75ZT Community

How many are left flying?

I live 15 miles or so South of Waddington and used to see them regularly, but today we were walking back to our car on the High Dike, a "green lane" that runs North just to the West of RAF Cranwell and one appeared having just taken off! Nice to see one again after so long, and I'd forgotten how good they look and how loud they are!

I would have taken a photo or a small video, as I know that many on here like their 'planes, but sadly my camera phone lens is useless (although I have actually ordered a new lens, and it arrived this morning, just not had a chance to fit it yet!)

Dave wrote:How many are left flying?

Just the one Dave.

Cool! Where's it based then? (If it turns out to be Waddington or Coningsby, this might be embarrassing! )

Dave wrote:Cool! Where's it based then? (If it turns out to be Waddington or Coningsby, this might be embarrassing! )

See HERE Dave.

Cheers Paul!

Took me a while to find out where it actually lives now (Robin Hood Airport - is that a new name for East Midlands?). Also no sign of any events today so wonder where it was going to/from? Also intrigued to know, as it appears that it's no longer a military plane, who was flying it!

I understand that it will be at Cosford on Sunday Dave so maybe it was on a pre-display shakedown flight.

You are right. There is no military involvement with it now, other than the fact that almost all of the air / ground crew are ex RAF

They were a right pain in the derriere to work on, from an avionics point of view but they were, and still are, a thing of beauty whilst, at the same time, in my view ultimately menacing.

raistlin wrote:They were a right pain in the derriere to work on, from an avionics point of view but they were, and still are, a thing of beauty whilst, at the same time, in my view ultimately menacing.

Is this from personal experience?!

Dave wrote:

raistlin wrote:They were a right pain in the derriere to work on, from an avionics point of view but they were, and still are, a thing of beauty whilst, at the same time, in my view ultimately menacing.

Is this from personal experience?!

Yes

Cannot remember the name of the book but there is a fascinating one about the run up to and the first bombing run on Port Stanley airfield in 1982.

No, Robin Hood isn't East midlands. East Midlands has become NEMA (Nottingham East Midlands Airport). I believe Robin Hood is near Doncaster?

I saw a couple of other aircraft last Sunday that I wonder whether may have been on there way to Cosford, then? The first was an old, probably WW2 era twin engine plane. I couldn't find my glasses in time to get a good look, but from the glimpse I got when I found them it seemed to be a Mosquito. It was VERY low, I'm surprised we didn't lose some TV aerials. I wasn't sure it sounded like a pair of Merlins though. Looked too small for a DC3. Then about an hour later on a near identical path and very similar height, what looked like a Herc.

PaulT wrote:Cannot remember the name of the book but there is a fascinating one about the run up to and the first bombing run on Port Stanley airfield in 1982.

Vulcan 607 by Rowland White

Operation Black Buck.

Certain parts of the book need, in my view, to be taken with a pinch of salt

That's the one Paul - the only time the Vulcan was used in anger.

Duncan wrote:No, Robin Hood isn't East midlands. East Midlands has become NEMA (Nottingham East Midlands Airport). I believe Robin Hood is near Doncaster?

That makes sense - Robin Hood and his merry band of Doncaster men...

raistlin wrote:

Dave wrote:

raistlin wrote:They were a right pain in the derriere to work on, from an avionics point of view but they were, and still are, a thing of beauty whilst, at the same time, in my view ultimately menacing.

Is this from personal experience?!

Yes

Blood out of a stone ( ), next question is - were you at Waddington?

PMed Dave

Dave wrote:

Duncan wrote:No, Robin Hood isn't East midlands. East Midlands has become NEMA (Nottingham East Midlands Airport). I believe Robin Hood is near Doncaster?

That makes sense - Robin Hood and his merry band of Doncaster men...

Sherwood forest was a little bigger in those days. He is even reputed to have visited North Yorkshire. Robin Hood's Bay to be precise.

A little bigger?!

Someone said menacing, not a Vulcan I know.

Yes, but another of the V bombers. But is it a Victor or a Valiant?