What's made you smile today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Last weekend we went down to my brother's house again, cleared out all his clothing and sorted it into heaps of stuff worth keeping and stuff to be binned. Quite an emotional day. Brought the stuff worth saving back home with us. Today it's raining cats and dogs so not sensible to be doing gardening or stuff with the cars and I don't feel like hoovering! So I bundled it all into black bags and took it down to our local cancer charity shop. Quite exciting with the roads awash with water and the gutters running like rivers. Feeling a bit down in the dumps on the way back home. With the rain absolutely bucketing down I decided to try the rear wiper while waiting at the traffic lights. This was a bit of an "adventure" as I'd only last weekend cut up the rubber from an old front blade and inserted it into the existing rear wiper blade holder. Annoyingly I haven't yet found anyone who sells the 169 blade on it's own, you've got to buy the whole arm!? So I was delighted when it cleared the water perfectly.

 

[HughJarsse]

Went out for the day with family, taking granddaughter to the Longdown Activity Farm, at Ashurst, in the New Forest.
Travelling there, through the forest, saw some ponies and deer, in the daughter said we were in the New Forest, which was where they lived and roamed.
Granddaughter, (sharp as ever) replied, but mummy, if it's called the 'New' forest, what happened to the old forest then??
Somewhat stumped the 5 adults in the car there....

PS Jock, have the same problem with rear wiper blade for the Punto, everyone only sells the whole arm, so like you, used the remains of a 24" one from the multi, and managed to get the 13" out of it, to replace the punto one. Works a treat, (as you have found out!)

 

[bugsymike]

Went out for the day with family, taking granddaughter to the Longdown Activity Farm, at Ashurst, in the New Forest.
Travelling there, through the forest, saw some ponies and deer, in the daughter said we were in the New Forest, which was where they lived and roamed.
Granddaughter, (sharp as ever) replied, but mummy, if it's called the 'New' forest, what happened to the old forest then??
Somewhat stumped the 5 adults in the car there....

PS Jock, have the same problem with rear wiper blade for the Punto, everyone only sells the whole arm, so like you, used the remains of a 24" one from the multi, and managed to get the 13" out of it, to replace the punto one. Works a treat, (as you have found out!)

I always thought the Oak trees were cut down to make the British battle ships to fight Napoleon and the French, as they built the ships at Bucklers Hard near Beaulieu. I have been to see it as near where one of my sisters lives, but also because my Dad did some experimental War work there during WW2.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I always thought the Oak trees were cut down to make the British battle ships

and build the railways, as all the sleepers were oak

 

[bugsymike]

Looked after youngest grand daughter and their two dogs, whilst the rest went to watch the Air Show, saw most of it from my attic window including a Catalina Flying Boat?, Typhoon scaring all the seagulls , some stunt planes and a few WW2 Hurricanes? and a Lancaster bomber? etc. Red Arrows was yesterday and I didn't have to stir from my house, unlike all the car drivers trying to find somewhere to park..
As usual apologies for photo quality, if I can't take a clear photo of a stationary Technical Data Manual I have no chance with anything moving.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Looked after youngest grand daughter and their two dogs, whilst the rest went to watch the Air Show, saw most of it from my attic window including a Catalina Flying Boat?, Typhoon scaring all the seagulls , some stunt planes and a few WW2 Hurricanes? and a Lancaster bomber? etc. Red Arrows was yesterday and I didn't have to stir from my house, unlike all the car drivers trying to find somewhere to park..
As usual apologies for photo quality, if I can't take a clear photo of a stationary Technical Data Manual I have no chance with anything moving.

There's quite often a DC3 (Dakota) giving joy rides during the festival up here/ I've always loved the sound of a big radial engine. However a couple of years ago my son in law took me to an airshow where there were a whole gaggle of Spitfires and a couple of Hurricanes and a Lanc all flying at the same time. The sound of so many Merlins on full song in flypast actually brought some tears to my eyes. Most noisy plane I ever heard was a B1 Lancer at another air show which did a slow approach and then turned on full afterburner and disappeared at a great rate of knots. A glorious crackly deafening noise which vibrated your body.

 

[Cheest]

I'd agree that is a PBY Catalina. It was a great plane.

I just got back from a 25 mile bicycle that was pain free. I did have a bit of a rough time keeping up with the riders on plastic bikes(Steel is real) but that's their problem. Ready for an afternoon nap.

 

[bugsymike]

There's quite often a DC3 (Dakota) giving joy rides during the festival up here/ I've always loved the sound of a big radial engine. However a couple of years ago my son in law took me to an airshow where there were a whole gaggle of Spitfires and a couple of Hurricanes and a Lanc all flying at the same time. The sound of so many Merlins on full song in flypast actually brought some tears to my eyes. Most noisy plane I ever heard was a B1 Lancer at another air show which did a slow approach and then turned on full afterburner and disappeared at a great rate of knots. A glorious crackly deafening noise which vibrated your body.

I loved the Vulcan Bombers, sadly no more flying I believe.
We saw one and some impressive flying by Chinook pilots at a Dartmouth Royal Naval College Event some years ago when my middle daughter worked for the catering company so we got admission.
My Uncle passed through there during WW2 but I was unable to find any photographic proof which would have been good.

 

[portland_bill]

The two tyres on the back of the Fabia are getting a bit low. They were previously on the front, and i swapped them to try to get them all to wear out together, ready for a change to all-seasons. Sadly, the front ones seem to be resisting wear. But the deed will have to be done soon.
Then yesterday, passing an ATS, saw a banner advertising £70 off 4 Goodyear tyres. Remembered today, so had a look, 4 all-seasons, and the price after the £70 off is cheaper than the mid-range Vredesteins I had my eye on. Offer ends tomorrow, so did the deed, fitting appointment Wednesday. 4 tyres, £308.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I loved the Vulcan Bombers, sadly no more flying I believe.
We saw one and some impressive flying by Chinook pilots at a Dartmouth Royal Naval College Event some years ago when my middle daughter worked for the catering company so we got admission.
My Uncle passed through there during WW2 but I was unable to find any photographic proof which would have been good.

I think you're right Mike, none flying at this time but I saw a clip of one taxiing (is it spelt that way?) recently - maybe they're hoping to get it airworthy? I thought the flight deck "bubble", sitting on top of the fuselage, looked slightly strange and somehow, aggressive. Personally I liked the Victor more, it just looked so sleek. My son in law, as I've mentioned before, is in the military aircraft industry and he told me there were actually 3 V bombers. Most of us, if you're interested in aircraft, know about the Vulcan and Victor but there was also their predecessor, the Valiant. Try typing - V Bomber - into wikipedia for an interesting read.

Just after leaving school and starting my first job my Dad bankrolled me to take my wee mini over on the continent for an "adventure" before starting work. I went to the Nurburgring (old circuit in those days) to see Jim Clark drive in the F1 GP - still got some of the pictures I took on my wee box camera! I've said before how the school I attended was heavily into the military and most of my friends subsequently went into the forces. I visited 3 of my friends at the bases where they lived with their parents. One was an RAF base where I got to sit in the pilots seat of an operational Canberra. At that time this was part of our nuclear deterrent and they had aircraft on standby for immediate takeoff. I found it quite a chilling thought that the aircraft just over there had a nuclear bomb in it! From time to time you'd see them "scrambling" and it was surprising how quickly they could be rolling. It was the most exciting thing I'd done in my life up to then.

 

[bugsymike]

I think you're right Mike, none flying at this time but I saw a clip of one taxiing (is it spelt that way?) recently - maybe they're hoping to get it airworthy? I thought the flight deck "bubble", sitting on top of the fuselage, looked slightly strange and somehow, aggressive. Personally I liked the Victor more, it just looked so sleek. My son in law, as I've mentioned before, is in the military aircraft industry and he told me there were actually 3 V bombers. Most of us, if you're interested in aircraft, know about the Vulcan and Victor but there was also their predecessor, the Valiant. Try typing - V Bomber - into wikipedia for an interesting read.

Just after leaving school and starting my first job my Dad bankrolled me to take my wee mini over on the continent for an "adventure" before starting work. I went to the Nurburgring (old circuit in those days) to see Jim Clark drive in the F1 GP - still got some of the pictures I took on my wee box camera! I've said before how the school I attended was heavily into the military and most of my friends subsequently went into the forces. I visited 3 of my friends at the bases where they lived with their parents. One was an RAF base where I got to sit in the pilots seat of an operational Canberra. At that time this was part of our nuclear deterrent and they had aircraft on standby for immediate takeoff. I found it quite a chilling thought that the aircraft just over there had a nuclear bomb in it! From time to time you'd see them "scrambling" and it was surprising how quickly they could be rolling. It was the most exciting thing I'd done in my life up to then.

I heard about the Valiant , I believe it had a few crashes.
I was always impressed by the Vulcans efforts during the Falklands war. I doubt many of today's politicians would defend British interests so resolutely today. If I was living in Gibraltar I would be looking over my shoulder!
I once took a cheap camera on a school trip to Plymouth Navy Days I think it was and when film was developed I couldn't work out what long grey coloured object was in the photo, it turned out to be the Harbour wall. , so photography not my strong suit.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I was always impressed by the Vulcans efforts during the Falklands war. I doubt many of today's politicians would defend British interests so resolutely today. If I was living in Gibraltar I would be looking over my shoulder!

Vulcans and the Falklands, yes a very long way for them to fly and refueled by? guess what? converted Victor tankers!

 

[bugsymike]

Vulcans and the Falklands, yes a very long way for them to fly and refueled by? guess what? converted Victor tankers!

Yes , I believe I have the book written by those involved, very much a shoe string job, but fortunately successful conclusion for the residents.
Though I hear oil and gas reserves discovered near there so could flare up again.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Looked after youngest grand daughter and their two dogs, whilst the rest went to watch the Air Show, saw most of it from my attic window including a Catalina Flying Boat?, Typhoon scaring all the seagulls , some stunt planes and a few WW2 Hurricanes? and a Lancaster bomber? etc. Red Arrows was yesterday and I didn't have to stir from my house, unlike all the car drivers trying to find somewhere to park..
As usual apologies for photo quality, if I can't take a clear photo of a stationary Technical Data Manual I have no chance with anything moving.

The yellow thing looks like it’s possibly a Lysander? Hard to tell but the high wing and fixed under carriage does fit the bill.

I agree on the Catalina, looks like the one that lives at duxford which got stuck in lochness in 2020 and then was in the hanger in 2022 around the time my son was born awaiting a new engine.

Duxford is just down the road from me and being in the east of England the countryside is littered with airfields and memorials.

I’m not sure if you know Mike but I do fly light aircraft, not flown for a while mind. I have a real thing for flying boats and float planes. I really want to get behind the controls of something that floats but there are very very few of those aircraft in the uk. In reality most of what I’ve flown was a Cessna or Reims (French made Cessna)

 

[bugsymike]

The yellow thing looks like it’s possibly a Lysander? Hard to tell but the high wing and fixed under carriage does fit the bill.

I agree on the Catalina, looks like the one that lives at duxford which got stuck in lochness in 2020 and then was in the hanger in 2022 around the time my son was born awaiting a new engine.

Duxford is just down the road from me and being in the east of England the countryside is littered with airfields and memorials.

I’m not sure if you know Mike but I do fly light aircraft, not flown for a while mind. I have a real thing for flying boats and float planes. I really want to get behind the controls of something that floats but there are very very few of those aircraft in the uk. In reality most of what I’ve flown was a Cessna or Reims (French made Cessna)

I was speaking to an 89 year old ex customer of mine and he lives in Brixham , the other side of the Bay where the Typhoon was doing it full boost vertical blast at the end of it's demo runs , he was being deafened.
Wasn't the Lysander known for very short take offs and landings in occupied France during WW2?

 

[vexorg]

The typhoon is awesome when you see it at a show.

One of the last shows I was at (a while now since it was at leuchars) had the Blades team, prop planes with ex-red arrow pilots. That was more entertaining than the red arrows.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I was speaking to an 89 year old ex customer of mine and he lives in Brixham , the other side of the Bay where the Typhoon was doing it full boost vertical blast at the end of it's demo runs , he was being deafened.
Wasn't the Lysander known for very short take offs and landings in occupied France during WW2?

Not sure about the Lysander ? I used to obsessively read ‘fly past’ magazine when I was about 10yo and as a result I will look at a plane and say “that’s a …” with no real memory of how or why I know what that plane is called.

I’m pretty sure the Lysander was a high wing with a greenhouse for a cockpit and massive cowlings around the front wheels. When I looked at your pictures it was the first thing that pinged into my head.

I have a lot of connections in the flying world l, not close enough to say they’re friends but I know someone who flew fast jets, I’m not sure if they actually moved to the typhoon as they were on the tornado until that was retired then moved to the F35 but there was a point in between where they were going to train on the typhoon.
In any case I am very jealous of anyone who gets to fly for a living, that would have been my dream job but I didn’t pay enough attention in school lol

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The typhoon is awesome when you see it at a show.

I'd love to see that as I've never seen a Typhoon flying. I always associate them with air to ground rocket attacks. They were always portrayed in that configuration in the wee comic books I bought as a lad.

When I was quite young I attended an airshow where an English Electric lightning was displaying. I will never forget it's take off where it stayed low until it was maybe half a mile or so off the end of the runway and then stood on it's tail and climbed straight up like a rocket. I was pretty young but I've never forgotten it. Other things that I get emotional about are the sounds of a jet on full afterburner and anything with a Rolls Royce Merlin - or version of - or the off beat noise of a radial engine. If we're talking car engines then a supercharged V8,, maybe in a competition altered? sitting idling with blower surge or that "stuttery" tickover the Top Fuel rails/Funny cars have. and if you want an "old school noise" how about a BDA Escort running twin webers or delortos with no air filters, just ram tubes - the intake noise as the throttle is opened and the revs pick up is pure music!

 

[vexorg]

I was disappointed. last weeked, or maybe the one before, a squadron of Typhoons stopped at prestwick to refuel. Not too far from me, would have gone to see them had I known.

Last time I saw the typhoon was over you way jock, the air museum had a show on near tranet. It's final move was quite impressive, flew horizontal low level to the crowd, the just went vertical once there, and kept going into the clouds, and never seen again.

 

[bugsymike]

I'd love to see that as I've never seen a Typhoon flying. I always associate them with air to ground rocket attacks. They were always portrayed in that configuration in the wee comic books I bought as a lad.

When I was quite young I attended an airshow where an English Electric lightning was displaying. I will never forget it's take off where it stayed low until it was maybe half a mile or so off the end of the runway and then stood on it's tail and climbed straight up like a rocket. I was pretty young but I've never forgotten it. Other things that I get emotional about are the sounds of a jet on full afterburner and anything with a Rolls Royce Merlin - or version of - or the off beat noise of a radial engine. If we're talking car engines then a supercharged V8,, maybe in a competition altered? sitting idling with blower surge or that "stuttery" tickover the Top Fuel rails/Funny cars have. and if you want an "old school noise" how about a BDA Escort running twin webers or delortos with no air filters, just ram tubes - the intake noise as the throttle is opened and the revs pick up is pure music!

I love the fact that BDA stands for Belt Driven A type although many called it Belt Driven Anglia and I seem to recall in a tuning book called Tuning Small Fords it was referred to as that, around the early 70s we had a customer who did a lot of racing , he owned a lime green Ford Anglia with a tuned Lotus 1600 Twin Cam engine in it, which sounded and went great.
In the early 70s I saw my one and only Drag Race meeting, it was a Demo at Dunkerswell Airfield near Honiton where we had our local Kart Racing Club.
To hear those engines going from what sounded like a old car with the choke out just about dying, to full throttle screaming into the distance with such immediate response was a real eye opener.
Sadly down here there are no race tracks, so I would have to travel a fair distance. Wiscombe Hill climb and in the past we had one at Oddicombe twice a year until HSE I think caused it's demise. A friend of mine used to do Pre 65 Motorcross and the advances in tuning etc. when compared with when I used to run similar British four strokes was impressive, although they way I ride at 16 it is probably a good thing I didn't have one of those tuned to that level.