Ta Andrew!

More pics and a report of XL577’s rollout to be found here!

Just lovely, lovely LOVELY!! I can now tear up my petition to have this painted in ‘Blue Diamonds’ colours! Hmm, thinks…Kemble Air Day next year – formation of ‘Black Arrows’ Hunter, ‘Blue Diamonds’ Hunter, ‘Yellowjacks Gnat, ‘Red Pelicans’ Jet Provost, ‘Red Arrows Gnat from North Weald and, dare I add a Red Arrows Hawk..hmm :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The two Princes reported in Thailand are in fact one and the same aircraft. A potted history:-

c/n P.41 delivered April 1952 to Thai Supreme Command HQ (for Royal Thai Survey Dept); apparently operated with serial ‘0041’ by Army (on behalf of Survey Dept) until transferred to RTAF (still operated on behalf of Survey Dept) 1955; allocated RTAF serial T1-1/98; withdrawn in 1960; stored at RTAF Museum since at least 1967 (probably earlier); given to Army as static para trainer in late 1970’s and parked at 11th Infantry Division, Bang Khaen; returned to RTAF Museum for restoration late 1980’s; restored and put on display at RTAF Museum Jan-95 and still there (marked T1-1/96 in error).

I have more photos if anyone wants copies.

I did wonder about that. Many thanks for that info! Damn, I thought I had TWO of them!

How many types are there?

I see:

Hawk
Gnat
Sea Vixen
Jet Provost
Hunter
Jaguar
Sea Hawk

Missing any?

It all depends which period you are talking about? During the ’60s and early ’70s there were stacks of Hunters there, but most of them got refurbished and sold to foreign air arms. At that time there were also Piston Provosts, Canberras, a Lightning, Sea Hawks, Sycamores, Jet Provosts all inside while outside lived three Vulcans, one silver, one white, one camo, a Comet Mk.2, Canberra and a Twin Pioneer, not forgetting the Beaufighter nose-cum-shed engine test bed, which I believe is now with Skysport Engineering at Sandy, beds, being part of a rebuild to fly. In the late ’70s/early ’80s, the scene changed with Argosies, Whirlwinds, Gnats, Sea Vixens and more Jet Provosts arriving, followed by Jaguars and Harriers. The previous inmates either getting preserved or scrapped. I have photos of them all!

Firebird,

Here are a few to be going on with.

I am sure ‘Albert’ can improve on these with colour.

Mark

Yes, I can show you all these in colour, but I can’t improve on the quality as these b/w shots are just fine.

Oh neat!

Do you have a picture of the said Defiant?

But of course! I took this on 10th June 1968, but had to wait ages while some photographer was climbing all over the wing :rolleyes: I shot every single aircraft there, including everything on the flightline in the flying display.
Just name the aircraft and I will have a shot of it.

I agree with Flanker Man. Now Red Bull have had their publicity from it,. it is time for them to compromise like their B-25 and T-28 which wear military colour schemes with the Red Bull logo. Actually, I think the contract with Red Bull is for two years and after that, they had agreed to repaint it in 899 Squadron colours. If that still stands, it will get repainted for next year’s season, unless things have changed and they keep it in this colours for one more season. As long as it keeps flying, I really don’t care what colour it is.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAF

I was there in the Press Party on 14th June during the Queen’s Review and took these shots. What amazed me was that all these historic aircraft were roaded in and assembled and were parked outside for nearly two weeks and not a drop of rain fell in that period! For once, the weather was absolutely magnificent, as was the display.