Peek behind the scenes 3

[Hagar]

By popular demand. Not really behind the scenes this time but the start of the actual show. I managed to grab a few shots before the old current bun permanently disappeared behind a blanket of cloud.

The collection's DH.87 Hornet Moth. Haven't seen this one fly much recently. The last I heard it was up for sale. Not sure what's happened since then.


The show opened right on time (4.30 pm) with a nice display by this Jet Provost. I forget the pilot's name & where he comes from at the moment. This is the best shot I got.


Another complete contrast, the SE5a takes off for his display. I missed a great shot of the Avro 504K following him.


Here's the 504 flying past in the gloom.


Next up is the unusual 1931 Desoutter 1 owned & operated by Richard Shuttleworth in 1936. It last flew in 1942 & returned to Old Warden for restoration in 1985 with the first post-restoration flight in January 1998.


Here goes the beautiful Brisfit. I really like this aeroplane & the sound of that big Rolls-Royce Falcon. I think this is the oldest RR aero engine still flying anywhere.


The pretty little Sopwith Pup shows its stuff. I expect it flew in far worse conditions than this during WWI.



The Chipmunk doing a very low pass picking up streamers.

By this time the light was failing rapidly but the show must go on. It wasn't that bad really but a little evening sunshine would have made all the difference. More in Part 4 when I get round to it.

[C]

Excellent Doug. Lovely shots. That's the second time that JP's been to Old Warden this year isn't it.

[edit] no programme up for next weekend yet...

[Hagar]

Thanks Charlie. Not sure it's the same Jet Provost but I've seen one at a previous show. I forgot to mention that the Avro 504 had engine failure at the last one. Ironically the commentator was telling the crowd how difficult it is to keep those rotary engines running at low revs when it suddenly started billowing clouds of smoke while on the approach. No way it could make the runway so the pilot put it down in the field across the road. Chief pilot Andy Sephton flew it out again about 1 hour later, to the amusement of motorists who had stopped for some free entertainment. It seems none the worse for the experience.

[ozzy72]

Beautiful photos Doug, but I have to ask why is the Chippie in RCAF colours when it isn't a bubble canopy model?

[Hagar]

Thanks Mark. It's actually a civil Chipmunk 22 masquerading as an RCAF Chippie.

[Craig.]

Brilliant shots Doug, looks like it was a wonderful day.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

As always Doug...Wonderful shots

You showed many of my favorites, the SE5a, the Avro 504k and the Brisfit.

Was there a Sopwith Tripe or Camel there as well?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[beaky]

More "exotics"...!!  :o
Very interesting "smokestack" on that Desoutter... I hope the slipstream carries the exhaust up over the wing...  ;D
The gloomy setting of some of those doesn't detract, IMHO- as you pointed out, they must've flown in far worse than that. In fact, I remember reading that they'd often take off for morning scouting missions in what's now considered IMC... near-zero in fog, etc.
Uh... my point: the gloom suggests the other side of military flying: the very real danger, and the dark nature of the whole thing.

[Hagar]

Glad you like 'em. I appreciate the comments. They mean a lot to me.

As always Doug...Wonderful shots  

You showed many of my favorites, the SE5a, the Avro 504k and the Brisfit.  

Was there a Sopwith Tripe or Camel there as well?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Always happy to oblige Doug & these are some of my favourites too. The Tripe flew earlier in the season but I didn't set eyes on it yesterday. It's nice to see it in formation with the Pup. No Camel at the moment but the Northern Aeroplane Worshops, the people who built that beautiful Tripe, are reputedly building a replica Camel for the Collection. That will complete the set but I don't know how much progress they've made on it recently. They used to have a website but it seems to have disappeared.

The gloomy setting of some of those doesn't detract, IMHO- as you pointed out, they must've flown in far worse than that. In fact, I remember reading that they'd often take off for morning scouting missions in what's now considered IMC... near-zero in fog, etc.  
Uh... my point: the gloom suggests the other side of military flying: the very real danger, and the dark nature of the whole thing.

That's true of course & gives just a little idea of what they had to put up with. I still can't imagine what it was like to fly those frail machines into battle.

I must admit to being a tad disappointed as I was looking forward to getting some good photos. This was the last sunset display of the season & there's something very special about that golden evening sunlight at this time of year. If you've seen my photos of earlier sunset displays you will know what I mean. Never mind, I just realised the last daylight display is next Sunday. Keep your fingers & toes crossed for me.

[Tweek]

Nice shots, like the Chipmunk one.

[Jimbo]

Brilliant shots again Doug,

Nice to see a couple of pics, and a couple of great planes, after a stressful day
De-stresses me!....Cheers Mate, and thanks for sharing your day with us all.
And best of all you caught some REAL aircraft there!

Cheers.

James

[C]

Beautiful photos Doug, but I have to ask why is the Chippie in RCAF colours when it isn't a bubble canopy model?

I imagine its repaint (if planned) into RAF colours is well down the list of "things to do" for the collection. The scheme it's in is the one used by the previous owner before it was bought for/donated to the collection by the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society (of which Doug and I are members* )


*apologies for blatant plug

[Hagar]

*apologies for blatant plug

This series could be seen as a blatant plug for Old Warden & the Shuttleworth Collection. I make no apologies for that. It's a truly wonderful place run by wonderful people.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hi Doug:

Doug wrote:
That's true of course & gives just a little idea of what they had to put up with. I still can't imagine what it was like to fly those frail machines into battle

Hope you don't mind me sticking my two cents in Doug but I asked that same question many many times as a young man when I first started flying.
I asked it to both my grandfathers and great uncles who several not only flew in the First World War but also in the Second World War.

I can remember my one grandfathers answer.

He asked me how old my dad's rocking chair was.  My father would rock in it all the time, I said it must be at least fifty years old.  Does it still rock he asked?  Yes I said.  They built things out of wood to last back then, and that is the way the aircraft were built.

The aeroplanes of 1917 to 1918 were much improved over those at the start of the war.  That not only applied to allied aircraft but axis as well.
He test flew them all including the axis aircraft at the end of the war.
He said most pilots were confident and positive in the equipment they flew most of the time.

The average person has no idea the leaps and bounds that were accomplished by industry and science/technology during the First World War.
Take the SE5a or Camel just for example, they both fly faster and are more maneuverable than most of the general aviation aircraft (short of high performance ones) that we see on aerodromes today.

When I took someone up in the old Fleet Canuck or  the Piper Cub the look on their face after they saw the aircraft was....no way...no bloody way are you getting me up in that LMAO.

They would look all over the aircraft for holes in the fabric or touch the airframe to see if it was loose and going to come apart .

Eventually they would get in but they thought the thing should have been built like a tank to stay in one piece and fly.

Sorry to ramble on Doug.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Hagar]

Sorry to ramble on Doug.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Ramble on all you like old chap. I've been known to do the same on occasions.

I know how well those old machines were built & would have no hesitation in flying in one. Unfortunately that's unlikely to happen unless I'm very lucky. You're talking to someone who not only maintained but also learned to fly on Tiger Moths which, apart from the steel tube fuselage structure, aren't much more advanced than those WWI machines. People find it hard to believe when I tell them we flew in open cockpits in all weathers with no heater, navaids or radio, not even a proper intercom except for the old Gosport tube. Men were men in those days & women were glad of it.

PS. Not forgetting there was a fair number of intrepid female pilots even in those wonderful days.