I predict a Riot! – Fantastic tune Howard!

I saw them live a few years ago at the V Festival – lead singer performing with a broken foot / ankle! Brilliant!

I’m sure we all have some personal opinions on things, but the key is to get over it and praise the fantastic efforts that people make! It’s the community, that makes Cockpitfest so great. Hopefully no riots! 🙂

I can’t wait for the next events! TSR2 will be very interesting indeed! I have Len Dean’s helmet that he wore during all the ground engine testing… of not only TSR2, but also Jaguar and Tornado prototypes too. Would love to show it at the event. Maybe even find some white overalls to re-enact as Len?? Maybe a tall order, would hate to offend his family / friends.. Maybe just show the helmet…

Cheers, Scott

Here are some photos of some of the great things we did at Cockpifest 2014!

As usual, we tried to get the kit as correct for the aircraft and chosen period as possible, given financial constraints! Flightgear is such a complex subject, it’s a good challenge to get it right, especially for two people to be photographed together. Well hope to do more in Later in the year at the Night Photo Shoot.

More photos will follow later…

JP:
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Museum’s Buccaneer and Sea Vixen:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]229278[/ATTACH] | [ATTACH=CONFIG]229279[/ATTACH]

Cheers, Scott

It looks like a mix of a MK4b4l and a Mk10.
I’ve repaired and repainted a few of these.
I would hazard a guess and say that this may be a foreign airforce helmet. And not of RAF/Army/Navy origin.

Hi Matt,

It is interesting.. the comms plug is a UK NATO plug, the only other country to use the same plug is Frabce, but tge French Air Force tend to use French manufactured helmets (as we use UK manufactured), so I can’t see it being from France. This is why i’m interested to see a photo of the adaptor that it’s plugged into..

I might guess at it being from a private UK company who works with military aircraft, such as BAE systems… I used to know Keith Hartley when he worked for British Aerospace, he had an Alpha (not Mk10) quite similar to this for flying the Eurofighter prototypes.

But, as stated, the mask and hooks are a bit “kitchen tabley”, and it has a boom mic mount and only one visor which would indicate helicopter use, hence no need for a mask.

Cheers, Scott

Hi LesterPK,

I’d be interested to know which AP that extract is from.. I’ve been trying to collect flight gear related scanned-in AP’s, can do some swaps if you have any scanned…?

Cheers, Scott

Hi Anna,

I’m the guy who Twin Otter mentioned..

It looks like a bit of a mis match of parts..

The main helmet strikes me as a civilian Alpha (Civvy version of the Mk10), it’s grey, not green, also has no Nato stock no or crows foot on the label.

The single visor and mount for the boom mic indicate helicopter use.

I think someone has added the mask hooks and mask. The hooks are typical of a Mk4, the modern ones typically seen on Mk10’s are a quck release type of affair.

I’m curious to see the whole of the headset cable, it may shed some more light on it. I can see a NATO plug on the helmet lead, but it’s connected to an adaptor… What plug is on the end of the adaptor?

Also it’s in an American padded helmet bag, not Brutish.

It’s either had an interesting life, or is a “kitchen table job”.

Thanks, Scott

Brilliant! Well, they are pointy, like Tornados!

Hi all,

I was only able to help out in the daytime as we had a night out previously booked in… But at least it gave the photographers a couple of extra bonus daytime photo opportunities in addition to the night.

I was the guy in the orange Polish get-up with the “Polish” MIG (actually was a Romanian but painted up by the museum as a nod to the Polish community in the area). I also posed with my friend Andy with the T5 Lightning.

Equipment:

I used a genuine Polish THL-4 helmet (rare in the UK), with KM-32 mask, and genuine Polish Life Jacket. The orange coverall was Luftwaffe and gloves Russian, but near-enough for accuracy. I think the combination of this gear and this aircraft made some quite unique photos in the UK. Would like to do the Polish Iskra at Coventry Midlands Air Museum too..

The RAF gear was about 80% accurate between the two of us for a Lightning in the late 70’s / early 80’s.

Hope our efforts of trying to “get it right” (within budget and time constraints) were appreciated!

Cheers, Scott.

Photos:

Mig:

Lightning T5:

Thanks for taking and sharing these images…

The above was a very proud moment… The best fathers day I could have ever asked for! It was nice to include little Emily in the event, hopefully she’ll take an interest in the years to come!

Big thanks again to Rob, Rich and Rob in the photo for helping to pull off a decent display! Couldn’t have done it like that without you guys!

Cheers, Scott