I’m surprised one is’nt going to Cosford for their test display!
Dave

BSG

I too have wondered about the scrawled serial number on cowlings myself, they tend to appear on both Hellcats and Corsairs. But I have a theory. RN aircraft tended to have the serial nos stencilled on the lower rear fuselage sides. Maybe when the aircraft are packed into a below decks hangar, a large serial on the cowling enable the maintainers to pick them out without having to scramble to the rear every time.

The numbers were originally put on during flight testing at the factory, they just were’nt cleaned off properly & tended to show up for quite some time. The FAA museum’s Corsair still has its number on its cowlings. Any squadron codes tended to be applied underneath the cowling,
Dave

Any idea on squadrons he was on? I’ve looked through the Air Britain FAA books & no mention of him there,
Dave

Here’s one for those of us both old enough and lucky enough to have waddled across an airfield like a castrated duck to our waiting Chipmunk, for a few minuets of precious air experience time, wearing a seat cushion type parachute.
Can anyone give me information about the type of parachute involved?
Many thanks in advance.

‘chute quoted was replaced with the MK21 or MK22 (MK22 being larger harness) both in a grey/blue pack. I’ve packed quite a few in my RAF & civilian life & fairly easy to do. Still used by some people as they’re ideal for older a/c types.
Dave

You sound like you’ve done a few Dave – fancy one more for old time’s sake? 😀

If i was bit nearer i’de help. I’de recomend the SES services place. Dell Hall who runs it is very helpfull & has ANYTHING to do with safety equipment & facilities for servicing it all,
Dave

We had some green MK1’s used by rear crew in the Victors.
Some ‘X’s’ on helmets are covered in black tape, so ‘enemy’ can’t see pilots! Tape can be removed by wearer if required!
Dave

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the long delay between updates, has been a busy few weeks at Cranwell. Much has been happening though.

We have finally sorted out the HDU properly, attatched the basket to the hose and completed the full functionals as stated in the A.P. and it is (for the moment at least!) fully functional! Below are four pictures, one showing the basket installation in the hose, one of the hose fully extended with the signal lights shwoing the correct indications for stand-off at full trail, the second to last picture shows the green lights on for contact. The red lights should be off but some muppet forgot to change the signal switch from stand-off to auto! The last, blurry picture shows the HDU panel with the HDU stowed. I will attempt to get a clearer picture, but its quite hard in the light conditions in the cockpit.

Those pics brings back memories as do seeing the rear seats. I was in Victors 82-85 as a SE fitter, fitting kit to rear seats was a nightmare, especially wire-locking the air bottles! Wish i was nearer to help you guys out.
Dave

I’ve got a cut on my finger from the Seafire, and smudges of her oil on my carpet from last week if they count 😀

Oil on your carpet Lee, find that hard to believe! you sure its not one of your cats sleeping?:D
Dave