RAF Manston.

I first saw the A340 there when Virgin got their first one. Likewise the E3D doing touch and goes for nearly an hour when the RAF got theirs.
Virgin did a lot of training there with the ‘classic’ 747s. They would first do some landings just using the PAPI lights and then they would ask for everything to be turned off and land without outside aids. There was no ILS at that time. Sometimes a trainee RAF controller got to do a radar talkdown on one.
Then there was the ‘Dover tour’ which guided usually military aircraft round the coastline, about a mile out and 1000′ from Reculver Fort to Dover Harbour while the controller gave a running commentry on a different frequency. Those were the days:)
mmitch

Anyone remember the U2 that visited a long time ago? Or the Dutch P3? The RAF E3D? The 2x Italian F104s? The Noratlas in the late 1980s?

Steve Young wrote.
But the one thing that happened to me that week, which will never leave me, was being spoken to by the Guest of Honour at our Final Parade.
Some of you may recognise the name.

Robert Stanford Tuck.

__________________

Read his biography ‘Fly for your Life’ over 40 years ago on a wet Summer day. Still dip into it sometime during the Battle of Britain weeks.
mmitch.

Aah Manston…

That’s one place that holds some very happy memories for me…

I was there in August 1982 as a little Air Cadet on his very first camp. We had our Squadron photo taken in front of the Javelin, we had a good look at the Spitfire, which had only been in her building for a year or two at that point, and I had my first ever flight, in Chipmunk WB569, who today lives in Duxford’s hangar 2 north.

But the one thing that happened to me that week, which will never leave me, was being spoken to by the Guest of Honour at our Final Parade.

Some of you may recognise the name.

Robert Stanford Tuck.

David, I got a pic of the one inside and the one outside, but was unable to get a pic of the on in the workshop.

Cheers for the info on all 3 of the choppers David, much appreciated matey. 🙂

For the small museum that it is, there is so much information given… I found it interesting reading about all the incidents that took place which involved the fire brigade there… going right back to the early days.

Another thing that made me chuckle, was seeing a wheel from what I think maybe a Spitfire??? on the up stairs level, which has been shot at and deflated etc. Though there was no info on the wheel… anyone know, or seen what im on about?

Cheers.

She is still with the same owners.

Didn’t Manston have underground hangers during the first world war and do they still exist I’m sure I read it inthe booklet from the museum a long time ago:confused:

At least she is still in the UK, can’t wait to see her energe from storage one day. Is she still under the same ownership?

She is stored . Don’t hold for your breath if our expecting her to fly again in the next ten years or so.

In that case it’s not a million miles from me. Any idea if anything is being done to it these days? I followed this project with some interest at Southend many years ago.

A330- Inside is: Wessex HU.5 XS482 in SAR colours

Under restoration is Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ727 which is housed in the workshop. The Whirlwind HAS.7 XN380 outside is a ‘spares ship’.

Contrary to just about everything you read the A-26 is stored not a million miles from Ludham along with the B-26K cockpit that came over for spares.

Dave the chopper that you speak of, is that the one parked outside or inside? In all they have 3 choppers at the museum. One of which is undergoing a restoration process.

Thanks for all the positive feedback all… and Ant thanks for that site. I did actually see one of the fire trainers, but was unable to get anywhere near it to take a photo. 🙁

The two museums at Manston are two of my favourite places in the world…there is just something about Manston that does it for me 🙂

When I was a student at the University of Kent, I spent a most enjoyable day as a volunteer there…I only wish I could have spent more days like that there…:)

Ashley

Does anybody know whether the Cadman brothers A26 Invader is still stored in one of the hangers there. It must be 10 years since I saw it there, but I’m not aware of it moving on.

Ah Manston.

DC8s aplenty. I love that place. Plenty of eggbeaters as well 😀

I spend plenty of my holidays there.

I was very much involved in the acquisition of the aircraft for the
History Museum. The helicopter you mention is a Wessex HU.5 that was formerly operated by A&AEE at Boscombe Down.
A few of the cockpits have moved on but the collection as it is
now is enjoyable for visitors and tells the story of Manston very well.

I am afraid I can remember when the Spitfire stood alone in its own hall while a Gloster Javelin stood outside and rotted.
I was chatting to the stalwarts of the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society last year. They originally restored the Spitfire after it was removed from the gate (around 20-25 years ago ?) They had spotted the occasional rivet on the floor and reckoned it might need some attention!
The History Museum is improving every year. The airframes did shuffle about at first and the Buccaneer nose moved on but it is well worth a visit. I haven’t been there for over a year but must go again soon.
On a civilian note is the airfield still a graveyard for airliners?
mmitch.

As a follow-on to Andrew’s post,there’s an interesting item about the Fire Services Central Training Establishment at Manston on the f4aviation site.
http://www.f4aviation.co.uk/Hangar/2003/manston/manston.htm