Chris Webb:
Interesting stuff about the Shackleton.When I was in RAF at Changi Singapore 64-66 I used to put my name down to go in different aircraft when on air test.I went up in Hastings,Argosys and Shackletons.The Shacks were from 205 squadron,“Fourty thousand rivets shaking in unison”.The photo shows “C” Charlie doing a low level pass over Changi airfield,I think it was WL786,if so I flew in it.The crews were very friendly,would show you all around the aircraft,radar,wireless etc. but you had to be careful not to trip over main spar.Part of the test would be to feather each engine and restart,sometimes flying on two.The radar was known as ASV21 and even in those days very accurate,checking on shipping in South China Sea.There was also some other detection gear fitted which was supposed to be secret but it was to detect submarine exhausts I believe.Not my photo.Happy days.
Thanks Chris. I’m trying to work out how much younger than you I am but I do remember Shackletons being replaced by Nimrods at St. Mawgan in the late 60s. Being a sprog I was of course much more fascinated by the Nimrod at St. Mawgan air show days. Shame the Powers That Be didn’t allow the proper development of the Nimrod (shades of TSR2 I suppose). Here in Oz they were still flying turboprop AP-3 Orions up until a decade ago…
In the mid 70’s I was serving in the Royal Navy. Along with 3 other colleagues I spent a day (as part of an exchange programme) on a Nimrod doing a maritime patrol in support of the ships involved in the “cod war” with Iceland. Needless to say we had spent the previous evening on the lash so were quite hungover and barely made the 5.30am take off in any fit condition. Anyway we boarded the aircraft and got ourselves belted up in the few passenger seats that these planes had. These seats were located directly next to the wings and, due to the airplane design, directly adjacent to the engines so we could hear the constant hum from the jets throughout the flight. We spent a few hours over the patrol area and then climbed to a height of over 30,000 ft. Suddenly the engine noise disappeared and the plane started to rapidly descend. You can imagine the panic in the faces of us mere matelots. After what seemed like an eternity the engines restarted and we climbed back up again. To our horror this was repeated another twice by which time our sick bags were overflowing.
We then headed back to Lossiemouth where the runway is situated right next to the open water. Our relief at getting back safely soon evaporated as the plane touched down only for it to then immediately accelerate and take off again. We circled the runway and landed again, only for us to repeat the previous landing and take off. By this time I was convinced that the plane destined to crash. After all, how could we survive 3 apparent engine failures and the pilots inability to land the thing? At the third attempt the aircraft was brought to a halt and 4 very badly shaken sailors were desperate to get off. Cue the laughter from the RAF crew at us when they explained that this had all been part of a training exercise and that they do it all they time - they just didn’t tell us beforehand!!
Chris Webb:
Interesting stuff about the Shackleton.When I was in RAF at Changi Singapore 64-66 I used to put my name down to go in different aircraft when on air test.I went up in Hastings,Argosys and Shackletons.The Shacks were from 205 squadron,“Fourty thousand rivets shaking in unison”.The photo shows “C” Charlie doing a low level pass over Changi airfield,I think it was WL786,if so I flew in it.The crews were very friendly,would show you all around the aircraft,radar,wireless etc. but you had to be careful not to trip over main spar.Part of the test would be to feather each engine and restart,sometimes flying on two.The radar was known as ASV21 and even in those days very accurate,checking on shipping in South China Sea.There was also some other detection gear fitted which was supposed to be secret but it was to detect submarine exhausts I believe.Not my photo.Happy days.
Thanks Chris. I’m trying to work out how much younger than you I am but I do remember Shackletons being replaced by Nimrods at St. Mawgan in the late 60s. Being a sprog I was of course much more fascinated by the Nimrod at St. Mawgan air show days. Shame the Powers That Be didn’t allow the proper development of the Nimrod (shades of TSR2 I suppose). Here in Oz they were still flying turboprop AP-3 Orions up until a decade ago…
In the mid 70’s I was serving in the Royal Navy. Along with 3 other colleagues I spent a day (as part of an exchange programme) on a Nimrod doing a maritime patrol in support of the ships involved in the “cod war” with Iceland. Needless to say we had spent the previous evening on the lash so were quite hungover and barely made the 5.30am take off in any fit condition. Anyway we boarded the aircraft and got ourselves belted up in the few passenger seats that these planes had. These seats were located directly next to the wings and, due to the airplane design, directly adjacent to the engines so we could hear the constant hum from the jets throughout the flight. We spent a few hours over the patrol area and then climbed to a height of over 30,000 ft. Suddenly the engine noise disappeared and the plane started to rapidly descend. You can imagine the panic in the faces of us mere matelots. After what seemed like an eternity the engines restarted and we climbed back up again. To our horror this was repeated another twice by which time our sick bags were overflowing.
We then headed back to Lossiemouth where the runway is situated right next to the open water. Our relief at getting back safely soon evaporated as the plane touched down only for it to then immediately accelerate and take off again. We circled the runway and landed again, only for us to repeat the previous landing and take off. By this time I was convinced that the plane destined to crash. After all, how could we survive 3 apparent engine failures and the pilots inability to land the thing? At the third attempt the aircraft was brought to a halt and 4 very badly shaken sailors were desperate to get off. Cue the laughter from the RAF crew at us when they explained that this had all been part of a training exercise and that they do it all they time - they just didn’t tell us beforehand!!
I had a fear of flying for years after that.
Great stuff Dennis. I went to Lossiemouth twice and Kinloss next door once from Scampton around 1967. If you were rotad to go you had no warning,just got on an Argosy with all the emergency equipment for the dispersed Vulcans lashed down and away. Spend a couple of days up there then back to Lincolnshire.I remember the second Lossiemouth trip as it was the week before I was demobbed.Got away without doing Orderly Corporal though.
Chris Webb:
Interesting stuff about the Shackleton.When I was in RAF at Changi Singapore 64-66 I used to put my name down to go in different aircraft when on air test.I went up in Hastings,Argosys and Shackletons.The Shacks were from 205 squadron,“Fourty thousand rivets shaking in unison”.The photo shows “C” Charlie doing a low level pass over Changi airfield,I think it was WL786,if so I flew in it.The crews were very friendly,would show you all around the aircraft,radar,wireless etc. but you had to be careful not to trip over main spar.Part of the test would be to feather each engine and restart,sometimes flying on two.The radar was known as ASV21 and even in those days very accurate,checking on shipping in South China Sea.There was also some other detection gear fitted which was supposed to be secret but it was to detect submarine exhausts I believe.Not my photo.Happy days.
Thanks Chris. I’m trying to work out how much younger than you I am but I do remember Shackletons being replaced by Nimrods at St. Mawgan in the late 60s. Being a sprog I was of course much more fascinated by the Nimrod at St. Mawgan air show days. Shame the Powers That Be didn’t allow the proper development of the Nimrod (shades of TSR2 I suppose). Here in Oz they were still flying turboprop AP-3 Orions up until a decade ago…
In the mid 70’s I was serving in the Royal Navy. Along with 3 other colleagues I spent a day (as part of an exchange programme) on a Nimrod doing a maritime patrol in support of the ships involved in the “cod war” with Iceland. Needless to say we had spent the previous evening on the lash so were quite hungover and barely made the 5.30am take off in any fit condition. Anyway we boarded the aircraft and got ourselves belted up in the few passenger seats that these planes had. These seats were located directly next to the wings and, due to the airplane design, directly adjacent to the engines so we could hear the constant hum from the jets throughout the flight. We spent a few hours over the patrol area and then climbed to a height of over 30,000 ft. Suddenly the engine noise disappeared and the plane started to rapidly descend. You can imagine the panic in the faces of us mere matelots. After what seemed like an eternity the engines restarted and we climbed back up again. To our horror this was repeated another twice by which time our sick bags were overflowing.
We then headed back to Lossiemouth where the runway is situated right next to the open water. Our relief at getting back safely soon evaporated as the plane touched down only for it to then immediately accelerate and take off again. We circled the runway and landed again, only for us to repeat the previous landing and take off. By this time I was convinced that the plane destined to crash. After all, how could we survive 3 apparent engine failures and the pilots inability to land the thing? At the third attempt the aircraft was brought to a halt and 4 very badly shaken sailors were desperate to get off. Cue the laughter from the RAF crew at us when they explained that this had all been part of a training exercise and that they do it all they time - they just didn’t tell us beforehand!!
I had a fear of flying for years after that.
Great stuff Dennis. I went to Lossiemouth twice and Kinloss next door once from Scampton around 1967. If you were rotad to go you had no warning,just got on an Argosy with all the emergency equipment for the dispersed Vulcans lashed down and away. Spend a couple of days up there then back to Lincolnshire.I remember the second Lossiemouth trip as it was the week before I was demobbed.Got away without doing Orderly Corporal though.
I had a few memorable “liaisons” with the RAF during my time in the RN. Not only did I get my HGV licence through them (at RAF St Athans) but I spent 2 years on an Admirals staff that required us to fly off to various parts of the world to simply take control of naval exercises and then fly back to the UK - I got to know the layout of the VC10 (and Brize Norton) by heart
The Scammel Roadtrain always had that distinctive whine of their own
When in our depot at the side of the M5, always knew when a Scammell Roadtrain was passing, lovely lorry to drive and kip in.
Spardo:
Love the Bedford/Queen Mary combo, with the bomber finely balanced on the back
Looks like a Shackleton fuselage to me but not certain.
Definitely not a Shackleton,the nose cone is wrong,this looks like a bomber not a maritime recognizance aircraft.
David
Shackleton MR1?
The nose on those is different to other Shackletons and the large letter is in keeping too. Later ones did have a longer sharper nose though.
The position of wings relative to fuselage, cockpit windows and square port above wing all seem correct for a Shackleton.
Air intake on side also correct, and you can see where the blister for the underslung raydome would go.
I stand corrected,never seen an MR1 before,thanks for pointing out my error Franglais.
but I do remember Shackletons being replaced by Nimrods at St. Mawgan in the late 60s. Being a sprog I was of course much more fascinated by the Nimrod at St. Mawgan air show days. Shame the Powers That Be didn’t allow the proper development of the Nimrod (shades of TSR2 I suppose). Here in Oz they were still flying turboprop AP-3 Orions up until a decade ago…
