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The Aviators Thread

DoctorEvil
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JimInOz JimInOz
A bit more Lancaster goodness with G for George going back on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Screenshot 2025-07-31 at 22.22.09.webp


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-31/g-for-george-aircraft-lancaster-bomber-war-memorial/105597316
Went to the AWM earlier this year and was disappointed that it wasn't there. I understand there's going to be a new aircraft gallery, where "G for George" will be the centerpiece. There's even a Messerschmitt Me-262 jet in the collection but I don't know if that will be exhibited. Will have to visit again once it's open to the public.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C111055
 
Duracuir1
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Another RCAF item found locally. Appears connected to my July entry…


IMG_0875.webp


It appears that the RCAF officer’s next to next to next of kin has no appreciation for service, or perhaps there are no family members left.

Either way, here is a nice diary, and within, some mention of Squadron 420.

Reads like a diary, with minimal editing. Nicely done.


IMG_0871.webp IMG_0872.webp IMG_0873.webp IMG_0874.webp
 
DoctorEvil
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Lucky escape for the occupants of this light aircraft in Sydney recently...
 
JimInOz
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What the hell was the instructor doing?
Texting his girlfriend?
That's the worst forced landing, sorry, crash that I've seen for ages.

Although if the instructor was anything like my first one it's believable.
As soon as we were airborne he'd turn on his portable radio to listen to the cricket and direct my via vague hand signals with his left hand (left/right/up/down/faster/slower) until we were back on finals, then he'd watch my landing procedure and as soon as I'd turned of the strip he was back to the cricket.
 
DoctorEvil
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JimInOz JimInOz
What the hell was the instructor doing?
Texting his girlfriend?
That's the worst forced landing, sorry, crash that I've seen for ages.

Although if the instructor was anything like my first one it's believable.
As soon as we were airborne he'd turn on his portable radio to listen to the cricket and direct my via vague hand signals with his left hand (left/right/up/down/faster/slower) until we were back on finals, then he'd watch my landing procedure and as soon as I'd turned of the strip he was back to the cricket.
Does look pretty bad. But if the fairway was short, then I'm guessing that the pilot in control of the aircraft might have had little choice but to do a steep descent in order to avoid hitting trees as well. The Piper Cherokee was an aircraft that I used to fly back in the day so I'm glad to see that it's crashworthy. Thankfully I've never had to test it out!
 
DoctorEvil
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Further to my earlier post about this incident. Looks like the aircraft is damaged beyond repair. It was purchased by the current owner in October last year. Video has more footage from a different perspective.
 
DoctorEvil
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It must get pretty cold in Canada...
FB_IMG_1757851662578.webp

Photo courtesy of Aviation Humor via Facebook
 
SpeedyPhill
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Tempus Fugit...
Can't believe it has been 45 years... end of Rhodesia, Zimbabwe internationally recognised ... 1980
.
RHODESIA-MWU.webp
 
MRC
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Good to see the RAF are still keeping the Russians at bay.

P1010545m.webp
 
Duracuir1
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Trev Trev

That’s the sound in my right ear - since my first firearms instructor’s course in 1993. Sounds even worse when I am tired.
 
JimInOz
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Duracuir1 Duracuir1
That’s the sound in my right ear - since my first firearms instructor’s course in 1993. Sounds even worse when I am tired.
Same here.
Right ear, always in the background.
Sometimes it's like somebody turned the volume button up for no reason.
Wish we had those noise cancelling ear protectors back in the day, then we wouldn't have had to lift the right earcup off all the time to hear what someone was screaming at us about.
 
TasMike
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40 years ago on a long navex the instructor, who had retired but was doing part time work, had significant hearing loss, he also had no headset so he insisted on turning the radio volume up full so he could hear the controllers. It was up so loud that it was painful for me and since then I have had an constant and increasing level of tinnitus in my right ear at about 7500 hz. Normally I seem to subconsciously block it out and don't notice it, but sometimes it can be so loud that it can't be ignored.
 
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