Page 33 – Key Publishing

Bograt

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts - 481 through 495 (of 532 total)

← 1 2 3 … 32 33 34 35 36 →

Author

Posts
June 21, 2004 at 2:32 pm in reply to: Red Arrows to be grounded ????????? are they mad ! #1614951

Bograt
Participant

Yeah, it was in the Sunday Excuse…..front page in fact! Once you read past the headline the true story came out – the team are always under scrutiny to establish thier cost-effectiveness, in common with all other MOD departments and the total cost is apparently about £39 million per year. The RAF probably spend more on paper clips.

The most embarrassing thing would be if they were to be wound up, and a private backer were to step in…imagine the Red Bull Arrows!!!

June 15, 2004 at 1:20 pm in reply to: Help save the Beverley #1795104

Bograt
Participant

Most of the aircraft was moved on May 22/23. I happened to be visiting an old school friend of mine (Also a notorious Greek plane spotter!) and we nipped up to Fort Paull for reasons unconnected. There we found all but the lower fuselage on low loaders, waiting to be reasssembled.

Apparently the nose wheels would not come off which was why the lower fuse had not yet (at that time) made the journey.

June 8, 2004 at 1:14 pm in reply to: When you can't get your engine to start…. #1807393

Bograt
Participant

Anyone go to RIAT Cottesmore in 2001? The Malta Defence Force Islander was there, and the pilot locked himself out of it after arrival……as the old girl has 1970’s car-type door handles, it was a simple matter to call out the RAC, whose somewhat bemused patrolman was able to effect an entry within seconds!

(Then again, could have asked any 15 year old joyrider!!) :p

June 7, 2004 at 1:32 pm in reply to: Hurricane down a Duxford 06/06/04 #1809304

Bograt
Participant

Indeed it is, Dave; usually unintentional, sometimes catastrophic; all the luck of the draw, really, dependant upon speed, config, what the terrain is like, etc, etc.

But it can also be deliberately used to avoid a big ‘un; some years ago the legendary Bob Hoover was up in the sky at one of the Reno Air Races and shepherded down a racer with a problem – got him down on the runway and instructed “Groudloop -now!” at the right moment in order to get the unfortunate individual safely on the deck with no injury and minimal damage. Quel hombre!

April 16, 2004 at 1:21 pm in reply to: warning: thread may contain traces of spitfire #1613978

Bograt
Participant

Heh, heh! Reminds me of Finningley BoB day , 1972 – as we were walking in, a Triumph Spitfire drove past, camouflaged and wearing 92 Squadron codes!

April 16, 2004 at 1:16 pm in reply to: Can anyone tell me… #1613981

Bograt
Participant

Well, that landing gear looks a bit odd for a start!

That engine installation looks like a Ranger (6 cyl in-line) so I guess it’s a scaled down airframe, a bit like the old Gnatsums from a few years back.

April 16, 2004 at 1:09 pm in reply to: Aircraft movements at Duxford – one for Ashley ? #1614011

Bograt
Participant

…..one of our Hangars is missing???:D

April 13, 2004 at 8:26 pm in reply to: Seafire VP441. #1793569

Bograt
Participant

Yes, I see what you mean now, Mark…..I’m slightly less confused than before! I hadn’t realised she was at Booker for so long, just thought she was passing through briefly. I assume that your photo is in the PPS hangar?

I take it that Reflectaire gave her a coat of paint, judging by the colour picture.

April 13, 2004 at 1:27 pm in reply to: Seafire VP441. #1794040

Bograt
Participant

Fantastic photos and very heartening to see the old gal up and running…….now I am a little confused as to the timeline here – the Hullavington photo was a revelation to me, she looks a bit sad there; but has become smart again by the ‘early seventies’ at Blackpool (at least from a distance)

She then turned up at Booker in a dismantled state, if my memory serves, about 1973 – is that correct? Anyone know the date she arrived at Booker, and when she moved on from there?

April 1, 2004 at 1:26 pm in reply to: Mystery involving a Spitfire #1814897

Bograt
Participant

Not Croydon is it????

April 1, 2004 at 1:21 pm in reply to: Breighton Buchon #1814945

Bograt
Participant

There’s an ‘Open day’ on April 4th – good reason for a visit!!!

April 1, 2004 at 1:16 pm in reply to: Jump jump John #1815007

Bograt
Participant

Which one was Gerry? The older chap who seemed to be there for ever, or the guy who was there at the end when 5 AEF left for Wyton?

Yep, Gerry was the old ‘un. His real name was Idris, but he preferred to be known as Gerry. Frank was the ‘lad’ who must have started about ’77.

Cambridge was where I did my first flight, in 1970 when I was with 414 (Epping) Sqaudron. Had a really great pilot, a Canadian guy.

Sadly I’ve lost my 3822, so don’t have anything but memories – great fun though, about seven Chipmunk flights in all, plus three in Whirlwinds from Leconfield.

Also used to get trips when I was in Singapore as an Air Scout. We had a rota, and all you had to do was turn up at the Squadron (either 205 Shackletons or 48 Hercs) on a Friday evening, and you would go up with whoever was flying. Loved the Herc, you got Mars bars and coffee! But then again in a Shack, there was a bomb aimers position where we were allowed to go in and watch the sea hammering by….

March 31, 2004 at 12:57 pm in reply to: Jump jump John #1817657

Bograt
Participant

I always thought it was “Jump John, jump”! My first trip was in the Husky XW635 at 5AEF on summer’s day in 1978. Lovely day and watched BBMF sail past inbound to Duxford to display – wonderful!

I was on the line there about that time, might have even loaded you in the Husky!

No video in those days, surely – you must have had the ‘Wall of Death’ lecture from Gerry, the legendary parachute bay man at Marshalls. It used to make us chuckle to go in the bay when that was going on and see a group of cadets being given the whole nine yards on what to do when the aircraft was in an earthbound plummet!

We only ever lost one, WP979 pancaked into a field when the pilot had a blackout on final approach – no serious injuries, but the poor old ‘munk was totally wrecked.

March 31, 2004 at 11:47 am in reply to: Catalina Guessing Game #1817779

Bograt
Participant

Looks like the UK to me…..check out the road layout in the background, it’s left hand drive! (Unless it’s Oz, of course…)

March 23, 2004 at 1:23 pm in reply to: Duxford Airfield #1831241

Bograt
Participant

I also recall an incident in the 80s, in the gliding days at Duxford, of a glider ending yp on the banking, with some injuries to the occupants

Indeed, Mike; it was my old mate Peter Baker who was onboard! The student was landing it, and got caught in a downdraught as they passed ovet the M11. Peter tried to pull it back up again, but didn’t quite make the field.

Fortunately both guys were able to walk away with little more than a bit of back strain.
Author

Posts

Viewing 15 posts - 481 through 495 (of 532 total)

← 1 2 3 … 32 33 34 35 36 →