Fly Navy! - early 1980s (updated again 7th July!)

[747woody]

Don't remember the black tails on the 705 Gazelles though! Was it short lived?

Have to pass on that Phil, it was a long time ago!

what scanner do you use for your negs

Hi Jeff, they are all scans of Kodachrome 64 slides, scanned with a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED.

One more. Okay so it's not an aircraft - but it does give an idea of the conditions that Naval Aviators have to cope with, apart from the "airfield" moving! (and my Mum liked it!)

Somewhere behind that wave is 3,000 tons of Frigate!

[Fouga]

705 NAS Gazelle. Not sure why it's got "Royal Navvy" on the side - but there was an Irish guy on the course! Culdrose is visible in the background

Im amazed you laugh that an Irish person was on a UKMIL Gazelle Course, you maybe were not aware that the IAC Operated Gazelles?

[747woody]

Was laughing that it had Royal Navvy on the side!

The Irish guy was RN, and stayed RN until he "retired", when he went to the airlines.

[st24]

Don't remember the black tails on the 705 Gazelles though! Was it short lived?

Have to pass on that Phil, it was a long img]

The black fin was introduced when the Gazelle entered service in 1974, of course back then they were dayglo orange rather than red. They lost their black fins during the repaint to red (76 ish time) However it was resurrected for the Sharks machines 77-80 I'm not sure if this was some mark of respect to the 2 (Aussie IIRC) crew members lost in a collision during practice in 1977 (the team then became a 4 rather 6 ship)

More lovely shots from a bygone age...

[jag636]

Fantastic set of pics I love the lot, it takes you back to when we a Defence structure, I wish it was the 80's again

[747woody]

The black fin was introduced when the Gazelle entered service in 1974

Thanks for clearing that up!

The orange one without a black tail was one of two that were for the exclusive use of a certain Royal student who was at 705 in 1980.

[747woody]

Paid a nostalgic visit to Culdrose last week (thanks to Rick Ingham for organising it!)

Found a few "old friends"!

XV707 Prestwick 1981,



..... and at Culdrose in June 2011.



XV647 at Gatwick in September '84 (as also shown in earlier posts),



.. and still going strong (ish!) at Culdrose June 2011.



ZA167 on the deck of Illustrious in Bergen, spring 1984,



........ Culdrose June 2011.



Also topical this week! - Canadian Sea Kings! This one visited Culdrose in 1985,



....... and here is the USN's SH-3G Sea King "waterbird" at NAS Jacksonville in Spring 1983.



814 NAS had disembarked for two weeks and all the Squadrons pilots had a go in this machine whilst they were there. AFAIK only the US and Canada had aircraft specially modified to land on water, the RN practiced it in the simulator instead.

Here's a couple more I found that I thought might be of interest.

A pair of 705 NAS Gazelles, with the nearer one having been zapped by the AAC during a landaway!. 824 NAS now operate from here.



Another low level Hunter, taken from Illustrious!!

[docman]

Very nostalgic photos, once again. The "then and now" Seakings are particulary interesting; if only the "Naval Aviators" had worn as well!

[Paul H]

Interesting to see the Navy & "foreign" Sea Kings, with the different tail rotors ( 5 & 6 blade) we changed ours (RAF SAR at Finningley early 80's) from 5 to 6 blade when we put on composite blades & the anti rotate strake down the port rear fuselage, will dig out my Sea King piccies showing the change over from yellow to grey at Falklands start & the various lumps & bumps for magic secret stuff that we put on to stop aircrew from getting lost down South, rgds, Paul H.

[747woody]

The S-61 and the Sea King HAS1 had five bladed tail rotors. The Sea King HAS2 had uprated engines and gearbox and my understanding was that was the reason why the tail rotor gained an extra blade. Was under the impression that all subsequent versions had a six bladed tail rotor!

[747woody]

Very nostalgic photos, once again. The "then and now" Seakings are particulary interesting; if only the "Naval Aviators" had worn as well!

You mean hadn't turned grey and hadn't got bits missing!!.............

[silver fox]

Must admit don't normally spend much time looking at helicopters, but what a superb collection of photos including the funny things without wings, thank you

[A40-BP]

Love that last Hunter shot

7

[Fat Albert]

This is a fantastic thread, probably the best on UKAR IMO.

[John Eacott]

Bit short of Hunter shots , sadly. However here's a few more of other things, hope they will suffice!

Training.

Chippie at Roborough

FWIW, 909 was WP904. Happy days, thanks for the photos

[Kenny]

Great pics Chris! What a cracking variety of aircraft and ships you have snapped

[Dragon Rapide]

Just stumbled upon this. That Hunter shot is terrific!! I have downloaded it for my personal enjoyment ( hope that's OK ) - along with a growing library of Hunters!