Paul FAshley Walk Bombing Range
Hi t r
I too have a soft back book about the range, published by one of the locally based publishers. My memory says must have been published pre-2002, but my memory is frequently wrong :o. It may perhaps have bene an earlier print of the same book pogno mentioned earlier?
It has lots of info on the various targets used within the range, some of the larger concreet structures still remain IIRC, and it also carried a detailled maps/aerial photos of the site, showing the perimeter fence, access gate points etc.
Last time I checked some aerial photos (possibly on G. Earth) the “pond” that formed in the crater left by the live Grand Slam that was dropped on the range was still clearly visible. There are numerous books showing the photo of the GS just after release, clearly showing the river and Sandy Balls area below the release point. The shock wave must have rattled a few local window panes when that bomb detonated.
Having been a regular visitor to the New Forest over the last thirty or so years, and this aspect of it’s history has always fascinated me, possibly even more so than the three airfields built in the forest, but I’ve never actually had time to walk into the old range area to see what remains of it for myself. Would love to see recent photos of the site.
Will try and find the details of the book tonight and confirm asap.
Paul F
Paul FA man who changed the course of history…?
Whether or not you agree with his actions, both in taking power away from Gorbachov, or for ordering the shelling of the protestors in the parliament building a few years later, surely no-one can deny that his actions changed the course of history. Whether that change will ultimately be for good or ill is probably not yet clear, given the recent speech by Putin.
Sure, Yeltsin caused poverty and inflation in the Russian Economy, but change never comes without a price, and while Russian society is now possibly very polarised with some citizens becoming very rich and some very poor, anyone who believes this was not already the case under the old Soviet regime is probably deluding themsleves.
Yes the guy did make a fool of himself once or twice -but don’t we all? Personally I think occasionally seeing the “fallible human” side of politiicans is no bad thing, I strongly distrust anyone who is never seen to have made a mistake, or who never shows themselves to be “real” like the rest of us.
I had to choose between Yeltsin or Bush Senior, then I know who I would prefer to have at the helm of a super-state… and his nickname sure ain’t “Dubbya”.
RIP Mr Yeltsin
Paul F
Paul FA man who changed the course of history…?
Whether or not you agree with his actions, both in taking power away from Gorbachov, or for ordering the shelling of the protestors in the parliament building a few years later, surely no-one can deny that his actions changed the course of history. Whether that change will ultimately be for good or ill is probably not yet clear, given the recent speech by Putin.
Sure, Yeltsin caused poverty and inflation in the Russian Economy, but change never comes without a price, and while Russian society is now possibly very polarised with some citizens becoming very rich and some very poor, anyone who believes this was not already the case under the old Soviet regime is probably deluding themsleves.
Yes the guy did make a fool of himself once or twice -but don’t we all? Personally I think occasionally seeing the “fallible human” side of politiicans is no bad thing, I strongly distrust anyone who is never seen to have made a mistake, or who never shows themselves to be “real” like the rest of us.
I had to choose between Yeltsin or Bush Senior, then I know who I would prefer to have at the helm of a super-state… and his nickname sure ain’t “Dubbya”.
RIP Mr Yeltsin
Paul F
Paul FHere it is……
………the first picture
………photographed before departure from the USA
……..A stealth warbird :diablo:
Oh No! It’s painted up in the wrong colour scheme entirely for that particular variant, and I think that the stencilling is in the wrong typeface 🙁 .
And isn’t that roundel half an inch too far to the right?
And, how will anyone know whether or not IAIAL (i.e. It actually is at Legends)
Paul F
Paul FIt depends on whom you ask….
Paul FMy memory tells me that both the B25, and Sally B flew their displays after the accident. Maybe it was because I had witnessed what I had, but both aircraft seemed to be stood on their wingtips at 0 feet.
I too have similar memories of the Sally B display that afternoon – I remember a couple of moments when she was flown very low across the valley, into which the A26 had crashed earlier, at very low level, causing a few anxious gasps among the crowd who obviously feared they were about to witness another accident. Rightly or wrongly there certainly seemed no attempt to “soften” the display in response to the earlier accident.
Please note, I am not in any way saying Sally B was displayed in a reckless or unsafe manner, merely that the display was flown as “normal” (based on previous experience of watching Sally B displays), it was still very low at times, and made some use of the natural valley at the western end of the display line. Whether this was indeed the case, and whether continuing as normal in light of the afternoon’s earlier events was a good or bad thing, has no doubt been debated at length before.
Paul F
Paul FA few days late I know, but there was a decent photo of this beauty, plus a couple of smaller ones of project work in progress etc , in the Daily Telegraph last Friday. Maybe it was slow news day, but it’s good to see the rebuild of a vintage type getting decent exposure in the media.
Congratulations one and all, she looks stunning. Must start arranging my next trip to Duxford to see her asap.
The thought of seeing her “sister” in the air in a few years is almost too good to contemplate, but I too hope she has a little more UK exposure than the recent F2b rebuild.
Paul F
Paul FThe World’s Fastest Indian
Caught this on our return flight from Florida last w/end. It’s based on the true story of Bert Munro, a New Zealander who took a 1920’s vintage Indian motorcycle, that he had spent many years tweaking and refining, to the Bonneville Salt flats in the sixties in hope of setting a speed record.
Anthony Hopkins stars as Munro, a very different character to a certain Mr Lecter, Munro is gent of sixty or so, very eccentric, and with just one remaining passion – his need to set the record, but who has no real funds to do so. There’s plenty of sixties bikes and cars and speed action to keep most fanatics happy, and enough “feel good” factor, humour, and love interest to keep “other half”s interested.
I have since done some research, and it is clear the film plot takes a few liberties withthe true story along the way, and there are perhaps a few too many happy coincidences and stereotypes along the way it’s well worth a look, and although its over two hours long it really flies by – ideal fare for a boring transatlantic slog.
Check it out.
Paul F
Paul FThe World’s Fastest Indian
Caught this on our return flight from Florida last w/end. It’s based on the true story of Bert Munro, a New Zealander who took a 1920’s vintage Indian motorcycle, that he had spent many years tweaking and refining, to the Bonneville Salt flats in the sixties in hope of setting a speed record.
Anthony Hopkins stars as Munro, a very different character to a certain Mr Lecter, Munro is gent of sixty or so, very eccentric, and with just one remaining passion – his need to set the record, but who has no real funds to do so. There’s plenty of sixties bikes and cars and speed action to keep most fanatics happy, and enough “feel good” factor, humour, and love interest to keep “other half”s interested.
I have since done some research, and it is clear the film plot takes a few liberties withthe true story along the way, and there are perhaps a few too many happy coincidences and stereotypes along the way it’s well worth a look, and although its over two hours long it really flies by – ideal fare for a boring transatlantic slog.
Check it out.
Paul F
Paul FPaul F
I was a bit shocked too, expected prices to be high in the Orlando Tourist traps, but Wal-Mart is currently more expensive than my local Asda`s !
With of course Asda being part of the Wal-Mart group:D
All this and the dollar rate being at a 14 year high :confused:
Oh well least unleaded was £1 a gallon :p
Jamie
My thoughts exactly, the “gas” price made swishing around in a 3.5 litre V6 Chevrolet a pleasure – and of course, a family of four can (literally) eat themselves to a standstill for just over £25 a night at any number of steak-house chains….
Paul F
Paul FDigital memory card prices – US vs UK
Joking aside i thought i got a bargain two weeks ago in the US getting 2GB CF`s at $64 ( £32ish ) each, but saw in Jessops today 2GB at £29. Is that a good price?
🙂
Having just come back from two weeks hols in central Florida I was somewhat surprised to see that digital memory (CF, SD and Flash drives) is no cheaper on the Stateside high-street than it is here, I had hoped to pick up some cheaper CF cards and memory sticks whilst on hols, but came back with none as I can get them at lower prices from UK web-based retaillers.
Paul F
Paul FJust logged on for the first time in two weeks, having been in the States on hols. Such sad news – I took a signed copy of his book “Test Pilot” with me to (re)read on the flights out and back.
So many (self-effacing) heroes lost in recent months – there must be a heck of a lot of “line shooting” going on in that big “mess bar in the sky” at the moment.
RIP Mr Duke, and thanks for all you did.
Paul F
Paul FThe famous White Cliffs of Hastings
Not only that, but we now have chalk cliffs at Hastings,
Those chalk cliffs, and the scene where the two sentries found the girl on the beach looked suspiciously like they were shot at Cuckmere Haven, a scenic spot at the Western end of the Seven Sisters, between Seaford and Eastbourne, so not all that far from Hastings in real terms? But, being another Sussex resident, I too noticed how much Hastings has changed in the last sixty years – no wonder it’s looking a little past it’s best these days – after all, loss of a busy dockyard, and loss of those sparkling white cliffs must have been a real blow to the local economy 😉 .
I also wondered about all the iron railings about the place :diablo: , and about those steel traffic bollards which looked all too much like those used by local authorities today in an attempt to try to add an air of “period character” to their “traffic-free” zones:D .
Interesting to see so many fine details points about “Upkeep” creeping in (such as dropping speeds and altitudes, use of backspin etc), perhaps a vain attempt to try to add credibility for any “expert viewers” who might have been watching, yet all in vain when the cgi/overlaid period B&W film was so poorly executed.
I’m off to check my house insurance for coastal erosion clauses, as I reckon our house in Lewes will be gone in another fifty years or so, unless Mr Foyle can track down whomever “nicked” the white cliffs of Hastings and their dockyard….
Overall 4/10 – could do better….?
Paul FAirborne AI
Coincidentally I’ve just finished re-reading “Night Fighter” (by Rawnsley and Wright), where the use of airborne radar to counter the threat of He 111 launched V1’s is briefly mentioned.
One comment made in the book is that the controllers found life difficult when the Wellington carrying the radar had to change course mid-interception – they had to re-calculate all the course headings and instructions they gave their fighters to allow for the Wellingtons new compass bearing. Presumably in those pre-computerisation days there was no way of “fixing” the PPI (plan position indicator) display such that it was independent of the heading of the radar carrier. Thus if the Wellington changed course by 180 degrees the PPI display would swing through 180 degrees too, thus reversing all the relative bearings on the display screen.
For anyone unfamiliar with the book, “Jimmy” Rawnsley was one of the pioneer RAF AI-operators who learnt the trade as the whoel area of AI-nightfighting was developed, he crewed with John Cunningham for two tours, one on Blenheims/Beaufighters, and then a second tour on Mosquitoes. Highly recommended.
Paul F
Paul F
Paul FSea Vixen Merchandise?
Hi Phixer,
I wear my black XP924 zip fleece of similar vintage with similar pleasure, it’s even been as far afield as Banaglore and Florida, but it too is also starting to show it’s age…. but then so am I :D.
I’m sure they could raise funds by selling similar merchandise again – maybe the Red Bull link up made this difficult, perhaps as she’s now back in “proper colours” again (and No, I don’t want to re-start the argument as to colourschemes and who pays for them) then more “Foxy Lady” merchandise will be a possibility.
Paul F
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