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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaMaybe one of the best and most underrated planes of WW2
The Aviators Thread
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Turpinrr
·Great pics! Thanks for sharing.
Learnt something new today as I didn't know there was an entry ladder underneath the rear section of the Cat.
By "most underrated aircraft", I'm guessing you're referring to the Hurricane? That's a beautiful example there. If memory serves me correct, it actually shot down more enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain than the Spitfire. Was also easier to repair after sustaining battle damage.
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Omegafanman
·@DoctorEvil @JimInOz @Turpinrr
Thanks for the comments. I am lucky to have this places like this relatively close, one advantage of being in a very flat area / legacy from WW2.
Aside from the display aircraft in Hanger 1 (Concorde etc) everything pictured is flight ready or in restoration. The Hurricane got a big thumbs up from expert staff saying the gun positions (close to fuselage) undercarriage design, wood and fabric fuselage etc all combined to make it a robust and formidable fighter with a great turning circle. It did mean it could not be developed and enhanced like the Spitfire with its more modern fuselage concept. The spit also looks easier to jump into ;0). Ref the Catalina a person I went with had a link to the story below so it was emotional for them to see one at last. I have seen that one flying on days where nothing else is going up so it is a sturdy beast and can pull some nice aerobatics despite its size. In terms of the forgotten hero, the Hurricane does not get enough recognition, but it was indeed the Bristol Beaufighter (whispering death) (link to an old post on that below). Hopefully the one shown above will be back in the air at some point.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07...d-after-papua-plane-wreckage-found/100303068#
https://omegaforums.net/threads/bri...aft-and-steps-to-concorde.116575/post-1585778
Thanks for the comments. I am lucky to have this places like this relatively close, one advantage of being in a very flat area / legacy from WW2.
Aside from the display aircraft in Hanger 1 (Concorde etc) everything pictured is flight ready or in restoration. The Hurricane got a big thumbs up from expert staff saying the gun positions (close to fuselage) undercarriage design, wood and fabric fuselage etc all combined to make it a robust and formidable fighter with a great turning circle. It did mean it could not be developed and enhanced like the Spitfire with its more modern fuselage concept. The spit also looks easier to jump into ;0). Ref the Catalina a person I went with had a link to the story below so it was emotional for them to see one at last. I have seen that one flying on days where nothing else is going up so it is a sturdy beast and can pull some nice aerobatics despite its size. In terms of the forgotten hero, the Hurricane does not get enough recognition, but it was indeed the Bristol Beaufighter (whispering death) (link to an old post on that below). Hopefully the one shown above will be back in the air at some point.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07...d-after-papua-plane-wreckage-found/100303068#
https://omegaforums.net/threads/bri...aft-and-steps-to-concorde.116575/post-1585778
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Turpinrr
·@DoctorEvil @JimInOz @Turpinrr
Thanks for the comments. I am lucky to have this places like this relatively close, one advantage of being in a very flat area / legacy from WW2.
Aside from the display aircraft in Hanger 1 (Concorde etc) everything pictured is flight ready or in restoration. The Hurricane got a big thumbs up from expert staff saying the gun positions (close to fuselage) undercarriage design, wood and fabric fuselage etc all combined to make it a robust and formidable fighter with a great turning circle. It did mean it could not be developed and enhanced like the Spitfire with its more modern fuselage concept. The spit also looks easier to jump into ;0). Ref the Catalina a person I went with had a link to the story below so it was emotional for them to see one at last. I have seen that one flying on days where nothing else is going up so it is a sturdy beast and can pull some nice aerobatics despite its size. In terms of the forgotten hero, the Hurricane does not get enough recognition, but it was indeed the Bristol Beaufighter (whispering death) (link to an old post on that below). Hopefully the one shown above will be back in the air at some point.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07...d-after-papua-plane-wreckage-found/100303068#
https://omegaforums.net/threads/bri...aft-and-steps-to-concorde.116575/post-1585778
It was the Hurricane that started my interest in aviation back in 1964 when I was 6 years old.
A massive photo of Douglas Bader on his Hurricane had me asking my dad who he was...
My favourite part of the Battle of Britain film is when Hurricanes from Polish squadrons join RAF Spitfires
"Bloody marvellous" says the public school educated RAF officer.
I always thought the Hurricanes were overshadowed by the graceful Spitfire the way the Beaufighter and Halifax were by the Mosquito and Lancaster respectively.
The Catalinas and Sunderlands were beautiful aeroplanes and looked like gentlemens clubs inside compared to the cramped confines of the Lancaster.
My ex WAAF mother remembered seeing Catalinas on the Isle of Mull before she was enlisted.
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Omegafanman
·In terms of hidden Gems at Duxford I also spotted this amazing aircraft (one of the best in WW2?) trying to sneak out the fire exit for another flight....
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Omegafanman
·Andy a quick treble from East Kirkby taken late last year (I am still playing catch up).....
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Turpinrr
·In terms of hidden Gems at Duxford I also spotted this amazing aircraft (one of the best in WW2?) trying to sneak out the fire exit for another flight....
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Omegafanman
·I thought it was the Sea Fury 🤔
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SpeedyPhill
·Let me share some interesting 1959 portrait photos of Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot Charles "Charlie" Duke as a young Lieutenant.
(Photos: USAF/San Diego Air & Space)
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(Photos: USAF/San Diego Air & Space)
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaI thought it was the Sea Fury 🤔
My job was mainly cleaning up the mess they made, getting tools, putting tools back on the tool board and making brews. But I got to watch and learn, even had to hold bits now and again.
Best part was in quiet times, I could sit in the cockpit and play hangar pilot.
It was a bit of an eye opener because there was no forward vision at all (aircraft was off jacks when I noticed this).
I'd just started learning on a Cessna 150, so the thought you couldn't see forward until the tail got up was scary.
It was explained to me by an old PO who described the taxi manouvres done by pilots as "zig, look, zag, look, zig, look etc etc" until they were lined up on the runway, then it was full power, keep it straight until the tail came off the deck.
Been to a few air shows since then where a Sea Fury featured, what a beautiful sounding beast coming toward you at full belt.
Hairs/back of neck stuff.
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Jones in LA
··Not in LA anymore.Here's a remarkably informative video on how Air Traffic Control works, using the Toronto International Airport as an example. This video was published just a couple of weeks ahead of the Washington DC midair collision.
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DoctorEvil
·Here's a remarkably informative video on how Air Traffic Control works, using the Toronto International Airport as an example. This video was published just a couple of weeks ahead of the Washington DC midair collision.
On a more serious note, the video does make me wonder how a flight like Malaysian Airlines MH370 can just disappear without a trace, given all the tracking systems in place for regulating air traffic. IMHO it lends a bit more credence to the hypothesis that foul play is likely and that someone deliberately did not want the aircraft to be tracked or found. For now, it remains one of aviation's biggest mysteries.
