RNAS Culdrose, 'HMS Siskin', Predannack.

Lovely pictures 😉 just love Merlins 😉

A very interesting set of photographs Brian 🙂 i visited Culdrose early in July this year, never knew Naval Aviation Bases to be so busy ! i’m more used to Boring Army bases and VERY busy operational Royal Air Force bases, but it threw me back 😀 but i feel very odd just seeing the GR3’s and Wessex just sat there rotting away from the elements, surely they could go to preservation or museums ?? its part of our proud aviation heritage ! :s think i get abit carried away sometimes with my views hehe 😀

Thanks Brian 🙂

Thats what I like about this site, always learning something new 😀

Regards,

Dan

Yeah thank you Brian 😎

James

Thanks Brian 🙂

Thats what I like about this site, always learning something new 😀

Regards,

Dan

‘HMS Siskin’ is just a part of the School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose, which is where they train aircraft handlers who will be operating aircraft from aircraft carriers and frigates at sea. ‘HMS Siskin’ is a full size dummy deck replica of an Invincible class aircraft carrier on which they carry out simulated launches, recoveries and deck movements. To add a bit of realism, the Harriers are ‘Live’ in the fact that the engines work, although limited, to create the noise and conditions that would be found on a real deck. ‘HMS Siskin’ can be seen from the public viewing area. See below. The three hangers represent hanger decks and although all the airframes appear to be crammed in the idea is to get the largest number of airframes into the smallest amount of space as on a real ship.

The GR.3s were used originally to simulate Sea Harriers but as the Sea Harrier is now out of Service, they replaced the GR.3s and are used to simulate GR7/9s.

Predannack is about six miles down the road and is the relief landing ground for Culdrose. Barnes Wallis also did his supersonic swing wing models tests from here. Scattered around the southern end of the airfield are the airframes for the RN Fire Fighting School. As we got closer to it the sea mist got thicker and wandering around to try and find everything was interesting.

Link for Cottesmore Aviation Group

Brian

Nice pictures 🙂

Is HMS Siskin where they store all the ‘mothballed’ Sea Harriers? Also, why are there several Harrier GR3’s there as well?

Regards,

Dan

RNAS Predannack

HMS Siskin

Wow Brian great shots there,Is that Rescue 193 the RN SAR Sea King? and where abouts is HMS Siskin and Predannack? one more thing what is the COTTESMORE AVIATION GROUP and can anyone join ? 😎

James