On the good ‘ol Gen Discussion forum there’s a thread about fave smells. Limiting it a bit, I’m sure most of us know that old aircraft smell; neglected museum ones smell musty and sad, flying have an amazing mixture of smells, and freshly restored ones smell quite different to the smell of a patinated* machine.
Personally I’m not a great one for sitting in machines going ‘Vrummm’ in a hangar but I do like to have a look in a cockpit; see how it fits together, the wear, and yes, what it smells like.
Any aircraft that spring to mind? Extra points for Vintage & Veteran, though modern stuff is permitted too. Moggy C, did the Piper smell ‘right’ when you got it back?
(“I love the smell of Spitfire in the morning.” 😉 )
Cheers
* Patina, see 2 & 3:
1. “A thin greenish layer, usually basic copper sulfate, that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of corrosion.
2. The sheen on any surface, produced by age and use.
3. A change in appearance produced by long-standing behavior, practice, or use.”
By: ALBERT ROSS - 18th August 2004 at 22:39
Ah, aircraft smells! One that will live me forever is the smell inside a RAF Britannia. The air conditioning mixed with the leather seats and plastic padding. In 1967, I flew in the Britannia now at Kemble, I was absolutely amazed that 30 years later, I went inside it again and that same ‘RAF Britannia smell’ was still there! Nostalgia on tap, even though the aircraft had been out of RAF service in Zaire for a few years!
Anyone that wants to experience this, go to Kemble when the Brit is open!
By: TomB - 18th August 2004 at 22:27
So what is ‘the smell’ caused by, cos my little Caterham 7 car smells just like an old aircraft! Is it the peculiar combination of leather, electrics, oils & fuels?
By: tonyd - 18th August 2004 at 20:43
50s jets do smell fantastic. Whenever I open my cockpit after a few weeks shut tight (oooh errr!) there is no shortage of noses to whiff it! If you restore the inside of a cockpit with original materials it still retains that smell! 😀
By: danohagan - 18th August 2004 at 14:25
Vulcans have a lovely smell. You can still smell the Norwich example by standing under the gear bays. Lovely smell – old electrical wiring.
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 14:06
No, very happy with that.
Also the L-39 offers air conditioning….
Pictures? Maybe later.
By: Mark12 - 18th August 2004 at 13:57
Well B O me down.
No, not airborne. After. Sometimes years after.
Not a smell, but a feeling: Getting to sit inside the turret of the Boulton Paul Defiant in the RAF Museum. That was NO place to go to war. Brave men, mostly Sergents thanks to the RAF’s class system.
JDK
I thought you were referring to your recent flying experiences with brother Steve. 🙂
Mark
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 13:49
No, not airborne. After. Sometimes years after.
Not a smell, but a feeling: Getting to sit inside the turret of the Boulton Paul Defiant in the RAF Museum. That was NO place to go to war. Brave men, mostly Sergents thanks to the RAF’s class system.
By: Mark12 - 18th August 2004 at 13:46
Fear not.
Good one. 😀
I’ve also smelled fear in an aircraft or two. (Sweat is one component of that…)
JDK
If you are solo and airborne then that is a problem.
If you are the passenger and airborne then I guess it depends how close you are sitting together – but hope it is your own. 🙂
Mark
By: *Zwitter* - 18th August 2004 at 13:31
Old Canberras smell pretty good inside – that old wiring/rubber/farty smell..
mmmmmm 🙂
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 12:59
Good one. 😀
I’ve also smelled fear in an aircraft or two. (Sweat is one component of that…)
By: Mark12 - 18th August 2004 at 12:55
Coming back to British prices, road manners and weather hasn’t done my temper any good. Still Old Warden compensates for a lot. There’s a few good folk here too. ([B]Ahhh. Retch[/B].)
JDK
Are we talking aircraft smell pre or post aeros?
Mark
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 12:40
Coming back to British prices, road manners and weather hasn’t done my temper any good. Still Old Warden compensates for a lot. There’s a few good folk here too. (Ahhh. Retch.)
By: DazDaMan - 18th August 2004 at 12:37
I think being abroad for so long has frazzled your grey matter! 😉
What about a replica Spit? Sat in the ex-Clive Du Cros aircraft at Duxford, and it had a distinct piney kind of smell, as well as the musty museum sort.
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August 18, 2004 at 12:36 pm