Search found 350 matches

by Flankerman
Mon 12 Jun 2023, 1:03 pm
Forum: Heads Up/OTT
Topic: Hercs in formation
Replies: 2
Views: 3454

Hercs in formation

Just had an overflight of 3 X C-130 Hercs in close formation over Malmesbury - heading north towards Kemble.

Practising for a flypast ??

Do we still have the C-130 in service ?

Ken
by Flankerman
Fri 24 Feb 2023, 7:26 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: Worst enthusiast behaviour you've seen?
Replies: 37
Views: 6739

Re: Worst enthusiast behaviour you've seen?

The prize for 'Worst Behaviour' for me goes to the USAF 'Thunderbirds' Flight Demo Team..... They were displaying at RIAT Fairford in 2017 and I was in the FRIAT stand early in the morning when a large vehicle in Tbirds colours pitched up and parked to the right of the stand. They opened up the side...
by Flankerman
Fri 27 Jan 2023, 1:02 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: Interesting Internet
Replies: 2418
Views: 896317

Re: Interesting Internet

Image

....and my model of same......

Image

Ken
by Flankerman
Sat 23 Jul 2022, 7:02 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: Chinook technical question
Replies: 5
Views: 1312

Re: Chinook technical question

The Russian Mi-26 'Halo' manages to fly OK - with EIGHT rotor blades - on a single shaft.

Ken
by Flankerman
Thu 13 Aug 2020, 3:53 pm
Forum: Modern Military Photos
Topic: Flying in Circles... TARTAN 38
Replies: 4
Views: 2386

Re: Flying in Circles... TARTAN 38

Fabulous photos - especially the F-35B closeups. May I ask a couple of questions..?? There appears to be lots of wear on the paint at the leading-edge base of the windscreen - wouldn't that affect the RAM coating??? And.... what's that wire going around the glass on the canopy next to the frame - he...
by Flankerman
Thu 16 Jul 2020, 3:35 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Squires Gate Aviation Museum
Replies: 5
Views: 2245

Squires Gate Aviation Museum

I've just been having a clearout - and came across these photos I took at Squires Gate, Blackpool in the 1970's. Not the best photos prints I have ever taken - but they show Avro Lancaster NX611 and Spitfire FR.47 at the Reflectaire(?) museum. I've scanned and tidied them up as best I can.... enjoy....
by Flankerman
Wed 04 Mar 2020, 3:49 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Aircraft Preserved in Malta
Replies: 12
Views: 4582

Re: Aircraft Preserved in Malta

My contribution - taken in May last year.... m Spitfire Mk IX... http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/Malta%20Visit%202019/day04-10.jpg Meteor F.8... http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/Malta%20Visit%202019/day04-34.jpg NF.14T.... http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/Malta%20Visit%202019/day04-27.jpg Vampire T.11 ht...
by Flankerman
Wed 22 Jan 2020, 9:11 am
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: USN carrier naming
Replies: 11
Views: 2626

Re: USN carrier naming

Hyman G Rickover - Named after an Admiral instead of a city I had missed that one I was thinking of the USS 'City of Corpus Christi' ..... She was named in that style because 'Corpus Christi' means 'Body of Christ' - and naming a nuclear powered weapon of war after the body of Christ was a no-no. H...
by Flankerman
Tue 21 Jan 2020, 10:26 am
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: USN carrier naming
Replies: 11
Views: 2626

Re: USN carrier naming

Going slightly off at a tangent (but still about ships names)......

US Navy attack subs are named after US Cities (USS Dallas, USS Los Angeles etc) - but which is the odd one out - and why?

and...

Which Royal Navy Leander-class frigate is the odd one out ??

Just a bit of fun...
by Flankerman
Fri 10 Jan 2020, 1:53 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: New Red Arrows In America Documentary 8th January
Replies: 31
Views: 8461

Re: New Red Arrows In America Documentary 8th January

I (sort of) enjoyed it..... But I hate this modern trend of 'doomsday' presentation....... Just before an Ad break the narrator solemly intones...."If they get this widget wrong, it will be the end of the world as we know it"...... Then we come back from the Ad - and it's "They manage...
by Flankerman
Mon 05 Aug 2019, 9:20 am
Forum: UK Airshow Review News
Topic: Royal International Air Tattoo 2019 Reviewed
Replies: 24
Views: 9378

Re: Royal International Air Tattoo 2019 Reviewed

I took this photo in 2006....... posted here without comment...

Image
by Flankerman
Tue 25 Jun 2019, 9:31 am
Forum: Airline & Commercial Aviation Photos
Topic: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19
Replies: 5
Views: 4008

Re: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19

There's more to it....

Looking at photos of An-124's it looks like the elongated, more pointed nose may be a retrofit on 'standard' An-124-100's.

I've found photos of UR-82008 with both the radome bulge AND the smoother, more pointed nose.......

With radome.....

http://www.flugzeug-bild.de/1200/antono ... -86737.jpg

New nose...

https://cdn.airplane-pictures.net/image ... 970214.jpg

Ken
by Flankerman
Mon 24 Jun 2019, 10:28 am
Forum: Airline & Commercial Aviation Photos
Topic: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19
Replies: 5
Views: 4008

Re: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19

I've just found the answer on Antonov Airlines website..... m Quote......... Two of Antonov Airlines’ airframes have been upgraded to AN-124-100-150 status, after being reinforced to accept up to 150,000 kg of payload. and from the list of 'improvements'.......... Reshaped nose for better fuel effic...
by Flankerman
Mon 24 Jun 2019, 8:51 am
Forum: Airline & Commercial Aviation Photos
Topic: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19
Replies: 5
Views: 4008

Re: AN124 at RAF Waddington 23/6/19

Great photos.....

Is it my imagination, or a trick of the light - but has it lost its undernose radome???

The contours look like a smooth curve - rather than the bulged undernose seen in previous photos.....

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rwFWZDvgiNA/ ... 1015gl.JPG

Ken
by Flankerman
Thu 04 Apr 2019, 9:08 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Kiev Aviation Museum in the snow
Replies: 13
Views: 4531

Re: Kiev Aviation Museum in the snow

I was on a river cruise - so we were berthed on the river (Kiev River Port). I got a taxi from there to the Zhulaniy museum (it's on the territory of Zhulaniy Airport) - it took about 20 mins (with a mad driver!) - and cost me 150 Ukrainian Hryvnia each way. That's £4.26 or 5.57 USD each way. The ta...
by Flankerman
Tue 05 Mar 2019, 8:43 am
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Kiev Aviation Museum in the snow
Replies: 13
Views: 4531

Re: Kiev Aviation Museum in the snow

Excellent photos Sam..... the snow really lends an unusual aspect to the collection. It's the only place in the world where you can see THREE versions of the Backfire - Tu-22M0, Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 I've visited Zhulaniy a few times now - the last time in August last year - specifically to see the re...
by Flankerman
Thu 15 Nov 2018, 1:58 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 3589

Re: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)

The first prototype An-71 was 'converted' from the first prototype An-72 airliner - already in Aeroflot colours. The second prototype used stock An-72 airframe components off the line - I don't know if they were already painted. Don't forget that Aeroflot was not a commercial airline as we know it i...
by Flankerman
Wed 14 Nov 2018, 9:26 am
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 3589

Re: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)

Stewart, that may have been the same old guy who told me off for going over the tape surrounding the fire tender !!! He was in the Tu-134 - and had spotted me from his doorway. The telling off was quite gentle - just a finger wagging and shaking head. It's a great museum - the highlight being the di...
by Flankerman
Tue 13 Nov 2018, 8:58 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 3589

Re: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)

Apart from the L-39?

A Tu-141 'Strizhi' recconnaissance drone on its launch trailer.

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/tu-moni ... 733849.jpg

To the right of it is the launch tube of the DR-3 'Rheys' recce drone.

Ken
by Flankerman
Tue 13 Nov 2018, 10:22 am
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)
Replies: 11
Views: 3589

Re: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum - Kiev (Part 1)

Great photos Stewart ! I was there on 4 August - especially to see the latest exhibit - the recently arrived Antonov An-71 AWACS.... http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/Ukraine%20Cruise%202018/day12_35.jpg I had been there a couple of times previously - but this time I was on a river cruise that terminat...
by Flankerman
Sun 12 Aug 2018, 5:57 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: Single or twin seat?
Replies: 40
Views: 5191

Re: Single or twin seat?

I think I am right in saying that the Su-27 Flanker is the only aircraft that did not need to be 'stretched' to make a two-seater. The single-seat Su-27 Flanker-B is exactly the same length as the two-seat Su-27UB Flanker-C - the only difference is the upper fuselage contours and taller fins. It is ...
by Flankerman
Tue 10 Jul 2018, 8:25 am
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Ukraine State Aviation Museum - Kiev
Replies: 6
Views: 3045

Re: Ukraine State Aviation Museum - Kiev

Great photos - considering the camera :worship:

Looks like a few new additions since I was there in 2010 :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/ukraine2010_day03.html

Especially the An-71 AWACS - moved in from Gostomel - where it sat abandoned for years.

Ken
by Flankerman
Fri 15 Jun 2018, 3:10 pm
Forum: Aviation Waffle
Topic: When does a jet become 'Classic'?
Replies: 40
Views: 5372

Re: When does a jet become 'Classic'?

The Ilyushin Il-62 is a 'Classic'.......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-62

Sorry..... I'll get my coat.

Ken
by Flankerman
Wed 31 Jan 2018, 7:06 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: Khodinka, Russia....ex-museum
Replies: 6
Views: 2841

Re: Khodinka, Russia....ex-museum

Some of the earlier exhibits (Yak-28P, Yak-38 etc) went first to the Yakovleb OKB museum - and are now at the Zadorozhni museum..... (along with MiG-21SMT, Mig-27/29, Su-15 etc) m (scroll down about halfway). The rest have been scrapped AFAIK Khodynka used to be the best aviation museum in Moscow in...
by Flankerman
Sun 31 Dec 2017, 7:27 pm
Forum: Warbird & Classic Jet Photos
Topic: China Aviation Museum
Replies: 5
Views: 2255

Re: China Aviation Museum

Excellent photos Graham - thanks for sharing. I've been a couple of times - and still not fully photographed everything. Shame about the 'cavern' though - there is some interesting stuff in there. BTW the Be-6 is actually a Qing-6 - a Beriev Be-6 re-engined with turboprops. Ken PS - my pics are here...