In The Dark With 'Lusty Lindy' – 21 Mar 09

Day 3 of 5 Part 2

Day 1 – Northolt Here
Day 2 – Duxford Here
Day 3 Pt1 – Church Fenton Here

Having made the short journey across country from Church Fenton to Elvington, we had an excellent lunch of Corned Beef Hash style pie, chips and veg in the NAAFI, before a wander around the museum prior to the start of the night shoot. The hanger was a bit cramped with airframes for any decent photography, but then they were inside for the winter period and the best place for them as well.

‘Lusty Lindy’ was open all afternoon for a look around and to photograph inside the cockpit. Before the main event, Buccaneer S Mk.2/XN974, which was nose on to the Victor, was hooked up to the GPUs and flapped its wings a couple of times but never fast enough to become airborne.

At 17.00, our small happy band of photographers congregated in the Chapel for a briefing on health & safety and what was going to take place during the evening. Outside, the rope barrier that had been close up around the Victor had been moved outwards to a point where, with an 18mm lens, the aircraft filled the frame but with a bit of room to spare either side. The weather was excellent with a cool breeze blowing, a clear blue sky and a chance of a golden glow at sunset. Alas it was not to be. There was a bit of a haze, again, and cloud on the horizon.

The APU of the Victor screamed into life. For several cycles the flaps were lowered and raised, airbrakes opened and closed, HDU raised and lowered and control surfaces moved. Everything turned deathly quiet when the APU shut down. As it grew darker four pre-positioned portable spotlights either side of the nose and tail, were switched on. Later, when it was much darker, the landing lights were switched on (Note: next time avert eyes) and finally the hose was pulled out of the HDU and in the darkness you could just make out the ring of green lights around the edge of the basket.

Although we weren’t able to attend but after the photo shoot there was a talk and presentation back in the Chapel about Black Buck operations during the Falkland War by Ex Victor Captain Wing Commander Barry Neal along with Vulcan Captain Martin Withers.

Many thanks to my brother for the lift and to everyone I met and especially to Ollie Suckling and the crew of XL231 who put in a lot of work to achieve a very successful first nigh photo shoot with ‘Lusty Lindy’ and also to the staff of the Yorkshire Air Museum for their hospitality during the event. Another Victor night photo shoot is being planned for October with Mosquito NF11/HJ711 as guest aircraft although I did drop enough subtle hits that the Halifax would be a nice addition.

More picture of ‘Lusty Lindy’ HERE

Brian