Hendon Sunday

Hey Rob,
No problem, thanks for making the change. The differences between a Seagull V and a Walrus are few, and most people can’t tell.

Offset tails. Hurricane, Battle, Me109 all have offset tails to my certain knowlege. The Walrus (or Seagull V if you prefer 😉 ) had an offset engine for the ame reason 2 – 3 degrees depending on the publication you read. The Ju52-3m had outward canted wing engines to provide slipstream airflow over the tail surfaces at low speeds, NOT as is often reported, because they ‘swept’ the wings after fitting the engines. Daft though that is, it’s exactly what happened to the Sunderland – c of g problems, slightly swept wings, no more problem, but outward canted engines.

The Walrus in Aus (HD874) is staying – it’s an historic machine in Australian terms, being used on Australian Antarctic work, while A2-4 at Hendon was at least built in Britain, though used all over the place, not just down under. The pity is A2-4 could be a flyer – but you aren’t allowed in because of ‘radiation danger’ from the instruments. :rolleyes:
Cheers

Right you are Moggy:D

It has everything to do with the slipstream.

Originally posted by SteveYoung
That’s what I’d have thought originally, given that they were widely regarded as being hideously underpowered. But looking at that fin and rudder, it’s offset a long way further than I’d have expected it to be – hence me taking the picture in the first place. If not torque, why else would it be at such an angle? Must have had something to do with directional stability, but what…?

Oh come on Steve! You’re a lot closer to the PPL books than I am. 😉

IIRC it is to do with the way the whirly slipstream from the prop works its way down the fuselage and hits the vertical tail surfaces.

Isn’t it?

Moggy

Surely the “Me163” is an He162?

As JDK has certainly already noticed, it’s very strange that we have a preserved Seagull V and Australia has a preserved Walrus. A swap would seem to be in order.

Re Steve’s comment about not having flown in the Chippie, I called in at Hendon briefly 18 months or so ago with a couple of ex-RAF erks from my local, intending to go again this year for a proper visit.
Sadly, Dougie died a month ago, but I remember his face lit up when he saw just how much was there. When we arrived at the Canberra, no idea of serial no, that won the England to Australia race, he exclaimed “I’ve worked on this aeroplane!” Apparently, on the return trip it called in to Singapore with an oil leak and Dougie was one of the team that sorted it out and sent it on it’s way.
Nice memory.

Originally posted by JDK
‘Torque’? Off a Battle?

That’s what I’d have thought originally, given that they were widely regarded as being hideously underpowered. But looking at that fin and rudder, it’s offset a long way further than I’d have expected it to be – hence me taking the picture in the first place. If not torque, why else would it be at such an angle? Must have had something to do with directional stability, but what…?

Have to agree with something Kev said yesterday; why keep such a rare treasure like this almost hidden away in the dark behind the Lancaster, when surely the sacrifice made by those who flew the Battle is a shining but tragic example of men acting above and beyond the call…

Thanks Steve,

Ah ha ha. ‘Torque’? Off a Battle? Couln’t catch a cold, but made great Messerschmitt fodder.

Now there was an aeroplane that was a waste of young men.

I thought the mystery roundel (which stumped me too!) was black & white. Given that they seem to be chronological, I put it during W.W.II (helpful I kno)

Sorry, the a/c on perches just look silly. If the Typhoon had the u/c folded up and some tree-tops below, and a mannequin… Nah, it’s just a stupid museum fashion. It’ll pass, like flares, in a few years.

Cheers

Robbo,
Please excuse, but it’s a Supermarine Seagull V, A2-4, VH-ALB, a long way from home, closer to where it was built, and in immaculate condition. NOT a Walrus. It’s a VERY picky point, but I’ve just spent all bloddy day writing captions about the types, and I’m feeling very ‘detailled’ about it. :rolleyes:

Nice pics though, thanks for sharing.

Did you know that the Lysander had 161 Sqn (spydroppers) service, as well as being a film star of ‘Now it Can be Told’? I dint.

The Hawker biplane in Milestones is a damn sight more important than another (grounded) P-51D. It’s Hawker’s own Hart, and flew with the Hurricane and Tomtit before being donated to the RAFM. You’ll note, that the other two still fly (god bless the BoBF and S’worth.) As there is one other flyer of the Hart family, (S’worth again!) and endless P-51Ds, I know which is the bigger disgrace. Interesting that lots of enthusiasts can walk past that and not know. Sad too. Last flights are depressing.
🙁

And the last one from me for tonight, the SE5A, Pup and Sopwith Triplane in the Graeme White Hangar. What an amazing building!

Herr Messerschmitt’s finest again (with apologies to Rob for nicking his angle)

Bit of a guessing game, this one (although anyone reading Kev’s comments earlier will probably identify it.).

Most have had quite a surprising amount of torque to require the rudder and fin to be offset this far.

Sorry to upset the Buchon Boys, but for my money, this has got to be the meanest, most purposeful looking front end ever to sit on one of Herr Messerchmitts aeroplanes…

I thought this was quite impressive – I didn’t realise the RAF had used so many different types of roundel over the years. Can anyone explain the significance and history behind the white and blue one, second row, second from the right? It stumped us four…

Originally posted by Robbo
Steve, just caught your foot at the end of the exposure.

Sorry Rob, I thought I’d managed to stay out of the way. Oops.

Quite surprisingly, my little point ‘n’ shoot managed to get this one…

Originally posted by von Perthes
Steve,

How did my shot of you in front of the Chippy come out???

Geoff.

Fairly good thanks. Light in Hendon was awful as always, but this seems to have come out okay (even though it confirms me as a dirty greasy aeroplane fondler! 😮 ).

A bit gutted to get home and check through my old 3822 to find that this is probably the only old 5AEF Chippie that I haven’t flown in. 🙁

The Lanc isn’t any more accessible at all-the nose is a few feet nearer the ground, but what you see isn’t actually changed by that at all. 😡

(Not mad at you Kev, but that was one of Hendon’s very lame answers to one of my emails on the dreaded topic!)

Just a belated note to thank Steve, Robbo and Geoff for a very enjoyable day out yesterday.

Robbo, superb photo’s.

Impressions of ‘Milestones of Flight.’ Well, I liked it. As for the milestones themselves? I can understand the cruise missile. After all wasn’t it one of those that hit the wrong country a few years ago? That must be what qualifies it for inclusion. The Typhoon? Obviously in as a result of a typographical error, surely that should be millstone? It’s a shame about the Mustang but it certainly looks a treat. The two Great War aircraft are very impressively posed as is the Hawker biplane (Fury, Hart, Hind?) The use of mannequins throughout the whole museum is well thought out. Isn’t the Tempest huge? So, overall I liked it.

Lancaster on a perch? No this is not another attempt to rattle Lancman but I do think it Makes the Lancaster more accessible now. Perhaps at some point they’ll bring it down again when they’ve finished all the shuffling about. But what are they thinking about with the poor old Battle? Stuffed against a wall with barely any light falling on it. We all know they were torn apart in May of 1940 but the crews gave their all in those aircraft. Is the RAF, and hence the Museum, ashamed that they have a survivor? Throw the Merlin/EH101 out and give the Battle some pride back.

rant over.

Regards,

kev35

Steve,

How did my shot of you in front of the Chippy come out???

Geoff.

Ju88 came out very nicely Rob; how about the Me110, or did we keep getting in the way…? 😉

I’ll chuck a few of mine up tonight if they’re any good; although if my perch shot’s anything to go by, don’t hold your breath… 🙁

Great Piccies Rob! 🙂

Steve.

Good news. You’re more than welcome as is anyone else. We’re aiming for meeting at the entrance to milestones of flight at 10am. I’ll pm you my mobile number.

Regards,

kev35