G-RNHF Test Flights

Photos of warbirds, classic jets and museum visits
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LN Strike Eagle
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G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

Decided to mug off old Warden Sunday given the weather forecast and take a chance on North Weald on Saturday instead. Really happy with that decision - turned out to be a great day with two test flights for the RNHF Sea Fury, as well as activity at Hangar 11, Swords Aviation, Gnat Display Team and the new Air Ambulance in some great light.

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BAC Jet Provost T.5P G-VIVM (XS230) - Swords Aviation Ltd, North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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AgustaWestland AW169 G-HHEM - Hertfordshire Air Ambulance - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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AgustaWestland AW169 G-HHEM - Hertfordshire Air Ambulance - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


Didn't really think my positioning through for the first flight of the Sea Fury, so photos were a lot of engine and not much else...

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


Spitfire emerged from the hangar, so nip across to watch that one go while the Sea Fury was away...

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


Chocks away!

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

New arrivals at the airfield parked along this taxiway somewhat spoil the clean backdrops formerly available - just a small window of opportunity before the background is filled with RV8s and their associated clutter.

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


Gnats are around the corner, so a quick grab-shot when I heard them call up for taxy...

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Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 - Gnat Display Team - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


The Centaurus trails a smokey haze in its wake...

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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BAC Jet Provost T.5P G-VIVM (XS230) - Swords Aviation Ltd, North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 - Gnat Display Team - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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AgustaWestland AW169 G-HHEM - Hertfordshire Air Ambulance - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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AgustaWestland AW169 G-HHEM - Hertfordshire Air Ambulance - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Supermarine Spitfire PR MkXI PL965 'R' (G-MKXI) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr


A quick shuffle of aeroplanes was on the cards ready for today's flight to Old Warden, and with a full compliment of engineering staff not requiring any assistance pushing the Spitfire, I could quickly grab these while the Mustang was out in the evening sun...

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North American P-51D Mustang 472035 "Tall In The Saddle" (G-SIJJ) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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North American P-51D Mustang 472035 "Tall In The Saddle" (G-SIJJ) - Hangar 11 Collection - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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AgustaWestland AW169 G-HHEM - Hertfordshire Air Ambulance - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr

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Hawker Sea Fury T20 VX281 (G-RNHF) - Royal Navy Historic Flight - North Weald, September 2017 by Dan B, on Flickr
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vulcan558
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by vulcan558 »

How often are those Jps fly,
Ive seen a JP almost everyday this last week, seems to be heading from Leicester towards Coventry way.

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LN Strike Eagle
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

Three flights on Saturday Rich, but they're all local, usually to the east.
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Georgeconna
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by Georgeconna »

You can almost hear the noise coming through the photo on the Spit Engine Run up! :clap:
Cheers

George

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vulcan558
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by vulcan558 »

LN Strike Eagle wrote:Three flights on Saturday Rich, but they're all local, usually to the east.

Cheers Dan, must be one at Coventry then.
Seen it pretty much every day this week. Same route from Leicester, must be VFR along the M69 in to Cov.
Can never catch it until its gone over so just see the arse end of it.

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CJS
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by CJS »

Lovely as always Dan - some beautiful machines there aren't there? :love:

Is it unusual to see the Spitfire running with no-one in the cockpit?
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cg_341
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by cg_341 »

CJS wrote:Is it unusual to see the Spitfire running with no-one in the cockpit?

Very! Good job there was someone in it that time though. (He's left forward, you can still see the top of his flying helmet)

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LN Strike Eagle
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

CJS wrote:Lovely as always Dan - some beautiful machines there aren't there? :love:

Is it unusual to see the Spitfire running with no-one in the cockpit?

We're doing ok at the moment, but the Sea Fury will be back at Yeovilton before long. There's a new Harvard there I still haven't seen yet, and a Stearman I don't often photograph, but it's usually quite good in August/September as the seaside shows bring in some visiting types.

Honestly enjoyed Saturday more than I've enjoyed some airshows. There are quiet periods, but I enjoy being on the airfield around the vintage types.

Regarding the Spitfire, you'll never see it! Look again, he's just leaning forward, probably adjusting something.
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AlexC
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by AlexC »

Very good. Long time since I've been to North Weald, must have been back in the days when they held regular air shows there, and I lived a lot closer. I can even remember when they had regular air shows on what used to be called 'Whit Monday'.
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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

Very very nice Dan. I'm not sure how accurate the high gloss finish on the Sea Fury is - I genuinely don't know - but it very much makes a photograph or two for you there!

Its impossible to tire of PT's fleet either. Gorgeous one and all.

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CJS
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by CJS »

LN Strike Eagle wrote:Regarding the Spitfire, you'll never see it! Look again, he's just leaning forward, probably adjusting something.


Oh yeah! Tying his bootlaces I expect. :joystick:
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Mike
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by Mike »

Wrexham Mackem wrote:I'm not sure how accurate the high gloss finish on the Sea Fury is - I genuinely don't know.

It's not accurate at all, the T20s wore silver with yellow training bands in FAA service, but that's the scheme it came from the US in and the owners have decided to retain it.

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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

Well, yes, I understand that, its got an FB.11 scheme - its the glossiness I wasn't sure on.

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LN Strike Eagle
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

Wrexham Mackem wrote:Well, yes, I understand that, its got an FB.11 scheme - its the glossiness I wasn't sure on.

VR930 was repainted into gloss and that was supposed to be an authentic scheme (although I much preferred the old colours it wore), so I guess it's right. The Sea Vixen and Sea Hawk were also gloss, as were RN Phantoms (?), so maybe it was for protection against the ocean air and water?
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vulcan558
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Re: G-RNHF Test Flights

Post by vulcan558 »

LN Strike Eagle wrote:
Wrexham Mackem wrote:Well, yes, I understand that, its got an FB.11 scheme - its the glossiness I wasn't sure on.

VR930 was repainted into gloss and that was supposed to be an authentic scheme (although I much preferred the old colours it wore), so I guess it's right. The Sea Vixen and Sea Hawk were also gloss, as were RN Phantoms (?), so maybe it was for protection against the ocean air and water?

The gloss is a nice touch i think.
It was used in service and very good for preservation airframes for its low maintenance and all-around protection.

Nice on a summers day and these airframes do lots of seaside shows that the gloss protects from the sea salt spray environment.

The Vulcan xh558 being a good example, its lasts it protects and it looks good.


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