History made at RAF Takali

I can remember clambering over the remains of a Javelin on the HalFar dump when I lived in Kalafrana in 1966/7.
Here’s a partner in crime on a home made catamaran cobbled up from a pair of drop tanks, in Kalafrana bay with Birzebugga in the background.

And a very nice postcard of early Kalafrana, before the married quarters were built on the hill behind the Wrens quarters.
Looks like a Felixstowe on the ramp, so must be early 20’s I would guess.

I had the great pleasure of knowing Stan Hall BEM, last surviving member of the RAF High Speed Flight that won the Schneider Trophy in 1931. In the late 1920’s he served with 202 Sqdn at Kalafrana on Fairey IIIDs, and told me of the early morning flights he would take in the back seat to pick up fresh honey from the little island of Comino, in time for breakfast in the officers mess. It really was the world’s finest flying club in those days!

I can remember in 1980 Ta qali’s runway used as a race track for the locals. It looked so much fun my Dad decided to participate in it. they guy selling refreshments there shut up shop and decided to join the fun.

I can also remember a karting track there too.

we went back in 1981 and 82 and when we went back in 82 the runway had been covered in concrete filled oil drums! which was a shame.

the curator of the museum was telling me that it was a libyan jet that actually landed on the runway that made them change the state of the runway. he also said they might have found the remains of the Gladiatior “Charity” which they want to restore and there was also talk of raising the Blenheim too.

That is one museum with an amazing future I wish i had time last week to go there but the day i was meant to go i was really ill…. due to alcohol the night before! never drinking again!

at the other side of the studios they have what is left of the model Titanic from the film Raise the Titanic

If you look at my piccie of the 100 ton gun there is a submarine just to the right of the end of the barrel.

Lovely, thanks for posting.
Unfortunately the shot does not show the film set immediately between it and the sea.
On my last visit two years ago, the U-boat film artefacts, were still very much present.
The corresponding Cambridge battery to Rinella, located at Sliema, is in the grounds of a hotel and whilst it doesn’t have it’s 100 ton gun, the fort layout remains and is very much in use albeit modified.

I seem to remember on my first visit to Malta in 1990, I went to Hal Far and saw the remains of a number of aircraft around the fire fighting school, including what I remember was a fairly well burnt out (no fuselage top half), DC-3.
I remember the Connie restaurant near the airport, still existing as well.

The museum at Taqali managed to salvage the Engines Propellers and tail unit of the Connie. The U Boat is floating in a backwater of the dry dock next to where the immigrants have set up camp along with some other interesting stuff.There used to be 4 or 5 marine Griffons on the dry dock warf that had been taken out of some old patrol boats since scrapped (we think ??).

Mike e

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

When one considers the fantastic work done in restoring the Spitfire, Hurricane, Tiger Moth & currently the Bird Dog, what could they do for “Faith” currently moribund in the War Museum in Valletta! It is wingless and in an appalling environment, the Air Museum has an excellent environment to store the aircraft and a set of wings!!!!!!

I know it was mentioned in the past and we even had a petition at one stage as regards the Gladiator labelled as Faith although there is some doubt that it is that particular aircraft.

Some considerable time and previous government bodies in Malta .Negotiations took place on the initiative of Ray polidano the museum Director to get Faith rebuilt byu the museum.In fact with the help of the Fleet Air Arm museum,RAFM and the Swedish all the needed parts to rebuild and complete the aircraft where obtained and shipped to Malta.These being the complete Cabane struct structure,the interplane struts,a full set of mainplanes some spare bits and pieces and ll the fittings needed. Sadly the government changed as did the policies and persons in charge. .So its rebuild was put on hold. Then after a number of years the new government departments started to possibly warm to the idea then low and behold the government changed again and so the yo-yo process recommenced in fact at one stage the person in charge of the museums department whom I might add is very experienced in Roman artifacts made the statement that Oh No the aircraft could not go to Taqali for rebuild as they would make it like new aand that could not be allowed.Perhaps the individual should stick yo his understanding of dead Romans and stop trying to treat an aircraft the same.Sad fact is the aircraft is in desperate need of a total strip and rebuild it is the 1970’s since it was touched and a lot of “temporary work” took place at that time to make the aircraft presentable.You would think that one of the islands national treasures should be allowed to be rebuilt by a very capable time and also made complete at the time.It does not have to stay at Taqali once finished it could go back to the cramped confines of Fort St Elmo in the damp next to the Harbour wall but it is a shame that it is being allowed to what seems to many to deteriorate to such a degree that its future could be threatened.Where would they be then without it ??. I can see there being then another ten year search to find one like there was with EN199 the Malta Spitfire that so many of us worked so hard to obtain parts for and rebuild for the Island to have as a memorial to the few !!!

Look what happened to the cockpit section of George Beurlings Spitfire that is on Display at Fort St Elmo it was just fished out of the harbour it has never had any preservation work or other carried out on it and it is just powdering away to nothing and that is a very historic piece of aircraft from a war time national hero

It is all very sad indeed.

The guys I know are having one last try at persuading government departments to allow them to carry out the much needed work on the Gladiator.If anyone is so inclined they can write to the Times of Malta in support as this newspaper has in the past carried articles trying to help.Or send letters of support direct to the Malta Air Museum (their address can be found online). If there is no success this time then workshop space will be lost for around 7 years as the Swordfish from Canada will move into its slot instead for rebuild (to taxi able condition as is the museums policy where possible if flight not an option)

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

Here is 100 tonner…

Lovely, thanks for posting.
Unfortunately the shot does not show the film set immediately between it and the sea.
On my last visit two years ago, the U-boat film artefacts, were still very much present.
The corresponding Cambridge battery to Rinella, located at Sliema, is in the grounds of a hotel and whilst it doesn’t have it’s 100 ton gun, the fort layout remains and is very much in use albeit modified.

I seem to remember on my first visit to Malta in 1990, I went to Hal Far and saw the remains of a number of aircraft around the fire fighting school, including what I remember was a fairly well burnt out (no fuselage top half), DC-3.
I remember the Connie restaurant near the airport, still existing as well.

When one considers the fantastic work done in restoring the Spitfire, Hurricane, Tiger Moth & currently the Bird Dog, what could they do for “Faith” currently moribund in the War Museum in Valletta! It is wingless and in an appalling environment, the Air Museum has an excellent environment to store the aircraft and a set of wings!!!!!!

Couldn’t agree more:D

They also fire their Armstrong 100 ton gun at Rinella Fort using no less than 50kG of black powder at a time.:eek:

Nicely put. I just love going there.

Here is 100 tonner…

and for a few quid you can fire something a bit smaller…great fun..

The airfield at Taqali has an awful lot of history around it if you look carefully beyond the football stadium and othe rmodern bits you will find the old officers mess.behind the museum are the remains of the cave hangars (they are trying to preserve one or whats left of it).The craft village is a time warp with a lot of it being the old camp buildings the cinema and the parachute building also three of the old hangars exist in the concrete works and the basketball stadium is an old T2. The concrete runway does exists in its entirety but many years ago to discorage aircraft landing they built an island down the middle of it to creat a dual carriageway type roadway not going really anywhere .This being because the runway is actually on the direct line of the approach into the main runway at Luqa and alegedly previoulsy there ha dbeen instances of aircraft lining up to land a few miles short of where they should have.

The original terminal at Luqa was certainly a laugh it was like a big tin shed but some of the old bits still remain as they moved the terminal area completely about 1/4 mile even the previous tower and other structures still exist and many nissen huts. as another point before you go up the hill from the big island and interchange near the dry docks on the left is the area where the V bomber crashed and burned ( I think it was a Vulcan)never re built on.very conveniently to the rear of it is the very large cemetary.

A wonderfull country with very pleasant people even the youngsters are very polite and sociable a pleasant change .

For anyone who has never visited and not sure where to go try Malta it offers everything and a rich military and aviation history beside thousands of years of other history and remains to see.And nice weather and a few cracking beaches for the other half to lay on while you visit the museum they even like hands on visitors when we go I still tend to get involved If you contact them in advance of going I am sure they will welcome you with open arms.

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

I’ve been going to Malta since 1980 and I just love the place. one of my biggest memories is going past medavia and seeing 9 maybe 10 DC3s and a few Caribous along with the old Connie. I was in Malta when they filmed the last episode of Airline where Rusikin takes the Dak to Germany to participate in the Berlin Air lift. That was Spectacular!

I also remember being at the old terminal watching an Air Malta 720 being loaded up for a flight to tripoli. the cargo consisted of goats, fans and ghettoblasters (i kid you not excuse the pun) the departure gates were straining with everyone trying to get out. A poor old guy was being wheeled to the plane as they let them out and he was mobbed as they rushed to the plane! still makes me laugh!

I dont know if i have this right but there was a couple of Daks that people used to live in and had a garage roof made from a couple of Canberra wings.

Malta will always have a special place in my heart and look forward to getting back there, and possibly get a job too so i can stay. my maltese Friends think i am nuts!

Yes a very historic day at “Taqali” its been a lot of hard work getting the agreement of the government depart responsible and the aero modellors entrenched on the threshold and first 75 metres of runway to agree to its use on a limited basis I understand only so many days a year initially.

re the scrap yards on Malta yes there where a few now none..The main yard we pulled the Spitfire out EN199 (the team I headed up on the rebuild in 1991/92) has now gone this was at Kirkop and help amongst other things; Canberra fuselage,The remains of two Spitfires,A very badly chopped Sea Hawk The cockpits and some engine nacelle bits of two Hastings,The remains of a Stuka wing (the rest hanging on the wall at Valletta),The remains of an unidentified american type its radial engines being present and bits of all sorts of aircraft and scrap dockyard equipment and vehicles.

There used to be Paolo’s Yard out near Kalafrana this was famous for having the remains of Ted whites Harvard and the nose perspex from at Least 6 Mosquito’s and the burnt cockpit centre section of a Mosquito (identity unknown) donated to the museum at the begining of this year following the death of the owner.

There used to be other parts around the island including a yard that had the remains of a B737 (I think it was) that ha dbeen blown up by terrorists at Luqa airport.And a few hundred yards away a man who had a garage/car port made from a DC3 fuselage and either a very early DC3 or DC2 fuselage as walls with Canberra wings over the top as a roof. There was a bar near Attard that had a Turret on its roof for many years (could have been either Sunderland or something american).Then of course there is the fire training school at Halfar that has had numerous types through its yard including caribou,DC3 ,Beech 18,B727 and other types.

Sadly other than what is currently at Halfar,at the Museum at Taqali and in the sea the rest has gone over the last few years the yard at Kirkop being one of the most recent with the Hastings parts being some of the last bits out going to Canada. Everything else is in the sea and the list is a long one and not for me to go into on this forum as its not really my place to.

mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

Thanks airart. Info i have was that Short Sturgeons previously based at Hal Far were sold to a Mosta scrapyard after disposal, and were seen there circa 1960.!

The Kalafrana scrap yard was a real treasure trove; remember seeing parts of Sea Hornets there in the 60s, sorry no pics though.

Don’t know about the Mosta one; seen another scrap yard at Msida with noses of Firefly drones (engine and cowlings cut off the fuselage complete still in the red and cream paint) and wings of Sea Hawks. Have some pics somewhere, will try to dig them out.

Anyone know anything of a Kalafrana or Mosta scrapyard in Malta handling aircraft remains in the 1960’s?.. or even better have some piccies?

Malta is a fantastic place!

Couldn’t agree more:D

(you can still have a working mg there).

They also fire their Armstrong 100 ton gun at Rinella Fort using no less than 50kG of black powder at a time.:eek:

Good weather, great people, exellent food and reasonable prices…whats not to like?

Nicely put. I just love going there.

Malta is a fantastic place, an island which seems to populated by petrolheads.No matter whether 2 or 4 wheels, with wings, old or modern its all there. Classic car meets on Sundays in Qawra,bikes at Golden Bay,or classic bikes at the next bay down. Custom cars, restored oldies, drag racing on 2 and 4 wheels, RC club. The Air Museum, small military vehicle club and burgeoning re-enactment scene. Gun collecting (you can still have a working mg there). A fantastic classic car Museum. The Malta Classic GP. Good weather, great people, exellent food and reasonable prices…whats not to like!.

You can’t keep a good Moth down !

The non-standard tail wheel is a good idea on hard runways. They might even consider brakes, as Cub units will snuggle into Tiger hubs.

My chum and I nearly crunched this aeroplane ( G-ANFW ) on a hard runway in Switzerland in 1995. Tarmac/concrete runways and tailskids are not condusive to a relaxing day !

Nice one Glen, a fantastic achievement for all involved.
As PJ has mentioned, the shot with Mdina behind is fantastic.
I have a big soft spot for Malta and it’s people.
So much history to boot.

Blimey it seems that Malta is a popular destination for forumites, the Malta Aviation Museum at Ta’Qali is a fantastic place to visit and the staff there really do go out of their way to make visitors welcome and to talk to enthusiasts.
The Spitfire restoration by the MHAPG is incredible.