A most succesful visit was had to RAFM by the above over the weekend. We were accompanied by Child Qty 3 which did not hinder too much discussion of the Glads 3 bladed prop and is it in fact a one piece moulding oh if only we could take the boss off and look or the Beau cutaway actually being a Merlin variant instead of a Herc due to there being blower controls in the cockpit etc.
Von Perthes was not taking photos, as he said, ‘I’ve been here before’. Steve educated his erk, while I took pictures in between worrying where my Child Qty 1 was.
For the experts, the pics were taken with a point and shoot style over substance digital wotsit.
My first contri is the wonderful Supermarine Walrus in the BBMF hangar. There’s just something about it that says ‘Walrus’. Also you can see the Walrus engine, which was next to the plane. It is painted yellow, so as to aid finding it for servicing at night when the Walrus is moored offshore. I am next to it for size comparison.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd February 2005 at 13:47
Dunno, but I hear he looks after quite a large chunk of the original Black six. 😉
By: von Perthes - 23rd February 2005 at 13:24
I like the last photo – in front of Black 6. Whoever took it?
By: Seafuryfan - 22nd February 2005 at 22:57
And so our voyage of discovery drew to a close, but not before my son expressed his own opinion on our escapade, as only a six year old can. Happy enthusing! (and I promise after this thread I will return to normality, ‘Walrus’, ‘Dakotas’, an’ all)
By: von Perthes - 22nd February 2005 at 17:51
Sychro Bear??
By: Arabella-Cox - 22nd February 2005 at 17:32
They weren’t! Honest Guv! Although I did take great delight in giving them to their recipients by announcing “The RAF Bear-obatic team for 2005, the Ted Arrows!” and then hurling them simultaneously across the lounge. Kids loved it, missis not quite so impressed…
By: von Perthes - 22nd February 2005 at 17:26
The new ‘Aeronauts’ section was proving popular with children of all ages, up to 42 years old in fact!
Still think Steve should have got the Piper Cub mouse mat. He said the two Red Arrows (or should that be ‘Ted Arrows’) Teddy Bears weren’t for him…..
Geoff.
By: Seafuryfan - 21st February 2005 at 20:30
I noticed that the Typhoons cannons seemed to be pointing in different direction.
Snapper – was this deliberate, or a design flaw?
By: Seafuryfan - 21st February 2005 at 19:56
Sorry Robbo, you’re not going to draw me on this one – a debate that’s been running for years, just look at the camoflage, the two engines, the cockpit at the front, the funny triangle – BREAD AND BUTTER! 🙂
By: Manonthefence - 21st February 2005 at 19:56
Wot Dakota where?
By: Seafuryfan - 21st February 2005 at 19:52
For Damien B
The Treehugger – A lesson for us all.
I call this one ‘ A study in light and shade’. Imagine this Dakota on a dark night, in it’s hangar – forget all the other planes, the location, the year, the ac serviceability, and that there are no crew, and you are right back there….
By: Manonthefence - 21st February 2005 at 19:48
He’s a Hydraulic Fluid sniffer he is!
By: Seafuryfan - 21st February 2005 at 19:17
As I passed the Lancaster, I was struck by Lancmans long-standing gripe about ‘that stand’ – so decided to strike a pose in sympathy…
But immediately after I did that, I mentioned to the others that I had in fact had second thoughts, changed my mind, and that the take-off pose (although all the engines are switched off, there is no crew and there is no airspeed) was an excellent idea.
I think it’s important to have a point of view, but be ready to change it if a good enough argument is offered – although that did not happen in this case and I just changed it anyway 😉
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st February 2005 at 15:44
So have we. 😉
Could we be on the same wavelength perch-ance…?
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st February 2005 at 15:38
Now now Robbo. It’s all just an illusion. I mean, everyone knows that putting grubby finger tips on Mossie wheels would have left greasy deposits which will cause the immediate and catastrophic weakening of the tyre, leading to an explosion as the air pressure inside it finds the weaknesses… I’d hate to have that on my conscience…
By: Seafuryfan - 21st February 2005 at 14:45
Anyway, on with the show. The next bit of the RAFM Museum that caught my eye/inspired me/ delflated me all at the same time was when Steve decided to be at one with the Mossie in the ‘Fantasy of The Millenium’ hangar (a facility originally planned for the AAM, until they realised that the B52 would not fit). I was eventually won over by the Vintage Aviation Re-Invigouration (VARI) that this touchy-feely exercise obviously served.
Feeling all the better for the experience, his next target was the starboard aileron trim tab of the Beau. It took all the diversion tactics of Von Perthes and I (‘Merits/debits of the Tempest scheme: Discuss’) to sufficiently distract him…
BTW, DISCLAIMER: The other two have nothing to do with this thread (yet) and any opinions and expert opinions are my own etc etc
By: Dave Homewood - 21st February 2005 at 14:08
Dave, the marine merlin was a boat powerplant. I think someone’s tongue might be firmly embedded in his cheek to suggest that the marine merlin was installed in the Seagull.
Thanks re the Merlin – and I was pretty sure he weas joking about the Merlin on a Walrus. It could have been a bigger disaster than when HMNZS Leander launched their Walrus with one of the tie-down strps still attached! 😮 😀
Another RNZAF Walrus was lost when the pilot forgot the wheels were down and landed like that on the sea! 😮
I’ve often wondered if any poor erks were killed trying to attach the crane strop. They used to climb on the top wing right beside the spinning prop. Not nice in choppy sea!
By: Andy in Beds - 21st February 2005 at 14:00
Dave, the marine merlin was a boat powerplant. I think someone’s tongue might be firmly embedded in his cheek to suggest that the marine merlin was installed in the Seagull.
We all live in yellow Supermarine, a yellow Supermarine, a yellow Supermarine… 🙂 🙂 😉 😉 🙂 🙂
By: willy.henderick - 21st February 2005 at 13:59
Marine engines are now used in historical racing Maseratis. They are painted blue (colour of the sea)
By: Mark V - 21st February 2005 at 13:58
Its so firmly planted its going to make a hole in his cheek.
By: Dave Homewood - 21st February 2005 at 13:52
But Paul McSweeney said the yellow on the Merlin was thought very seriously to be the original colour. The aircraft was bought by the RAAF during the war and never used. It sat in a crate for about 50 years before being sold on, and has only flown 400 hours since it was built. He said the engine hasn’t been repaineted by a wrbird operator.
That is why I asked about this marine Merlin, I wondered if there was a connection. I guess not.
Please, someone explain seriously – is the marine Merlin for boats or for sea-going aircraft? Or both?
Seafuryfan, are you seriously suggesting a Merlin was fitted to a Walrus variant? I’d be verydoubtful mate. It would completely change to c of g for a start. It’d rip the top wing off!
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February 21, 2005 at 12:00 pm