Southampton

Mrs C probably has her eye on the Shopping Centre!!!

No, seriously its well worth a visit.

I think there was a display about Spitfire Designer R.J. Mitchell when I visited some time ago, because of the production in and around Southampton.

I do recall a lot about F/Lt Samuel Marcos Kinkead winner of the Schneider Trophy Air Race, he died between the World Wars, in the late 1920’s.

F/Lt Kinkead is buried in the RAF Cemetery at Fawley Church, his grave has the biggest cross and is in front of my grandfathers Sgt Claude L. G. Hood who died at Allington Lane, West End (Nr Eastleigh) in a Whitley bomber accident 15.8.40, also 2 Battle of Britain Hurricane Pilots Martyn Aurel King-16.8.40 and J. R. Hardacre (both Officers) are buried in the 2nd row.

Mark 😀

Well folks it’s confirmed. The gardening gets a rest from my less than expert ministrations while I go and look at aeroplanes. Biggest surprise of all is that Mrs C has given her blessing without my twisting her arm

Thanks Flood,

The civil register gives a c/n but not much other info. I have a photo of it flying in about 1952 which I’ll scan and post in due course.

W&R18 says BB807, G-ADWO, ex Wimborne. Interestingly W&R12 has it as a composite under restoration with parts from G-AOAC and G-AOJJ; maybe time allows these parts to assume the identity of the whole?
Impressed into service with 123 others (according to Air Britains RAF Aircraft BA100-BZ999)between 9/40 and 1/41 it served with 12EFTS, 20EFTS, 24Sqn, 510Sqn, Cambridge University Air Squadron, 4FIS, 22EFTS, 6FTS, and Valley (station flight?) before being sold 22/1/51. It later became part of Wessex Aviation Society before moving to Southampton by 9/88.

Flood.

What’s the background to the Tiger Moth there? The website’s a little coy about its identity. One list suggests its a bit of a ringer made up (in the 1950’s) of two plus airframes?

Thanks for the info guys, looks like the gardening will be taking a back seat

I remember Blair doing a low level beat up of Runway 24 at Dublin Airport in VP-LVE in 1977.

What a sight.

I once got served Guinness by Maureen O’Hara’s daughter at an Irish bar in Paris. This is another story that is worth attending Old Warden on the 15th ro hear! It involves a visit by Cross and Cockade, too much Guinness and a Kebab.

The O’Hara daughter had wonderful eyes and poured a mean pint.

I would marry her if she asked me.

Melv
(I kow this would come as somethign of a shock to Kylie but that is life)

Arggh.
Quite right Mike. P51C NOT the ‘default term’ ‘D’. Thus an interesting Mustang with (a lot) of history, rather than the normal waste of a good Merlin engine 😉

I’ve even got the NASM book on the aircraft – highly recomended for how they researched the paint colours etc. – a/c now hanging (bad) at the UH Centre.

You refer to Capt Charles Blair, and amazing man, owner of some amazing a/c inc Excalabur (insert Nos here)

Have a google under his name, or Antillies Air Boats, one of his companies. He also operated the Sikorsky Vs44 now at Windor Locks, and a P-51D Exc.. which he flew over the N pole. Such is celebrity – a man who achived so much is remembered for marrying a film star!

Anyone know of a biog?

Haven’t been for about 15 years but, crowded apart, it was certainly worth a couple of hours.
Had a guided tour of the Sandringham. Apparently it’s last owner/pilot was the husband of Maureen O’Hara the actress. The guide pointed out her ashtray and drinks holder screwed to the seat behind the pilot.
We went from there and saw the Sunderland moored at Hythe, the only time I ever saw it.

It’s got FOUR ‘Brrummm Brumms”

Originally posted by stringbag
You can still go into the Sandringham, but not sure whether you are allowed in the cockpit. I remember being the C/O of the aircraft 15 years ago at the age of 7 🙂

M

Jeez, I have pants older than you.
MH

You can still go into the Sandringham, but not sure whether you are allowed in the cockpit. I remember being the C/O of the aircraft 15 years ago at the age of 7 🙂

M

I agree with the others.

They used to let you aboard the Sandringham (which is worth it on it’s own IMHO) and (gasp) sit in the Captain’s seat…

Note picture NOT attached (it was a long time ago…)

The Museum’s aircraft are rather hemmed in due the lack of space on site. Photographic is difficult as a result.

Exhibit wise there is some good stuff there, the jewel in the crown being the Sandringham of course.
The ex-Brooklands Sea Vixen is on site and looks in excellent shape.
At the moment the Scimitar, Sea Venom and Swift are not on site.

Well worth a visit if you have a couple of hours spare IMHO (that’s what I did a few weeks ago!).

M

Some nice stuff there – but I will admit I’ve not been there either…:(

Flood.

Flowers or aircraft? Are you sane?

From what I heard they were considering their own order of either the EMB 190, Airbus A319 or 737-800.

I heard about the Buzz 737’s from a travel agent I know so watch this space ;). It may not happen but FlyBe do need to increase the number of aircraft available to reduce the knock on effects of delays.