simonsfotos

Yes i would be wonderful to see 40,000 rivets flying in close formation again! (The nickname given to the Shackleton by the way!) However, the one at Coventry will never fly again due to some things that affected the whole fleet in the end, including a full re-spar needed. That one is however ground run on occasions and is looked after by a dedicated team. The financial cost is way above what the Classic Flight - the part of the Atlantique operation that has the classic aircraft under its wing so tp speak (this includes Venoms, Canberras, Meteor, DC3s, Doves, Rapides, Vampires and Twin Pioneer among others). The other Shack that they had was flying in the US and it was hoped that it could be returned to this country and continue flying. However, basically due to the CAA (otherwise known as the Campaign Against Aviation!) saying NO, it was retired and is now at the Pima Air Museum in the US and is very likely to stay there.

As anyone hhas looked at my site will know, I do a lot of air show photography and the Vulcan has featured on several occasions in the last couple of years. As an aviation nut, my feeling is this and I know a lot of aviation enthusiasts disagree vehemently with me on this. Yes it has been nice to see one bakc in the air BUT the display is nothing like what it used to be and to my mind does not merit the total disruption that the infamous 'Vulcan Effect' that has appeared at shows around the country where it is due or rumoured to appear. As has been said, millions has been pumped into getting/keeping it in the air and the begging bowl is thrust in our faces along with threats of 'if you don't cough up we'll ground her'. It is the most expensive flying item bar none to book for an air show and the operators try to have us believe that if it isn't booked then a show is the worse because of it. There are operators of warbirds all over the country who keep us entertained with their wonderful aircraft, but they don't go to the national press bleating about being penniless. They get on with what they love...flying their aircraft. As an example, the B-17 Flying Fortress 'Sally B' which has been based at Duxford for 30 years, has had no end of problems with engines over the past couple of years, but Sally and the Team with their enthusiastic supporters got on with it and she is now back in the air in tribute to the American flyers who were based in this country. Was there threats of 'We need your money or we'll ground her' splattered all over the national papers and TV news? No! This dedicated band go on with it. Enthusiasts, whereas... ...The Vulcan, a bottomless money pit which certainly won't be flying for anywhere near as long as 'Sally B' has graced our skies.

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll get the corrections done - of course the GPA was the amphibious version -Doh! By all means put a link onto your site. The whole idea is so that those who attend can get to see shots of their vehicles. If you want to pass it on to the MVT in general, by all means do.

Very late I know, but due to shift changes and that manic time called Christmas, I've only now got around to editing the photos from last August's Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold in Surrey. Here's the link to the gallery on my web site. If you had a military vehicle there of some description, then it should be featured! http://www.simonsfotos.co.uk/c1806956.html As always, comments are welcome particularly if I have a wrong description!

A fully active Royal Flying corps airfield that is lovingly looked after is RFC Rendcomb in Glucestershire where Aerosuperbatics (Team Guinot now Breightling Wingwalkers) are based.

C-47 at Dunsfold is not a static one. It's owned by Aces High and it hass appeared at RAF Odiham Families Day and Shoreham Air Show this year.

I should perhaps point out that there are a huge number of celelbrities who are very firmly behind Help For Heroes and The Poppy Appeal. Regardless of feelings about Terry Wogan, CIN has rasied many millions over the many years it's been running for a very worthy cause.

First off the Lancaster. It is the BBMF. The mid upper turret was only fitted relatively recently thanks to funds raised by the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association which is a charity that supports the BBMF in many ways and is available to anyone to join for a measly £10 a year and includes two excellent magazines during the year - yep I'm a member hence the plug! The Vulcan looks to be the one used as a Sapphire engine testbed. The big bulge that you are referring to is actually an optical illusion due to the angle of the photograph which, looking at the buildings in the background was taken at RAE Farnborough.

Thank you for posting that. I was gutted that I was unable to make it due to work. I was at Brooklands some years ago when it took off on the flight to South Africa and was at Goodwood back in September when it gave its last public display.

Would love to help out with photography but I do get very tied up with air shows in June, July and August so an early heads up on a date is pretty essential I'm afraid.

My enamel one stays on my flight jacket all the time and the paper ones come off at the end of the day on the 11th November. I couldn't believe a letter I read in the Daily Express last week form some guy who reckons that poppies are sold too early and that in protest he won't be wearing one in future! He says he will continue to put money in the collection tins but not wear the poppy. I always thought the saying was "Wear Your Poppy With Pride".

Hadn't heard of that movie. Now added it to the 'need to get' list for my war movie collection! I don't know about how it is now with digital but back in the analogue days this was how to get photos from your TV screen. You need a shutter speed that takes into account the scanning speed of the TV system otherwise you would get a black band across the screen. Usually something like 1/125th or 1/60 would do. Definitely use a tripod or other support and use standard program mode. Give it a go and see what happens. Remember you will never get a perfect picture though due to the definition of a TV.

Will be glued to that programme hehe! I loved his earlier series on classic toys. Brought back great memories!

Welcome! Although I'm in my 50s I don't consider myself a wrinkly yet! I am not an MV owner, just take photos of them! However, I do make and collect armour and vehicles in British service from the Normandy campaign all to 1/72 scale. I don't go for the 'mint' fresh from the factory look as let's face it, how many vehicles at that time looked that way! I already have quite a collection, which one day I will get around to photographing and putting on here. There is also a growing queue of various tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks building up in my cupboard waiting to be started.

Possibly seaplanes etc (Supermarine weren't that far away) but also I do know that a lot went on in that area with the building and preparation for D-Day and the Mulberry Harbours. Perhaps someone from Solent Overlord might know as they are very close by.

Depends upon what you call publishing. I took a series of photographs when I was there before the new part opened and put them as a 'vitrual tour' on my website. I let them know and they haven't said that they disapproved. However, I did say to them that it is a service I offer free of charge to museums that I visit and that the photographs are only used on that site and are not available commercially. I also sent them a full cd of the images.

Thanks for the answer. Must learn to use a dictionary!

Being new to all this MV thing this year, can someone tell me why the canvas cover on the back of MVs is called a 'tilt'?

Will be there all three days, mainly around the flying club to get the air action. However, I'll also be soaking up the atmosphere, but at least with three days to do it, there's no rush. One of the benefits of having a special armband!

Nice to see these. However, flaming grafitti vandals strike again. :argh:

I know that and I'm replying today as I wans't able to be online yesterday when it all appeared in the press. What I am saying is why has the gutter press picked this up 4 months after the event happened. Being someone closely involved in airshows and preservation, the gutter press sickens me when all it can do is stir up old news.

I think the news must be very slow at the moment. This happened way back on 3rd May. It was reported on all the aviation forums at the time and in the aviation press. Those of us in the aviation preservation community fail to understand why this has now been picked up by the scandal mongers and given headline coverage. All the total rubbish about flying towards the crowds etc is exactly that. The people who were there were nowhere near that end of the runway. All I can think is that someone at the paper was scouring YouTube or similar for something to fill a gap or that someone who was there decided that he could earn a fast buck. (Much like the idiots who submitted that scandalous story to the NOTW about the RAF Odiham Families Day where according to them, Chinooks were being wasted by giving 'joyrides' to kids, when in fact they were giving a thank you to the Families for their support to the hard pressed crews and engineers) The fast taxi runs are held at Bruntingthorpe several times a year and include two Lightinings, Buccaneer, Hunter, Canberra and Comet among others in addition to the Victor. The one thing that the press have got right is that the CAA have totally exonerated the guy in the left seat from any blame. They are bringing no action against the organisers or owners of the aircraft and fast taxi runs will continue, though they will no doubt be more careful who is in the right hand seat in future. At Elvington, the home of the only other working Victor, they always have experienced former crew members in the cockpit when 'Lusty Lindy' is powered up and does her runs.

Here's a complete participation list for this weekend. A lot of arrivals coming in on Friday. No idea of timings though other than the Harrier is arriving in the afternoon and departing on Monday. http://www.airshows.org.uk/2009/airshows/shoreham/preview.html

Quick work re the traffic. It can be a problem coming in off the A27 the later you decide to arrive. The early bird etc. I arrive each day at around 8am and drive straight in. As with all shows, especially ones at slightly smaller venues, exiting can sometimes take a while. However, I have heard conflicting reports in the last few years. Some have got from crowdline to car to exit in 15 mins flat! However, if you leave with the crowd then serious delays can build up. I always hang around by the terminal until around 7pm and then just drive straight out. Less stress on me and the car! BTW: Gates open at 0800 on both days this year.

Peter's Hurribomber is booked to appear and display at the RAFA Shoreham Air Show on 22nd 23rd August. It is not displayed with the replica (fibreglass) bombs fitted but will be arriving (probably on the Friday) and departing on the Sunday after noon with them fitted. Will be a rare photo opportunity to see this.