Another Navy Wings article...

[TheGreenGoblin]

Interesting - as read, the guy never went near a ship in an aeroplane!

Having one's flying paid for must be accounted as a great privilege, even if he didn't get to slamming some poor aircraft down on a deck.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Another great shot from this week's Navy WIngs newsletter.

Three Americans made the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by hot air balloon, 17 August 1978. Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman and Max Anderson took six days to complete the flight from Maine in the US to France.

The American Double Eagle balloon is shadowed by a Royal Navy Hunter T8 over Dorset before landing in Normandy.

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Double Eagle II

Double Eagle II, piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman, became the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it landed 17 August 1978 in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours 6 minutes after leaving Presque Isle, Maine.

It can be regarded as a successful crossing at the point that the Double Eagle II crossed the Irish coast, on the evening of 16 August, an event that Shannon Airport notified the crew about when it happened. Newman originally intended to hang glide from the balloon to a landing, while Anderson and Abruzzo continued to fly, but the hang-glider had to be dropped as ballast earlier on 16 August. While flying over France, they heard by radio that authorities had closed Le Bourget Airfield, where Charles Lindbergh had landed, for them. The crew declined the offer as they were running out of ballast and it would be too risky (to themselves and anyone below) to pass over the suburbs of Paris. They landed in a field of barley, owned by Roger and Rachel Coquerel, in Miserey, 60 mi (97 km) northwest of Paris. Television images showed a highway nearby, its shoulders and outer lanes crowded with stopped cars, people sweeping across the farm field to the landing spot. The gondola was protected, but most of the logs and charts were stolen by souvenir hunters.

The flight, the fourteenth known attempt, was the culmination of more than a century of previous attempts to cross the Atlantic Ocean by balloon. Some of the people who had attempted it were never found. Larry Newman won a draw among the three to sleep in the same bed at the United States Embassy that Lindbergh slept in. British balloonists Don Cameron and Christopher Davey feted the trio at a party that included a balloon shaped like the Double Eagle II. The trio and their wives planned to return to the United States aboard the supersonic Concorde. Upon the successful crossing, the trip was accommodated by Air France at no charge to the trio and spouses.

A full chronicle of the voyage can be found in the December 1978 issue of National Geographic. Double Eagle II Airport in New Mexico is named for the balloon. The gondola is displayed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex at Washington Dulles International Airport in the Chantilly area of Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. A monument, containing a model of the balloon, was built to commemorate the Double Eagle II and its Atlantic crossing at the field from where the balloon lifted off[3] (46°37′36.54″N 68°1′16.66″W).

In January 2015, the crew of the Two Eagles Balloon completed a flight across the Pacific Ocean. Their flight duration of 160 hours and 34 minutes record was verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, officially breaking the time-aloft record of the Double Eagle II.

[Undried Plum]

The American Double Eagle balloon is shadowed by a Royal Navy Hunter T8 over Dorset before landing in Normandy.

Hadn't that been done before?

[FD2]

Not sure that’s a T8...

[FD2]

Here's a Lossie based T8, like one I had a ride in once:

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Tut tut Navy Wings!

[Pontius Navigator]

F6 perhaps?

[Boac]

Not a 6 if RN. GA11 (I think) Modified from the 4 with hook and other bits - including a Mk 6 leading edge. Now 'seeing out its days' in Glos.

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Initially for fire training but according to FRADU it was then sold in 2017 to a private owner in Glos and is 'in restoration' https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.u ... php?id=326

Indeed, FD, you would think 'Navy Wings' would................................

[FD2]

know the difference...not just different marks but one seat versus two.

The Hunter is such a great looking aircraft. Think it may take a bit of work to get this one looking smart again though...

[Pontius Navigator]

FD, as they say, if it looks right.....

To my eye the Swift didn't look that good.

[Boac]

As for the Phnatom................

[G-CPTN]

Whereas the A10 . . .

[larsssnowpharter]

A long time ago, in RAFG I had just finished the rebuild of an insurance write off K13 glider when I was offered the opportunity to buy a Mk9 which was sitting in the corner of a hangar. Airframe and engine hours were good but it hadn't flown in years. Price, well less than the value of the aluminium.

Put together a business plan involving displays during the season and figured, with the team we had put together, it was, at best, break even.

The now ex wife said words to the effect:

"You buy that, I'm divorcing you".

Biggest mistake I ever made not going ahead with the project.

[FD2]

Yes - the 'Phnatom' - what a machine - not best looker - but still served for many years. Anyone here fly it? The Lightning made no attempt to be pretty but seemed, to a chopper puke like me, to be very effective at what it was designed for. Boac?

The Swift seemed to be a bit of a bulbous thing - was that an early attempt at area rule? Not that bad looking but crap performance finished it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_rule

Phantom and Hunter mentioned here:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2013 ... ane-design

larsss - a friend finally sold his Hunter a couple of years ago after receiving the same threats from SWMBO but I suspect he realised he was getting on a bit to be zooming around in a fast jet, but just couldn't admit it.

[ian16th]

Anyone know what happened to the Beachy Head Hunters?
Are they still in Cape Town?

[FD2]

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Oozing power but not pretty, my favourite at airshows after the Vulcan. Both could make the air crackle.

[FD2]

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Another favourite for deafening the crowd.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Anyone know what happened to the Beachy Head Hunters?
Are they still in Cape Town?

All 5 Hunters were put up for sale and dispersal in 2017 after Mr Beachy Head's death and I hope they found good homes as they were being stored out in the elements at the time.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Oozing power but not pretty, my favourite at airshows after the Vulcan. Both could make the air crackle.

One of the last flights of the Frightening anywhere in the world. The location leaves a lump in my throat to be honest... Just look at what Thunder CIty had in that hangar at Cape Town International in their pomp. RIP Mr Beachy Head. RIP Dave Stock.




Low level shots over the sea to keep the navy happy.

[TheGreenGoblin]

In expiation for drifting this thread, ever so little, I pose a quiz. What is this aircraft flown by an FAA pilot, what ship is that and what happened?

[Boac]

I'll chuck in a Baffin; not sure what happened but I guess it is broken.......................

Pass on the ship but I say it is not a carrier. PS If it is a carrier then he landed a bit short........... )

Life on board in those days so relaxed that the right hand matelot had time to demo the hornpipe as he crossed the deck.