Being an RAN aircraft I wonder why she is in RN colours??

The “Z” on the tail was the deck code for HMS Albion during the late 50s before it changed to “A” around 1960. The Pheonix is of course 809 squadron RN.

Paul.

Thanks pagen01 I think your right about the extra length being 4-ish foot.

Buccaneer and Scimitar were just lifted up at the nose until they sat on their tail skid, I don’t think the F4 had a tail skid hence the need for the nose extend.

The USNs F4Js were launched from Ark Royal many times during cross decking without problems. So maybe the F4k needed the extra AoA only if configured with certain stores and fuel load?

Paul.

I do remember it was in colour. As Vic was discribed as “The most modern carrier in the fleet” I would imagine it was quite early after the re-build. I can’t remember the aircraft on board.

I think the film was intended as an instructional film for aircraft maintainance ratings. One scene shows an aircraft maintainer unable to carry out his duties due to a hangover, it was emphsised that drunks maintaining aircraft were dangerous:p

Paul.

Thank you Obi for your excellent info 🙂

I once seen a RN produced movie titled “HMS Victorious” on the first frame came the sub title “The most modern Carrier in the fleet” We were shown it in the camp cinema whilst sprogs under training at Lee-on-Solent during 1973.

I searched the FAA muesum shop for a copy without success. I would love to see that movie again.

I remember our Chief Petty Officer trainer laughing out loud at shots of matlots in their dressing gowns on their way from mess deck to bathroom came up. We were cautioned this was purely for the camera and if we followed suit (wearing dressing gowns) when on board any ship we would be branded “Brown Hatters” the more usual term nowadays is Gay! I waited until leaving the Navy before buying a dressing gown…..

Looking at Obi’s photos it would appear Flyco on the port side of Vic’s island has been rebuilt sometime between the first and the Sidney harbour photo were taken. I hadn’t noticed this before. The movie I seen would have been better Titled “The most re-built carrier in the fleet”.

Paul.

The weak link for the hold back gear on board Ark Royal consisted of one or possibly two iron bands (they looked a bit like large piston rings). They held a clamp around a “Y” shaped bracket which on the Buccaneer was located under the tail just forward of the airbrake petals.

Prior to the A/C taxiing to the cat the “Y” shaped bracket was put in the lowered position by the “Badgers” who would then attach the hold back gear to it. The hold back gear attached around the tail of the “Y” bracket which had shoulders at the very end. The other end of the hold back gear was hung from the airbrakes until the A/C was on the cat where it was secured to a slot in the deck.

The end of the hold back gear that attached to the aircraft looked like a split tube which enclosed the tail of the Y bracket on the aircraft. The iron ring/rings were then slid into position clamping the two parts of the split tube around the Y bracket. When the cat fired and the A/C moved forward the shoulders on the Y bracket were pulled from a recess inside the split tube which expanded and snapped the iron ring/rings. the A/C was then released to travel down the cat. Hope you get the picture!

The bit you refer to which looked like rope was in fact a nylon sock which was pulled up over the split tube. It was used to contain the bits of snapping rings from flying accross the deck and hitting somebody or causing damage to the aircraft. Paul.

I know it’s not an aircraft, however very interesting when talking about originality. Is anyone aware of the the court case around the late 1980s which surrounded the famous 1920s racing Bentley “Old Number One”.

The case proved the original parts of the car which were disgarded after an accident including the bent chassis, which were collected, repaired and build into a car with a reconditioned original engine from “Old Number One” was not “Old Number One”.

The repaired car with new chassis, new coach built body, and new engine was deemed to be the original. As repair and replacement were part of it’s history!