RAF Machrihanish

The “Crash” sequence from the 1984 film “White Nights” was filmed at Machrihanish. An Aer Lingus 747 was used for the flying sequences, but a 707 with a false “hump” attached was used for the crash.
I was with escorting group of Air Cadets on Summer Camp at the time, and some of the youngsters got Paul McCartney’s autograph as he had a house up in the hills and used the civilian side of the Airfield for commuting.
Regards
Paul

Avro Shackleton

Hi,
Thanks for an excellent post!
I was in 204 Sqn ATC in 1959, when 204 Sqn RAF operated Mk2 Shacks out of Ballykelly in Northern Ireland. For Summer Camp that year, a flight of Varsities (from Lindholme?) picked us up from RAF Waddington and flew us to BK – my very first, and perhaps best Summer Camp.
Highlights were countless flights in the Station Anson (there MAY have been a Tiger Moth, too), a 15hrs Patrol in a 204 Mk2 Shack over the Atlantic culminating in a burst tyre on landing back at BK, and the BEST escape & evasion excercise ever – by boat up Lough Foyle, a beach landing at Magilligan Point, ascent of Benevenagh (“Ben Twitch”)- and then map reading and evading back to BK. Just in time for a bottle of pop in Sandy’s Airman’s Home. Heady stuff for a 14 year-old!
The ACLO was an Air Signaller called Sgt Hall, and he did a BRILLIANT job! I bet life in “The Space Cadets” isn’t like that these days!
Happy memories.
Regards
Paul

Avro Manchester

Further to my earlier post in this thread, a bit more research has revealed (“Lancaster – The Story of a Famous Bomber” by Bruce Robertson, 1964) that the Burton Gravel Pit Manchester was L7420 which served with 25 OTU, 49 Sqn, and 1660/61 CU’s “Used by USAAF for ditching training 1945 and RAF later. Dumped sandpit, Lincs, 1956”.
The inference (though not actually stated) is that it was still there when the book was published, so I guess that it is just possible that it may have survived there until the 1970’s.
Regards
Paul

Hi,
Like some others, I too didn’t rate Hendrix, but I probably gave myself away in my earler post in this thread by reference to “Fiesta Red”. I also highly rate the following guitarists (playing Strats, or not):
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
John Jorgenson
Jerry Donahue (yes, I was a “Hellecasters” fan, too!)
Matt Schofield
Sonny Black (Who? I hear you ask!)

There are also some other nice design icons coming out, too. For what it’s worth, I especially rate The Coke Bottle!
Regards
Paul

Fender Stratocaster

Hello,
I’m a Drummer, so not really qualified to comment on the Strat’s playing qualities. However, as an ICON it probably has no equal in the musical world! They DO have to be Fiesta Red though!
On the subject of Design Icons, what do you think of the following? (in no particular order of merit):
Napier Deltic Diesel Engine.
Vespa Scooter (NOT the current one – the original all-steel one).
Eames Chair.
Avro Vulcan.
What are YOUR favourite Design Icons?
Regards
Paul

Avro Manchester

Hi,
I recall that, as a youngster, there was a Manchester fuselage at the edge of a flooded Gravel Pit at Burton near Lincoln.
My schoolmate’s (John Atkinson) Dad was friendly with the Gravel Pit Manager/Foreman and as a result we used to get to “play” in it.
As to the date, I’d guess it was early 1950’s. The story was that it had originally been placed there by RAF Scampton so that Aircrew could practice “ditching” procedures.
No idea what happened to it – the Gravel Pit is now a Nature Reserve and the Manchester is long gone!
Regards
Paul

Welcome, Stephen

I’m quite new around here too, so don’t let the “Clever Dicks” put you off………………….chances are THEY also had to ask basic questions once, too!
There are far more contributors to this forum like BlueRobin who take the trouble to supply sensible information in a polite and friendly way.
Most of us don’t need to demonstrate our status as “God’s Gift to Aviation”
Regards
Paul

Speed Cameras

Evenin’ All……..
Another slant on Speed Cameras (and CCTV as well, I guess) that concernes me is that they MAY be encouraging the mentality of “I’ll only comply with the Law when I’m in direct range of some sort of enforcement”
A length of Dual Carriageway (one of the very few in my part of the World) that I regularly use has a Speed Camera. Many motorists – perhaps even the majority – only reduce speed below the limit when within range of the Camera, and then simply speed-up again.
It seems to me that, these days, we think we can get away with ANYTHING if we’re unlikely to get caught!
I thought the Law was the Law, not just when a Bobby is about?
Regards
Paul