hurricanemk1c

The Russians just didn't bother to shield the crew, and the majority died of radiation poisioning While the Americans used this aircraft with the lead shielding

Managed to do two displays Mikael - nothing too serious, but hopefully a good display

Cheers folks for the comments @Brett - your reputation obviously preceeds you - mine doesn't travel so fast!

71 years ago today: 30th January 1943 was the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s rise to power. To coincide with the commemorative rallies, the first daylight raids over Berlin took place on that day when Mosquitoes carried out two attacks timed to disrupt speeches being delivered by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göering and Joseph Goebbels, the Third Reich’s Propaganda Minister, at the main broadcasting station. Read more here

Having arrived in a rather warmer New Zealand, it was time to go and find Mikael. Lounging about in a near-by hotel, I noticed a rather wierd aircraft fly low over. It particularly caught my attention, as I thought someone could be taking my plane! Luckily, this was not the case. About twenty minutes later Mikael phoned up and told me about his little test flight in the Optica. While listening to him, I thought 'Bugger - there goes my aircraft choice!'. Having said our goodbyes and, of course, passing on the famous blue piece of wood, we parted company and headed to our hotels for the night.

I was so close to choosing the Optica, luckily I didn't! Superb shots there Mikael - I'll be over in a few days

Nice story and shots Jess!

Over to you Brett! Techincally, my photo was of the Swallow 'momentum bomber', but was developed with the airliner

Is that an answer Andrew or not?

Many a famous aircraft came out of that factory, including a lot beginning with V - although this one doesn't

On this day in 1919 Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS was born in Leith, near Edinburgh in Scotland. He first flew when he was eight or ten when he was taken up in a Gloster Gauntlet by his father, the younger Brown sitting on his father's knee. A former Royal Navy officer and test pilot, Captain Brown has flown more types of aircraft than anyone else in history, piloting 487 different aircraft types. He is also the Fleet Air Arm’s most decorated living pilot and holds the world record for aircraft carrier landings – 2,407.

Is this too hard? Or are you all scurrying through old books on this particular, later rather controversial, Operating Requirement

Here you go folks - enjoy!

Lockheed L-133 if I remember correctly - proposed during the Second World War (or shortly before)

Superb shots Brett - a nice relaxing flight

Today in 1971, the US Marine Corps took delivery of its first Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier aircraft Today in 1979, the very first operational F-16A was delivered to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah

Great shots Kasper - that Spartan is very efficent and can get you out of some tight spots!

Superb shots and story there George - had me with every aircraft!

Nice landing - shame about the roast engine!

25 years ago today Pan Am Flight 103 crashed near Lockerbie after a terrorist bombing Re the other An-225, it could be done. They are talking about restarting the An-124 production, so some savings could come from there (since many cockpit parts, engines etc are shared)

Baldonnel is a small airfield really - 757's are very big for them. It can handle C-130's, but possibly the size of the 757 is bigger than the Herc, so must stop elsewhere

Two videos, the first being PC-9 weapons training a while ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFJpys6CY1Y And a 757-200ER landing at Baldonnel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP6UEmkY_MM

Nice choice of aircraft there Jess!

Hi all, So, around to carry the baton again. Last time I did it in a VC-10. Not a lot of technology - just cable runs and good old basic navigation. And that last point was the bit I failed. Incorrect alignment of the INS spelled downfall. This time, there would be no mistake. I was knocking around in Chile for some reason that has left me. I was enjoying it, anyway. The railways here look quite nice. I was simply observing them until this big Australian came up to me with the Baton. Curious, I asked him who he was. He said he was Gonzo. Not quiet sure about that name...... The nex

Nice leg Andrew!