Ops-Normal.org

FD2 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 03, 2022 7:10 pm

One who liked to explore the envelope perhaps!

The dark blue side was a good selection of backgrounds - three from Buccaneers, two from Vixens, the rest Gannets. My instructor, Flt Lt Ron Pavely was ex-Canberras, if memory serves correctly.

SEA KING ARRIVES

Last winter we looked after the Historic Helicopters' Sea King. They have asked us again this year if we can store her to free up space in their hangar so that they can carry out their winter maintenance.

We gladly accepted and she is in safe hands tucked up for winter with her new friends!

The building and flight of a replica of the UK’s first successful seaplane is receiving accolades and national awards from the world of aviation.

After 12 years of development, Waterbird’s replica took off from the lake in private trials in June 2022. Then, in September, it made several short flights in front of an enthralled crowd of hundreds of spectators on Rawlinson Nab.

The team behind the Waterbird (a Navy Wings Associate aircraft) have pledged to return to Windermere, in the Lake District, for more flights and hope to create a heritage centre to mark the key part the lake played in the history of seaplanes.

The flights were the culmination of 12-years dedication by the team, which is now being recognised with awards.

So far, the Lakes Flying Company, the charity behind the project, has won:

• The Bremont Special Recognition Award from the National Transport Trust;
• The Robert Pleming Memorial Award for Innovation from Aviation Heritage UK, which commemorates the inspirational chief executive of the Vulcan to the Sky charity, who died in January 2021; and
• The Desmond Penrose Silver Salver for vintage aeroplane of the year from the Vintage Aircraft Club, which commemorates a Royal Aircraft Establishment test pilot.

Ian Gee, Chairman of the Lakes Flying Company, said, "The awards reflect the tremendous work carried out by the Waterbird team to reach the goal of public flights at Windermere. We are already planning to return next year, this time in the northern part of the lake.”

A documentary on the Waterbird project can be found on demand on the More4 channel and accessed via the link below.

Channel 4 documentary

FD2 wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:43 am

I expect that some of the people in the Goofers Gallery will need hearing aids now! I watched a Sea Harrier display at Portsmouth Navy Days years ago and was deafened - I just had to put my fingers in my ears.

Great photo TGA.

FD2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 19, 2022 9:38 pm

I love this new photo from Navy Wings of an 819 Sea King from Prestwick rescuing someone off a shipwreck. I have no idea where or when except it looks like a Mk2, so probably about 1980s. Dramatic cliffs and open countryside behind.


819 Rescue.jpeg

FD2 wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 20, 2022 5:12 am

"Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death." Gonzalo in Othello.

I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart

FD2 wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:34 am

I can't explain why I wrote Othello rather than The Tempest. One of them has nothing to do with violent storms at sea! Just over a bout of Covid is my only excuse for strange brain fade.

The association of that quote with photos of ships in violent storms is not original - I first saw it in the RN magazine 'Flight Deck' years ago under a photo of a carrier in a violent storm - in fact it might well have been HMCS Bonaventure, caught in one in the Atlantic in on her way home to Halifax from Europe.

Thanks for an apt quote from ALT as well.

an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;