ZB697 Mil Mi-17 Mk.1V (manufacturer’s serial number 103M02) – Ex Bulgarian Air Force serial 402
ZB698 Mil Mi-17 Mk.1V (manufacturer’s serial number 103M03) – Ex Bulgarian Air Force serial 403

Photo of 403 (now ZB698) here:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Bulgaria—Air/Mil-Mi-17/1211741/L/

Very strange that they have re-used serials which were formerly used by Chukar target drones. Don’t think I’ve seen any UK military serials re-used before.

Regards,
David

Registration history:
G-AYNC, VH-SJD, G-AYNC, G-17-1, G-AYNC, 9G-DAN

In Australia, as VH-SJD, it was operated by Mayne-Bristow Helicopters and based at Karratha (where I saw it) and also flew from nearby Point Samson. It operated under contract to Woodside Petroleum, carrying people and cargo to Woodside’s oil exploration ship. My Dad took a photo of it at Karratha, but I can’t find it amongst the thousands of negatives.

After being sold to Sykes, it operated in Accra, Ghana and then returned to the UK. It is believed (not confirmed) that it is preserved as 9G-DAN, at Turbine World, Honey Crook Farm, Redhill, Surrey.

Regards,
David

Hi Ken,

Could you please give the RAF serial number of the aircraft you’re referring to? Several Halifaxes have worn the codes NP-L.

Regards,
David

Hi There,

There is a possibility that the Canon EOS400D will be replaced by a new, improved model shortly. Canon often announces new models at large photography conventions – there is one called PMA at the end of this month and another called Photokina later this year.

Many people predict that Canon will announce a 400D replacement at PMA this month. Canon replaces old model SLRs every 18 months or so, so this prediction may be correct, as the 400D was released around August 2006.

So, you may soon be able to get a cheaper 400D, as prices will drop if a replacement is announced. You could use the money saved on better lenses.

Or you may wish to wait for the new model. Either way, I would wait to see if anything is announced late this month before making a decision on which model to go for.

Most photographers tell you that you should spend more money on the lenses, rather than the bodies. This is because technology in the camera bodies changes rapidly, so you may end up buying a newer camera body in a couple of years, but you will normally keep your lenses for manyn more years.

Regarding the lens included in the package, is it a Canon lens or another brand? You need to find out and then do some research to see whether it is a good lens or not. A good website for this is Photozone.de:
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/45-canon-eos-aps-c/331-canon-eos-aps-c-lens-tests–reviews

It is a good idea to try and get a lens with image stabilisation (IS) built in, as IS lenses can result in less blurred photos – especially at the upper end of the telephoto range and in low-light conditions.

You also need to think about how much zoom you actually need, versus lens size/weight. Build quality may or may not be an issue – personally I have used “consumer” grade (ie. cheaper) Canon lenses for many years and have had no problems at all (as long as you choose the better ones). The alternatives are the very expensive “L-series” professional lenses.

I use the Canon 70-300mm IS lens, and it is excellent value for money and easy to carry about. Here’s a link:
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Canon%20EOS%20Lens%20Tests/45-canon-eos-aps-c/200-canon-ef-70-300mm-f4-56-usm-is-test-report–review

Canon also recently released a 55-250mm IS lens: http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Canon%20EOS%20Lens%20Tests/45-canon-eos-aps-c/194-canon-ef-s-55-250mm-f4-56-is-test-report–review

Look up the lens in the package, and see whether it is any good. You also need a lens for the wide-angle range – does the package include the usual 18-55mm non-IS Canon kit lens? There is a recently released 18-55mm IS version available too. Personally, I used the 18-55mm non-IS kit lens for a couple of years. Recently, I forked out extra $$$ to buy the F2.8 17-55mm IS lens, which works great in low-light conditions (eg. hangars).

Hope this helps.

Regards,
David Eyre
Perth, Western Australia.

G-AGRY (cn 1262) was the second Avro 689 Tudor II completed.

It initially performed tropical trials in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production, using military serial VX202. See a photo at this link:
http://vicflintham.co.uk/content/post-war-research-aircraft-and-prototypes/tudvx202.jpg

These trials showed that the aircraft was unsatisfactory, and resulted in a reduction in orders for the type.

VX202 was then registered G-AGRY, having received its Cof A in September 1948. It was delivered from Woodford to Airflight Ltd at Blackbushe on 2nd September 1948.

Here’s a colour photo of it taken on 3rd September 1948 at Berlin-Gatow during the Berlin Airlift:
http://www.planeboys.de/gww/diverse/airflight_gagry.htm

And a rare colour film (8MB) which includes G-AGRY:
http://www.flywiththestars.co.uk/Video/film.htm

It was later used by Fairflight and Air Charter. Sometime during its life it was allocated military serial XF537, before again returning to G-AGRY. (I don’t have my production list book with me at the moment, so haven’t got more details).

It was scrapped at Stansted in July 1959.

Behind G-AGRY is G-AKBZ (cn 1418), an Avro 689 Tudor V, one of five ordered by British South American Airways (BSAA), named “Star Falcon”. The Tudor V was a 44-seat modified version of the Tudor II with 1,770 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 621 engines.

This aircraft initially allocated Ministry of Supply serial TS904, but this serial was not taken up.

On 16 Aug 1947 it was registered as G-AKBZ, and converted to a Tudor V. The aircraft had CofA number 10300 issued on 3 Nov 1948 to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

It was delivered from Woodford to BSAA at Heathrow on 4 Nov 1948, and named “Star Falcon”.

These aircraft never entered passenger service with BSAA, as they were stripped of cabin fittings and used as fuel freighter on the Berlin Airlift.

In July 1949, BSAA was merged back into BOAC. G-AKBZ was withdrawn from service on 10 Aug 1949 and stored at Woodford. On 3 Sep 1949 ownership of the aircraft was transferred to BOAC.

On 1 Nov 1951 the aircraft was bought by Freddie Laker’s company Aviation Traders Ltd, and was sold during the same month to Surrey Flying Services.

The aircraft was permanently withdrawn from use at Stansted in June 1956, and scrapped there in July 1959 by Aviation Traders Ltd.

Regards,
David

Hi Mark,

On the morning of 21 May 1982, Flt Lt Jeffrey Glover was flying a Harrier GR.3 of 1(F) Squadron, RAF, (XZ972 -tail code 33) operating from HMS Hermes on a reconnaissance mission.

He was shot down at around 9.35am by a Shorts Blowpipe man-portable surface to air missile over Port Howard, West Falklands and ejected. He broke his arm and collar bone during the ejection, and was caught by Argentine troops. They

There are some squadron combat diaries here:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/1sqn_4.html#abbrev

Combat report here:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/cr2105.html

Detailed account here by Glover himself:
http://www.britishmedalforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=19673&sid=a7c6e01a1540b55d856bb3f9242ae0ca

Article from New York Times about him returning to UK:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905E2D61639F932A25754C0A964948260&n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/Falkland%20Islands

Article about Jeff Glover selling his medals, and some details about his movements and later career:
http://rogue-gunner.blogspot.com/2007/09/falklands-war-pilot-sells-his-medals.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20070923/ai_n20520589
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/thornton/Nigel-Thornton-What-price-the.3198906.jp

Details of the Harrier here:
http://harrier.hyperlinx.cz/FAQ-falklandwar.htm

There’s probably more info available on Google.

Regards,
David Eyre

Hi DJ17,

Couldn’t find any contact details for you, so have to post this request as a reply.

Hans Marter at Shetland News Agency would like permission to use your last photo (of the An-124 with the two S-92s) on their website. Might be a chance to get yourself some $$$$!?

Can you please contact him using these details:

Hans J. Marter
Shetland News Agency
Local news daily updated at: http://www.shetland-news.co.uk and
http://www.shetlandmarine.com
T: +44 (0)1806 577 332 M: +44 (0)7775 564 513
or e-mail: [email]hans@shetland-news.co.uk[/email]