llandow for storage.

10Jan57   To No.27 MU Shawbury for further storage.

21Apr58   Last major inspection - had flown only 105.55 hours since new.  This and other details taken from the aircraft's Form 700s - 13 of them - covering the period 23 Sep 59 - 23 Jan 67 held by DoRIS Ref.B3216.  Also under this reference are engine and propeller history cards and other servicing documents for TA639.

24Sep59   Flown by Flt Lt. Curtis, made 55 minute Flight on delivery to No.3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (CAACU) at Exeter Airport.  This civilian manned but Air Ministry equipped unit exercised the guns for all three services from Portland to Cardigan Bay, and further afield during big exercises the Mosquitos' 4½-5 hour endurance taking them as far as Scotland.  TA639 carried the fuselage code `55' with the unit.  Photo: `Guardian' newspaper 16 Jun 89.  Painted silver overall, yellow/black target-tug stripes were worn on the wing undersides.

05Nov59   Piloted by Harry Ellis, Chief pilot of No.3 CAACU, with Pete Howland as his winch operator (`TTO') TA639 made a two hour flight to the Army’s' School of Anti-Aircraft Artillery at Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, flying a low-level drogue towing sortie. 
         

The unit also provided local support for the Naval Gunnery School at HMS Cambridge, near Plymouth and for ships at sea needing both visual and radar gunnery practice, both towing drogues and making mock low-level attacks.

08Jun60   Displayed at Air Show at Exeter Airport Photos - The De Havilland Mosquito A Comprehensive guide for The Modeller (Franks) p.41; Aviation World Spring 2007 p.37.

Oct62   Originally intended as withdrawal date for the units' Mosquitoes, with replacement by Meteor TT20 aircraft, but full conversion postponed.
Thursday
09May63   Took part in `official last fly-past' by Mosquitos at Exeter, but suffered port engine failure at end of the flight, causing a hurried landing after 50 minutes flying.  At the end the unit had two Mosquito T.3 and seven TT35 aircraft still airworthy, of which T3.  TW117 and B35s, RS709, RS712, TA634, TA639 and TA719 took part in the final display.

20May63   Following engine repairs, given 25 minute test flight at Exeter.

21May63   Target-towing buffer and tail guards removed.

30May63   Formally transferred from strength of No.3 CAACU to Central Flying School, Little Rissington, Glos, as a flying display aircraft.

31May63   Formally struck off RAF charge.  Had flown 547.35 hours (315 landings) since new.

06Jun63   Made a 45 minute flight to its new base at Little Rissington where it was kept airworthy although nominally allocated maintenance serial 7806M on 6th May 63.  Remaining TT equipment was removed and the aircraft given a grey/green camouflage colour scheme, with silver undersides.

Jun63   Loaned to Mirisch Films Ltd for production of the film `633 Squadron' at RAF Bovingdon, Herts, as one of five airworthy and three taxiable Mosquitoes, all ex-No.3 CAACU, used in the film.

15Jul63   Flew to Bovingdon via Dishforth for filming, flown by Air Commodore Bird-Wilson.  Given the fictitious serial HJ682 and codes HT-B on 20th July, and modified to look like a Mosquito FBV1 by having the nose perspex painted over and possibly dummy machine guns fitted. 

Late July63   Filming began around the Bovingdon Area.  Photo of TA639 as `HJ682' - `Warbirds Worldwide' 29 and 34 p.26.  When filming moved to the Scottish Lochs, based at Inverness, the RAF would not allow TA639 to be used since the flying there was considered too dangerous.  TA639 was used extensively for filming up to mid September, being at Tern Hill 14Sep63 (FlyPast Oct 63 - Photo). Further photos in 1963, camouflaged as TA634; De Havilland Mosquito (Bowman 1998) p.157; Aviation News October 2004.


After filming was complete TA639 returned to Little Rissington for personal use by the CO, and made one display flight over the Mosquito Museum at Salisbury Hall.  By Dec 1964 TA639 had flown 588.05 hours - 391 landings.

18Sep65   Photographed at RAF Tern Hill, Shropshire (Photo: British Museum Aircraft).  This was the aircraft's Penultimate Flight.

03Oct65   Final flight - 1 hour 20 minutes.  Total flying hours 607.10/ 415 landings.  The next major servicing was due at 705.55 hours.

19Nov65   Engines ground-run.

23Nov65   Engines inhibited.  At this stage, further flying was not ruled out.

17Mar66   Given a glued joint inspection, the results of which ended its flying career. 


The March 1966 inspection confirmed that the glued joints had deteriorated since the last inspection 4 months previously and that other joints would go if the aircraft was taxied or flown.  Repairs would take 6 months, it was estimated - wing joints were loose, dry and flaky.  `Rectification is beyond unit ability and capacity to repair and is considered completely uneconomical'.  This recommendation was adhered to and the aircraft grounded permanently.

05Jul67   Transferred to RAF Museum Collection.

9-10Aug67   Transferred by road by No.71 MU from Little Rissington to the RAFM store at RAF Henlow.

Oct67   The two inhibited Merlins that had seemingly been retained at Little Rissington as spares engines for this aircraft, a Merlin 113 and Merlin 114, followed the Mosquito to Henlow as 67/E/731-732; they are both presently on loan to the Derby Branch of the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust.

14Jun68   Displayed at RAF Abingdon for the RAF's 50th anniversary display. Photo - Air Britain Digest July 1968 p.194.

Sep68   Displayed with other historic aircraft on Horseguards Parade, London during Battle of Britain week. Photo - Mosquito Survivors (Howe) p.105.

Sep69      Moved to storage at RAF Cosford by this date, possibly after the Horseguards display.  By the 1970s TA639 was part of the regional collection of aircraft at the Cosford Aerospace Museum, still in its mid-late 1960s applied camouflage scheme.

1988          Repainted at Cosford in the colours and markings of the Mosquito XX of No.627 Squadron, AZ-E, in which Wing Commander Guy Gibson was killed on a pathfinder sortie 19/20 Sep 1944.  It remains on display at Cosford. Photos; Aircraft Illustrated March 1991 p.145; Supplement to Aeroplane April 2001 p.13.

Source - RAF Museum - Cosford.