Vulcan XH558

A very good colour photo of the Vulcan in formation with the Blades Aerobatic Team in today’s Daily Telegraph. The accompanying text is very generalised and basically summarises the financial & engineering efforts required to get the Tin Triangle back in the air.

Nothing like old news!

Thank goodness I was on leave at the time, my office is not too far away from the “Tower”. It’s possible that the photos weren’t available for a while but clearly I can’t speculate any more (I wasn’t there honest!). It would appear from the blue and yellow insignia that this particular Hawk had once served with 208 (Reserve) Sqn. Heard from an oppo that the tower’s “Emergency State One” tannoy was a bit squeaky, for obvious reasons!

Ok so it was a “fighter” thats why its caller GR like a tornado GR4 i knew that before just didnt think

So the last british ground attack/fighter bomber what ever it be aircraft?? or am i wrong on this one to

I knew what i ment and most of you did im 16 i dont sit there a read in depth books or have 50yrs worth of knowlege like most of you have.

With the greatest respect young man I would expect someone of your age to to have a somewhat better grasp of spelling (a dictionary is most useful) and grammar. However, with education being what it is today perhaps I expect too much. When people write they should consider the following; “who is going to read this and will they understand me?” Bad spelling and grammar are irksome and I have been on the receiving end of criticism all my life but have been happy to learn from my mistakes.

Going back to the thread, well done XM692 for saving another Harrier cockpit; a much more realistic proposal for preservation than a huge chunk of airframe such as the Belslow.

Footnote: any syntax errors herein are purely accidental and unitentional.

RAF Ensign not to be used to cover a coffin

I very much regret to inform you that Military Regulations state that the RAF Ensign should never be used to place over a coffin; only the Union Flag (for a serving member of the RAF or other service) should be used, so the EBay seller is presumably not aware of this. I have however seen the RAFA Ensign used but that is not the same as the RAF Ensign. As a serving RAF Officer I have to say that these are the current regulations regarding the RAF Ensign. You should be OK with the RAFA Ensign however. My sincere condolences regarding your late friend WO Gray, to reach the highest rank of airman is no mean feat.

Nissen Huts

My advice, don’t bother!

I used to give a briefing to a flight safety course at Bentley Priory a few years ago so I know that is used to be the home of the RAF Inspectorate of Flight Safety. This is now a joint unit (like so much else in the Military) and is based at Northolt:

“With the closure of RAF Bentley Priory, the Defence Aviation Centre (DASC) and the Military Aviation Regulatory Team (MART) will relocate to RAF Northolt during Apr 08, where the organisation will formally stand up as the Directorate of Aviation Regulation and Safety (DARS). The DARS will subsume all the responsibilities of the DASC and the MART. The DARS will act as the MOD Central Staff point of contact for aviation regulatory and safety matters”.

The above was taken from the MOD Internet Website.

There are no other units based at Bentley Priory (that I know of) and so, although it provided some useful accommodation for personnel in the London area, it has been sold. Whilst this is a sad occasion it is not just a reflection of the real or imagined lack of ethos and culture by HMG, the RAF is today just a little smaller than it used to be. I joined in 1986 when there were over 90,000 personnel in the Service. Today there are currently less than 41,000 (it depends whether you count trained personnel and leave out personnel not yet completed training) and that is bound to have an effect on the RAF Estate. That said, recruiting is very active so anyone reading this should not be put off wanting to join!

Thanks for posting the photos of the E28/39 replica. We are looking forward to having it as the centrepiece for our Whittle Centenary Event on 26 June, especially as the original made its first flight (officially!) from RAF Cranwell in May 1941. We will have a FSM of a more modern military aircraft there as well.

Concorde Telegraph Saturday

There was also an article in the travel section (there’s optimistic isn’t it?) of last Saturday’s Daily Telegraph. In the article some knowledgeable chap opined that we keep much older aircraft like spitfires and hurricanes flying why not Concorde? Muppet.:mad:

Oh, btw, I think Concorde is a wonderful aircraft and SRB will do anything (well almost) for publicity.