Pilots

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Why is that then?

[comem47]

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

That’s nothing. My Dad used to watch their JATO equipped B47 predecessors take-off at Bruntingthorpe here in the UK.

 

 

[KennyN]

A few years back I spent around 14 months commuting back and forth to Helsinki.  I'd be in the lounge enjoying a G&T, waiting for my flight to be called on a Friday afternoon when there was an Aeroflot departure heading to goodness knows where in Russia.  It left a similar trail behind it week after week, I often wondered whether I'd see it again the following week!  I dread to think what quality of fuel that thing was running on, or whether the maintenance records were anything close to what they should have been.  It took forever to get off the runway compared to the other airlines planes.

[C8RKH]

Going back to around 1996 now and a friend of mine worked for IBM and had been in Russia between 1987-1991 roughly. Some of the stories he told about the state of the planes they had to use for the internal flights was truly shocking! He actually was amazed he was still alive (and partied accordingly!)

[Sparky]

That's why I'd do anything to avoid domestics in Russia, much of Africa, South America...

I flew on a Venezuelan domestic years ago, and there was a goat in the cabin.  Better looking than the cabin crew though.

[C8RKH]

3 hours ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

That’s nothing. My Dad used to watch their JATO equipped B47 predecessors take-off at Bruntingthorpe here in the UK.

 

 

I have to admit that looks a lot like a picture @Dan E sent me of his Esprit driving off after being serviced by @Sparky!  

[Dan E]

That was after the service on the return leg. Sparkles said the smoke was a bit of moisture in the exhaust 

[ChrisJ]

@C8RKH - have a watch of my posting of Airplaneski on 26/9 on the previous page 

 

[Sparky]

Free litre of Redex with every service.

[C8RKH]

Glad to see the humour is still on here!  

[ChrisJ]

PBY stranded on Loch Ness

 

[comem47]

And then there is "Big Brother" -The Spruce Goose. I saw in in Long Beach Ca in the 80's and was amazed. Imaging standing up inside the wing to access engines in flight !!!

 

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

That story is a bit out of date. The Catalina was successfully hoisted out of the Loch by a crane a few days ago. They can effect the repairs on land.

[dave excell]

I dont know if its the same Catalina but this is shots of my son Steve Excell, and his friend (the pilot) Matt Dearden. Matt is one of the owners. I hope to have a flight some day.

 

[Bravo73]

9 minutes ago, dave excell said:

I dont know if its the same Catalina

 

There’s only one flying Catalina in the UK so if it was on the G reg, it’s the same one. 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

There’s none flying at the moment....

[Bibs]

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Lovely film. My knowledge of gliding is minimal. I thought they just buzzed around within a few miles of your local airfield, but I was sad enough to track one last summer on ADS-B Exchange all the way from Hampshire up to Grafham Water at the top end of Cambridgeshire and all the way back again. It wasn’t a direct flight either, so he was flying for several hours. Probably getting on for 400 miles in total, what with all the circling to gain height and other detours. All that with no power at all. Impressive stuff.

[Bibs]

RIP Chuck Yeager - I grew up flying his sims on the C64. Legend.

[Bibs]

[mg4lotus]

@BibsAre you allowed to fly your drone so close? haha

[ChrisJ]

 

[C8RKH]

 

[Bibs]

Great shot!