Old Farnborough Pictures

Here is the last set of pictures, also from 1962. These were my first attempts at flying shots. Unfortunately, they were too far away as the camera did not have a telephoto lens. I’ve tried to blow them up but it has affected the quality of course. I thought that they were worth adding though, for their historical value. This was the only time that I saw the HP.115 and Vulcan XA894 fly.
If anyone has more Farnborough pictures from the 50’s and 60’s, please feel free to post them.

Graham

Yes, part of the ETPS fleet indeed. The Viscounts are XR801 and XR802, Canberra 30 is a T.4 WH854, Canberra 18 is a B.2 WJ730 and Meteor T.7 8 is WH231.

Thanks for filling in those gaps, Steve.

Graham

The Canberra is indeed WJ730 which sadly crashed only a few months later onto the runway at Farnborough. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=21110

Richard

Yes, part of the ETPS fleet indeed. The Viscounts are XR801 and XR802, Canberra 30 is a T.4 WH854, Canberra 18 is a B.2 WJ730 and Meteor T.7 8 is WH231.

ooo -look at the Comet 1 fuselages!

Here is the penultimate set of pictures from olden days Farnborough. By this time, I’d upgraded to a second hand, medium format, Agifold camera. I think that there is an immediate increase in quality of the pictures.
These pictures were taken at the 1962 show. Of interest is the Australian Wessex. The last 2 pictures of the Viscount and Canberra were taken at the rear of the display area. I’ve got a feeling that they might have belonged to the ETPS. Perhaps someone can confirm and identify them.

Graham

Marvellous photographs Graham. Brought back many memories. Notice the three chaps in braces standing beneath the starboard wing of the Australian Viscount? Looks like they could have just stepped off the set of a Charlie Chaplin movie. Incidentally Rob, photography was not banned at RAF Tangmere in 1954 Battle of Britain day as I have several pics that I had scanned for the ServicePals site (now Cat.5)
Also great to see the 206, which is still around I believe.
I bicycled to that Farnborough show from Shoreham with my school friend. We both received severe bollockings for worrying our parents. After that for following shows my dad drove us up

Oops, I forgot one!

Siai Marchetti SM.1019E I-AFRI

Farnborough 1978

Not quite so old but still in monochrome (I still prefer it to colour), these photographs were taken at Farnborough on 10 September 1978.

Hawker Sea Fury FB.II TF956

FMA IA-58 Pucara A-19

PZL-104 Wilga 35 SP-WHN

PZL TS-11 Iskra SP-DOF

ICA-Brasov IS-28 M2 G-7-100

SOCATA Rallye 235 CA F-GBKH

Cranfield A-1 G-BCIT

Having got over Christmas, I can continue with my 1960’s Farnborough odyssey. This set features some pictures from the 1961 show.

Graham

I’ve still got more Farnborough pictures from this period that I’ll post until people have had enough of them! At some future date I’ll post some pictures of some “At Home” displays of this period.

Graham

Keep them coming, please !! Wonderfully evocative of that long gone, more relaxed era………….. Your “cheap box camera” did a great job…!!

Also remember that pre mid 50’s photography was banned at all RAF shows! The RN and USAF were much more relaxed about this.
Rob

I’m afraid that I can’t help you with pictures from those shows mentioned above. You need to find an aircraft enthusiast in their 80’s who took pictures at that time and lived locally to the bases.
For the younger forumites, it’s probably worth mentioning that the airshow scene of 50 years ago was very different from today. In those days, there was only really Farnborough that could be called a national show. Apart from that, there was the King’s Cup Air Race and lots of local bases that had “At Home” days in September, which were free to enter BTW. These were advertised locally on posters as there weren’t any computers or internet and the few aviation magazines available only really show-cased Farnborough. Also, very few people had cars (or even telephones at home). Most people went to local bases on foot, bus or bicycle! I used to hitch hike to places until I could afford a second hand motorcycle. I went to Farnborough on organised coach trips from the north of England.
Another problem was that very few people had a decent camera or bothered to take pictures – these pictures that I’ve posted were taken with a cheap box camera.
The same goes for aviation museums. About all that was available was IWM London and the Science Museum.
I’ve still got more Farnborough pictures from this period that I’ll post until people have had enough of them! At some future date I’ll post some pictures of some “At Home” displays of this period.

Graham

Great shot of Heron G-APEV! Thanks!

Martin

Or St, Eval 50-54……(I was a Kid in MQ’s)

Or St. Eval (or was it St. Mawgan’) in 1956, pretty please?

Now there’s an idea. How about Thornaby BoB open Day 1957? (Might as well ask…)

G’Day All, Great photos. If anyone has any of Farnborough or Biggin Hill Air Fair 1968. My first airshows at the age of ten. Would love to see them. Regards from Perth, W.A. (39C today):cool:

The Lightning T4 is the one and only preserved T.4 – XL629 at Boscombe Down. XL629 was used by the Empire Test Pilots School from 1966 to 1975 and retains the colours she wore while in service.
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=171

More excellent photos. Since the serials cannot be read in these shots, you might like to know that the Victor B.2 is XH669 and the SC.1 is XG905.