In 1985 A TV program called QED did a 30 min film of round the British coastline called “Round Britain Whizz”. Later a two and a half hour version “Shape of the Nation” was screened, It was decided to shoot this on video and a camera was slung under the rear fuselage of an RAF Hawk. http://www.vtoldboys.com/rbw.htm. Anyone remember it? And anyone know if the film will ever be seen again? Would love to see the long version but the short one i remember was good.
By: hunterxf382 - 11th August 2008 at 21:20
Brilliant and fascinating stuff….. thanks!
By: MishaThePenguin - 11th August 2008 at 18:44
Having followed that link and another from another forum it seems that the archive HAS now made it mainstream!! Nice of the BBC to keep us informed!! Lots of good stuff there too
By: Gromit - 11th August 2008 at 13:43
It is here as part of the spin-off activity from “Britain From Above”, shown on BBC1 on Sunday 10th August 2008:
By: MishaThePenguin - 10th August 2008 at 16:36
Saw this earlier this year as part of the BBC’s archive trial – you could download programmes to watch for a limited time. It was supposed to be a trial to see if the system was popular and worked but have heard nothing about it since taking part so don’t know if they are going to roll it out. Should be something to keep an eye out for as there were some interesting programmes from the past!!
By: bloodnok - 5th August 2008 at 17:38
I was groundcrew at valley at the time and actually saw the aircraft off on it’s journey. It went from Goshawk line.
When it was first shown the pragramme was an hour long, later when it was repeated it was only half an hour.
The other clue to the film being run backwards is the aircrafts shadow.
The camera was mounted under the fuselage on the centreline gunpod mounts.
By: Propstrike - 5th August 2008 at 13:59
The camera had to face backwards because of all the pesky flies that were splatting over the lens!
By: Tony at BH - 4th August 2008 at 21:49
My wife was working at RAF Biggin Hill at the time the film was made. The Hawk landed at Biggin Hill during the filming. To re-fuel I guess. Great program at the time but we can all do something similar now on Google Earth!!
By: 25deg south - 4th August 2008 at 19:50
Remember it well. All filmed rearwards facing :then run backwards.
The disconcerting feature was the plainly visible jet exhaust plume dancing around towards the top of the frame.
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August 4, 2008 at 7:46 pm