geedeeHeres a slack handlfull of shots I’ve taken at various places over the past few years…Oshkosh, CAF Airsho, Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Ezell Aviation, Flying Legends….got loads more including a great 3 ship that I cant find …at the moment !.
geedeeThanks for the input so far, but no confirmed ident. On looking at the stick assembly further I’ve noticed that each item has the letter ‘R’ cast in it….does this mean it could a ‘Republic’ item ?…over to you
geedeeHey, thanks for the additional info and likewise for the photo.
While looking into to her history, I came across this thread that has a whole heap of info about the incident. Very interesting reading !
geedeeJust been reading thru’ this thread and the awesome amount of info it contains, exceptional work indeedy !,
Its probably a long shot but I’m trying to find a photo of G-AGDR (AM918). Reason for asking is I have a prop hub with two badly bent blades from this A/C and I’m looking for any pics that I could add to a small story-board to go with the assembly.
I’ve had the prop for a while and its about to undergo a comprehensive stabilisation and sympathetic restoration process, not to make it look like new, but to stop any further degradation in preparation for display.
Any help gratefully appreciated !!
geedeeHere’s the plot for the new film….
A major new Hollywood film…
DAM BUSTERS II or WHO YOU GONNA BOMB?
Hollywood’s authentic story of the Six-Seventeenth Eagle Bomb Squadron Of the Royal British Air Corps.
THE INTRO….
It is 1941. Hitler has invaded Europe and England alone fights back Aided by a handful of international volunteers, including GI Gibson (Tom Cruise)an American pilot who had already had a key role in winning the Battle Of Britain.
Intelligence has identified that the destruction of a giant dam in central Germany is the key to Allied victory.
THE FIRST RAID….
A raid on the dam by the British Lan-Casters of the 6-17th is ordered, to be led by its war-weary cockney CO (Michael Caine). The crews are filmed boarding the Confederate Air Force’s Liberator.
A background of sun-drenched Texan prairie substitutes for Scamppington Air Force Base and the East Anglian Fens in January. Colour-enhanced black and white library shots are then used for the Raid – DC-6 engine start, taxiing Halifaxes, Spitfire mass take-off, formation of B24s, Lan-caster at night, bombs dropping from a Mitchell, a B-17 and Focke-Wulf Condor being shot down, the FAA’s Boeing 707 crashing in flames. As with all US aviation films since the invention of “talkies”, the aircraft soundtrack consists only of the roar of Pratt & Whitney radial engines, specially recorded during a Harvard mass flypast at the annual Oshkosh air show.
But the raid is a failure, and only GI and his crew survive to try again. Danny De Vito plays the part of the bomb aimer.
THE WEAPON….
After the disastrous first dam raid, it is obvious a new type of weapon Is needed. By chance Barn S. Wallace (Morgan Freeman), the leading US scientist And aviation expert, is in London explaining his invention of the jet engine to an unknown British engineer, Frank V. Tel. Thinking back to his childhood, Barn remembers skimming rocks across a Lake in native New Hampshire, and quickly comes up with a design for a Bouncing bomb – but it is too large for any British aircraft to carry.
THE AIRCRAFT….
Fortunately, Wallace has brought with him to England the only example of his latest bomber design, the B-29. Cut to the CAF’s B-29, painted gloss caramel and vivid green with French roundels, being pulled from its Hangar at Midland, TX, so that GI and his crew can test fly the new bouncing munition over the neighbouring Scotland, and prepare for the raid.
THE RAID….
Shots of Cruise and gang boarding the B-29, plus take-off shots over The American Midwest. Then computer-generated images for outbound flight, the final – and successful – bombing run using the last remaining weapon on board, and the dogfights on the return leg.
Throughout, the standard CGI conventions are used. All WW2 single-seat fighters fly at a minimum Mach 0.9 in +7g manoeuvres, while any multi-engine aeroplane drones along straight and level at 130 kt.
THE COMMAND CENTER….
In a map-encrusted bunker, Barn waits tensely for the results of the raid.
Although the news is of success, he starts to become saddened by the loss of aircrew involved. But, just at that moment, a well-spoken Home Counties WAAF officer (Catherine Zeta Jones) in a starched Virginia McKenna military blouse appears, bearing a tray of Starbucks mugs. She utters that immortal line – “Cocoa Latte, Sir?” – and all is well.
Information comes in that the flooding from the broken dam has flooded Hitler’s bunker (clip fromChaplin as the Great Dictator), thwarting the launch of a new V3 rocket aimed at the Summit Conference being held in buckingham Palace, London, England.
The water also slows the Russian advance, allowing Patton (Harrison
Ford) to capture Berlin and Eastern Germany for the Allies.
THE LANDFALL….
Meanwhile, with three engines blazing and feathered, Gibson and the surviving crew nurse the crippled B-29 back across the Channel. They just manage to climb over the White Cliffs of Dover to see in the Near distance the welcoming runway lights of their Lincolnshire airfield. Having studied brain surgery before joining up, the B-29’s chirpy Australian assistant cook (Kylie Minogue) saves the lives of injured crew members as the bomber belly-lands onto its home base. It slides to a halt a few Feet from the control tower, where Winston Churchill (Dan Ackroyd) watches proudly.
Also in the scene, in a technology enhancement, is Ronnie Reagan on his horse Trigger.
THE FINALE….
GI stands framed by the blazing wreckage of a redundant Fokker Friendship airliner bought especially for this scene. Since a wholesome happy ending is mandatory in today’s commercial cinema, in a final shot he is joined by “Native-African-American”, his loyal dog. Despite the pair of Artificial legs and prosthetic tail fitted after being injured in three major road accidents on the Great North Road during his master’s absence, the Labrador bounds joyfully into the sunset with some dame called Vera Lynn singing about the White Cliffs
geedeeMight be able to bring my ’51 along for the weekend, should be able to confirm shortly
geedeeNATO…PM sent 🙂
geedeeGary, One for you, well done again! ]
Cheers for that dude, very much appreciated !!. That was a great weekend and it was good to meet up with you guys after missing out on last years event 🙂 . I’ll add your pic to my own personal collection if that’s Ok ?.
And just wait ’till next year http://forum.keypublishing.com/images/smilies/devilish.png
geedeeGary Dean’s Mustang P.51D, 44-11175. A stunning cockpit display that really felt alive.
Cheers dude, very much appreciated. Pity I didn’t the chance to catch up with things, but that’s the way it often goes ! 🙂
geedeePlaying Mustang pilot was the highlight of the day for me 🙂 Thank you to the owner.
No worries mate, glad you liked her ! 🙂
geedeeBuild a ’51 Mustang 🙂
geedeeI personally wouldn’t lose any sleep. 😀
geedeeStarting to look the business now Rob, well done !
geedeeWelll….yet another classic weekend at Newark. So what if the weather didn’t play ball (next time it rains and blows like that, I’m sleeping in the tail pipe of the Mig…its dry and windproof :)) so what if most of Saturday was spent with canopies closed and covers over the ‘Planes, so what if Joe Public attendance was down a bit due to the weather, it was still a relaxing…did I just say that ?…and thoroughly enjoyable weekend spent in great company.
As with any event, you cannot control everything and sometimes things don’t go quite to plan, but as usual, the crew at Newark have excelled themselves and all done with a good pro-active mind set. Top marks guys, bl**dy well done !. I have no doubt that following the post event de-brief, there may be some slight changes…or there may not !… but I am allready making plans for next years event as I know, I’m going to have a great time.
Regarding comments about mixing / seperating similar style of ‘Planes this is always going to be a topic for conversation. “Lets put all the Canberras together…lets put all the Lightnings together …lets put all the Warbirds together” and so on and so on and so on !. I imagine that trying to allocate a suitable space for a ‘pit (hoping that it arrives for the event !) is a logistic nightmare !.
You have to balance the overall presentation to the paying public…do they really want to see four or five identical aircraft cockpits in a line up side by side (impressive though it would most certainly look !)…would they look at the first one and then walk past the rest as they all look the same on the outside, or is it best to have some sort of ‘jumble’ in the layout ?. Are we trying to please the exhibitors or the public here as its pretty much an impossible task to do both.
From a purely personal perspective, I found the co-location of the Warbirds a definite bonus and I hope it is repeated next year. It gives us a chance to make a better display, whether we are located by the hangar or elsewhere next year is really imateriel (I’d prefer to stay by the hangar).
It might be worth considering placing all prop driven ‘Planes either on one side or in a ‘collective Squadron together somewhere as this would give a better perspective on the development of ‘Planes through the years. Face it, there are normally only Prop driven or Jet blown planes and each ‘camp has its own dedicated bunch of followers. Would it be better for them to have their main interest in one location, or is it better to make ’em walk to find their ‘icons ?.
It was a great weekend and many thanks to all of you who attended with your Projects, it all goes to make this event unique. And hearty congrats to the various category winners, bl**dy well done !
Anyway, enough of my mutterings, heres a few of my pics. I didn’t get the chance to visit each and every one and see how things are progressing, for which I do apologise, hope to make up for it next year.
And finally, the distinguished Gent sat in my ’51 rolling back the years, is Tom. Tom is working on an exciting addition to my ’51, the results of which you will see in all its brilliance next year. He was a very happy chap at the end of the day !!
geedeeI’m ready and looking forward to it.
Is there any chance of the BBMF boys putting in an appearance this year ?. Last years flyby was just ‘plane’ beautiful !….my ears are still ringing 🙂
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