RAF Museum, Hendon

WillysMB

Also managed trips to the Mosquito museum, Yeovilton FAA museum

I've got those on my "to do" list, but I haven't told the wife yet  Glad you enjoyed your visits.

Quite a number of years ago I worked for a UK based company and would be over in England for two weeks every other month or so staying in a wonderful little village called Dorking. Dorking actually had a very nice little model shop I would hit, and since I had a car I would hit Duxford and Hendon on the weekends. Also managed trips to the Mosquito museum, Yeovilton FAA museum, and Beaulieu Auto museum. Good times...

Watched a Vampire blow a tire landing at Duxford the day before their big air show.

Ken B.

I saw a Vulcan fly at an airshow in 1984, and it was probably the most memorable aircraft I've ever seen

I agree completely - nothing I have seen could match the sheer "presence" of the Vulcan in flight.  Sadly missed, but never to be forgotten.

I saw a Vulcan fly at an airshow in 1984, and it was probably the most memorable aircraft I've ever seen. The B-52 is larger, but it just looks like a very large airplane. The Vulcan looked like a monster.

Aha - great minds think alike

Dodgy

Laughed myself sick when Catermole got caught in the portable dunny!!

Yes, that was a good bit, wasn't it?  Definitely a good read.  Goshawk Squadron also, although both are fairly brutal in their depiction of the nitty-gritty. I'm grateful to have been spared that.

Hutch6390

 

 

 

Dodgy

It is a fascinating period in aviation history.

 

 

I'd recommend reading "Piece of Cake" by Derek Robinson, if a copy comes your way.  It's fiction, but it seems pretty soundly based on fact.  (OK, I'm off topic, but it's my thread and I can hijack it if I like).  It follows a RAF fighter squadron through the early part of the war, and through the Battle of Britain.  It is a Hurricane squadron, which goes to France during the "phoney war", then gets violently engulfed in the fighting.  Outdated tactics and aircraft are cruelly exposed, losses are suffered but the squadron learns, and matures into a serious and capable unit.  The shortcomings and misuse of the Battles, Blenheims, and Defiants is explored - one of the squadron's pilots "joyrides" with a Defiant squadron as a gunner.  Obviously dramatised to fulfil its purpose, it is at times hilariously funny, at others heart-wrenchingly sad.

It was made into a TV mini-series (using Spitfires, since there aren't that many Hurricanes knocking about), which was OK, but the book is miles better.  Sorry for the ramble!

 

Thanks for the heads up Hutch, but I'm way ahead of you there, read the book, seen the series. I agree that the book was much better, but the series was credable. Laughed myself sick when Catermole got caught in the portable dunny!! Goshawk Squadron was a good read too.

Real G

Here are pics I took of the T.188 at Cosford.  I apologize for the naff quality and lack of colour correction:

Wow - goosebumps!  I WANT ONE!  A USAF General remarked of the (then new) Handley Page Victor that it "looks like it's doing Mach 2 when it's standing still", a comment that applies equally here.  Imagine what it would have looked like flying!

Thanks for the pics, Real G, they look perfectly fine to me

Cheers,

           Hutch.

Hutch,

Here are pics I took of the T.188 at Cosford.  I apologize for the naff quality and lack of colour correction:

Dodgy

It is a fascinating period in aviation history.

I'd recommend reading "Piece of Cake" by Derek Robinson, if a copy comes your way.  It's fiction, but it seems pretty soundly based on fact.  (OK, I'm off topic, but it's my thread and I can hijack it if I like).  It follows a RAF fighter squadron through the early part of the war, and through the Battle of Britain.  It is a Hurricane squadron, which goes to France during the "phoney war", then gets violently engulfed in the fighting.  Outdated tactics and aircraft are cruelly exposed, losses are suffered but the squadron learns, and matures into a serious and capable unit.  The shortcomings and misuse of the Battles, Blenheims, and Defiants is explored - one of the squadron's pilots "joyrides" with a Defiant squadron as a gunner.  Obviously dramatised to fulfil its purpose, it is at times hilariously funny, at others heart-wrenchingly sad.

It was made into a TV mini-series (using Spitfires, since there aren't that many Hurricanes knocking about), which was OK, but the book is miles better.  Sorry for the ramble!

Thanks for the pic of the Battle Hutch! Yes they suffered terrible losses, and to keep going out knowing what was probably going to happen. Such brave, brave men. After France the Battle was relagated to target towing and training, etc.

The reason I love it so much is because it was obsolete by the time it went into production only nobody knew that. It is a fascinating period in aviation history.

Real G

Cosford has the British X-Planes like the TSR.2, Bristol T.188, and the BAC 221, to name just a few.

Thanks for the tip, Real G, I look forward to seeing those, especially the 188 - a very futuristic-looking machine.

There is a Battle at Hendon, it's one of the types I didn't get much time with.  Just one photo of that, mate - hopefully I'll get more next year.  I have to say, it's an aircraft I always think of with some sadness, because of the huge losses they suffered in 1940.  That said, I don't know much more about them, hopefully they fared better overall.

Great pics Hutch! I was there in 88, stood under the wing of the Vulcan and had an OMG moment. Strewth but that thing is big! It dwarfed the Sunderland. Back then they had a walkthrough of a Ju52.

As an aside, I also went to Duxford and how good was that. Anyway I have always had this thing for the Fairey Battle, (yes I know, weird, but what can I say), and for several years was watching the restoration process through the pages of aviation magazines. Then I get to go to the UK and Duxford and I am beside myself with exitement cos I'm going to see the Battle! I had the camera ready and there it was, totally covered in a huge sheet of plactic as they had just finished painting it! All that could be seen was one prop blade sticking out of the plastic at the top. So I took the bloody photo anyway! 

Thanks for the great pics mate.

I got to see both Cosford and Hendon in 2016, and they were both excellent!  Cosford has the British X-Planes like the TSR.2, Bristol T.188, and the BAC 221, to name just a few.

Mopar Madness

I would love to see that 110 up close! Someday maybe.

I hope so, too, mate.  Meanwhile, here's a few more pics, hope you like them.

Cheers, mate, thanks for looking.

Bish

Looks preferable to a Ryan Air flight thats for sure

Ha - nice one, I like it!

Bish

If you ever build a Sunderland, you'll have no excuse not to get the inside right.

I don't have one of those on next year's buying list (which is already getting out of control), but I think the Vulcan has elbowed its way a bit nearer to the top of the pile.  Next year should also see the 1/24 Tiffy blinking in the sunlight - I got some pics of that, too.

MR TOM SCHRY

Probably two or three days to truly see everything.

Yes, at least two.  I'm pretty sure I missed a few things, and didn't get as much time as I'd have liked with some (Meteor, Canberra, Phantom, B-17, B-25, Bf 109, He111) - yep, I really have to go back, probably next year.

And, yes, you're right, it truly was awesome.

WOW, thats a real impressive set up in there. Looks preferable to a Ryan Air flight thats for sure. If you ever build a Sunderland, you'll have no excuse not to get the inside right.

WOW!  What an awesome experience!  Probably two or three days to truly see everything.

skyraider0609

That Sunderland is a beast! Very cool!! Did you get pics of the interior?

I did get some pics inside - sadly, the cockpit & turrets were out of bounds ("off limits"?) - very frustrating. 

We entered on the starboard side, just forward of the tail section.  Looking left, the walkway to the rear turret - 

Turning right, we move forward along the fuselage -

This might be the bomb-aimer's position, maybe also the navigator's?  Contributions from Sunderland specialists are welcome!

Exterior view of the above -

Crew rest/sickbay area -

Errrrrrmmmm - 

Galley (sink, shelves for dishes, etc., the black box is a stove) -

Another rest area (didn't I say it was luxurious?) -

Starboard bomb bay -

And the exterior view -

My attempts to photograph the cockpit interior by holding the camera above my head were, alas, unsuccessful.  Nevertheless, I hope these are of interest and/or use.

Bish

i could spend a while just looking at the Stuka alone

Yes, I thought that might catch your eye!  If you get the chance, it's deffo worth the trip (next time I'll make sure Hannants' is open ).

That Sunderland is a beast! Very cool!! Did you get pics of the interior?

Its one of the regrets of my life that I never saw a Vulcan fly

I would love to see that 110 up close! Someday maybe.

Very nice photo's. My one and only visit was back in the 70's, i must have been 8 or 9. I really must get back, i could spend a while just looking at the Stuka alone.

The Colindale shop is only open 4 days a week.