B17 flyover

[AJB Temple]

Working in the kitchen today heard an almighty noise and saw a B17 flying fortress flying over very low. Maybe 3000 feet. Incredible sound, could almost feel it.

I think there are only 3 of these still flying and I have certainly never seen one in the air before. Imagine it was out of Biggin and aiming for Headcorn. Must be an airshow on. I don't think it was the Sally B from Duxford, as this one had silver body skin and big star on the tail. Might have misidentified it but it was 4 engine and the right shape.

 

[RogerS]

You're absolutely right but also a little bit wrong. It was a B-17 performing at the Eastbourne International Airshow this weekend. And it was the Sally B.

 

[AJB Temple]

Roger! I thought we were ignoring each other.

No doubt you are right. I thought Sally was drab green (not seen her fly before) and I thought this was silver, but it was really bright sun and extremely low. I saw it on the North side, then ran through the restaurant to watch her go South but only for a few seconds as it was past the treeline in no time. Eastbourne is pretty much due South from us and only 40 ish miles away.

 

[Woodbloke]

And here's me thinking it was a new flyover across the M25; need to take more water with it - Rob

 

[CHJ]

Sometimes it does not even need a full blown 'Heavy' flypast to to stir up the emotions, seeing an Enola Gay associated propeller on a memorial plinth and being in the buildings where the aircraft was modified for further trials in 1946 at Tinker Airforce Base in Oklahoma got to me.

At home as far as airframes are concerned it's the Canberra in its various guises that is closest to stirring my emotions when flying or on the ground but anything flying past fitted with a Merlin Engine has to have a second coating of attention..

 

[Doug71]

My workshop is on an old airfield which was a second world war bomber base, as well as a few industrial units it's a home to a vintage aircraft collection and a flying club.

This weekend was their annual 1940's event and yesterdays highlight was a duo spitfire display.

It's not ever day you get wander out of your workshop for a 20 minute coffee break to watch 2 spitfires putting on a very impressive display directly overhead, and yes they do sound rather nice.

 

[AndyP]

I grew up reading Reach for the Sky, the Dam Busters and Wing Leader (Johnnie Johnson) we also lived close enough to cycle to Biggin Hill for the annual air show that was held in the late 60s early 70’s. Memory fades but I swear I was within about 10 yards of a Lancaster when the engines started. A sound I hope never to forget and would love to hear again.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Ditto for Shackletons, Andy; the sound just goes through you. Contra-rotating props, four engines, each one the size of a small car....we lived under the flight path for Ballykelly and used to lose T.V. reception as each one passed overhead at about 200ft up.

 

[AndyP]

In a strange way the “sound right through you” is akin to being in an near empty Gloucester Cathedral during a full blown organ practice.

 

[RogerS]

I grew up reading Reach for the Sky, the Dam Busters and Wing Leader (Johnnie Johnson) we also lived close enough to cycle to Biggin Hill for the annual air show that was held in the late 60s early 70’s. Memory fades but I swear I was within about 10 yards of a Lancaster when the engines started. A sound I hope never to forget and would love to hear again.

There's a very good chance that we were both at one of those shows at the same time !

 

[RogerS]

In a strange way the “sound right through you” is akin to being in an near empty Gloucester Cathedral during a full blown organ practice.

Oh yes ! I love a large organ at full blast...no smutty comments please!

 

[AJB Temple]

Ditto for Shackletons, Andy; the sound just goes through you. Contra-rotating props, four engines, each one the size of a small car....we lived under the flight path for Ballykelly and used to lose T.V. reception as each one passed overhead at about 200ft up.

I remember camping as a kid near to Slapton Sands (no sand!) between Dartmouth and Salcombe. There was a Shackleton base nearby (Air Sea Rescue I think) and they used to roar over extremely low at all hours of the day and night. Made a huge impression on me.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Henry Wilt, where are you?

 

[AJB Temple]

I know who Henry Wilt is but the relevance is unclear Sam. Feel free to explain, or not as you wish.

 

[Dr.Al]

Tom Sharpe had a recurring technique throughout all his novels, not just the "Wilt" ones, and that was to have his character misinterpret spoken English - the standard 'double entendre' genre? Wilt, Inspector Flint, Lt. Verkramp and Kommandant van Heerden were especial vehicles for said delivery.
Frankie Howard made a career out of it too.
I simply piggy-backed on Roger's lead.
I don't know why I'm having to spell this out.

That went right over my head (pun intended given the thread topic).

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Ah. Apologies Al. I posted my T.S./Wilt in reply to Roger's "organ" post above; unaware there had been a post in between, as I had AJBT on "ignore".
A second Forumite contacted me, because, as said before, 'ignored' posts can lead to disjunctions. Exactly what happened here, so I unignored, read the unseen post, then posted twice. First, humour in the style of Tom Sharpe, and a fuller one in case it too went over someone's head.
All the characters I listed, Sharpe had them misinterpret - to darkly comic effect.
I have now deleted both.

 

[Woodbloke]

There was a Shackleton base nearby (Air Sea Rescue I think) and they used to roar over extremely low at all hours of the day and night. Made a huge impression on me.

My old dad, dead centre in the pic with the rest of his crew:



...used to service these aircraft at RNAS Hal-Far in Malta, during the middle 50's. He told me years ago that the aircraft in the pic was a Shackleton but I spent some time last night Googling and I now have my doubts. It certainly has contra-rotating props, so probably RR Griffon engines (I have a push rod from one in his RN tool box) but the air intakes don't look right and the vertical nose cone windows just look 'wrong'. Also there's no record of RR Griffon's being fitted as a pair in front line, operational aircraft. No sign also of the two outer engines but it's a 'tail dragger' with the twin outer rudders aka Lanc/Shackleton, so goodly aircraft folk of WH2...what the hell is it?? - Rob

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Gawd. I thought I knew my post-war aircraft, but this is a conundrum, Rob. Me no, no, senõr.

 

[RogerS]

Possibly a Short Sturgeon. TT2 variant perhaps

 

[Dr.Al]

My old dad

That feels like there must be a story behind it. Do you have a new dad as well?!

 

[Woodbloke]

Possibly a Short Sturgeon. TT2 variant perhaps

Maybe Rog; if you look at the cooling intakes between the engines and fuselage of the aircraft in my pic, the Sturgeon has them as well, as did the Mosquito. Also the tail in my aircraft pic could have a central one but is obscured in the pic as it's hidden by the fuselage. Dunno, but next question is the vertical nose cone arrangement? My money is on it being a Sturgeon as they were around in the mid 50's - Rob

Edit: this from Wiki. 'The main production variant, the TT.2 naval target tug spent most of its life with No. 728 Squadron at Hal Far, Malta. The type was also operated by No. 771 Squadron at RNAS Ford in 1950–1954'.
Engine's probably Merlin's rather than Griffon's

 

[AJB Temple]

Maybe Rog; if you look at the cooling intakes between the engines and fuselage of the aircraft in my pic, the Sturgeon has them as well, as did the Mosquito. Also the tail in my aircraft pic could have a central one but is obscured in the pic as it's hidden by the fuselage. Dunno, but next question is the vertical nose cone arrangement? My money is on it being a Sturgeon as they were around in the mid 50's - Rob

Edit: this from Wiki. 'The main production variant, the TT.2 naval target tug spent most of its life with No. 728 Squadron at Hal Far, Malta. The type was also operated by No. 771 Squadron at RNAS Ford in 1950–1954'.
Engine's probably Merlin's rather than Griffon's

Could Merlins run contra props? Didn't know that.

 

[CHJ]

Could Merlins run contra props? Didn't know that.

Merlin 140 series I think.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

---

In some ways, the engine is immaterial I think I recall the dual gearbox to to run the props was inside the central boss of the propellers? I know the feathering/coarse/fine pitch gears were. Better engineers than me, please castigate and correct.