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Wyvernfan

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November 13, 2008 at 2:31 pm in reply to: Ormond Hayden-Baillie #1224036

Wyvernfan
Participant

Yes, exactly like that.!!

By the way great shot of the CF-100.. if only OHB had lived and fulfilled his dream of flying this on the airshow circuit. I doubt we will ever again get so close to seeing one of these in UK skies.

November 13, 2008 at 9:28 am in reply to: Ormond Hayden-Baillie #1224321

Wyvernfan
Participant

PS. Attached are two recent paintings featuring OHB. The first is titled ‘Steeds of The Black Knight’ and the second is called ‘Black Sky and Knight’
(They are not for sale…)

What wonderful paintings these are, especially Black sky and Knight. Reminds me of what i call the halcyon days of Dx. Very few fences or restrictions, larger than life characters that were willing to stop and chat and get there hands dirty, and a wonderfully preserved 1950’s – 60’s fighter station with so much atmosphere and untouched charm.
I’m not knocking the place as it is now but ever since the M11 was built and the other buildings and attractions have been added on, it has lost a little something.. but as we know time and fashion stand still for no-one.
OHB started what others like Stephen Gray and the Hanna’s thankfully carried on, and i’m sure many like me are grateful for there achievements and unstinting enthusiasm.

November 11, 2008 at 8:57 am in reply to: Airshow-related Accidents #1226576

Wyvernfan
Participant

Having read the accident report for the Firefly at Old Warden, where the pilot having failed to start one plane decided to take another for display instead, sounds very much like John Derry and the DH110 at Farnborough in 1952.
Having failed to start the black second prototype at Farnborough because of a seized engine bearing, he flew together with his observer Tony Richards to Hatfield in a Dh Dove and returned to Farnborough in the all silver first prototype.. and the rest is history.!

As a side note i can remember the trouble that John Larcombe had starting the Yak C11 at Dx in 1984. After several attempts it did eventually fire up with clouds of accompanying smoke. Later on that afternoon while inverted in a roll the engine stopped, forceing John to make a superb wheels up landing in a field beside Hunts road just outside the airfield boundary.
When it would’nt start i could’nt help thinking that the old girl was trying to tell him something…

November 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm in reply to: M.A.P.S next project #1226901

Wyvernfan
Participant

I guess two out of three is close enough! 😀

Very good… especially the tongue sticking out..:D

November 10, 2008 at 2:05 pm in reply to: Airshow-related Accidents #1227438

Wyvernfan
Participant

Not sure of the year but during the 1950’s President Tito of i think Yugoslavia paid a visit to Duxford. After an inspection of the aircraft he was treated to a mass take off and display by Meteor 8’s of either 64 or 65 Sqdn. During the display, in what i was told was somewhat murky conditions, two or three of the Meteors collided and crashed.
During the mid 1980’s i worked for a farmer who had owned the land onto which the planes had fallen, and he gave me the combined earpiece and R/T cable from one of the pilots flying helmets (which i still have)… a rather poignant reminder of a tragic event.!

Also the same farmer gave me a compass which, while he was guarding it (home guard), he had removed from a Dx P47 Thunderbolt that had crash landed during WW2. Sadly i sold this to a collector a few years ago.. silly boy.!:rolleyes:

November 8, 2008 at 1:17 pm in reply to: RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine) Air Day 1954 #1229557

Wyvernfan
Participant

Regarding the Wyvern, Rob you are not alone. Nice canopy in your avatar pic – where did you come across it?

Steve

I bought it around 18 years ago from a collector near Brighton. When he acquired it it still had the remains of a brown wrapper around it, as it had come from Westlands stores and was unused.
To date it is one of only two that i know of in existence, both of which are the early S.4 versions without the metal fairing, which was added later to counter a problem they had with canopies collapsing and/or detaching in flight.!

Rob.

November 6, 2008 at 1:54 pm in reply to: Duxford Press day 4 May 1939 #1231674

Wyvernfan
Participant

Does any one know where the footage of the 19 sq Duxford press day (Pathe News I think) taken in May 1939 can be viewed ?

I saw it on TV once but alas had no luck since.
thanks
Jon

You could try the ITN website, as i know they have alot of Pathe newsreels. But be warned as you may have to buy a copy..

November 5, 2008 at 6:06 pm in reply to: DC-6 G-APSA to visit Heathrow #1232720

Wyvernfan
Participant

Bl**dy typical :diablo:

Yes, typical of BAA to make a mountain out of nothing.. And to who may we ask has the slot been allocated, and at what price.?

November 5, 2008 at 1:35 pm in reply to: Duxford to change ownership! #1232994

Wyvernfan
Participant

The real possibility of extending Dx’s runway was looked into fairly recently, when Marshalls Aerospace at Cambridge Airport began looking at Dx as a possible site for relocation. But to extend it just to allow bigger or faster types to attend airshows or join the museum would not be financially viable.

Duxford’s biggest problem has always, and will always be the M11 motorway. Not only did it cut off a large slice of land and runway, it created an unnecessary obstacle to an otherwise unobstructed approach and overshoot.!

November 3, 2008 at 9:16 am in reply to: Ormond Hayden-Baillie #1234994

Wyvernfan
Participant

Incidentally it also contained same about the great Neil Williams (died dec), and Doug Bianchi (also dec). Both big losses to the vintage aviation scene.

November 3, 2008 at 9:11 am in reply to: Ormond Hayden-Baillie #1234999

Wyvernfan
Participant

Great photo, where is it from?

It is from the Dec 1977 edition of Duxford Aviation News, which contained a brief obituary – most of which i have quoted, about Ormond and his death in the previous July. Photographer is not credited.!

October 31, 2008 at 9:11 pm in reply to: Last Flight Of The C133 Cargomaster #1236928

Wyvernfan
Participant

Fascinating info, many thanks for sharing it. I’ve lost count of the number of times i have watched the clip of her last flight, just so i could hear that awesome spine tingling noise.. truly impressive.!

October 31, 2008 at 11:18 am in reply to: Ormond Hayden-Baillie #1237208

Wyvernfan
Participant

Well i cannot answer that particular question, but i quote this from the Duxford Aviation News of Dec 1977;

“Ormond was an extraordinary man. He knew what he wanted and his single-minded energy in trying to achieve his ideals left us standing. He loved Duxford and his part in it and wanted to see it succeed as an exciting, lively, flying aircraft museum. He tried very hard and waged many battles. He was debonair, knowledgeable, difficult, charming, enthusiastic, and very hard working – in any capacity required from grease monkey to negotiator and, above all, a leader of his team and his many followers. He was always helpful and encouraging to those of like mind, contemptuous of petty officialdom, and anathema to bureaucrats”.

Whatever the story you can’t help admire the guys determination.!

October 30, 2008 at 8:56 am in reply to: Meteor and Vampire #1238057

Wyvernfan
Participant

I was there at Mildenhall in 1986 when they were lost. With a friend who had never seen an airshow before, we watched them take off and mid way through the display as they were coming around the back of the airfield and forming up, the tail of the Vampire (the Vampire always led) came into contact with i think the port engine intake of the Meteor and something broke off. Subsequently the Meteor immediately started to tumble towards the ground and dissapeared behind some trees. I was expecting (hoping) to see it to wobble back into view and land but it did’nt, just a large fireball. The crew never stood a chance (T7, no ejection seats).
Meanwhile the Vampire went into a brief climb and then one after the other i saw both crew members eject and shortly afterwards the Vampire fell to the ground followed by another fireball.
I seam to recall that the backseat guy in the Meteor was Cpl Kevin Turner, but i cannot recall who the pilot was. Needless to say everyone was left in a state of total shock at the loss of two brave airmen, not to mention those lovely old aeroplanes.
There was an enquiry afterwards and blame was apportioned, but i won’t go into details.

All true aviation enthusiasts go to airshows to enjoy seeing aeroplanes perform, not expecting anything to go wrong. But like most things in life accidents do happen and when you actually watch things unfold in front of your very own eyes (twice more since) it is burned into your memory, forever.. RIP guys.

October 28, 2008 at 4:16 pm in reply to: Duxford Typhoon? Crash; Info sought #1162265

Wyvernfan
Participant

wow you better hang on to that, a few more years and it could be the basis for a rebuild to flying condition project !:diablo:

Yes your right.. shall we start the bidding now at say £250.000..
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