Topics

31

Combat Warplanes / One million flying hours

« on: July 09, 2011, 08:57:59 PM »

The RAF’s ground attack Tornados currently serving in Afghanistan and Libya have clocked up a staggering one million flying hours.  Number 617 Squadron “ The Dambusters” took the aircraft through the landmark in Afghanistan this week.

The RAF’s deep strike and reconnaissance aircraft were first flown by the RAF in 1979 and have been at the forefront of operational service ever since.  From its service in the Gulf spanning 20 years and two Gulf Wars, through its operations in the Balkans and current deployments to Afghanistan and Libya, Tornado has proven itself in battle time and time again.

Tornado has a range of highly accurate precision missiles and bombs that can destroy a vast range of targets from aircraft and small moving vehicles on the ground to heavily fortified bunkers.  The aircraft also has a selection of high-tech sensors that can detect hostile enemies, pass live day and night video to troops on the ground and take detailed reconnaissance pictures as they have done over Helmand Province and Libya.

The RAF has five frontline Squadrons, Numbers 12(B) and 617 Squadrons at RAF Lossiemouth and Numbers II(AC), IX(B) and 31 Squadrons at RAF Marham.  The Operational Conversion Unit, Number 15(R) Squadron is also based at RAF Lossiemouth.

Currently Number 617 Squadron is deployed in Afghanistan and Number II(AC) Squadron is deployed in support of Operations in Libya.

Tornado is a two-seat, multi-role aircraft able to carry out operations during day or night, in all weathers, and can deploy a wide variety of precision weapons. Tornado aircraft have recently seen active service in the Balkans and Iraq and are currently deployed in Afghanistan and Libya.

·   Engines: Two RB199 turbofans
·   Thrust: 16,000lbs each
·   Max speed: 1.3Mach
·   Length: 16.72m
·   Max altitude: 50,000ft
·   Span: 8.6m
·   Range: Combat radius 460 miles  - extended by air to air refuelling
·   Weapons: Storm Shadow, Brimstone, ALARM (Air Launched Anti-Radar Missile), ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile), Paveway II, Paveway III, Enhanced Paveway, General Purpose Bombs, Mauser 27mm

(Text RAF MOD)

32

Combat Warplanes / Royal Air Force on Current Operations

« on: July 09, 2011, 12:15:12 AM »

Some images of RAF Typhoons and Tornados on current operations.

33

Ground Forces / RAF vehicle

« on: December 21, 2010, 03:38:35 PM »

Here's one for you, I took these back in 1977,  , I will let you think for a bit about what it was used for 

34

Combat Warplanes / RAF Waddington Airshow 2010

« on: July 17, 2010, 11:35:03 AM »

Here are some of the images I took during the 2010 RAF Waddington Airshow, I was unable to stay to the very end  My daughter was feelling ill and it was a long drive home. But I still had a great day. They say that 105,000 people were there on the day I went! 

I just had to put two up of this great aircraft

I hope you enjoy them

Mick 

35

Combat Warplanes / RAF Benson post WW2

« on: July 04, 2010, 08:44:05 AM »

Thought members would like to see this set of images I have. They are of RAF Benson after WW2, this Unit was the home of RAF Photographic Reconnaissance from 1940. These images were taken from 1945 to 1956 and show the various reconnassiance aircraft used, there is even a Lancaster PR.1 (still carrying out research on this one).
I have had the images for a number of years and apart for only putting a couple of them on my site, they have not been seen before.

36

Aircraft Modeling / 1/32 scale Puma

« on: April 23, 2010, 10:23:02 AM »

I thought you all may wish to see this stunning model of a 1/32 scale Puma. It was made by a friend of mind who did it for a leaving gift for an ex-Puma pilot.
The main reason why it was sent to me is the object on the trailer, this is an F.96 reconnaissance camera and it would have been mounted in the door way of the Puma to take reconnaissance imagery. This camera was designed to fitted in recce aircraft and not Pumas!!
I'm not too sure, but I think the camera and mount were hand-made as I have never seen kits for these.  

37

Aircraft Modeling / Paper Model Aircraft

« on: January 17, 2010, 01:59:46 AM »

If you would like to try a your hand a making paper/card aircraft models, have a look at this site

http://www.paper-avia.com/en/modelz/wars/ww2_a#top2

All periods are covered 

38

Combat Warplanes / Duxford Airshow 11 Oct 2009

« on: October 14, 2009, 06:17:04 PM »

A very wet day at Duxford last weekend, however, ther was flying. Here are some of the images I took and a bit of info about each aircraft. More to follow

AR213 is the sole remaining airworthy Mk I Spitfire out of a total of 1,566 Mk I Spitfires built. AR213 spent its war time service as a training aircraft with 57 and 53 Operational Training Units until sold off, surplus to requirements, in 1947. It languished for many years at the Shuttleworth Collection airfield at Old Warden, just a few miles away from Duxford, the first RAF base to be equipped with Spitfires. In 1967 AR213 was restored to full flying condition in order to take a part in the film The Battle of Britain.

AR213 & P7350 is the oldest surviving airworthy Spitfire and is still with the Royal Air Force. Following a chequered career, it is now operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, based at RAF Conningsby. First delivered into RAF service in August 1940 and saw action with several squadrons including 266, 603, 616, and 64 Squadrons. Repaired following an accident P7350 was returned to the Central Gunnery School at RAF Sutton Bridge, near Kings Lynn where it suffered damage in another accident. Following this mishap it was repaired and sent to 57 OTU, where it remained as a training aeroplane until being scrapped in March 1946. By good fortune the aircraft was recognised for what it was and the scrap dealers handed it back to the Royal Air Force Museum at Colerne. There it stayed until, in 1967, it too was returned to flying condition for a role in the epic film The Battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight obtained the aircraft after the filming and it has remained with them up to current time.

Hawker HURRICANE XII - Historic Flying Collection, Duxford. Originally bulit by the Canadian Car Foundry it joined the RCAF in 1943. It was struck off charge in 1947 and restored to flying condition in 1989 and the HAC acquired it in 2002.

More to follow 

39

Combat Warplanes / Imperial War Museum London - Lots of graphics

« on: September 26, 2009, 11:05:32 AM »

Here are some of the images I took during a visit with my Unit to the Imperial War Museum London.

These were just the large displays, there are a lot of side rooms, we only had a couple of hours to view everything. I could have stayed all day

A great day was had by all  

40

Combat Warplanes / Spitfire PR XI - PL 965

« on: September 19, 2009, 04:33:01 PM »

I first came across this aircraft over 25 years ago during a visit to the Dutch National War and Resistance Museum, Overloon. Is was sitting on display after being restored by RAF tradesman stationed in Germany.

Taken 25 years ago

Taken 25 years ago

Here is a brief history of this Spitfire (Source - Hanger 11)

Supermarine Spitfire MK XI serial number PL 965 left the Aldermaston factory in mid 1944. Built as a MK XI photo reconnaissance aircraft, she was designed to operate at high altitudes (over 30,000 ft) and at high speeds of over 400 mph and as such was the fastest of all the Merlin powered Spitfires.

She was allocated to No.9 MU Cosford on 1st October 1944 and then ferried to No 34 wing and thence allocated to 16 Squadron, which at the time, was a forward squadron, based at Melsbroek airfield, near Brussels in Belgium as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. She proudly wore the identifying code "R" for Robert.

As one of the lucky wartime survivors, by 1960 she was an exhibit at the Dutch War Museum at Overloon. Here she remained for 27 years, eventually returning to the UK in 1987, for restoration to airworthy status in the hands of the late Nick Grace. Prior to his tragic death, Nick had arranged for the rebuild to be carried out at Rochester by MAPS Ltd. and over the next 5 years she was lovingly and painstakingly restored by this highly experienced and dedicated team.

Returning to the skies in December 1992, PL 965 has been a well-loved participant on the air show scene both here and in the USA from where she had recently returned in summer 2004.

PL 965 as she is now

41

Combat Warplanes / RAF Cosford Airshow (15 Jun 09) Warning a lot of graphics

« on: June 18, 2009, 06:16:25 PM »

Here are some images from the RAF Cosford Airshow, 15th June 09. Sad to say I had to leave before the Vulcan flow. However, a friend of mine got it all on video and is going to send me a copy.

They think that over 58,000 people went! I got there at 8am and by 1130am they closed the car parks as all 18,000 parking bays were full, they even closed areas of the M54 motorway which runs very close to the camp beacuase of the number of cars trying to get into the show!

It took me over a hour to get out of the car park and back onto the motorway for the 2 hour drive home. If I had stayed for the Vulcan, which was flying at 5.30pm, I think I would have got home between 9-10pm  

42

Combat Warplanes / Gun Camera Imagery

« on: June 16, 2009, 07:41:52 PM »

Something a bit different.

These images were taken from a Polish Mustang III gun camera, unsure from which squadron 

43

Market / RAF Jaguar for sale

« on: June 04, 2009, 08:01:57 PM »

For sale on Ebay RAF Jaguar  

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEPECAT-JAGUAR-GR3-JET-AIRCRAFT-ex-RAF-AEROPLANE_W0QQitemZ300320069349QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CPV_Aviation_SM?hash=item45ec7896e5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1684

One careful owner  

44

Combat Warplanes / The Memphis Belle

« on: May 24, 2009, 12:37:00 AM »

The Memphis Belle, a B-17F Flying Fortress, is one of the most famous aircraft in history. In May 1943 it became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. The pilot, then-Lt. Robert Morgan, named the aircraft after his wartime girlfriend, Margaret Polk, of Memphis, Tenn. Lt. Morgan chose the artwork from a 1941 George Petty illustration in Esquire magazine.

Flying in the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group (Heavy), the Memphis Belle and its crew of 10 flew their first combat mission on Nov. 7, 1942. Until the arrival of long-range fighters later in the war, USAAF heavy bombers often flew without escort for part of their missions. Faced with hordes of enemy aircraft, deadly antiaircraft fire and the lack of friendly fighters in the target area, it was highly unlikely that a bomber crew would finish their required 25 missions.

The crew of the Memphis Belle beat the odds with their 25th combat mission on May 17, 1943, against the naval yard at Lorient, France. Interestingly, this raid was the Belle's 24th combat mission--the original crew occasionally flew missions on other 91st BG (H) B-17s (and others took the Belle on some missions also). So, on May 19, the Memphis Belle flew its 25th combat mission on a strike against Kiel, Germany, while manned by a different crew.

Upon their return to the United States in June 1943, the Memphis Belle's crew flew the aircraft across the country on a three-month war bond and morale boosting tour. With the bond tour and the 1944 William Wyler documentary film titled The Memphis Belle -- depicting actual combat footage -- the aircraft and its crew became widely known and celebrated. In 1990 a major motion picture of the same name added to their fame.

For many, the story of the Memphis Belle has become a timeless symbol of all the heroic USAAF bomber crews who flew against Nazi Germany in World War II. In need of a thorough restoration, the Memphis Belle arrived at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in October 2005. A careful, multi-year conservation and restoration effort by museum staff -- including corrosion treatment, the full outfitting of missing equipment and accurate markings -- will bring the Memphis Belle back to pristine condition.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: 13 .50-cal machine guns (normally only 12 on combat missions) and 8,000 lbs of bombs
Engines: Four 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-97 turbosupercharged radials
Maximum speed: 325 mph
Range: 2,800 miles
Ceiling: 37,500 ft.

Text (c)USAF National Museum.

45

Combat Warplanes / First UK Joint Strike Fighters to be purchased

« on: March 19, 2009, 01:11:56 PM »

The first of the UK's next generation of supersonic stealth fast jets, the Joint Strike Fighters, are to be purchased by the MOD, Defence Secretary John Hutton has announced today, Wednesday 18 March 2009.

Mr Hutton said that three Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) test aircraft are to be purchased, marking a significant milestone in the UK's commitment to the JSF project.
JSF will provide the UK with an unrivalled 'fifth-generation' tactical air system, designed with stealth characteristics and advanced sensors, and will afford the UK a 'step change' in capability.

The new aircraft will replace the capability provided by the Joint Force Harriers.
Built by Lockheed Martin this first production aircraft - F-35 AA-1 - flew its maiden flight on 15 December 2006 and the aircraft are being developed under a joint US/UK and other nations agreement.

The UK variant will be a multi-role fighter/attack aircraft with a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability similar to the current Joint Force Harrier, and will be able to operate from land bases or aircraft carriers.

Advantages over the Harrier will include supersonic flight, stealth, improved survivability and range, and being able to carry munitions inboard and externally. Vertical lift will be provided by a Rolls-Royce developed fan system.

Compared with the conventional take-off and landing (F-35A) variant already flying, the F-35B has a shaft-driven lift fan mounted behind the cockpit, roll ducts installed in the wing and swivelling nozzle fitted to the engine.

In STOVL mode, doors open above and below the lift fan, a clutch engages to drive the two-stage contra-rotating fan from the engine and the rear nozzle pivots downward to deflect engine thrust.

The JSF will keep the RAF and the Royal Navy at the forefront of military aviation technology and give them an aircraft that will surpass most current and planned future aircraft and weapons systems until the middle of this century.

source - MoD