:dev2: 😀

Alright, ALRIGHT!! I’m here already!! Where’s the fire???

Inbox duly spring cleaned……begin transmission!

Cheeky b*ggers!:p

Adrian

What what issue/what article/what photo etc? I may be able to point you in the right direction.

Lee

Just seen this thread.

RH749 was an ATDU (Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit) aircraft from Gosport – the last users of the type (beyond 238 OCU at North Luffenham). What you can see strapped to the underside is a torpedo with MAT (Mono Air Tail) stabilising tailplane.

The Firefly is indeed an AS.7 variant. One such machine narrowly avoided being preserved when it, together with TT.4 VH127, was in storage at RNAS Lossiemouth. Sadly someone decreed that only one of them deserved to be saved……. 🙁 Not seen this particular photograph before with what I presume is a Lion on the tail?

Extra dark sea grey surely! If two colours have ever caused conversation between modelers its dark sea grey versus extra dark sea grey, and RAF sky versus sky!
I can’t open your website Lee, no macroflash on MoD ‘puters!

Indeed it is EDSG, and I had a hand in bringing XP924 back to her old self in that I drew up all of the markings. 😉

Sorry about the Flash issue – I know all about that, being a MoD “attendee” too:mad:

Agreed, Ford really is a magical place, though the huge conifers that line the main runway spoil it a great deal. When I visited there nearly ten years ago there were sections of the runway that were being broken up, so I helped myself to a chunk (with flat top – obviously) and it is still sat in my garage (used to be a bit of a garden feature at my last place). I “visited” the place when we flew over on the way to/from Shoreham in the RNHF Chipmunk. Clymping church is also one to visit. Right outside the airfield perimeter it is the last resting place of many an aviator, most notable being Lt Cdr Dennis Patrick Wolf Kelly who was killed from Ford whilst practicing his Sea Hawk display for Farnborough. The more observant will note that his headstone reads “HMY Britannia” as he was assigned to the Royal Yacht at the time of his death, having been recalled specifically to give his most impressive of aerobatic displays. Directly behind him is Cdr Desmond Russell who was killed whilst embarking 803 Sqn Scimitars in the newly-rebuilt HMS Victorious in September 1958.

RN ones were black for all exposed metal areas. However not entirely sure about the colour of the soundproofing in the back. Whirlwind soudnproofing was a greenish colour.

COUGH!! SPLUTTER!!! [GNASHES TEETH] 😮

As has been said on here already, RNHF’s policy is to operate the aircraft in as near original configuration as possible. The Centaurus was a very reliable engine in its day. Unfortunately VR930 has suffered from more than her fair share of engine problems, but this isn’t necessarily about the Centaurus in general.

Work is currently underway to remedy the situation once and for all, but she WILL fly again, and with the RIGHT engine fitted up front.