Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
STUPENDOUS TERRY, SIMPLY STUPENDOUS! I hope I one day get the chance to visit.
A Pictorial Tour of RAF Museum, Cosford.
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Vic Balshaw
Major General
Fantastic pictures Terry, that must be some place in the Cold War display, it looks so active.
A4K
Brigadier General
Great stuff Terry! Love that 'look down' into the York cockpit!
appreciate the time and effort Terry!
- Thread starter
- #105
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks chaps, good to know you're enjoying this little photo-tour.
So, on to the dramatically displayed Lightning, and some of the other exhibits in the Cold War displays.
PICS 1 to 4. Symbolising the trade-mark vertical climb of the Lightning, this is a stunning display close up.
PICS 5 to 8. The Short Belfast, rather difficult to photograph in the confines of the exhibition, as it's so bl**dy big!
Designed in 1959, and entering RAF service in 1966, only ten of these large transports were built for the RAF, and it was the world's first military transport equipped with a fully automatic landing system. The Belfast could carry a Chieftain tank, or three armoured cars, eight Land Rovers, four Whirlwind helicopters, or two Polaris missiles or three Bloodhound missiles. Alternatively, 150 fully-equipped troops could be carried. The Belfast was phased out of RAF service in 1976, with a number going to the civilian freight carrier 'TAC Heavylift', and the last has, I believe, just been scrapped.
PIC 9. Part of the Berlin Wall exhibit, a Trabant sits next to its Western counterparts, the Mini and VW 'Beetle'.
PIC 10. West German Leopard.
PICS 11 and 12. Leaving the American Zone for the 'Checkpoint Charlie' Cafe.
More tomorrow, but meanwhile, I've just learned that the fuselage of a HS Nimrod 1 has arrived at Cosford today, with the wings and other parts following, and it will be assembled and put on display later this year.
So, on to the dramatically displayed Lightning, and some of the other exhibits in the Cold War displays.
PICS 1 to 4. Symbolising the trade-mark vertical climb of the Lightning, this is a stunning display close up.
PICS 5 to 8. The Short Belfast, rather difficult to photograph in the confines of the exhibition, as it's so bl**dy big!
Designed in 1959, and entering RAF service in 1966, only ten of these large transports were built for the RAF, and it was the world's first military transport equipped with a fully automatic landing system. The Belfast could carry a Chieftain tank, or three armoured cars, eight Land Rovers, four Whirlwind helicopters, or two Polaris missiles or three Bloodhound missiles. Alternatively, 150 fully-equipped troops could be carried. The Belfast was phased out of RAF service in 1976, with a number going to the civilian freight carrier 'TAC Heavylift', and the last has, I believe, just been scrapped.
PIC 9. Part of the Berlin Wall exhibit, a Trabant sits next to its Western counterparts, the Mini and VW 'Beetle'.
PIC 10. West German Leopard.
PICS 11 and 12. Leaving the American Zone for the 'Checkpoint Charlie' Cafe.
More tomorrow, but meanwhile, I've just learned that the fuselage of a HS Nimrod 1 has arrived at Cosford today, with the wings and other parts following, and it will be assembled and put on display later this year.
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A4K
Brigadier General
great stuff Terry, cheers!
T Bolt
Colonel
Fabulous Terry! Keep them coming. 
pbfoot
1st Lieutenant
Got some pics of the Heavy lift Belfasts somewhere as they passed through Goose
Good stuff Terry! Got to love that display of the Lightning.
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Excellent shots sir and I am eagerly awaiting more. The Nimrod was not a small craft. Where are they going to put it?
The Nimrod was not a small craft. Where are they going to put it?- Thread starter
- #112
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks chaps - more later today.
Aaron, not sure yet where the Nimrod will go. It may be displayed outside (still four larger aircraft outside), or perhaps they'll juggle around in one of the hangars. There is possibly space indoors, even in the Cold War exhibition, although it would mean moving stuff around a lot. At one time, nearly all of the larger aircraft, and some medium-size airframes, were parked outside - the difference in their appearance then and now is very marked, with some beautiful restoration and paint work.
Aaron, not sure yet where the Nimrod will go. It may be displayed outside (still four larger aircraft outside), or perhaps they'll juggle around in one of the hangars. There is possibly space indoors, even in the Cold War exhibition, although it would mean moving stuff around a lot. At one time, nearly all of the larger aircraft, and some medium-size airframes, were parked outside - the difference in their appearance then and now is very marked, with some beautiful restoration and paint work.
- Thread starter
- #113
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Here'a the last few from the Cold War exhibition, before moving outside, and then in to Hangar 1.
PICS 1 to 4. The 'Twin Pin' - Scottish Aviation 'Twin Pioneer', a twin-engined STOL medium transport in the RAF, used for transport, para-drop, re-supply and Casevac in support of the Army, in many operations from the Middle East to Borneo. In service from 1958 to 1968. In the background is the Book Re-cycling stall at the Museum shop, with Karl thumbing through potential purchases.
PICS 5 to 8. MH53 'Pave Low IV', a gift from the USAF. This particular helicopter saw service in S.E.Asia between 1971 - 1972, when it performed at least two aircrew recoveries. It later went on to serve in various roles, including heavy-lift of Alconbury-based RF-4C airframes from West Freugh, Scotland, and service with 20th Special Operations Squadron, before being presented to the Museum in 2008.
Moving outside, on the way to the final hangar, and a recent addition to the Museum
PICS 9 and 10. C130K Hercules C3. One of 30 of the RAF Hercules fleet modified from C1 to C3 standard, by Marshall's of Cambridge, with the addition of two fuselage 'plugs', one forward and one aft of the wheel bays, increasing overall length by 15 feet. A flight refuelling probe was also fitted, and the aircraft can also carry an internal fuel cell. There's a very good chance I may have made at least one jump from this particular aircraft, in its original configuration, back in the 1970s. In the second pic, Mick and Karl lend scale to the bulk of 'Fat Albert'.
In the next instalment, we'll move into Hangar 1, and an interesting selection of transport and training aircraft, as well as some rare vintage types.
Thanks again for your continued interest and compliments - more tomorrow.
PICS 1 to 4. The 'Twin Pin' - Scottish Aviation 'Twin Pioneer', a twin-engined STOL medium transport in the RAF, used for transport, para-drop, re-supply and Casevac in support of the Army, in many operations from the Middle East to Borneo. In service from 1958 to 1968. In the background is the Book Re-cycling stall at the Museum shop, with Karl thumbing through potential purchases.
PICS 5 to 8. MH53 'Pave Low IV', a gift from the USAF. This particular helicopter saw service in S.E.Asia between 1971 - 1972, when it performed at least two aircrew recoveries. It later went on to serve in various roles, including heavy-lift of Alconbury-based RF-4C airframes from West Freugh, Scotland, and service with 20th Special Operations Squadron, before being presented to the Museum in 2008.
Moving outside, on the way to the final hangar, and a recent addition to the Museum
PICS 9 and 10. C130K Hercules C3. One of 30 of the RAF Hercules fleet modified from C1 to C3 standard, by Marshall's of Cambridge, with the addition of two fuselage 'plugs', one forward and one aft of the wheel bays, increasing overall length by 15 feet. A flight refuelling probe was also fitted, and the aircraft can also carry an internal fuel cell. There's a very good chance I may have made at least one jump from this particular aircraft, in its original configuration, back in the 1970s. In the second pic, Mick and Karl lend scale to the bulk of 'Fat Albert'.
In the next instalment, we'll move into Hangar 1, and an interesting selection of transport and training aircraft, as well as some rare vintage types.
Thanks again for your continued interest and compliments - more tomorrow.
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Good shots Terry!
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Very nice shots Terry, I love the MH-53. Thank you for sharing sir. And that's neat that you may have jumped from the C-130.
- Thread starter
- #116
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Hugh and Aaron - I need to check my Log Books re the C130, though it was very rare that I recorded the aircraft serial number on military jumps - no bl**dy time!
I forgot to mention that there are numerous other galleries and display rooms, both in the Cold War exhibition and the other hangars, which we didn't have time to look at, let alone photograph, and some of these can be seen in the background of some of the pics posted to date.
I forgot to mention that there are numerous other galleries and display rooms, both in the Cold War exhibition and the other hangars, which we didn't have time to look at, let alone photograph, and some of these can be seen in the background of some of the pics posted to date.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Good to see them still coming Terry.
woljags
Staff Sergeant
nice job ,Terry
- Thread starter
- #119
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Andy, still around another 60 or so to go.
Moving back inside now.
Hangar 1.
This hangar mainly houses transport and training aircraft, with a nice mix of types, including some rare civilian aircraft. Also displayed here are the collection of WW2 German missiles, some of the Museum's vehicle collection, the art gallery, and an impressive collection of aero engines, from the earliest to the latest. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, we didn't have time to look at all the non-aircraft exhibits and, to really do this Museum justice, a good one and a half to two days would be required.
PICS 1 and 2. Fairchild F-24 Argus, in RAF SEAC markings.
PICS 2 and 3. Avro Anson C19, the communications version of one of the last Marks of this venerable aircraft. The first Ansons entered RAF service in 1936, with the last version, the T21, being retired in July 1968 - not a bad service career!
PICS 5 and 6. Westland Wessex HC2 - another type I have experience of, but probably not one of Karl's favourite kites! (ask him why!!).
PICS 7 and 8. Scottish Aviation Pioneer, a five-seat, STOL, 'Casevac' and communications type, in service in the 1950s to late 1960s. Take off run was 75 yards, and landing run 66 yards.
PIC 9. DH Devon, the military version of the Dove feeder-liner.
PIC 10. Hunting Percival Pembroke, a twin-engined communications or VIP transport, with a crew of 2 and 8 passengers, and could be configured as a 'flying classroom', for air navigation or signals training. The rear-facing passenger seats were stressed to 25 'g', to cope with rapid deceleration on rough, short-field operations. A replacement for the Anson, Pembrokes were in service from 1952, the last examples being retired in 1988.
PICS 11 and 12. Hunting Percival Provost T1, a two-seat piston-engined trainer, forerunner of the Jet Provost,featured later.
Once again, the displays here are relatively uncluttered, with good lighting and fairly close access, and there is a raised gallery, providing a good overhead view across the entire hangar.
Moving back inside now.
Hangar 1.
This hangar mainly houses transport and training aircraft, with a nice mix of types, including some rare civilian aircraft. Also displayed here are the collection of WW2 German missiles, some of the Museum's vehicle collection, the art gallery, and an impressive collection of aero engines, from the earliest to the latest. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, we didn't have time to look at all the non-aircraft exhibits and, to really do this Museum justice, a good one and a half to two days would be required.
PICS 1 and 2. Fairchild F-24 Argus, in RAF SEAC markings.
PICS 2 and 3. Avro Anson C19, the communications version of one of the last Marks of this venerable aircraft. The first Ansons entered RAF service in 1936, with the last version, the T21, being retired in July 1968 - not a bad service career!
PICS 5 and 6. Westland Wessex HC2 - another type I have experience of, but probably not one of Karl's favourite kites! (ask him why!!).
PICS 7 and 8. Scottish Aviation Pioneer, a five-seat, STOL, 'Casevac' and communications type, in service in the 1950s to late 1960s. Take off run was 75 yards, and landing run 66 yards.
PIC 9. DH Devon, the military version of the Dove feeder-liner.
PIC 10. Hunting Percival Pembroke, a twin-engined communications or VIP transport, with a crew of 2 and 8 passengers, and could be configured as a 'flying classroom', for air navigation or signals training. The rear-facing passenger seats were stressed to 25 'g', to cope with rapid deceleration on rough, short-field operations. A replacement for the Anson, Pembrokes were in service from 1952, the last examples being retired in 1988.
PICS 11 and 12. Hunting Percival Provost T1, a two-seat piston-engined trainer, forerunner of the Jet Provost,featured later.
Once again, the displays here are relatively uncluttered, with good lighting and fairly close access, and there is a raised gallery, providing a good overhead view across the entire hangar.
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Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
More excellent material Terry, and the photos are excellent! I really like the Fairchild to. Don't know why but I am growing to like the small radial engined craft.
Don't know why but I am growing to like the small radial engined craft.
