Jon8910

Further to my previous pics on this forum, Robert Crawfords Sherman M4A2 Tractor made a rare public appearance (first time in 5 years) this weekend at the Carrington Rally, Lincs. Spruced up for the event carrying an additional banner, also with photos of its earlier history on display.

I will be going as a mop, very good event, always a good MV turnout including heavy metal, Neil Whatling of Tanks4aRide has now got a T-55 and planning to take that this year according to the Belvoir Castle Steam Festival website.

BBMF sent as many aircraft as possible to Duxford for a launch to their new season and 70th Anniversary of the 1940 Battle of Britain, (I dont know if the 4 hurricanes was a prelude to that event). Was quite quiet in the garden without the sound of Merlins over the house. The Lanc was back doing practise displays and circuits at Coningsby late afternoon, peace and quiet shattered!!!!

Been a while since any pics have been added to this thread so here you go wildside, the slapton Sherman DD,

I'm used to seeing many variations of BBMF formations over my house near RAF Coningsby but this one took me by surprise this afternoon. Is it a first for 4 Hurricanes to be airborne together for a good few years? BBMFs LF363, PZ865 with G-HURI, G-HUPW.

The Shackelton has many Lancaster parts. BBMF received many many boxes of Shack parts when Woodford stopped doing the majors in the early 80’s (so many we built a low dividing wall across the hangar with the boxes!) and even more when 8sqn ceased flying Shacks in the early 90’s. They are still sorting thru them and cataloguing them even now! There were rumours BBMF would get a Shackelton to fly after retirement for a while, but even back then, the costs, practicality etc soon stopped that. (And also BBMF was to get the then flying Mosquito RR299 from Bae, but that’s another story! ) Yes, like the Vulcan, a Shack could fly if you throw enough money at it, but hopefully with better marketing skills! :-D Incidentally the costs of keeping BBMF flying have risen again in the local press recently, which has prompted a quote from them on their website.

Unfortunatly, I have to agree with Simon, much as I want to see the Vulcan continue to fly, how much more can they expect us to pay out. The RAF sold it off in 1993 because it was becoming too costly to maintain as a display aircraft.

Good to see my piccie of Robert Crawfords Sherman tractor has surfaced yet again :laugh:, and hopefully encouraging people to look at Hanno's Sherman Register website via his link. I did post more photos on this forum on this link: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?42-How-many-uses-for-the-Sherman-Chassis/page2&highlight=Sherman Jon

Hurricane, Vulcan, Phantom. Hurricane, the unsung hero of the Battle of Britain, always my favourite to look after whilst I was on BBMF. The 'sooties' let me (a rigger!) ground run one once, best fun ever .

Finger Trouble! as we a/c engineers say! or maybe the No2 saw a puppy on the runway,

The Lincs Steam & Vintage rally is the biggest event of its kind in the county and usually attracts approx 30 MV's including entries from the Mid Lincs MVT group.

I agree with Adrian, it can fly for years on 5000 airframe hours, the BBMF try to limit the Lancaster to about 100 - 125 hours a season and it flies all over the country most weekends May to September.

558 has now got a permit to fly again and left Waddington last night about 6pm for Yeovilton and expected to display today,

Quote from Lincs Echo website "The plane was a Percival P.56 Provost, a vintage type believed to have been on its way from Waddington to Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. For more on the crash, see Thursday's Echo."

Further to the above, XR770, it is still owned by the same people who had it on display near Grimsby, they have loaned it to 5 Sqn for display outside their hangar at Waddington for the foreseeable future, a cosmetic restoration has been carried out and it will be unveiled at the airshow. If your planning to go to Waddo Airshow, the Vulcan will not be flying as red tape has stopped it again! It arrived and practised on Thursday but has since been grounded pending further paperwork!

The Lightning is XR770 painted in 5 Sqn colours, it has been restored for static display outside 5 Sqns hangar. It was only painted this week and only towed out of their hangar last night (Thursday 2nd) for static display at the airshow. I had a quick look at it this morning sadly no pics as I was working and no camera. I know its been a rush to get it ready in time for the show but sadly paint covers a multitude of sins is all I’ll say.

Made a point of visiting the event on Sunday whilst I was in the area, well worth going once again, despite a drop of rain or two early on, which gave all the vehicles that just washed look for the camera! A good mix of vehicles, friendly owners and informative museum volunteers; and at long last, got to see (and ride in) Adrian’s Sherman, so I left a happy chappy. Thanks to all, got a date for next year yet?

The Muckleburgh Collection in Norfolk use their ex Swiss Panzer 68 for the daily tank demonstration which is usually worth watching. They have got a weekend event planned for the 27/28 June.

Whatever happened to the DUKWs that operated the ferry service from St Helier across to Elizabeth Castle, Jersey?

As an Ex member of the BBMF Groundcrew when I was in the RAF, I can assure you the excellent feedback received from the public and particularly the veterans and their families makes the cost and effort of keeping them flying, well worthwhile. BBMF like all sections of the RAF have annual budgets to keep too, fortunately they are now allowed sponsors which pay for the flying clothing etc, unlike in my time we were not allowed sponsors and for airshows we wore the black tank crew overalls supplied from the army, (doesn’t show the oil and grease), any other kit we bought ourselves! unlike another certain bunch of display team posers (is that a dead sparrow I see!) who got everything supplied including the kitchen sink. PR etc I know! Some years ago BBMF/MoD sold a Mk19 Spitfire to fund the rebuild of Hurricane LF363 after its crash landing and even now members of the BBMF groundcrew are voluntarily restoring one of the flights original Mk16 Spitfires back to hopefully flying condition, with little funding. Those three years I spent as a mech on BBMF were by far the best of my RAF career.

BBMF Lanc has just flown over my house on finals to land at Coningsby, all four Merlins making the right noise. Its return from Holland was delayed due to poor weather, after the engine change that is!

Called in at the REME Museum a couple of weeks ago, well worth a visit, took a fair few photos including these close ups of the M32. Jon

A late addition to this thread that may be of interest. The photo of Robert Crawfords Sherman Tractor in Hanno’s link above was taken and sent by me to his Sherman Register website in 2000. The ‘tractor’ made another rare appearance in October 2005 at the same event, (more pics below). I also have video of it ploughing at both events which I will try to add to the movie section. Jon

Yes its true. 558 arrived at Waddo at 5.45pm ish yesterday afternoon, did its display work up and was duly authorised to fly for the airshow (weather permitting!). I had left work by then so missed its arrival, but its definitely here on the airfield this morning . I did see an Oshkosh transporter arrive yesterday with an AS90 on the back, negotiating the narrow station roads. Jon

The Vulcans appearance at Waddo is still in the balance, it has not received its permit to fly yet which is in the hands of the CAA not the Vulcan trust or Marshalls, red tape unfortunatly and they haven't done any display practice flying yet either and time is short too. It was at Coningsby recently Mike, just up the road from you, pics added, I dare not say how fantastic she looked .