The plane enthusiasts thread

[rogerzilla]

They could modify a B-52 and double the fun.

 

[Drago]

I'd love a ride in the BUFF. You know you're on the losing side when you look up and see the Big Stick flying over, much like the Argentian conscripts knew the world was surely ending when the Vulcan howled past. Peace through superior firepower.

 

[DaveReading]

All (afaik) the new generation of long haul aircraft are 2 engines nowadays, hence the demise of Jumbos and the like. They are so powerful and efficient (compared to) engines of 20, 30 years ago, so reliable that 4 engines are no longer deemed necessary even for aircraft that have effectively replaced 747s etc.

Yes, Virgin Atlantic had to do a bit of rapid backtracking a few years ago when first started flying the A330:

 

[Bristolian]

An Airbus Beluga flew into and out of Heathrow yesterday for the first time. It's amazing that just two engines can get it airborne.

This was a couple of years ago. It was the Beluga's last visit to Filton airfield before the runway was officially decommissioned ready for a huge housing estate to go up - they're still building it. The picture was published in the Bristol Post (and I got paid)
Beauty and the Beast -

Concorde is now housed in a specially built hangar as part of the Bristol Aerospace museum and open for visitors to board and walk through the passenger cabin. They've put Perspex across the entrance to the cockpit but you get a good view of the flightdeck. She was the last Concorde in the air on the day BA pensioned off the last of the fleet.

 

[Bristolian]

I'd love a ride in the BUFF. You know you're on the losing side when you look up and see the Big Stick flying over, much like the Argentian conscripts knew the world was surely ending when the Vulcan howled past. Peace through superior firepower.

True story; in 1992 my son was an Army Cadet RSM "working" at RIAT (at Boscombe Down) and he spent several days helping out with the B52 flying display flight. At the end of the display weekend he introduced my wife and I to the Colonel in charge of the display team and we shared several hours in their company, eating their BBQ and drinking their beers. About a week later I got a call from my wife whilst I was at work saying I needed to call a number in the USA. As I was in charge of sales in the USA at the time I didn't think anything of it and duly called the number expecting a customer to be at the other end. To my surprise the Colonel we'd met at RIAT answered and asked if David (my son) had a passport, which he did, and could he get some time off school, which he could in those days. Two days later he was picked up from home by an Air Force Master Sergeant and whisked off to RAF Fairford where he boarded a B52 and got strapped in for take-off - he got off the plane in Barksdale AFB (Louisiana), home of the 2nd Bomb Wing. We didn't see him again until the following week when he was delivered back to home. He still doesn't like flying

 

[rogerzilla]

I'd love a ride in the BUFF. You know you're on the losing side when you look up and see the Big Stick flying over, much like the Argentian conscripts knew the world was surely ending when the Vulcan howled past. Peace through superior firepower.

During Operation Arclight, you didn't see or hear the B52s, as they flew so high. The world just suddenly exploded around you.

 

[gbb]

True story; in 1992 my son was an Army Cadet RSM "working" at RIAT (at Boscombe Down) and he spent several days helping out with the B52 flying display flight. At the end of the display weekend he introduced my wife and I to the Colonel in charge of the display team and we shared several hours in their company, eating their BBQ and drinking their beers. About a week later I got a call from my wife whilst I was at work saying I needed to call a number in the USA. As I was in charge of sales in the USA at the time I didn't think anything of it and duly called the number expecting a customer to be at the other end. To my surprise the Colonel we'd met at RIAT answered and asked if David (my son) had a passport, which he did, and could he get some time off school, which he could in those days. Two days later he was picked up from home by an Air Force Master Sergeant and whisked off to RAF Fairford where he boarded a B52 and got strapped in for take-off - he got off the plane in Barksdale AFB (Louisiana), home of the 2nd Bomb Wing. We didn't see him again until the following week when he was delivered back to home. He still doesn't like flying

Crikey, there's a life story he can tell that very few people will trump.

 

[Drago]

A biplane was buzzing around very slowly earlier today.

 

[gbb]

Busy out on adsb this morning, heard an unmistakable Merlin over Peterborough, turned out to be a Spitfire out of Sywell, Northants.
While I was looking there were
2x Raf Grob trainers near Grantham
A400M flew over Peterborough
2x Typhoons near Grantham
Consolidated Catalina was airborne out of Duxford. That is a very graceful aircraft to watch...

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Tuesday 17th @ 16:45

A Spitfire has just flown over!!!

Given that wing shape it can’t be anything else!!’

Heading north-west


EDIT @ 17:10
One of my colleagues has responded to my FB question about this, & pics

Even rarer, it’s a 2-seater!!!!

Plus a screenshot

Flights from (ex RAF) Church Fenton, now ‘Leeds East Airport’

https://www.spitfires.com/sm520

Wife & daughter have a year to organise a flight for me, for my 60th
I already have a sheepskin flying jacket in a wardrobe (aka ‘Flossie’)

View: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224944869801264&set=a.10224869887166745


I knew l bought it for a good reason, about 30 years ago!!!

 

[Badger_Boom]

Tuesday 17th @ 16:45

A Spitfire has just flown over!!!

Given that wing shape it can’t be anything else!!’

Heading north-west


EDIT @ 17:10
One of my colleagues has responded to my FB question about this, & pics

Even rarer, it’s a 2-seater!!!!

View attachment 745923

View attachment 745924

Plus a screenshot

Flights from (ex RAF) Church Fenton, now ‘Leeds East Airport’

https://www.spitfires.com/sm520

View attachment 745922


Wife & daughter have a year to organise a flight for me, for my 60th
I already have a sheepskin flying jacket in a wardrobe (aka ‘Flossie’)

View: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224944869801264&set=a.10224869887166745


I knew l bought it for a good reason, about 30 years ago!!!

Originally built as a Mk IX in 1944 and eventually scrapped by the South African AF after an accident. It was converted to a two seater in the early 2000s. We're treated to the occasional visit over York when it's at Church Fenton/Leeds East.

 

[gbb]

Speaking of Spitfires, our son came across this today while working locally (ish)...one of out late dad's works...

 

[gbb]

I didnt realise the BBMF out of Conningsby had a (they have 2 apparently) Chipmunk.
Fast jet flew over low an hour ago and while I didn't see It, adsb quickly showed it was of course a Typhoon. It did its rounds and when I was looking on adsb, saw the Chipmunk doing its rounds around Conningsby.

Very regular sighting as a kid, barely seen them for decades.

Annoyingly a warbird flew over around the same time as the Typhoon here, didn't see it, not visible on adsb.

 

[figbat]

I didnt realise the BBMF out of Conningsby had a (they have 2 apparently) Chipmunk.
Fast jet flew over low an hour ago and while I didn't see It, adsb quickly showed it was of course a Typhoon. It did its rounds and when I was looking on adsb, saw the Chipmunk doing its rounds around Conningsby.

Very regular sighting as a kid, barely seen them for decades.

Annoyingly a warbird flew over around the same time as the Typhoon here, didn't see it, not visible on adsb.

I had a couple of air experience flights in Chipmunks out of RAF Abingdon when in the ATC. Loved them!

 

[wiggydiggy]

Tuesday 17th @ 16:45

A Spitfire has just flown over!!!

Given that wing shape it can’t be anything else!!’

Heading north-west


EDIT @ 17:10
One of my colleagues has responded to my FB question about this, & pics

Even rarer, it’s a 2-seater!!!!

View attachment 745923

View attachment 745924

Plus a screenshot

Flights from (ex RAF) Church Fenton, now ‘Leeds East Airport’

https://www.spitfires.com/sm520

View attachment 745922


Wife & daughter have a year to organise a flight for me, for my 60th
I already have a sheepskin flying jacket in a wardrobe (aka ‘Flossie’)

View: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224944869801264&set=a.10224869887166745


I knew l bought it for a good reason, about 30 years ago!!!

Blimey that's basically home over my house, wish I'd known about it!

Where was the flight detail published in advance or is it private sorry?