| Author | Message | ||
     Bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: 94.197.122.90 |
Two Avro Lancaster bombers flew over my house at noon today. 500ft. They are parked at Hurn airport. 8 miles from me. As they flew over they banked to align with the track to pattern to go over the New forest then land at Hurn. I could see the how big they are and they are big. The noise was reverberating and slightly black smoke from the exhausts. I guess that's to run rich for more power in the turn. Nothing exciting happens in Bournemouth. If it's not dodging traction engines then it's Spitfites and Lancasters cluttering up the place. In north Wales near electric mountain is a valley and if you get to the top of the head end of the valley RAF Tornado fly low in the valley at 500 mph then power up and go vertical on after burner to miss the bit where you are standing. They get as close as 100ft. At first it's a dot in the distance then whoosh then then the noise. RR jet engine. Much louder than two Lancasters. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: 94.197.122.93 |
A Lancaster (City of Lincoln) from 4 to 6 pm (Saturday) flew over last time it was at 250 ft and it was even louder and I could see the guns and left hand pilot. No rear guns though. Wheels were down. The Canadian Lancaster has an engine problem so it's not flying. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Jan Forrest Grand Master Username: got_one Post Number: 655 Registered: 1-2008 |
A couple of years ago, at the very last RAF Woodvale Steam Fayre and Rally, we were treated to a fly-past by a Wellington, a Hurricane and a Spitfire. With so many Merlins and Griffons overhead the vibrations were felt rather than heard. For the hard of hearing there was a display with the later Griffon engine mounted on a dolly and fitted with counter rotating props to prevent the whole thing trying to take off. Running into open headers the noise could be heard from every point of the aerodrome, while the rapid opening and closing of the throttle would result in metres long jets of flames from the exhaust ports. IIRC the ones as fitted to bombers tended to run rich at low levels as they were metered for running with superchargers at operational height to combat the low air pressures. | ||
| Benoit Leus Prolific User Username: benoitleus Post Number: 174 Registered: 6-2009 |
I saw the 2 Lancasters flying over the Goodwood Circuit on Saturday, in formation with 2 Spitfires and a Hurricane. It was a magnificent sight that outclassed even the best racing cars on the circuit itself. | ||
| Bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: 94.197.122.81 |
The Lancaster that broke down had brake trouble and was the city of Lincoln not the Canadian one ( Vera). They sent a Hurricane to get bits for the brakes and New dot oil. Because Halfords didn't have the bits. Have you any pads for a 1943 Lancaster, no sorry mate they're on back order, but our Southampton branch has some. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1468 Registered: 4-2003 |
Bob, You forgot to mention collecting the workshop manual as well - to be sure to be sure and all that.... I am envious of your privileged position which allows you to see and hear these classic aircraft on a regular basis. All you need is a restored Mosquito to join the flight to complete the collection of R-R powered classic WW2 aircraft. | ||
| Jan Forrest Grand Master Username: got_one Post Number: 656 Registered: 1-2008 |
It's less than surprising that the vast majority of Merlins, Griffons, etc are to be found in the USA. Part of the 'lend lease' agreement saw many hundreds of motors being shipped across the pond to be fitted to the renamed Mustang fighter aircraft. Since the war these have attracted a cult following in the private civil aviation world such that there is a greater %age of airframes still in airworthy condition than all other variants combined. Owners - many of them second or third generation aficianados - hold regular meets around the country and take part in races. On average there's a fatal crash every few years. | ||
| Bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: 94.197.122.72 |
A Mosquito has got to be the best of the lot. The Lancasters have gone now. But the SS Waverly which is a paddle steamer is in Poole Harbour. It has a window so one can watch the engine work. I believe a copy of the Lancaster workshop manual is available. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Nigel Johnson Prolific User Username: nigel_johnson Post Number: 131 Registered: 12-2008 |
Didn't Packard build more Merlins than Rolls Royce? Regards, Nigel. | ||
| richard george yeaman Prolific User Username: richyrich Post Number: 202 Registered: 4-2012 |
Nigel Rolls Royce Merlins no matter where they were built they were still Rolls Royce Merlins and we were glad to have them. Richard. | ||
| Nigel Johnson Prolific User Username: nigel_johnson Post Number: 132 Registered: 12-2008 |
Well said indeed Richard. | ||
| Bob uk Unregistered guest Posted From: 94.197.122.91 |
Rover cars, Austin and Morris knocked a few up too. Rolls-Royce has never really had the capacity to seriously mass produce stuff. Austin were especially good at this. Ford are amazing at making stuff quick and cheap, and machined a few parts for RR cars in bulk. The real cleverness is in designing engines that can be mass produced. Jaguar before 1948 used other makers engines. While on fire watch in ww2 ( jaguar was called standard swallow --SS cars and made airframes in ww2) they designed the XK engine. A lot of flash for not much cash. Jaguar XK engine was in 1948 an exotic engine that was made for normal engine money. This was possible because it was designed from the start to be mass produced. It has one more cam and extra chains over a push rod six. No push rods or rockers is a fair money trade off. I visited Jaguar in 1998 and the camouflage painted walls for ww2 are still there but faded. (Message approved by david_gore) |
