SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 This weekend I took the miss's to the Cotswolds (btw, Bourton-on-the-Water is an amazing place and well worth a visit). During the stay I got talking to a old chap called Gerry Tyack who was your stereotypical RAF veteran, complete with handle-bar mustache and amazing wartime stories. The man operated a private aviation museum which basically comprised of some ww2 wreak relics, photos and artifacts. But for me, the really interesting stuff was his wartime stories he told. During the war, he was friends with an American p-38 pilot, and at the time, the p-38 was quite a big deal and a formidable aircraft. One evening he had the privilege of a private display by his friend and managed to take a seriously amazing photo of this p-38 flying inverted over and airbase. Was just incredibly. So if you're in the area, into aviation and fancy some british history, i recommend you visit http://www.wellingtonaviation.org. Well worth the time. Oh, and as a gift, he gave me some "window" foil ribbon that was a primitive form of wartime chaff (countermeasure). Something I'll treasure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-mkiv Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 During the war, he was friends with an American p-38 pilot, and at the time, the p-38 was quite a big deal and a formidable aircraft. One evening he had the privilege of a private display by his friend and managed to take a seriously amazing photo of this p-38 flying inverted over and airbase. I bet that was scary, watching a Range Rover doing an inverted flight...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staples230uk Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Good to hear this mate. It's always very humbling to speak to these veterans. During my first few years in the raf me and a few mates took part in the veterans day in London. I had the honour to usher Victoria cross winners, top blokes and very down to earth. I loved walking through st James park and being stopped every few minutes by ww2 vets who wanted to know what life is like in the raf these days. I felt so proud that we were following in their footsteps. Will have a butchers at this museum when I'm next in the area. Thanks for the heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 You are welcome mate. And big respect to you too for doing your bit mate. Must have been so amazing to parade with those men. A credit to you - Well done. Its Nice to know in this political PC world, there are a few people around today that know the true meaning of 'sacrifice' and appreciate those, that have done so. unfortunately, there is less and less people alive today that remember such dark times when true heros were born. We should celebrate them, whilst we still can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staples230uk Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Exactly mate, it saddens me to think that these men and women are getting few and far between. That's life though, and it's a shame there are so many people in the uk who take their sacrifice for granted. The Yorkshire air museum is also worth a look if you are ever up that way. I was the first joe public allowed into their Halifax bomber restoration. Plenty of stories from the museum workers too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Just my kind of thing They have some Wellington wreckage at the Yorkshire Air Museum. The Geodetic construction (an alloy trellis, designed by Barnes Wallice of the Bouncing Bomb fame) is unbeleivably light and strong. There's a Complete Wellington at Brooklands, which is largely bare showing this amazing construct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 One of the great aircraft of the war IMO, it's geodetic frame could cope with huge amounts of battle damage, Wellington regularly returning with damage that would have destroyed any other aircraft. It was extremely versatile too. It was let down by its engines in some respects, had they fitted one of the later marques of Merlin of even Griffin engines, it would have realised its potential. I'd love to see one of these in the air someday, we have 2 complete examples on display in the UK, but there is also the complete remains of another, which is sadly scattered across the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm203/j_s14a/77fb243b.jpg One of the great aircraft of the war IMO, it's geodetic frame could cope with huge amounts of battle damage, Wellington regularly returning with damage that would have destroyed any other aircraft. It was extremely versatile too. It was let down by its engines in some respects, had they fitted one of the later marques of Merlin of even Griffin engines, it would have realised its potential. I'd love to see one of these in the air someday, we have 2 complete examples on display in the UK, but there is also the complete remains of another, which is sadly scattered across the country Thanks for the info mate. Would love to visit the Yorkshire Air Museum. Have never seen a complete Wellington in the flesh, so would be worth while for me. The museum I gave the link too also displays some Wellington wreckage showing that geodetic frame. I think they also have a complete tail section, but i didn't see it. Gerry Tyack actually worked on Wellingtons, so if Wimpey's on are your thing, that place is well worth a visit. A friend of his during the war, made a scale model of a wellington bomber out of the window perspecs from the cockpit. He was actually just prepaying it for the display when I met him. Great stuff isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I've never been to Brooklands, which is almost embarrassing as I love cars and aviation! Yorkshire air museum is well worth a visit, if only to see the Halifax. There's also a Dehavilland Mosquito which will be running its engines shortly I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in Elvington, 10 minutes from the museum on a push bike. I spent alot of time there over the years, and even helped assemble a Messerschmitt BF109G replica, applying the rivets which were infact peices of cereal boxes that had been through a hole punch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 Another nice little air museum is, Newark Air Museum. We went last weekend, and there is plenty of interesting aircraft to look over. Especially cool war era jets. Heres some pics. and my fiancée who's into Helicopters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Great stuff isn't it We should have a forum meet at one of the big airshows, preferably Flying Legends at Duxford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 I've never been to Brooklands, which is almost embarrassing as I love cars and aviation! Yorkshire air museum is well worth a visit, if only to see the Halifax. There's also a Dehavilland Mosquito which will be running its engines shortly I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in Elvington, 10 minutes from the museum on a push bike. I spent alot of time there over the years, and even helped assemble a Messerschmitt BF109G replica, applying the rivets which were infact peices of cereal boxes that had been through a hole punch Didn't even know they had a Dehavilland Mosquito with engines - Are they Merlins? WOW! Now i'm definitely going to Yorkshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 We should have a forum meet at one of the big airshows, preferably Flying Legends at Duxford 100% agree with that!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 id be up for that i love an airshow and havent been for ages. someone start a thread nice pics. you missed the obvious "large chopper" joke... very dissapointed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Didn't even know they had a Dehavilland Mosquito with engines - Are they Merlins? WOW! Now i'm definitely going to Yorkshire. Yep, 2 Merlins It's the night fighter variant. It's lovely, but tbh the bomber version with the glazed nose is the prettier, and purer design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 The picture of the Hasting is quite relevant to the Halifax at Elvington. The Hastings design was based on the Halifax parts, and Elvingtons Halifax uses large portions of Hastings wings, without which it wouldn't have been possible to build it. Another scrapped Hastings has found its way to Canada, to help with the restoration of a Halifax there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staples230uk Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 The picture of the Hasting is quite relevant to the Halifax at Elvington. The Hastings design was based on the Halifax parts, and Elvingtons Halifax uses large portions of Hastings wings, without which it wouldn't have been possible to build it. Another scrapped Hastings has found its way to Canada, to help with the restoration of a Halifax there. Never knew that! Good bit of gen. Where abouts are you in relation to elvington? I used to live in selby and stay with my gran in Melbourne near pocklington during the summer, so I was an elvington regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Never knew that! Good bit of gen. Where abouts are you in relation to elvington? I used to live in selby and stay with my gran in Melbourne near pocklington during the summer, so I was an elvington regular. I used to live in the Village, but now live on the outskirts of York, but it's only 5 mins drive still. I used to drink in Melbourne, on occasion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Yep, 2 Merlins It's the night fighter variant. It's lovely, but tbh the bomber version with the glazed nose is the prettier, and purer design. Same as the Mossie at Duxford. Lovely example put in the livery of a target tug! Would love to see one fly, or even taxi around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackin_n_bashin Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I know its a bit more modern, but there is a cold war jets dat at bruntingthorpe this weekend, where they run a couple of lightenings up the runway, the noise is epic, as well as a jet car normally and a few static displays. Don't know whethere the Vulcan will be making an appearance though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Thanks for the head on up on that. Will try and attend. Maybe the Victor tanker will accidentally take off again LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Same as the Mossie at Duxford. Lovely example put in the livery of a target tug! Would love to see one fly, or even taxi around. There's a couple being restored for flight in New Zealand at the moment. There's a Facebook group (called Avspecs) who regularly show pictures of the restoration process. The Elvington one will never fly, but will taxi Hopefully one day they'll get the Halifax running, that would be amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Cosford airshow is on June 17th and well worth going to. I doubt i'll ever forget watching a Lancaster go over at what looked like 100ft Awesome http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 There's a couple being restored for flight in New Zealand at the moment. There's a Facebook group (called Avspecs) who regularly show pictures of the restoration process. The Elvington one will never fly, but will taxi Hopefully one day they'll get the Halifax running, that would be amazing. Been following the Facebook mossie for awhile now. Problem is, doubt she would ever make the epic journey to our shores though ... that said, i thought the same about the P-38, and that was at duxford last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Handwich Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I got to go up in, then jump out of a C47-DC3 for the Normandy anniversary in 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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