Is there a reason why Kemble, can a Nimrod not land at Shawbury?

Thanks Keith, at least you have something to regularly look forward to there!:D

Nice shots Keith, do you know what scheme it will emerge with?
I’m still hoping, against some really quite huge odds, that it gets returned to its RAE Farnborough Raspberry Ripple scheme!

As the Dr said so well at the end of that programme, you cannot have exploration without the element of risk.

I think the only major manned Mars mission that will happen in my lifetime is when I’ve been on the road for 8 hrs and have to dive into the nearest services for a chocolate bar!

Right on que – thanks Galdri & RMR!:)

I was thinking of the Spookys’ when I mentioned fwd door removed.

The Hastings had a very similar setup, but each of the two cargo doors had a removeable para door within it, aswel as the Valetta, I wonder if the C-47 wrote the specifications?

I’m more often surprised at what I can’t find on the internet than what I can.
There will be a report kicking around somewhere, and I do know that RCB always backed up his tremendous personal knowledge with AHB and TNA documents.
I won’t access the book until tonight, but ISTR that this accident was the last in a trio that triggered questions on the types safety?

Inward opening parachute door. As you can see, the main door opens outwards, which would be somewhat difficult to open in flight….

Interesting, I’d never twigged that the inner door opened inwards and the half-cargo door opened outward. We live and learn.

Almost,
The C-47 Skytrain and Dakota has two large cargo doors, both the forward and aft doors hinge outwards and both are removable on the ground for loading larger freight and can be left removed for air dropping – though that seems quite rare.
The forward cargo door has within it a smaller removable door panel (you can see the grab handles in KN pics) which during flight can be unlatched, lifted upwards and inwards, and stowed out of the way for paratroop drops.

Did anyone see ‘Space Shuttle – The Final Mission’ on BBC2 tonight?
I can honestly say that I have never seen a single programme that has covered a space mission so beautifully as this one, from the candid flight and ground crew interviews, access to facilities to the incredible footage of behind the scenes and the various parts of the flight.
The landing training missions carried out in Gulfstream IIs with the engines in reverse thrust mode was amazing to watch.
It was all the better for being put together and hosted by British ex NASA worker Dr Kevin Fong who obviously could get closer access than many.
Even if you are only slightly interested in space flight or the Shuttle do try and catch a repeat of this programme – BBC at its best!