Europe Trip #21: IWM Duxford - 2 - Outside Helicopters

Duxford is an operational airfield [ICAO: EGSU]. On arrival at Duxford, I noticed a number of tents and helicopters, but no fixed wing traffic. It appears that there was some sort of get together/ convention of helicopter operators.

What was particularly interesting was the range of registration nationalities present. In New Zealand, we're so far isolated from other countries that very few helicopters would be capable of flying from our nearest neighbours.

Europe [including England] of course is in a completely different proposition - subject to permissions, it would be possible to reach any part of Europe with most aircraft.

One thing I must mention is that I know very little about helicopters, so my details here may be a little "off", so any further details would be must appreciated!

Anyway, on to the pictures. Top to bottom are:

Robinson R44, G-POLI, Luxtronic Ltd
AgustaWestland AW139, OY-HJL, Belair
Eurocopter AS355NP, G-RIDA, National Grid
Agusta A119, N119JT, Skyrunner Aviation Inc
Hughes 369, G-OOGL, Eastern Atlantic Helicopters [cool rego, eh?!]
Agusta A109S, G-CGBT, Heli-International APS
Sikorsky S76C, G-FULM, Air Harrods Ltd
Agusta A119, HB-ZUS, Air Engiadina
AgustaWestland AW139, ZR327, Defence Helicopter Flying School
Agusta A109S, EI-MEN, Men-Entirl Ltd

Europe Trip #20: IWM Duxford - 1 - Outside Airliners

Firstly, apologies for it being so long since the last post - a whole 2 weeks! I guess I've been very busy relaxing :-) then getting back in to work after the big trip.

The good news [I guess] is that I was always pretty much up to date with the posts, with just one large series of posts from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford [starting now] then a quick wrap up.

In this IWM Duxford series, I'll try and give you a taste of what it is that I saw. It's a huge place [!] and the only real way to experience it is to go and visit! Take this series as an encouragement to do just that!

You'll note in a previous post that I was pretty enthusiastic about the RAF Museum in Hendon, and I was. I have to say that the IWM Duxford was a step up!

Anyway, on to the photos. In the first group, I have included shots of a number of airliners sitting outside. Unfortunately [despite the steps leading up to them], none of them were open for visits. You'll notice that a couple of them are starting to look quite decrepit, although I understand that is mainly due to as yet incomplete conservation work. I'd certainly like to see these restored to their former glory, even if only as static displays.

Top to bottom are [including their former airline operator and registration]:

British Airways, British Aircraft Corporation [BAC] 1-11, G-AVMU
Monarch, Bristol Type 172 Britannia 312, G-AOVT
BOAC, BAC Super VC10, G-ASGC
BEA, Hawker Siddeley Trident 2E, G-AVFB
Air UK, Handley Page Herald 200, G-APWJ

Europe Trip #19: Aircraft Over London

During my various sightseeing days I managed to photograph a few of the many aircraft flying over London. I'm not sure which airports they were headed in to [I never got my head around where the various airports were in relation to the city!].

Anyway, here they are:

British Airways [Connect], Avro 146, G-BZAY
City Jet, Avro 146, EI-RJS
VLM Airways [???], Fokker 50, OO-VLK
British Airways, Avro 146, G-BZAU
Air France, Avro 146, EI-RJP ???????????? *** Pardon??
[???], MD 900, G-EHMS - rescue helicopter
Lux Air, Embraer EMB-135LR, LX-LGK
Helicopter - unknown ID or details

*** can anyone explain why an aircraft with Air France logos would have an EI- rego? Is this just a leasing thing?

Europe Trip #18: RAF Museum Hendon - 13 - Last of the jets

In this final post about the jets, I've included two of my favourite aircraft - the Hawker Hunter and the Harrier jumpjet.

I've seen a New Zealand-based Hunter flying at Ardmore airfield in past years [ZK-JIL] and it's an impressive sight - and sound! I haven't seen the Harrier flying [apart from video obviously], but it's one of those aircraft that captures the imagination and makes you wonder why they don't build more V/STOL fighter aircraft [OK - I know that the Americans have, but it's 40 something years later!].

Finally, this is the last of my posts from the RAF Museum at Hendon in the UK. As I have said before, it is well worth the visit - in fact, I strongly recommend it. I hope you've enjoyed these photos. Do come back over the next few days as there will soon be a few pictures from around London followed by the Duxford museum collection which is arguably even more awesome!

Europe Trip #17: RAF Museum Hendon - 12 - Big and Fast

OK, here's two more jet aircraft to gaze longingly at! The Avro Vulcan is an awesome beast! I mean, it is just HUGE! The museum have poked it into the corner [and I mean right in to the corner] of one of the buildings and it seems to stretch out forever!

The other is the mighty Eurofighter Typhoon. This appears to be one of the prototype aircraft, and is a stunning sight and because of the walkways on the second and third levels of the building, you can walk right up to, almost level with, the aircraft even though it is suspended from the ceiling. It's a nice looking plane also. Just a thought, it'd look good flying around Ohakea with some Kiwi roundels on it :-) Clearly this is no ordinary museum when it has a front-line fighter hung off the ceiling :-)

Europe Trip #16: RAF Museum Hendon - 11 - 3 more jets

Practical jet powered aircraft were first produced in the early 1940's - not surprising considering the world was busy trying to find better, faster, more efficient ways of trying to kill each other during World War Two.

The Germans were the first to put up a jet fighter in combat, the awesome Me 262. Here are three pictures of this aircraft, followed by some others.

Messerschmitt Me 262 [3 pictures]
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B
Heinkel He 162
Panavia Tornado P02

[updated thanks to feedback]

Europe Trip #15: RAF Museum Hendon - 10 - Jets!

For some reason jets fascinate me. I like the piston powered aircraft of course, but I guess jet powered aircraft are generally fast, sleek and rather noisy :-)

The list of fixed-wing turbine aircraft was less numerous than the others [naturally], but still very impressive. This post is the first of four for the jets. In this first post we have:

BAC Lightning F6
Gloster Meteor F8
de Havilland DH 100 Vampire
English Electric Canberra PR3
BAC Jet Provost T.5A
McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2
Phantom cockpit

Europe Trip #14: RAF Museum Hendon - 9 - Helicopters

Helicopters are interesting machines! Seemingly a collection of loosely held together parts, vibrating at random, ready to separate at a moment's notice :-) Having said that, they are clearly an invaluable tool in peacetime and war.

The museum had a range of helicopters - all of which had military [and some civilian] roles at some stage, including troop transport, equipment haulers and rescue. The first helicopter in the list was equiped in a VIP configuration and used on the Royal Flight to transport the Queen and other royalty from time to time.

Top to bottom are:

Westland Wessex HCC4
Agusta Westland EH101 Merlin/ Heliliner
Westland Belvedere HC1
Westland Whirlwind HAR10
Sikorsky Hoverfly
Saunders Roe Skeeter AOP Mk 12