Flying Legends Long May It Continue!

Hi All

I attend Legends every year and have been doing so since the mid 1990’s; the yearly visit costs me two fortunes and is worth every penny!

Compare entry costs into Legends with those for other international events held in the UK and I think you will find it to be pretty good value for money, sadly taking the whole family to any large international spectacular will leave a rather large hole in your wallet!

The aircraft that we all love to watch have not come from the local garage, in general they have cost a great deal of time and money to restore, those who operate them do not becoming wealthy doing so!

Cheers

Eric

Any thougts on what would be appropriate New Year Resolutions for the members of this forum?

How about:-

We will not slag off other forum members whose knowledge may appear to be less than our own.

We encourage new members even if we think their postings are irrelevant and have been covered before.

We do not post comments and information in a criptic manner that can only be understood by our “friends”.

I could not agree more with yours and Ewans suggestions!

Eric

“The plan for 1919 was Standard,US- and Harland-built HP 0/400, HP V.1500, Vickers Vimy to vault the trenches and break supply to them. Those that funded the Independent Air Force thought that prospect encouraged the Central Powers to throw in the towel.”

Point of information on this one:

Harland & Wolff of Belfast provided Handley Page with design and production facilities at the companies Queens Island site, for the design and manufacture of the V1500 prototypes. Due to facilities at Aldergrove not being completed in time these aircraft journeyed to Cricklewood by sea and rail.

Subsequently a small number of production aircraft did fly from Acceptance Park No 16 (Now RAF Aldergrove), no other heavy bombers were build in Belfast during that period.

Given our current involvement in Afghanistan it is interesting to note that the only V1500 to drop a bomb in anger did so against the Afghans!

As regards a Campaign Medal for the veterans of Bomber Command sign the petition, it is a national scandal that one was never awarded!

Cheers

WV908 is airworthy and is infact part of the RNHF, not sure how it’s got to Duxford as its not flying at present as they are trying to find a new way to start the engine as the old system was considered unsafe.

Their is noting wrong with cartridge start system (think big revolver), sadly the same cannot be said for the cartridges which are sadly past the old sell by date! Whatever system of starting is devised, it will not be as impressive as the plume of black smoke emitted when using the current method!

Cheers

HMS Caroline

Were not parts of the Bulwark incorporated into the Carrier Experience at Yeovilton, particularly with regard to the bridge and internal fittings etc. I gather that a feasibility study was carried out on the hulk at Portsmouth during the Falklands war in case something nasty happened to Vince or Hermes, but the ship was past redemption, so they sent Atlantic Conveyor instead and we all know what happened to that.
The same thing was considered with the cruiser Lion which not only had 6 inch guns for coastal bombardment but had a flight deck built over the stern that could take Harriers, now that sounds a pretty potent ship, very elegant in appearance to, I think it was found to be in better condition than Bulwark.
They sent Bristol instead which I believe is now in turn rotting away as a training ship in Portsmouth, a class of light cruisers designed specifically to escort the Invincible class carriers but decided to be too expensive after just one was built.
Considering the Naval heritage of this country, the number of preserved warships is a disgrace, a view I’ve always held for many years as I have watched the demise of so many famous old ships with epic war records, it wasn’t so many years ago when the Achillies of River Plate fame was scrapped, I believe that the Indian Navy who were operating it, even offered it to the British Government at a knock down price.
How many of you know that there is an original WW1 cruiser used by the Sea Cadets in Belfast, with respect to them as I’m sure they treasure it, it should be moored up in Chatham restored to its former glory, along with what little heritage we have left.

Pete,

I must take slight issue on the World War I cruiser / Sea Cadets comment, yes you are correct there is a World War I cruiser moored here in Belfast, she is HMS Caroline and she is currently the headquarters for the Royal Naval Reserve in Northern Ireland.

The ship was one of Beatty’s light cruiser force during the Battle of Jutland, as the last ship left that fought in that famous battle I would love to see her returned to her former glory, sadly funds for preserving ships is no easier to come by, than for aircraft!

Cheers

Eric