The Duxford York is on display in the superhanger in Dan Air colours I think . I looks finished to me and very good too . I also remember the coal and Berlin airlft story . I think it was early in the restoration process that they discovered a lot of coal dust under the floor .

Could still be some ‘nutty slack’ lurking in the murky recesses of Hastings TG528 too!

Keep ’em coming!

The cannon, and ammunition boxes, were on a drop-out pallet, so the Adens had short barrels, and were totally hidden from view. One other thing to watch, and it’s true of all Hunter models; don’t drop the airbrake, if you have the u/c extended. The two items were linked; with u/c down, the brake could not be deployed (unless you had a fairly major hydraulics problem.)
Edgar

The airbrake could be partially extended on the ground (undercarriage down:rolleyes:) by using a test switch in the cockpit – we spanner wielders used the airbrake test facility to communicate between cockpit and spanner man when carrying out engine adjustments during a ground run – this was in the days before the headset and long lead were in common usage.
The gun barrels were fitted into the forward fuselage prior to the gun-pack being winched into position, and were then connected to the cannon, if my memory is still serviceable. Can’t remember how long the barrels were, though – not my job, I’m engines chiefy!

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Borneo/index.html

Good starting point for an overview on the Confrontation.

This rather ancient colour film on youtube is also worth a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvXaAEt0I4&feature=related

Spotted myself in it:p – I was a member of the ?famous? Borneo Jet Force with 60 Sqdn (later 64 Sqdn) Javelin detachment at Kuching, in 1964-65.

War stories to follow in a couple of weeks – off on my hols now!

Shiny Chippy

Taken at Benson in 1990s – sorry, lost the date info when I scanned it. Can’t remember the serial either, but who could forget that horrible hat she is wearing?

Chippies were lovely things – ATC cadets are an entirely different animal!
Didn’t have much idea how to sit on a chair while we ‘fitted’ their parachute for them, let alone climb onto the wing during a running pax change. As for failing to use the bag provided – don’t even go there!

My most unforgettable Chipmunk moment (apart from my first ever flight in one) was my having to remove a jammed starter breech, with live 12 bore ammo still inside, after one of our pilots failed to fully yank the starter ring then let it go slack before it fired. Safety man in place, engine fitter’s GS screwdriver in hand, then ‘bang’. Still smelling the cordite almost fifty years later.

F Troop in the air

F Flight from RAF Chivenor 1963.