viscountDare I actually bring this thread onto forum subject matter ie aviation, I trust that ‘John Green’ will pop into the Malaga Aviation Museum one afternoon during his stay. Sign posted by road from the approach roads to Malaga Airport, and concealed beside the San Miguel Cerveza factory. Entrances into the various buildings are not always clear, and their well restored C-47 is tucked around the back of a building and very easily missed.
viscountTo open this discussion a little. Why is it that on FR24 freeview, on occasions aircraft are observed to “land” some distance from the runway, although parallel to it. Height readings take it down to land level, it is not a case of falling below receiver coverage. Witnessed one such “event” this morning with a Boeing 737-400 landing on a golf course 5km north of the centreline. Have noticed this occasional phenomenon at more than one airport.
Is it a FR24 “glitch”, or incorrect initial co-ordinates fed into system before aircraft departure? I’ve been given both answers in the past. Do ATC ‘secondary’ radar plots and TCAS rely on the same information as ‘acquired’ by FR24. If so, does the aircraft effectively fly the whole flight ‘off-track’ as would appear on FR24?
Knowledge beyond my field expertise, so can anyone explain please?
viscountThe number of ownership changes is hardly relevant. Indeed the nine ownership changes mentioned are only those since 1989 and computeristation of the record. There are a number of older ones and a number of changes of nationality too – not a surprise for a 77 year old aeroplane! However, the authors of the aviation-safety. net website entry would have done well to consult G-INFO as G-AMCK has had three ownership changes since being operated by Liverpool Flying School (the currently quoted operators) owned it 2008 to 2013. When at Liverpool it had a Public Transport C of A and unusually sported an American tail-wheel modification. A smart, well cared for and cherished Tiger Moth when at Liverpool.
viscountCertainly not direct from Liverpool, Speke in the 1950s. First charter transatlantic flights from Liverpool were in July 1966 by British Eagle Britannia and Aer Lingus Boeing 720/707, facilitated by the new 7,500ft runway 10/28 (now 09/27) opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 8th May 1966, the 50th anniversary of which quietly passed a week ago. However Aer Lingus did offer a scheduled USA service connection via their Dublin flights and often a stop at Shannon too by the early ’60s, maybe earlier. Otherwise it would have been Starways Dakota (or from 1958) Skymaster to London Air Port (Heathrow) for a connection by Stratocruiser/Douglas DC-7/Constellation, before Britannia/Boeing 707/Douglas DC-8 from the very end of the decade.
The nearest alternative airfield I can offer is Burtonwood (Warrington) with American Forces flights to/from the USA using civilian contractors such as Capital with L-749 Constellations. Also for or a short time in the ’50s BOAC Stratocruisers operated from Burtonwood while the runway at Manchester/Ringway was being relaid.
viscountThought PS915 rang a bell, but lost interest when the thread headed out Far East, then the magic initials THum appeared, and I knew where there was a photo that I had scanned several years ago, along with the original caption.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]245634[/ATTACH]
The last operational R.A.F. unit flying the Spitfire was the THum Flight (Temperature and Humidity Flight), based at Woodvale but making daily visits to Speke. Many of their Spitfire XIX’s are now with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. One such Spitfire PR.19 is PS915, here seen in rather snowy conditions outside the east wing of the Speke terminal. Pity there is no date to this rare photo, although certainly between June 1954 and 10th June 1957, the last THum Flt Spitfire sortie.
I suspect the photo was taken by Liverpool enthusiast Don Stephens, but could wrong. Interestingly the silver is rather battered and appears to show a darker colour underneath, but I could be mistaken.
For those interested in the not too well known final ‘RAF’ Spitfire Unit, my full article on the THum Flight (well really a compilation of several articles written by eminent researchers) can be found on a Liverpoolcentric aviation forum:
http://derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/13753/thum-flight-1953-woodvale-speke
viscountIf you have specific aircraft (by registration) that you wish to ‘target’ an invite to your event, then the CAA G-INFO website provides a paper-mail address. So drop the owner a letter outlining why he is invited, why his aircraft fits the event theme and the advantages to him of attending (free landing fees, discounted fuel, free lunch etc). Responses will vary from enthusiasm to consigned to the bin, but that’s the trials of being an event organiser.
Don’t overlook the aircraft already at Blackbushe, while the owners may not need to fly-in, a taxi across to the ‘public’ fence-line provides interest and makes the event look larger than the number of landing aircraft permitted!
viscountThe researchers headed by Jennifer Gradidge that produced the 3 Volume, Air Britain examination of everything Dakota: ‘The first Seventy Years’ in 2006 list the following for c/no.9798 C-47A:
42-23936 del to USAAF 1 July 1943 and at Oran with 64 TCG 8 August 1943, 8th AF, 9th AF, OK-WDU regd 5 Sept 1947, OK-WHA, OK-WZB, 23936 French Navy c/s F-YGGC, then (I’ll copy in full detail):
F-GEOM Ste. Stellar Bourgenais, Nantes, regd 22 August 1985 – canx 26 July 1994
G-OFON reserved, but not taken up for Classic Airways 29 May 1993 – 06 June 1993
G-DAKK Air Atlantique regd 26 July 1994; then Lindholme Aircraft Ltd, Jersey regd 22 Dec 1994;South Coast Airways del 2 April 1996 and leased 24 April 1998; General Airlines Ltd t/a European Flyers regd 13 Oct 2000; General Technics Ltd, Reading regd 29 Jan 2002. Stored Popham, later at Lee-on-Solent Dec 02. (Book published 2006) These are mostly ‘paper’ dates , so reflect the sequence but not necessarily the dates and operators names applied.
Which is the detailed way of saying that the photo of F-GEOM in Classic Airways titles is before G-DAKK with South Coast Airways.
viscountNowadays, not so much ‘word of mouth’, but ‘message by internet/e-mail’. Many local airports have attached enthusiast groups, most having a website/forum/blog/facebook/goggle group, reporting on ‘tipped off in advance’ movements, photographs of movements, lists of what has been in and visits by members elsewhere. I moderate such a forum covering the North West of England: John Lennon, Manchester, Hawarden, Barton, Blackpool, Isle of Man, and beyond from a Liverpool base. As to how we get to know what is expected, well that is usually down to friends in the industry with airlines, airports, handling agents, air traffic etc., to tip us off – on the understanding that we not lynch them if an aircraft does not turn up on time (which is quite often)! Warning may be a couple of days ahead for the likes of passenger and football charters, to usually at most, a couple of hours for freight, crew training or military movements.
Although needing continual monitoring Flight Radar, FR24, is a great tool and especially good for identifying what is passing overhead in real-time. Plane plotter and various apps have a similar function.
A wide, vague answer to a non-specific question. If you are looking for a particular local airport or region then I’m sure links to the sites serving that airport/region would be offered. There are national groups too, the civil spotters network comes to mind.
Have fun, there is a wealth of current and historical information out there relating to airport/aircraft movements around the length and breadth of the UK.
viscountAfter an hour and half, as no one else has stated it yet, these are clearly at a SBAC Farnborough Air Show, but one a little before my time. The Rotordyne dates the year at 1958 to 1961; I know the Short SC.1 was there in 1958 and 1960 at least; while the El Al Britannia is likely 1957 (the first of their order flew shortly before SBAC of that year). The weather looks similar in all the images, so looks at though the all same year, or were they?
What is the white, well swept-back tail beyond the Gannet in one of the flying Javelin shots? I can only think of the ATEL Accountant.
viscountLooking at the CAA G-INFO website, clearly their surviving records are incomplete.
Air Britain’s ‘The British Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-1928’ Peter Moss 1969, for G-EBPO has a little more:
G-EBPO Avro 548, formerly E3387 (C.no. P.L.6134). First Certificate of Airworthiness issued 14.12.26, to owners Newcastle-upon-Tyne Light Aeroplane Club. Last owned by Cramlington Aircraft Ltd from 10.29 without C of A (which had expired 13.12.28). Marks cancelled 9.31. From G-INFO can be added that the aircraft had C of A No. 1076 and that the last owners Cramlington Aircraft Ltd operated from Cramlington Aerodrome in the County of Northumberland.
This site: http://afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aeroplanes/15-aeroplanes/82-register-gb-g-eb adds a little to the owners list, giving: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Light Aeroplane Club .. to.. JJS Robinson based Cramlington .. to ..Pleasure Flying Services .. to .. Cramlington Aircraft Services.
May not add much to your search, but does give a max time frame of 2 years from December 1926 and indicates G-EBPO was likely operated from the North East of England as the evidence points there, rather than East Scotland. Not impossible to speculate that JJS Robinson, Pleasure Flying Services and Cramlington Aircraft Ltd are all linked ownerships.
That long sand-dune backed beach looks remarkably like the Tentismuir beach at the end of Leuchars runway does today, but then all wide, long sandy beaches with only surf as a back-ground look similar, and is the only one in the St Andrews area I am familiar with. What a great find that home movie is, a delight to watch and certainly dates from summer season 1927 or 1928.
viscountA slightly opposite UK Passport photo story. While teaching 16-18 year olds, I was frequently involved in helping filling-in their first Passport form and signing their photos. One girl prepared her form and photo, but waited 6 months before applying at the very last minute. The Passport Office faxed me, asking to confirm she was indeed the person on the photo – only on the fax the photo was an absolute silhouette, no facial detail at all! I did not let on I could see no detail and just faxed the passport Office confirmation (actually it was definitely her as her hair outline was so distinctive!).
viscountA slightly opposite UK Passport photo story. While teaching 16-18 year olds, I was frequently involved in helping filling-in their first Passport form and signing their photos. One girl prepared her form and photo, but waited 6 months before applying at the very last minute. The Passport Office faxed me, asking to confirm she was indeed the person on the photo – only on the fax the photo was an absolute silhouette, no facial detail at all! I did not let on I could see no detail and just faxed the passport Office confirmation (actually it was definitely her as her hair outline was so distinctive!).
viscountThank you “Sea King 93”, interesting to know before I’m next down in September for the first time in two years that I can at least park there still.
viscount……………. or from the north close to the excellent IHM helicopter museum at Weston-super-Mare.
I’ve been beaten to recommending the Davidstow Museum. Interesting place.
There is the privately displayed Lightning at Liskeard, somehow over 3 visits to the area in 4 years I’ve missed it each time, although told I simply cannot miss it! ‘Spitfire Corner’ is unmissable on the inland end of Newquay Airport’s runway.
Depending on your interests, the GA fields at Bodmin (N of the town) and Perranporth (SE of Newquay) may be worth dropping into, I’ve always found them friendly places. Casual access to Lands End/St.Just is a little more restricted due to handling commercial flights, but it is fun watching the Islanders buzzing around. I’m told, but not verified that the cafe and car park beside the runway end at RNAS Culdrose is now closed. Is it?
viscountA neat, wry, observation on life, with which I concur; but if taken apart and examined is fundamentally flawed.
First it confuses ‘knowledge’ with ‘intelligence’. Certainly having children increases parents knowledge as they too have to re-learn long forgotten tasks, say long multiplication, over again and expose themselves to situations and places like museums that they would not otherwise revisit. On the other hand (providing I recall my education theory of 40 years ago correctly) I.Q. mathematically inevitably reduces with age, as age is taken into consideration in the computation of test results and producing the IQ score.
I still do like the life observation though!
Sign In
