Comments on: Duxford and North Weald

By: JDK

JDK — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:05:26 +0000

"...for there is in supersonic ramjets all that life can afford."

Albeit briefly.

By: Chris Williams

Chris Williams — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:50:26 +0000

Too right it's not accurate, cobber: Boswell, James 'The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in Chronological order' (London, MDCCXCI. [1791] p. 160: 'I suggested a doubt, that if I were to reside near supersonic ramjets, the exquisite zest with which I relished them in occasional visits might go off, and I might grow tired of them. JOHNSHON. "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave supersonic ramjets. No, Sir, when a man is tired of supersonic ramjets, he is tired of life; for there is in supersonic ramjets all that life can afford."'

By: Brett Holman

Brett Holman — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:51:47 +0000

I like the autogyros version of the saying best.

Unfortunately I've misplaced my notes on the source, so it may not be accurate ...

By: Lester

Lester — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:38:52 +0000

I'm pretty sure they are restoring the Shackleton, just slowly. I've seen them working on it, and it's in a lot better condition than it was when it was outside. Which is nice to know. I like the autogyros version of the saying best. Ross - agree absolutely about the land warfare hall, it's "f/1.4 and pray" in there. Erik - they have a Victor. The poor thing was outside for a long time and in a sad state; now it's not generally on view. I'd put it well above the "seemed like a good idea at the time" category though.

By: johnny0

johnny0 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:53:39 +0000

Nothing too exciting -- my dad flew on exchange with the Saudi air force and I was your typical 8 year old airplane nerd. Not too much else to watch in the desert.

JDK, that poster is awesome as are the video clips, thank you.

I've always considered the Lightning the A-7's supersonic cousin. :)

By: JDK

JDK — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:41:47 +0000

Not to hijack Brett's blog, but I just posted a couple of links to film clips and to 'Taffy' Holden's remarkable accidental Lightning flight on my blog, see: http://vintageaeroplanewriter.blogspot.com/2010/03/blast-from-past-ee-lightning.html

Taffy's flight was in this (the IWM Duxford) Lightning - which has to be one of the most remarkable stories in the career of any preserved aircraft. Have a listen!

By: Brett Holman

Brett Holman — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:14:18 +0000

How did you get to see one in Saudi Arabia, or aren't you allowed to tell us? :)

By: johnny0

johnny0 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:36:45 +0000

Thanks for the pictures of the Lightning. Last time I saw one of those was in 1979 in Saudi Arabia!

Never realized their rate to climb or the altitude they could climb to. From the Wikipedia link:

- 36,000 ft less than 3 minutes
- a test pilot took one up to 87,300 feet (26 600 m) - "Earth curvature was visible and the sky was quite dark" but control-wise it was "on a knife edge"
- one intercepted a U-2 at 88,000 ft (26,800 m)

By: Erik Lund

Erik Lund — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:34:59 +0000

"Forty thousand rivets...." If only they'd managed to get the Napier Nomad into the Shackleton. Would have shown that Steampunk aesthetic what you can do with gasoline...

By: Heath

Heath — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:57:40 +0000

That is a lot of planes.

Pretty...