‘HMS Siskin’ is just a part of the School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose, which is where they train aircraft handlers who will be operating aircraft from aircraft carriers and frigates at sea. ‘HMS Siskin’ is a full size dummy deck replica of an Invincible class aircraft carrier on which they carry out simulated launches, recoveries and deck movements. To add a bit of realism, the Harriers are ‘Live’ in the fact that the engines work, although limited, to create the noise and conditions that would be found on a real deck. ‘HMS Siskin’ can be seen from the public viewing area. See below. The three hangers represent hanger decks and although all the airframes appear to be crammed in the idea is to get the largest number of airframes into the smallest amount of space as on a real ship.
The GR.3s were used originally to simulate Sea Harriers but as the Sea Harrier is now out of Service, they replaced the GR.3s and are used to simulate GR7/9s.
Predannack is about six miles down the road and is the relief landing ground for Culdrose. Barnes Wallis also did his supersonic swing wing models tests from here. Scattered around the southern end of the airfield are the airframes for the RN Fire Fighting School. As we got closer to it the sea mist got thicker and wandering around to try and find everything was interesting.
Link for Cottesmore Aviation Group
Brian
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