Historical Airfield Question

Just stumbled across this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAVDOBWtBuU&feature=related

Jaguar XX109???
Landed in 450yds and took off in 600. There is a picture taken from the other side in Andy Evans Crowood Press book “Sepecat Jaguar”.

If the Jag really did take off in 600yds he must have been carrying just enough fuel to get to warton 🙂

ISTR that there was a great pic of a Jag taking off from an Mway and in the foreground was a ‘Navvy’ with hands clamped over ears and looking in much distress noisewise 🙂

rgds baz

As usual, the rule of looking for one thing, discover something else turned up this pic of a Jaguar landing on the M55 near Blackpool. The date is unknown, but is before June 1975.

Shortage of airfields that could be be reactivated could probably be overcome as things stand right now. But err, what exactly have we got left to FLY from them?
Madhouse Britain. Two plus two makes 17(ish).

I’ve always believed that it was the Govt. intention to use suitable sections of existing moroways.

That’s just for their own getaways!

I’m not quite sure how any of this is even worthy of speculation? There isn’t even the slightest possibility of any “crisis” which would require the re-introduction of airfields or aircraft. We have what we have (and it isn’t much) and that’s it, really.

Cool :rolleyes: I look forward to your next book on the subject with interest.

Regards

I’m not quite sure how any of this is even worthy of speculation? There isn’t even the slightest possibility of any “crisis” which would require the re-introduction of airfields or aircraft. We have what we have (and it isn’t much) and that’s it, really.

As for the aircraft used for deck handling practice with the Navy, has there been any kind of disabling work done, or could they be generated in a time of need?

yes bruntingthorpe…. which brings me to my other question… the availability of retired aircraft suitable for reactivation…. XH558 for example…. elvingtons big birds…. various buccs and hunters… a lightning or two…..

The Cosford / Cranwell training fleets would be the best option

in short, none in private hands with the exception of a handfull of hunters. I think its a fair statement that there are no civilian owned military aircraft which are capable of carrying arms without major work. Perhaps the Bronco would be capable, but thats it. Forget 558. Forget Victors. Forget anything that has been ‘restored’ by private individuals or museums…. or transported by road by aforementioned collectives.

There’s a few in Norfolk etc that just need the turkey sheds bulldozing off the side & the crap hosed off…

yes bruntingthorpe…. which brings me to my other question… the availability of retired aircraft suitable for reactivation…. XH558 for example…. elvingtons big birds…. various buccs and hunters… a lightning or two…..

Jaguar XX109???
Landed in 450yds and took off in 600. There is a picture taken from the other side in Andy Evans Crowood Press book “Sepecat Jaguar”.

Jaguar on the M55 in 1975 .
See here ;http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m55pnb.htm

Within 20 miles of my home ….. Coltishall …. Honnington ….. West Raynham … Sculthorpe ….. Watton …. What about Bruntingthorpe ……
What about the myriad of civil airports / airfields …. I think there is no shortage of landing grounds …. should this emergency situation ever arise ??

Keith 🙂

I’ve also thought of Finningley and Machrihanish….

I’ve seen pictures of a Jaguar on a motorway near Liverpool (I think) before it opened, but most likely just a publicity stunt . Harriers of course could have used anywhere….

I cannot remember quite where or when, but I got a memory of some picts of a Jaguar landing on and taking off from a motorway somewhere ( I mean SEPECAT – not the other version)… and if memory serves me well again… Barry Tempest landed ‘something’ on the Soke Parkway near me here in Peterborough in the early 1970s

I’d never heard of motorway airstrips in Britain, only on the continent…. was there any official sites or is it just a concept?

All of the recent closures id say would be good candidates :nod: