Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Me too.
I've been meaning to go to East fortune for some time - must get my Rs up there !
I've been meaning to go to East fortune for some time - must get my Rs up there !
Nuuumannn's UK Tour of 2018
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Great shots Grant!
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- #143
Aaah, Edinburgh, such a pretty city, but horrendously busy at this time of year, what with the build up to the Fringe Festival, which is happening as we speak. This day was an opportunity to catch up with former work colleagues and friends, whom I hadn't seen in many a year. The view from George IV Bridge looking toward Princes Street, with Waverley Station in the foreground and the Balmoral Hotel, with its clock tower at right, and the Scott's Monument to the left, looking like a Gothic Thunderbird 3.
1907 Edinburgh i
Looking further from the last image, the Scott's Monument, with the Royal Scottish Academy at centre and Edinburgh Castle peeking out from behind the Royal Bank of Scotland to the left.
1907 Edinburgh ii
Today's aviation fix comes from the National Museums of Scotland headquarters at Chambers Street; the owner of the East Fortune based collection. This is the beautiful iron work ceiling atop the three storey Grand Hall.
1907 Edinburgh NMS ceiling
The Kay Gyroplane is significant as it was the first rotorcraft with an articulated rotor on which the pitch of the blades could be altered to enable vertical flight. George Kay was Scottish, but built his machine in Southampton. The onset of World War Two prevented a production contract and it faded into history.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Kay Gyroplane
NMS' Technology Gallery has a number of airframes, some of which used to be on display at East Fortune - some of the staff there objected to their move from the site, apparently. From the top; Pilcher Hawk, Slingsby Gull, Tiger Moth, Auster and Piper Tomahawk.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Flight gallery
Tiger Moth G-AOEL was comedian Dick Emery's personal aeroplane. He did quite a bit of flying in it.
1907 Edinburgh NMS G-AOEL
Saunders Roe Black Knight sounding rocket. The Black Knight was developed for firing warhead shapes for the Blue Streak ballistic missile into the atmosphere and studying their re-entry properties. A later Black Knight discovered the Van Allen radiation belts.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Black Knight
More NMS next...
Looking further from the last image, the Scott's Monument, with the Royal Scottish Academy at centre and Edinburgh Castle peeking out from behind the Royal Bank of Scotland to the left.
Today's aviation fix comes from the National Museums of Scotland headquarters at Chambers Street; the owner of the East Fortune based collection. This is the beautiful iron work ceiling atop the three storey Grand Hall.
The Kay Gyroplane is significant as it was the first rotorcraft with an articulated rotor on which the pitch of the blades could be altered to enable vertical flight. George Kay was Scottish, but built his machine in Southampton. The onset of World War Two prevented a production contract and it faded into history.
NMS' Technology Gallery has a number of airframes, some of which used to be on display at East Fortune - some of the staff there objected to their move from the site, apparently. From the top; Pilcher Hawk, Slingsby Gull, Tiger Moth, Auster and Piper Tomahawk.
Tiger Moth G-AOEL was comedian Dick Emery's personal aeroplane. He did quite a bit of flying in it.
Saunders Roe Black Knight sounding rocket. The Black Knight was developed for firing warhead shapes for the Blue Streak ballistic missile into the atmosphere and studying their re-entry properties. A later Black Knight discovered the Van Allen radiation belts.
More NMS next...
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- Thread starter
- #144
More at NMS. Percy Pilcher was a glider pioneer, who was influenced by Otto Lillienthal and built this Hawk glider in 1897, making it the oldest surviving heavier-than-aircraft in the UK. Sadly, Pilcher died flying it when it disintegrated in flight in bad weather in 1899. The remains ended up at the Shuttleworth Collection which reassembled it and put the wings on upside down! For years it was on display at East Fortune like that. Before it was hung in Chambers Street, it was refurbished with new fabric and the wings on the right way round.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Pilcher's Hawk
Elegant Slingsby Gull glider
1907 Edinburgh NMS Gull
At the moment, NMS has an exhibition on English astronaut Tim Peake, who is one of only seven Britons who have gone into space and one of six aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in 2015. His flight suit with name tag in English and Cyrillic.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Tim Peake
Soyuz TMA-19M's capsule that took him back from the ISS.
1907 Edinburgh NMS Soyuz
A rather ghastly face mask on display in the Museum of Scotland; it was made by a religious fanatic in olden times, who was persecuted for his views.
1907 Edinburgh NMS mask
The entirety of the next day was spent travelling from Edinburgh back to Wadhurst in East Sussex, where I was staying with a friend, but not before I spied this memorial to 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn at what used to be RAF Turnhouse.
2007 603 Sqn Monument
The plastic Spitfire represents Spitfire Mk.I L1067 'Blue Peter' of Sqn Ldr George Denholm. Of course, the plastic Spit is modelled from a IX, but whose judging...
2007 603 Sqn Spitfire
Next, the cradle of aviation in Britain and the site of the very first aeroplane production line.
Elegant Slingsby Gull glider
At the moment, NMS has an exhibition on English astronaut Tim Peake, who is one of only seven Britons who have gone into space and one of six aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in 2015. His flight suit with name tag in English and Cyrillic.
Soyuz TMA-19M's capsule that took him back from the ISS.
A rather ghastly face mask on display in the Museum of Scotland; it was made by a religious fanatic in olden times, who was persecuted for his views.
The entirety of the next day was spent travelling from Edinburgh back to Wadhurst in East Sussex, where I was staying with a friend, but not before I spied this memorial to 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn at what used to be RAF Turnhouse.
The plastic Spitfire represents Spitfire Mk.I L1067 'Blue Peter' of Sqn Ldr George Denholm. Of course, the plastic Spit is modelled from a IX, but whose judging...
Next, the cradle of aviation in Britain and the site of the very first aeroplane production line.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Great stuff Grant!
fubar57
General
More great shots Grant. I stayed in the Royal British Hotel while in Edinburgh. It's just to the right of the whitish building in the center of your first photo in Post #143
- Thread starter
- #149
The start of the last phase of my trip began with battling my way through traffic and getting lost in Maidstone (it wasn't the last time, either!) to get to the Isle of Sheppey on the Kent coast. Why? Because there, at that rather unlikely location, aviation took some tenative steps into a larger world.
Firstly, Eastchurch. In 1909, one of the first airfields built in the UK was less than a mile from the sleepy and narrow roaded village of Eastchurch. The Short Brothers built factory sheds there and constructed aeroplanes to order before the outbreak of the Great War. It was the first Royal Navy airfield, before the creation of the RNAS and an RAF station subsequently, being attacked during World War Two, with evidence surviving on remaining buildings. Today, the site is home to a prison complex, so most of the site is inaccessible, that is, unless you have the misfortune of ending up being sent there. There is a small museum in former RAF station buildings on the edge of the prison lands and the helpful staff will give a tour of what can be seen for better perspective of this historical site.
These are quite possibly the oldest surviving hangars in Britain. They were built in 1909 for the Short Brothers' aircraft factory. Sadly, they are on prison land and predictably HMPS won't spend any money on them, not really having any interest in history.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Short Brothers sheds
Surviving post Great War buildings from RAF Eastchurch; the one at far left houses the neat little museum.
2107 Isle of Sheppey RAF Eastchurch buildings
A photo taken in 1910 showing the airfield as it was after construction. The farm house at centre left was bought by Frank McLean, one of Britain's first aviators and a founding member of the Royal Aero Club. It no longer survives. The land for the airfield was owned by him, as was the airfields at Leysdown, of which later. Of these buildings, the first left on the top row next to the road starting at top left survives as a cafe and shop. The row of surviving buildings in the previous photo I took are in the empty space at top left, between McLean's farm house and the road. The Short's sheds in my first photo are out of the picture at top left.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch airfield image
Remains from the former RAF site on prison land include these defensive bunkers, one on the top of the hill at left and in the foreground, as well as miscellaneous buildings behind.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch airfield remains
Evidence of an attack by a Dornier Do 17 on Eastchurch in 1940 on what used to be a railway station, but is now offices. The brown building peeking out at left is the aforementioned cafe and shop.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Station wall
In Eastchurch village is a monument to the aviation pioneers that brought aeroplanes to the area; the Founding Fathers Memorial. In the adjacent church is a window dedicated to Charlie Rolls (as in Rolls-Royce), who was one of the pioneers who flew from the local airfields, of which, in 1909 there were three! Unfortunately the church was closed.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Founding Fathers memorial
Next, Leysdown.
Firstly, Eastchurch. In 1909, one of the first airfields built in the UK was less than a mile from the sleepy and narrow roaded village of Eastchurch. The Short Brothers built factory sheds there and constructed aeroplanes to order before the outbreak of the Great War. It was the first Royal Navy airfield, before the creation of the RNAS and an RAF station subsequently, being attacked during World War Two, with evidence surviving on remaining buildings. Today, the site is home to a prison complex, so most of the site is inaccessible, that is, unless you have the misfortune of ending up being sent there. There is a small museum in former RAF station buildings on the edge of the prison lands and the helpful staff will give a tour of what can be seen for better perspective of this historical site.
These are quite possibly the oldest surviving hangars in Britain. They were built in 1909 for the Short Brothers' aircraft factory. Sadly, they are on prison land and predictably HMPS won't spend any money on them, not really having any interest in history.
Surviving post Great War buildings from RAF Eastchurch; the one at far left houses the neat little museum.
A photo taken in 1910 showing the airfield as it was after construction. The farm house at centre left was bought by Frank McLean, one of Britain's first aviators and a founding member of the Royal Aero Club. It no longer survives. The land for the airfield was owned by him, as was the airfields at Leysdown, of which later. Of these buildings, the first left on the top row next to the road starting at top left survives as a cafe and shop. The row of surviving buildings in the previous photo I took are in the empty space at top left, between McLean's farm house and the road. The Short's sheds in my first photo are out of the picture at top left.
Remains from the former RAF site on prison land include these defensive bunkers, one on the top of the hill at left and in the foreground, as well as miscellaneous buildings behind.
Evidence of an attack by a Dornier Do 17 on Eastchurch in 1940 on what used to be a railway station, but is now offices. The brown building peeking out at left is the aforementioned cafe and shop.
In Eastchurch village is a monument to the aviation pioneers that brought aeroplanes to the area; the Founding Fathers Memorial. In the adjacent church is a window dedicated to Charlie Rolls (as in Rolls-Royce), who was one of the pioneers who flew from the local airfields, of which, in 1909 there were three! Unfortunately the church was closed.
Next, Leysdown.
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- Thread starter
- #150
Just outside of Leysdown-on-Sea on Sheppey's east coast is Muswell Manor, or Mussell Manor as it is otherwise known. Here, the Royal Aero Club was shifted in 1909 and the Short Brothers, Frank McLean and others built two airfields on the lands nearby. Muswell Manor is today a private residence, with a bar inside, for the local campsite. Visitors are welcome and memorabilia inside the bar testifies to the aviation activities that happened on the manor's doorstep - literally!
2107 Isle of Sheppey Muswell Manor
The photograph that led to my researching this unlikely corner of aviation history. It is known as 'The Founding Fathers' and was taken on 4 May 1909. From left, standing: T.D.F. Andrews, Oswald, Horace and Eustace Short, Frank McLean, Griffith Brewer, Frank Hedges Butler, Dr W.J.S. Lockyer and Warwick Wright. Seated from left: J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon, Wilbur and Orville Wright and Charlie Rolls. This copy is on display at the Eastchurch Aviation Museum. There is a large copy on display at the FAA Museum at Yeovilton in recognition of these guys' considerable contribution to aviation.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Founding Fathers
The entrance to Mussell Manor in front of which the previous photograph was taken. This leads into the bar.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Muswell Manor door
A memorial stone near the manor's entrance.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Moore-Brabazon memorial
The site of the former Leysdown airfield, which was built in 1909 and became RAF Leysdown. Nothing remains. The field at left was the flying field and there were buildings following the line of trees in the distance. This is looking away from Mussel Manor toward Leysdown-on-Sea. Because of their proximity to one another, people get Leysdown and Shellbeach airfields confused; they were two separate airfields established at around the same time.
2107 Isle of Sheppey RAF Leysdown site
This is the former site of Shellbeach airfield, where the Short Brothers built the very first production line of aeroplanes built under licence; six Wright Flyers were built here for export, three of them being bought by Moore-Brabazon, Charlie Rolls and McLean. The Founding Fathers photograph was taken on the Wright Brothers' inspection of the facilities built by the Short Brothers. The flying field was to the left of the green diagonal line stretching from left to right, with the factory sheds at middle background. There were buildings at the right next to the circular green patch. After it was discovered that the land at Leysdown was too swampy after a few aviators, including Rolls had spills in the ditches, flying activities were permanently moved to Eastchurch, a couple of miles away.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Shellbeach landing ground
The Short Brothers' statue outside Mussell Manor, with the former Shellbeach field in the background to the right. I took the previous photograph from the car park visible at the end of the line of powerlines. Direction wise, Leysdown airfield was behind where I was standing; the statue facing the campground and Mussell Manor out of shot to the right.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Short Brothers Memorial
The seaside resort of Leysdown-on-Sea is proud of its aviation heritage. The sign at the town's entrance.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Leysdown sign
Next, the historic dockyard at Chatham.
The photograph that led to my researching this unlikely corner of aviation history. It is known as 'The Founding Fathers' and was taken on 4 May 1909. From left, standing: T.D.F. Andrews, Oswald, Horace and Eustace Short, Frank McLean, Griffith Brewer, Frank Hedges Butler, Dr W.J.S. Lockyer and Warwick Wright. Seated from left: J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon, Wilbur and Orville Wright and Charlie Rolls. This copy is on display at the Eastchurch Aviation Museum. There is a large copy on display at the FAA Museum at Yeovilton in recognition of these guys' considerable contribution to aviation.
The entrance to Mussell Manor in front of which the previous photograph was taken. This leads into the bar.
A memorial stone near the manor's entrance.
The site of the former Leysdown airfield, which was built in 1909 and became RAF Leysdown. Nothing remains. The field at left was the flying field and there were buildings following the line of trees in the distance. This is looking away from Mussel Manor toward Leysdown-on-Sea. Because of their proximity to one another, people get Leysdown and Shellbeach airfields confused; they were two separate airfields established at around the same time.
This is the former site of Shellbeach airfield, where the Short Brothers built the very first production line of aeroplanes built under licence; six Wright Flyers were built here for export, three of them being bought by Moore-Brabazon, Charlie Rolls and McLean. The Founding Fathers photograph was taken on the Wright Brothers' inspection of the facilities built by the Short Brothers. The flying field was to the left of the green diagonal line stretching from left to right, with the factory sheds at middle background. There were buildings at the right next to the circular green patch. After it was discovered that the land at Leysdown was too swampy after a few aviators, including Rolls had spills in the ditches, flying activities were permanently moved to Eastchurch, a couple of miles away.
The Short Brothers' statue outside Mussell Manor, with the former Shellbeach field in the background to the right. I took the previous photograph from the car park visible at the end of the line of powerlines. Direction wise, Leysdown airfield was behind where I was standing; the statue facing the campground and Mussell Manor out of shot to the right.
The seaside resort of Leysdown-on-Sea is proud of its aviation heritage. The sign at the town's entrance.
Next, the historic dockyard at Chatham.
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Excellent !
Good stuff, really interesting
Crimea_River
Marshal
Appreciate the time you are taking describing the pictures Grant. Great thread.
Lovely shots Grant!
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- #156
Thanks Guys. A quick half hour drive into Chatham took me to the Historic Dockyard, which is a must-see if your interests include all things nautical, with ships and boats to peruse, as well as history in every nook and cranny. Look to spend a whole day here; I was there for only half the day and didn't get to see through everything. The five undercover ship building slipways can be seen here, with Slip No.3 and its stylish roof prominent. After WW2 the yard was abandoned for all but submarine construction owing to the limited size of the slipways and the increasing sizes of modern warships.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard Slips
This is XE8 Expunger, sunk as a target in 1952 and recovered in 1973. Those big slabs under its tail feathers are the hydroplanes from HMS Dreadnought; Britain's first nuclear powered submarine.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard X-Craft i
XE8's narrow profile. Under the raised floor of Slip No.3 is a host of small boats and other bits and pieces of interest in rather dusty surrounds.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard X-Craft ii
The Historic Dockyard also incorporates the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Museum, with some interesting craft on display.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard RNLI Museum i
These boats are bigger than they appear; still would have been hellish in a stormy sea. The guys that do this have balls of steel.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard RNLI Museum ii
Built in 1918, the Thornycroft Coastal Motor Boat CMB103 was a fast minelayer and could carry 7 mines or six torpedoes, seeing service in WW2. One of 12 built, it is the only surviving 72 foot Thornycroft boat.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard M103
Slip No.3's beautifully rustic arched ceiling. This were constructed to offer some shelter from the elements for the ship builders, but it was initially open topped.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard Slip 3
Slip No.3's circular facade. The geomentric detail is fascinating.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard Slip 3 front
Pleasing photographs from every angle.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard Slip 3 lights
More Chatham next.
This is XE8 Expunger, sunk as a target in 1952 and recovered in 1973. Those big slabs under its tail feathers are the hydroplanes from HMS Dreadnought; Britain's first nuclear powered submarine.
XE8's narrow profile. Under the raised floor of Slip No.3 is a host of small boats and other bits and pieces of interest in rather dusty surrounds.
The Historic Dockyard also incorporates the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Museum, with some interesting craft on display.
These boats are bigger than they appear; still would have been hellish in a stormy sea. The guys that do this have balls of steel.
Built in 1918, the Thornycroft Coastal Motor Boat CMB103 was a fast minelayer and could carry 7 mines or six torpedoes, seeing service in WW2. One of 12 built, it is the only surviving 72 foot Thornycroft boat.
Slip No.3's beautifully rustic arched ceiling. This were constructed to offer some shelter from the elements for the ship builders, but it was initially open topped.
Slip No.3's circular facade. The geomentric detail is fascinating.
Pleasing photographs from every angle.
More Chatham next.
fubar57
General
Cool shots
- Thread starter
- #158
More from Chatham. The Oberon Class diesel submarine HMS Ocelot in one of the old outdoor slips.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard HMS Ocelot slip
Perhaps the Royal Navy's most historic warship, HMS Victory was built at Chatham, as this memorial testifies.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard Old Single Dock
In the Old Single Dock now is the 'Ca' Class destroyer HMS Cavalier. Built in 1944, Cavalier saw service escorting Arctic convoys and post war action against Indonesian rebels before paying off in 1946. After re-entering service in 1957, Cavalier saw much service in the Far East and south western Pacific, being finally retired at Chatham in 1972.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard HMS Cavalier
Ocelot was the last submarine built for the RN at Chatham, but was succeeded on the slips by three units for the Royal Canadian Navy, so it being preserved here was a given.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard HMS Ocelot
HMS Gannet was a Dotterel Class screw sloop and was of mixed construction, with a wooden hull over iron framework. Built at Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in 1878, the ship served in the Pacific and in the Mediterranean, where she took part in anti slavery patrols.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard HMS Gannet
Decommissioned in 1895, Gannet became an accommodation hulk for sea cadets and is internally empty, with no engine work, equipment or fittings at all. These ships are open for free inspection by the public, but the submarine is a guided tour. A fascinating experience.
2107 Chatham Historic Dockyard HMS Gannet stern
Next, the most disappointing airshow of all.
Perhaps the Royal Navy's most historic warship, HMS Victory was built at Chatham, as this memorial testifies.
In the Old Single Dock now is the 'Ca' Class destroyer HMS Cavalier. Built in 1944, Cavalier saw service escorting Arctic convoys and post war action against Indonesian rebels before paying off in 1946. After re-entering service in 1957, Cavalier saw much service in the Far East and south western Pacific, being finally retired at Chatham in 1972.
Ocelot was the last submarine built for the RN at Chatham, but was succeeded on the slips by three units for the Royal Canadian Navy, so it being preserved here was a given.
HMS Gannet was a Dotterel Class screw sloop and was of mixed construction, with a wooden hull over iron framework. Built at Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in 1878, the ship served in the Pacific and in the Mediterranean, where she took part in anti slavery patrols.
Decommissioned in 1895, Gannet became an accommodation hulk for sea cadets and is internally empty, with no engine work, equipment or fittings at all. These ships are open for free inspection by the public, but the submarine is a guided tour. A fascinating experience.
Next, the most disappointing airshow of all.
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Benevolens Magister
Interesting stuff Grant.
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