What type of aircraft is that Martin?

By the way I haven’y a clue who owns the copyright to these photos I’ve posted because they were given to me on a disk by a mate, but I suspect many of those above were taken by Charles E. Brown (?) and a few may be US Navy shots?

Here are some more shots, I’m not sure if all are from WWII or afterwards. Interesting aircraft though but…

Can I just ask, how did the hangar roof collapse? Was it because of snow or some storm? Or was it merely a structural failure? A great shame either way.

Yep, that’s the chap. Bulleid. I remember because the radio announcer had trouble pronouning his name.

Thanks for the replies, an interesting group of trains that I did not know about till this week, not being a train buff or anything.

Why do they call the trains (and aircraft) Spam Cans? I don’t get it.(I know what Spam is – ie American Spiced ham, not the email variety – but what has that product got to do with trains and planes?

Wow, a co-incidence because on Sunday evening I heard on the radio (“Sounds Historical” on NZ’s National Radio) that the Battle of Britain Class steam locomotives, as well as a couple of other apparently well-known classes were designed by a New Zealander. I can’t recall his name but he was born in Invercargill.

I was planning to ask here how many BofB locos were made, what were their names and how many still exist. Obviously one was Tangmere. Does anyone know more details of the class? When were they built? I think it was said the 1950’s but I’m not sure if I caught it right.

It would be a boring old world if everyone agreed now, wouldn’t it? 😉

I’d agree with that 🙂

Hi Colonel Crazymainer Rob,

I have not been privy to all that has gone on in these forums it seems, as regards to any biffo that has taken place, but I for one would like to see you continue to be part of the Flypast Forum community. After all, you seem to be a leading light in the worldwide warbirds scene, you usually have great information to share, and who else here has flown both the B17 and B24 (and is not over 80?).

One thing that I have to ask, that was a massive letter and hardly a spelling mistake. Is that really the Crazymainer we know and love? 🙂 😉

Keep on posting, and sock it to em Navy guys,
All the best
Dave

PS – the books sound really fascinating. Good luck with them.

I do remember it – it was a BBC production and was one of those 55 minute 6-8 episode things. My recollection of the story is that the Tornado collided with the UFO and the pilot bailed out, although his navigator died in the crash (here endeth the aircraft involvement, I think, before the end of the first episode). The UFO came down in Scotland (I think) and from then on the plot went down hill with multiple conspiracies, inter-departmental fighting over who has authority over who, senior officers who disbelieved in the pilots story (he was either a coward or suffering from stress type of thing), the CO who might have believed in the pilot (or not – I can’t remember), and – of course – the love interest… The thing that struck me at the time was how much more adept RAF pilots seemed to be than infantry officers when doing the same soldiering-type job.
As far as I remember the actual ending signified that there would not be a second series, since I believe that we are now all alien controlled and there would be little point.

Flood

Hmmm, yep. It is starting to come back to me clearer now. Thanks Flood. Maybe it was a mini-series but I am almost certain it wasn’t six-parts when it screened here. I must have been condensed and edited or something. They do ofetn do that when trying to sell crap serials abroad. I remember seeing the beginning with the Tornadoes. But if it was six parts when screened here I’d be very surprised. Mind you, I might have only watched one episode and sworn not to bother with the rest because it was pretty much ‘pants’ as the English say – and I realise why now when I check IMDb and see it was co-produced with an American network called the Sci-fi channel!! 😮 Oh dear…