One for the Air Buffs

[Paul-R]

Some photographs of the Airbus Beluga aeroplanes. It was quite a dreary day and the light was not good that day for photos.

The first one shows three of them on the runway at Hawarden Airport, outside the Airbus factory. It's most unusual to see three of them together. Never seen it before. Never seen it since. The plane at the front had just landed and the two in the background were just waiting. I think the plane with the smile is larger than the other two.

Second photo shows the smileyface in better closeup. A handsome beast.

A few minutes later one of the smaller planes took off.

Photos were taken in January 2023 from the Chocks Away Diner in the Aviation Park.

[Gibbo2286]

This one's a bit higher up than the 'air'
On my first visit to Australia I visited and climbed all over the Russian space shuttle on exhibition at Darling Harbour. The wiring and electrics on it were reminiscent of pre war Fords.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Radio Luxembourg got a bit of a name chechk here today...

viewtopic.php?p=816458#p816458

A small bit of an aviation link in the story, I always find the history of these things fascinating especially when smattered with a few old images.

History of Radio Luxembourg and its English service
Here is what I think is a gem of an image from that story
The ‘Luxembourg Listener’ / Radio Pictorial n°231 / June 17, 1938
"From May 1938 to September 1939 a De Havilland Dragon airplane christened ‘The Luxembourg Listener’ (Olley Air Service) makes a twice weekly return trip from Croydon to Esch-sur-Alzette carrying taped programmes, records and passengers."

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The thread will also accept...

Pictures of interesting vapour trails/skyscapes with the aircraft not necessarily in the picture


Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The thread also accepts picture of cars and aircraft

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Storytime in a Spoiler

Spoiler: show

No 1 The Air drop Box

That plane is no ordinary plane, and its registration id, is no ordinary registration ID.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_aircraft_registration
Second permanent register 1928-

At the 1927 International Radio-Telegraph Conference the United Kingdom was allocated radio callsign prefixes B, G, M, VP, VQ and VR. Within this new allocation the United Kingdom continued to use the prefix G- for all aircraft but the sequence was restarted at G-AAAA, which continued into the 21st century.[5] The first registration in the sequence, G-AAAA, was allocated to a de Havilland Gipsy Moth, registered on 30 July 1928 to Geoffrey de Havilland.

So more than likely the bloke flying that particular plane was Geoffrey de Havilland himself (edit ...Maybe not. It changed hands a few times before it ended it days in WW2 used as a decoy.

DH.60G [Gipsy I] regd G-AAAA [CofR 1709] 30.7.28 to Capt Geoffrey de Havilland, Stag Lane. CofA 1547
issued 12.9.28. Fitted with coupe top 10.28.
Regd 4.30 to Ivor H McClure, Stag Lane and operated by The Automobile Association Aviation Dept. Regd [CofR 5968]
12.6.35 to Air Hire Ltd, Heston. Regd [CofR 7801]
2.4.37 to Francis J Bush, Hatfield. Regd [CofR 8940]
9.12.38 to The Yorkshire Aeroplane Club Ltd, Yeadon.
Regn cld 6.2.40 as sold. Impressed as X5038 12.11.39. To 24 MU Ternhill. To Sound City Films Ltd 19.12.40 for use as decoy aircraft.

So the AA potentially used it from April 1930 to June 1935. The Stag Lane referred to is Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware...the main base of The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited. In 1934 the company moved to a bigger factory and airfield at Hatfield Aerodrome.

AA box Banstead Downs Jan 1928 by Automobile Association, on Flickr

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

One of Britain's Aviation Pioneers, just over 100 years ago was BC Hucks. Robert Sinclair were a Tobacco Company from Newcastle, and Hucks a famous pilot at the time, flew his Bleriot Plane to make the deliveries as a publicity event for the Company.. Hucks was the first English Aviator to complete a loop the loop manoeuvre. More about him in the spoiler.

Spoiler: show

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -245037178
Bentfield C Hucks was born in Essex, in 1884. He entered the motoring business and became a skilled driver, but after receiving a three year ban for speeding, he decided to take up aviation as a profession. In 1910 Hucks taught himself to fly and became an experienced pilot flying at Hendon (although he remained unlicensed). He was closely involved with Claude Grahame-White, working as his mechanic and also accompanying him on his famous visit to the United States.

Hucks qualified for his aviator’s certificate on 30th May 1911 (Cert. No. 91) at the Filey Sands, Yorkshire flying a Blackburn monoplane (the only pilot to obtain his Aero Club Certificate at Filey). He continued working at Filey as the chief flying instructor at the The Blackburn School of Flying until September 1911.

From this period on he made his living from exhibition flying. B. C. Hucks is recognised as one of the first British exhibition pilots and also became the first Englishman to 'loop the loop' and fly upside down, which he did in November 1913. The famous ‘Upside Down Dinner’ was held in both his and Gustav Hamel’s honour. It was organised by the Royal Aero Club and took place at the RAC club in January 1914.

At the outbreak of W.W.I. he immediately volunteered for active service, and served with the Royal Flying Corps in France until suffering from pleurisy in 1915, when he was declared unfit for the strenuous conditions of aerial combat. Once recovered he served as a test pilot, being attached by the R.F.C. to the Aircraft Manufacturing Company Ltd (AIRCO). He remained in this position for the remainder of the war, but spent some time in 1917 on secondment to Westland, testing the AIRCO DH4, DH9 & DH9A aircraft (built by Westland).

As well as flying, Hucks is also known for inventing the Huck's Starter. This was a mechanism designed to start aeroplanes and was incorporated into a modified Model T Ford motor car. Hucks died on 7th November 1918, aged 35, after suffering from pneumonia caused by influenza.

A commemorative "Poster Stamp" or Vignette	The Goods delivered
BC Hucks himself	BC Hucks at Filey Beach where he obtained his Aero Club Certificate and became Chief Flying instructor at the School of Flying

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

From Matts trip to "That London" posted on POTD

And this is what counts for a "window seat" !?!

Neil

[MattBLancs]

From Matts trip to "That London" posted on POTD

And this is what counts for a "window seat" !?!

Neil

I should have clarified Neil, on the train so I think the Air Buffs might be unimpressed with my low altitude travel!

[MattBLancs]

Have a consolation prize: vapour trail picture to make up for my train picture!

(Few months back)

[MattBLancs]

And a dog fight tool on a stick

[MattBLancs]

And a terminal building snap too

[NewcastleFalcon]

I should have clarified Neil, on the train so I think the Air Buffs might be unimpressed with my low altitude travel!

Oh dear Matt, must have had my aircraft head on with starting the thread. C'est La Vie..no point trying to clear up my misconception before anyone sees it.....

Neil

[MattBLancs]

, on the train ...

Oh dear Matt, must have had my aircraft head on with starting the thread. C'est La Vie..no point trying to clear up my misconception before anyone sees it.....

Neil

No problem, I've tried to make up for it with a selection of plane images!

[mickthemaverick]

I expect Neil was assuming you were travelling behind the Flying Scotsman Matt!!