Supermarine Scimitar F.1 ' a real 'hot rod' for its day - Solent Sky Museum

 

From Steve Bond's " Fleet Air Arm Boys " (Grub Street)

"..the Scimitar was a real 'hot rod' for its day ..but was quite heavy and had only small wings. It was big; the biggest single-seat aircraft operating from a carrier at that time and the last FAA machine with guns, four 30 mm cannon. It could carry four 1000 lb bombs and had a nuclear capability. Its two engines produced 23 000 Ibs of thrust which made for a very spritely acceleration....of the two types I was flying at the time, the Scimitar had the power whereas the Hunter had the manoeuvrability. But if the Scimitar was getting into trouble he could just open the throttles and disappear... we intercepted an American task force about 400 miles east of Iceland. An F-4 attempted to interfere with us, but it was no contest. Then an F-8 tried his luck but the US military was not trained in air combat manoeuvring while we were very aggressive..."

below; Supermarine Scimitar - XD 236 seen during early June 1968. This machine was lost the same month on June 26, 1968 flying into high ground in cloud on St Catherines Down, Isle of Wight killing the pilot, Naval Airman 1st class Tony Patton. Patton's radio altimeter failed in bad weather. He was flying a sortie as a target for HMS Corrunna. Adrian Balch photo

Also on this blog; 

Supermarine Scimitar at Farnborough 1959 

Death of Commander John Russell, commanding officer of 803 Naval Air Squadron, the first squadron to operate the Scimitar

Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XN 976 and Buccaneer S.1 XK 523 1960 - ebay photo find #95

XN 976, a Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B - the aircraft was lost when it crashed into the North Sea in July 1992 while flying with No 208 Squadron.

Buccaneer S.1 XK523 1960 Original Blackburn Photograph

Buccaneer S.1 XK523 on HMS Victorious in January 1960. First flown in July 1959, XK523 was the first in a second batch of fourteen development aircraft. Used for trials work until withdrawn in August 1963 to be used as a spares source for XK525. Remains to the P&EE at Shoeburyness for use as a target. Photo is dated 20th January 1960.

Blackburn Buccaneer XN924 Yeovilton May-64

Fleet Air Arm 1962 'Sea Vixen' flight deck launch procedure in 'British Cold War Stories' - recommended aviation books

Practising carrier deck launch procedure on 'Sea Vixens' at Lee-on-Solent, 1962......

or all is not what it seems. These 'modified' Vixens are in fact 'converted Sea Venoms filmed at Lee-on-Solent for the Rank Organisation's 'Look at Life' series (1962).  Video below. They were prepared for participation in the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, a venue that could not cater for the weight and size of a 'real' Sea Vixen.

The full story is published in " British Cold War Stories " currently in UK newsagents published by Mortons Media in association with "The Aviation Historian" - a compilation of (previously published) articles that have presumably appeared in the TAH - although nowhere is this stated.

What do the American navy think of the new British aircraft carrier HMS QE II?

by David Crawford, former British Army Infantry Officer (1974-1994)

 The QE class of carriers are a totally different breed from the US Navy super carriers; they are a new concept of carrier.

No catapults - no point in having catapults as their are currently no 5th generation cat -launched aircraft, other than the F35 conventional carrier variant, so why build a new ship to operate obsolete air assets requiring additional, space hungry plant and equipment ( Cats and Arresters), so reducing space for the air-wing and other assets.

They are the first true multi role naval carriers, ideally suited to UK naval policy and doctrine. She is capable of operating a substantial air-wing of F-35B’s, she can act as a pure helicopter carrier operating every type of chopper in the UK inventory including Chinooks and Ospreys, she can carry mixed wings of helicopters and strike aircraft without any modifications, she can carry a full Royal Marine Commando, plus support troops and HQ as standard. In short she is the worlds first Fleet Strike, Helicopter, Support, Assault, General purpose carrier that can fulfill every role currently requiring a host of different platforms. She can do everything the UK needs, from global power projection, intervention, and humanitarian assistance, without any conversion or additional costs.

Much is made of her not being nuclear powered and reliant of fossil fuel replenishment. The biggest new US nuclear carriers still require to be replenished, their nuclear power plants do not provide dry stores or food, aviation fuel or munitions so topping her bunkers up is no big deal. The RN and RFA are well equipped, practiced and experienced at such things. Plus the US carriers ability to cruise for 20+ years between a 4 -5 year long refuel does not diminish the requirements of her conventional escort and supply ships to refuel and replenish from auxiliaries.

The fact the QE class are not nuclear powered, along with her size, is a major advantage. The majority of the UK’s overseas territories do not have huge harbours and many of our allies will not allow nuclear vessels into their ports. There is no point in having a flagship that can’t visit, replenish or be repaired anywhere but at home or in the USA.

Costs alone make the QE class world leaders - two multi role carriers for 3 billion? Manned by a very small crew, future proofed, easy to maintain and no harbour/port limitations. The US could probably build 10–12 of these for every Gerald Ford class carrier they currently plan to build, reflect on that : 1 nuclear carrier with an air-wing of about 75 aircraft, requiring a crew of 4300 men, 10 QE carriers, total air-wing of 700+ aircraft and total crew of 6700 men. What is the most flexible, cost effective “bang for buck” deal?

Cmdr. Nathan Gray RN, Makes the first ever F-35B Lightning II jet take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 25, 2018. Royal Navy Photo

Simon’s Sircus Sea Vixen Fleet Air Arm aerobatic team 1968, Lt. Cdr Simon Idiens - Ebay photo find #89

Simon's Sircus Aerobatic Team Brochure 1968

The rare brochure for the Fleet Air Arm aerobatic team Simon's Sircus. Formed by 892 NAS flying the Sea Vixen FAW.2 the team lasted just one season during 1968.

" ..it has been hard work, especially as the Sea Vixen is a very large and very heavy aircraft.."

892 Sqd CO and 'Simon' of "Simon's Sircus" Sea Vixen aerobatic display team fame was Lt. Cdr Simon Idiens. Idiens was later killed after ejecting from Phantom FG.1 XT876 off Trevose Head, Cornwall on 10 Jan 1972. He was step-father of actress Kristen Scott-Thomas, who's father Lt Cdr Simon Scott-Thomas had been killed in 1966 in a 893 Sqn Sea Vixen crash.

first Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) of UK's F-35 B

A revolutionary method of landing an F-35 Lightning fighter jet on board a ship has been carried out for the first time on board the UK’s newest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

British test pilot Peter Wilson made history when he conducted the first ever shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) this weekend – a method which looks like a conventional aircraft landing but requires even more intense skill and precision. Previously the jets have conducted only vertical landings, hovering by the side of the ship before moving sideways over the deck and gently lowering down.

A rolling landing however requires the jet to make a more conventional landing approach, approaching the ship from behind at speed, before using thrust from its nozzle and lift created by air over the wings to touch down and gently come to a stop. The UK is the only nation currently planning to use the manoeuver, which will allow jets to land on board the carrier with heavier loads, meaning they won’t need to jettison expensive fuel and weapons before landing.

More F-35 posts on this blog, including first UK airshow appearance, RIAT 2016

https://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.com/2016/07/lockheed-martin-f-35s-at-fairford-for.html

41 Sqn Phantom 483 FGR Mk 2 - ebay photo find #84

RAF 41 Sqn Phantom 483 FGR Mk 2 from Coningsby seen over St Omer France - MoD Photo 1975

Below;    a recent Ebay win, slightly out of focus but a decent print of FG. 1   XV 583

Much more on RN F-4 Phantoms of 892 Sqn on HMS Ark Royal on my blog here

Harrier T.4 XW 175, G-VTOL Harrier Mk.52 two-seater V/STOL company demonstrator - daily ebay photo find #78

RAE Beford photograph of Harrier T.4 XW 175. First flown in 1969, XW 175 was delivered to RAE Bedford in 1975. It then spent the next 33 years expanding the VSTOL envelope at Bedford and then Boscombe Down where it eventually became the VSTOL fly-by-wire vectored thrust technology demonstrator operated by Qinetic (VAAC). Retired in 2008 it now resides at Cosford.

on offer here

HMS Hermes (R12) Hawker Harrier Trials 1977, Harrier GR.1 XV281, Harrier T.4A XW175 from RAE Bedford, Harrier GR.3 XZ138 and G-VTOL Harrier Mk.52 two-seater V/STOL company demonstrator.


 The trials involved four Harriers, two single-seaters and two twin-seaters, aboard Hermes, They were designed to look in particular at the ability of the aircraft to operate from a pitching and rolling flight deck at night or in poor weather. All four aircraft were given different tasks within a programme covering investigation of various stores configurations, handling on the approach, head-up display symbology and handling with simulated Sea Harrier centre-of-gravity locations.

The two-seat Harrier from RAE Bedford was used during the Hermes trial to establish whether head-up display symbology modifications would be required for the Sea Harrier approach case

via the quite exceptional David's World on flickr here

Royal Navy Seafires, 806 Sqdn, HMS Glory, Sea Fury HMS Indomitable -daily ebay photo find #75

Griffon-engined Royal Navy Seafire XVs, 11-3 'Y'., 11-8 'Y'. from 806 Sqdn, HMS Glory seen over Hong Kong during October 1946

Seafire SR 638 158-M of 767 Sqdn. Milltown, c1949

Seafire SX 336 (?), 105-VL, 1949

Royal Navy aircraft on board Australian carrier HMAS Sydney, c1949

Below, Royal Navy Sea Fury, VW 238, 107-Q after collision with Sea Fury TF 965, Yeovilton, 5 September 1949

Royal Navy Sea Fury, WE 736 161-A of 801 Sqdn on board HMS Indomitable, January 1952

Royal Navy Sea Fury FB11, VX 651, 132-CW of 738 Sqdn crashed onboard HMS Illustrious either 7 March or 12 July 1950

on offer here

British F-4 Phantom FG. 1, Scimitar, Sea Fury, first production Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ 474 -daily ebay photo find #73

Royal Navy photograph of Phantom FG.1 XV 569 of 892 NAS about to be launched from the USS Saratoga in the Med. Four aircraft from 892 NAS undertook the first sea trials of the Phantom FG.1 aboard the USS Saratoga during October 1969.

Supermarine Scimitar XD318 '154' catapulted from HMS Hermes

Hawker P.1040 Carrier Trials on HMS Illustrious 1949

Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ474 1958, original 'The Aeroplane' photograph of the first production Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ 474 at the Christchurch factory in April 1958. In the background is XJ 475.

Royal Navy Westland Wyvern VZ 788 c1954. A/c scrapped January 1960

on offer here

Supermarine Seafang Mk-32 Prototype VB895 - ebay photo of the day #71

Supermarine-Seafang-Mk-32-Prototype-VB 895

Supermarine-Seafire-SX279-BR-York-Air-Pageant-1951

Supermarine Seafire II MB 240 '7-B' on HMS Indomitable-c-1943

HMS Ark Royal Flight Deck 1955 - Skyraider AEW. 1 and AD-6. Ebay photo find #68

 An original 'The Aeroplane' photograph of the busy flight deck of HMS Ark Royal in 1955. Sea Hawk FGA.6 '7' is XE380 137/O, behind is XE375 131/O both of 898 NAS. In the background is Skyraider AEW.1 WT965 and a Gannet. Also note the David Brown tractor named 'Judy'! 'The Aeroplane' wet stamp to rear. No. 16842

 
An original HMS Ark Royal Photographic Officer photograph of Skyraider AD-6 135402 of VA-75 taking the wire on board HMS Ark Royal during cross decking operations between the Ark and the USS Saratoga in October 1957. The Skyraider was transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force in 1964 later crashing during 1965.

HMS Ark Royal & MOD wet stamps to rear. No. G1549

Fake colorised photos - HMS Eagle Flycatcher

'Fake news' and the role of social media in distorting 'news' and impacting on important events is very much a talking point in today's world. From 'fake' followers that are paid for so many favourable comments on youtube and twitter, to 'fake' stories on Facebook and google. They are all at it - making billions by posting ads alongside dubious content 'created' by trolls and other undesirable characters. In addition places like Facebook are awash with horrible fake colorised photos that are not real. Fake history..like this 'incredible' image of a Flycatcher from HMS Eagle during the 1930s (?)