The picture was taken at North Weald in 1999 along with the Bear cat,these aircraft are very rarely wheeled out.Last year Flypast tried very hard to negotiate then being on display at the photocall but the owner was not playing ball, its a great shame that someone can own such great aircraft yet not want to let anyone see them let alone fly them!
I will post the others another day.
Phil.
I’ve been inside her quite a few times (no distortion of that statement please !)and its bloody hard work getting from front to back, nearly as hard as it is getting in and out of a Spit. Still, i have sat in the ‘office’ yolk in hand, its quite thought provoking when you sit there looking out across the dispersal.
This was taken at the end of the Gulf war at Brize Norton along with a load of other Gulf aircraft.
I cant remember the serial number, but she was called the ‘sea witch’ on the nose art and i have a feeling that she was preserved but again cant remember where.
Phil
Thanks David, I knew there was a ‘New’ in the place, must have been Newfoundland!.Am I right in saying that she was the only airworthy example as was to be based in the UK. I remember the day of the crash as i was sat a Fairford waiting for her to arrive for the RIAT.
Just watched the BBC2 Pacific wrecks program that was recommended and it was very interesting.It was good from both the natural history aspect and the historic record, with some very interesting footage of both Japanese and US aircraft. Some real gems on the sea bed, alas too far gone for any salvage, but nice for the fishes !!.
Talking of which, what happened to the Bristol Freighter that crashed at Enstone just a few years back. I know she was severely damaged,but did the scrap man cometh?. I believe she came from NZ or New Guinea or some such place.
Glad you approve Lancman.
I almost flew in her one day, sadly i could not get to Conningsby from home in the hour and half required (i takes me 3 on a good day).That was my one and only chance, but i’m not bitter !!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Phil
Do you have Newbridge in Oxfordshire as a crash site ?. My Father always used to tell me about the day a Whitley crashed in this particular field, i dont know if was ever recovered.
James,
Give me a few days to get my new PC and scanner up and running i’ll then be scanning lot more of my archives.So any Lightning stuff i come across i’ll send you and you can use it on your site by all means.
I’ll send you this one by separate cover.
Phil
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