I live behind the SAS camp and helicopter traffic goes on daily including weekends!
Usual stuff includes Lynx, Puma’s, Gazelles and the odd Apache. The Merlin is starting to become more common place now as well, might your friend have mistaken these as big Russian helicopters I wonder?

Plazz

Originally Posted by sea vixen
apart from the fuel tank and 4 thousand pounders, could or did the buccs carry enything else internally… was there a reccie pack they could carry ????.

Yes, the Bucc could carry a ‘photographic equipment pallet’ fitted to the inside of the bomb door for the photo recon role.
A ‘plug in’ type role panel had also to be fitted to the observers left consol to operate it.

Plazz

The most noticeable difference is that the RAF Buccaneers were built with bulged bomb door fuel tanks. All the navy Buccs had bomb doors that were flush with the fuselage when in the closed position. I believe that some ex navy Buccs may have been converted to have a bomb door fuel tank fitted after the RAF acquired them.

Plazz

Buccaneer XX900 is still a runner, but needs some maintenance and minor wiring repairs but otherwise is completely fine.

XW544 is completely intact but has two seized engines and some hydraulic components missing. All the missing parts are available to the team but she is kind of on the back burner for the moment. At very best 544 is a long term restoration project.

XX894 is coming back to life at quite a rate of knots now with virtually all systems electrical and hydraulic back in working order. She is now sporting new main wheels, tyres and brake packs, although the brakes function they still need to be fully bled. The radio and intercom is all functioning as is all the external and internal lightning.
The starboard flying control reservoir was changed two weeks ago with only the accumulator left to do. The port aileron still needs re-rigging and the main plane flaps need some adjustment as well. There are still engine/fuel issues to sort out but we cant do too much until the brakes are able to hold the aircraft properly.
With the warmer weather and lighter days ahead of us, seeing a second Buccaneer going down the runway at Bruntingthorpe wont be to far away.

Plazz

Great photos Chris.
I was the chap in the Buccaneer cockpit doing the checks and start/run cycle on the starboard engine. I may have met you first thing in the morning when you all turned up to start dismantling the Canberra?

Ask anyone on the airfield and they’ll tell you we usually work until long after the sun has set 😮

Plazz