Duxford Sunday April 15th:
There were few visitors this morning due to strong winds, but Wasp G-KAXT/XT787 made a change:
The only hangar news concerns Harrier GR.9A ZD461 which is now almost complete after the fitting of fin and rudder:
Duxford Saturday April 14th:
84 light aircraft visited for the first Bonus Day Fly-In of 2012 today, but nothing to excite the vintage aircraft fan.
Chipmunk G-ATVF (Lycoming conversion), a glider tug for 42 years with the RAFGSA:
Yak 52 G-BXJB:
These Chipmunk photos have been difficult to pin down, dates and locations are unknown except where stated:
WB578/15 of 22 RFS, an early shot at Cambridge. It became VH-RFW in 1956 and was W/O 19-9-59:
WB580/17 of 22 RFS at Cambridge, Wfu 1957 for spares:
WB585/RCU-X at Cambridge, with Cambridge UAS. Became G-AOSY in 1956, still active at Audley End:
WB587/K at Cambridge. Became VH-UEK in 1956 and W/O 28-1-63:
WD345 at Coltishall 18-9-65. To N31103:
WD370/A survives as a cockpit with the ATC in Brighton:
WG304/E landing at Cambridge. To N48098, later VH-NMX and now ZK-CPY:
WG363 became G-BDIM in 1975 and was destroyed at Duxford 14-7-96 in the tragic P-38 accident:
WK574 of Cambridge UAS at Coltishall 18-9-65. To G-BVPC and VH-DHU:
WK609 at Coltishall 18-9-65 became G-BXDN in 1997:
WK635 became N546PU, then G-HFRH in 2010:
WK642/L of Cambridge UAS at Coltishall 19-9-64 (To G-BXDP in 1997):
Same aircraft at Coltishall 18-9-65:
WP833 of Cambridge UAS at Coltishall 19-9-64 became G-BZDU and then N918HF:
WP896/5 became G-BWVY in 1996:
WZ868 became G-BCIW and W/O 26-11-91:
WZ872 became G-BZGB in 2000:
All photos as usual by the late Gerald Lawrance via Tony Clarke.
Duxford Friday April 13th:
A foggy morning found Catalina G-PBYA/433915 parked in her usual corner:
Towed onto the grass for a thorough pre-flight inspection:
Engine start:
Taxy for departure:
Returning ater a 45 minute local flight:
Everything sounded great, hopefully a busy season ahead:
Only other event this morning was another TFC hangar shuffle, with everyone’s favourite P-47 getting some fresh air:
A group of RAF transport aircraft, starting with Comet C.2 XK670 at the Heathrow Battle Of Britain display 21-9-58:
Avro York C.1 MW112 is believed at Hatfield 14-6-53:
This shiny Devon C.2 VP968 is at Coltishall 16-9-61:
Devon C.2 VP956 (note the dash). May be Coltishall 19-9-64:
Pembroke C.1 WV704, May be Coltishall 16-9-61:
All photos as usual by the late Gerald Lawrance via Tony Clarke. Any updates always welcome.
Duxford Wednesday April 11th:
Springtime, and the Catalina emerged from Hangar 2 this morning:
Also outside, first time for 25 (?) years, was Ambassador G-ALZO. No hosepipe ban yet in Cambridge area, so a good wash down was in order:
Flying today was Trojan / Fennec N14113:
Three Beverley photos today:
XB288 as U of 47 Sq, date and location unknown:
XH116 as Y of 47 Sq, may be Wethersfield 28-5-60:
XL151/L in the Heathrow Battle Of Britain static 21-9-58:
Credit for photos as always to the late Gerald Lawrance via Tony Clarke.
Duxford Sunday April 8th:
With the dreadful Easter weather there’s not much to report today from Duxford, so at the risk of scraping the barrel here’s a brief update on some of the residents:
Harrier GR.9A ZD461 has moved into the paintshop for completion of assembly and assessment:
The Harrier’s spot has been taken by the Zero project:
Disassembly of the Hind has started with the tail rotor:
In Hangar 2, Sally B is not far from her Spring ‘outing’:
The Catalina is also nearly ready for the season. Engine, undercarriage and tailplane work appears complete. Today the wingtip floats were under inspection:
To complete the V-Bomber trio, here are the best Victor and Vulcan scans.
As usual, photos by the late Gerald Lawrance via Tony Clarke:
Vulcan B.2 XH555:
Victor B.1 XA933 of 232 OCU at Coltishall 16-9-61:
Victor B.1 XA937:
Thanks to abadonna and JJ for Canberra info.
Back in Part 2 of this series, I posted a set of Valiant photos all taken at Cambridge. Here are some different shots, with very little background data.
First, some more from Cambridge:
XD??? (Those were the days):
WZ381 with (Edit) 7 Sq marks:
WZ404:
XD820:
XD859:
The rest are from various airshows, exact dates and locations unknown.
WP219 with 207 Sq marks:
WZ402:
XD863 with 90 Sq marks:
XD871 also 90 Sq:
XD873 of 207 Sq:
XD874:
Featuring the Canberra today, a good selection of variants and units. More information always welcome.
WD980 Canberra B.2, no marks, at Waterbeach 20-9-58 (Wfu 1969 and expired at Catterick):
WE195 Canberra T.4, 231 OCU at Mildenhall May 1966 (Exported to India as Q1792 in 1975):
WH667 Canberra B.2 of 45 Sq at Cambridge, date unknown (W/O 7-11-80):
WH877 Canberra B.2, no marks, at Waterbeach 15-9-56 (To Venezuela 1965 as 0129):
WH920 Canberra B.2 of 35 Sq, at Coltishall 17-9-60 (Wfu 1972 at St Athan):
WJ640 Canberra B.2 of 51 Sq, date/location unknown (Wfu 1981 and scrapped Cosford):
WJ681 Canberra B.2 of 98 Sq at Coltishall 19-9-64 (Wfu 1982 Brawdy):
WJ728 Canberra B.2, no marks at Coltishall 16-9-61 (Wfu 1976 Farnborough):
WJ825 Canberra PR.7 of 58 Sq at Coltishall 17-9-66 (To 8697M for BDR at Abingdon, later Catterick):
WJ992 Canberra T.4, no marks (possibly RRE) at Coltishall 17-9-66 (expired Bournemouth fire dump):
WK144, no mars. Date / Location unknown (To 8689M St Athan and scrapped):
WT322 Canberra B(I)6 at Cambridge date unknown (W/O 23-2-67):
WT509 Canberra PR.7 of 80 Sq at Coltishall 18-9-65 (Wfu Marham and scrapped 2004):
WT524 Canberra PR.7 of 80 Sq at Coltishall 16-9-61 (To 8136M Bruggen and scrapped):
XH164 Canberra PR.9 of 58 Sq at Coltishall 17-9-60 (W/O Luqa 7-1-69):
XM262 Canberra B(I)8 of 16 Sq, date / location unknown (Wfu 1973 Catterick):
XM271 Canberra B(I)8 at Cambridge circa 1965 (Wfu 1972 as 8204M Foulness):
Duxford Thursday April 5th:
First, another great photo taken by Bomberflight of Spitfire G-ASJV/MH434 set up for filming yesterday:
Today saw the TFC Nimrod I G-BWWK/S1581 parting company with her Kestrel, some minor checks required:
The addition of some masking tape to Sea Fury T.20 NX20MD/WG655 wouldn’t usually merit a photo, but it may indicate another step in the long process towards UK registry. (Sorry about the Flickr glitch):
In Hangar 5, work continues on B-17G F-BDRS/44-83735, tail guns re-installed and cockpit glazing replaced:
This masterpiece is the port Centaurus on Ambassador G-ALZO:
Today’s highlight was an airtest and practice display by JR in Buchon G-AWHE.
The grass strip is very dry and dusty:
Later, the Buchon departed (probably back to its Humberside base) with Cliff Spink at the controls:
The visitor flightline today, with a BA line-up:
Many thanks again for updates. Just one correction, the nose of Anson VP519/G-AVVR survives with the Boulton Paul Aircraft Heritage Project near Wolverhampton, not Aeroventure at Doncaster (Edit, the cockpit moved earlier this year!!)
One picture today, C-47B Dakota KJ836, unit unknown. This became G-APML in 1958 and flew with Martin Baker for many years. After use by Air Atlantique 1981-1984, it was scrapped at Coventry as late as 1998. Sections are reported surviving, the nose apparently went to Kuwait. Picture probably taken at Wisley 1957/58:
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