Im trying to find a photo of the Heavylift colour schemed SHORTS BELFAST AT COSFORD back in 1986. I just can’t find a photo of her in this colour scheme anywhere on the net. Only in her RAF colour scheme. Is there anyone out there who can help with a pic of her in her Heavy lift colour scheme at Cosford back then.
Albert
By: David Burke - 12th October 2006 at 23:43
Albert – what a terrible bunch Heavylift were ‘forcing’ their generocity on the poor unsuspecting RAFM people with a free repaint!
By: ALBERT ROSS - 12th October 2006 at 20:41
Cosford’s Belfast NEVER was with Heavylift. The airline sponsored a free repaint if it was in Heavylift colours, so we had to live with. It served all its life as XR371 with the RAF.
By: al20a - 12th October 2006 at 20:11
Thanks Badger,
Also just got confirmation off RAF Cosford today as well, never thought to ask the horses mouth, but there you go. Apparently it got painted into Heavylift colour scheme in 1982 and cost £18,000 to paint it back into RAF colours in 1988. So to answers my underlining question that I must of saw her in Heavylift colours in 1986 on an Autumn visit to Cosford back then. Thanks to Brians photo there what’s she looked like back then. Pure nostalgia!
So thanks to everyone for their great imput.
Much appreciated
Albert
By: badger617 - 12th October 2006 at 19:40
The Belfast was painted into RAF colour’s in 1988,It is not open to the public and is now sitting in its new home in the cold war building.
By: jaybeebee - 11th October 2006 at 18:09
is the belfast open to the public?
By: al20a - 11th October 2006 at 16:30
Airliners.net gets it down to 1989, so somewhere between 1986-1989 it reverted back to its RAF colour scheme.
Albert
By: Pen Pusher - 11th October 2006 at 16:26
My next visit to Cosford was in 1990 and my photos show it in its current RAF scheme. Narrows the search area down a bit.
Brian
By: al20a - 11th October 2006 at 16:24
Nice pics, just love Airliners.net. It’s a fantastic photo sight. Seen some great memories on this site from the late 70’s and 80’s.
Albert
By: PaulR - 11th October 2006 at 16:01
There’s a few photos taken from different perspectives on Airliners.net.
By: al20a - 11th October 2006 at 13:46
Thanks Brian,
Like JagRigger says, it couldn’t of been in these colours for long. In an aerial shot of Cosford from a brochure from 1986, you can just make out the Belfast in Heavylift colours. The brochures photo probably taken in 1985. Your photo Brian is great and a rarity of this particular aircraft.
I went to Cosford in the Autumn of 1986, my original logs are now long lost. So according to wrecks and relics Book of 1986, it was still in Heavylift colours at the start of 1986. So does anyone know what month and year it got repainted back into its RAF colour scheme.
Albert
By: Pen Pusher - 10th October 2006 at 22:41
Cosford July 1985
Scanned from photo
Brian
By: JagRigger - 10th October 2006 at 21:36
She can’t have been with HL long. Belfasts retired from the RAF in 76, and she flew in in 78.
Sign In
October 10, 2006 at 8:21 pm