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Ferry Across Windermere

Our Lake District trip included reliving some of the things we used to do a lot when we lived up that way. After lunch at an old haunt, we headed to Hawkshead. One way to get there is to take the ferry across Lake Windermere. I have many happy memories of making this crossing in the past and was glad to do it again. The ferry is connected to a cable that spans the lake. It is a bit like the chain ferry between Cowes and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, but I don’t know whether the cable is just a guide or used to pull the ferry across. It is certainly smoother than a chain!

I had hoped to get some photos of the ferry coming in but, it was already approaching when we pulled up so a quick grab of a shot was all I could manage. Then the short crossing meant time to take some more photos of the area and the ferry before we arrived on the other shore to see the many people waiting to make the opposite journey. Fun to check off another one of those memory items.

Chinooks Use Our Area for ILS Training

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The RAF’s base at Odiham is not too far from where we live and it has been home to Chinook operations since the type was first introduced to service. I guess that there are training requirements for instrument approaches for the crews because it is not uncommon for them to show up over our house as they head to Southampton Airport. They will fly a few patterns which can include coming over the house.

Usually, they are a bit offset from us if established on the localiser and, while the Chinook is a large airframe, they are a bit distant for a good shot. However, I have managed to get a few when the light was more favourable. At some point I will get a closer encounter with them.

Cattle Waiting at the Feed Stop

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The final day of the charity bike ride had me suffering from the previous two days and with enough knee pain to make another 76 miles seem like a bad plan. Instead, I spent the day in a support vehicle moving from rest stop to rest stop helping out the riders that weren’t as feeble as me. At one of these stops, I went up the access road to await the riders. A herd of cows were lying in the field by the road, and they looked so tranquil, I couldn’t help but grab a few photos.

Solent Sky Museum

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I guess I knew that there was an aviation museum in Southampton because I had heard about it in some place or other, but I wasn’t really au fait with what was there. However, I did know that it had a Shorts Sandringham flying boat which was a conversion of the Sunderland. One wet afternoon, I decided to head down and see what it was like. This proved to be a very good choice because it was a far better museum than I had expected.

Located a short distance from the centre of the city, Solent Sky museum is actually three museums in one. Aside from the aviation collection, there is a museum of Hampshire policing and of the fire service. There is also a selection of exhibits of Southampton’s history during the Second World War. Plenty to take a look at if you are able to dedicate some time.

The Sandringham dominates the main hall, and it will get its own post in due course so, other than it appearing in a wide shot, I won’t include specific pictures of it here. It is not the only flying boat. There is also a Saunder Roe SR.A/1 which is a very unusual type to find. Things are pretty crammed in because the building isn’t massive, and the collection is extensive. Tucked under the Sandringham is a Sea Vixen – a favourite of mine). There is a single seat Gnat, a Spitfire – a plane with strong Southampton connections – and a Supermarine S6 which will also get its own post. There are some human powered aircraft and some weird and wonderful types along with some Saro Skeeters!

A unique aircraft is the Wight Quadroplane which was designed and built on the Isle of Wight, and which went through a few modifications before it ended up as a collection piece. Some other originals and replicas add to the collection along with engines. It is a great selection. I have also stuck in a couple of images of the non-aviation stuff. Outside is the fuselage of an old QinetiQ BAC1-11and I understand a TrIslander has been delivered but is not yet on display. I guess I’ll have to go back for that at some point. What a pleasant surprise on a dreary afternoon.

Chestnut Trees Ready to Harvest!

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We have been on plenty of walks recently and one of them took us through some woods that were heavily populated by sweet chestnut trees. The trees were full of them and there were plenty more on the ground. Unlike horse chestnuts, which are easy to pick up, the spines on the sweet chestnuts are few denser and sharper so picking them up without gloves is a bad plan. The density of them on the trees was quite impressive.

Retro Frecce

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For as long as I have been going to air shows, the Italian Air Force’s display team, the Frecce Tricolori, has been flying the MB339. I knew that they used to fly the Fiat G91 but that was before my time. I have seen some G91s at museums marked up as Frecce jets but, whether they were actually previously in the team or just painted up in the same way that there are a ridiculous number of Hornets in Blue Angels colours, I didn’t know.

With the team getting ready to transition to the M346 before too long, it was an interesting comparison to have RIAT include a recently restored G91 display in Frecce colours. I think the original team jets has a pointed nose rather than the camera port on the majority of production aircraft, so I doubt this is an original team aircraft, but it is still something special to see. It did fly in formation with the M346 which is a nice before and after idea although not with the current team which would have been even better. Here is a selection of images of it from across the weekend of RIAT.

Evening Arrival in Scarborough

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The second day of the charity bike ride I took part in took us from Huddersfield to Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast. The Edgcumbe family has a history in Scarborough but, while I drove past it once, I had never visited before. We arrived late in the afternoon having covered 94 miles – the longest one day ride I have ever done. That distance (and the pain one of my knees was feeling) meant I was doubly happy to reach the town and, when we turned on to the waterfront, I was in a great mood. The view along the north bay of the town was a very welcome sight. We then headed into the town centre overlooking the south bay. It was a very pretty looking spot.

WestJet Air Show Takeoff!

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The Abbotsford Air Show takes place on an airfield that is still open for business. At various times during the display, there will be a pause while a scheduled commercial flight arrives or departs. During the show a couple of years ago, WestJet had one of their 737-700s show up, drop off some passengers, pick up a new bunch and head out. I was thinking that a 700 would be off the ground pretty quickly so decided to get some shots of it.

I was mistaken. Instead of blasting up quickly and getting a nice shot with Mt Baker in the background, they appeared to use as much of the runway as they possibly could. Rotation was a long way down the field and the climb out seemed leisurely. Not so dramatic. I have been to a few shows over the years that have movements that break up the display and, while it is nice to get airliner shots from on the field, the amount of time it takes out of the display is probably not worth it.

Stratosphere Chamber

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One of the largest test facilities at the old Vickers plant at Weybridge is now part of the Brooklands Museum and that is the stratosphere chamber. This is a test facility that can simulate the altitudes and temperatures of all sorts of conditions. It was used for aviation programmes but also saw use in a range of other tests including of ships icing up.

One end of the chamber can be rolled aside to allow access to the test area so large test pieces can be added and then removed. There is a fuselage section in the test area on display. The other end also has a closure that can be rolled into place. The roller mechanisms are clearly seen on display. With both ends in place, the pressure can be reduced to simulate altitude.

Everything was controlled from a room just outside the chamber. The control panels are part of the display and have a real vintage feel about them. No computer-controlled machinery here! The access door not only shows the pressure design but also the insulation needed given the temperatures that could be created. The insulation was quite flammable so there is an extensive fire suppression system installed too.

I had heard about the chamber in the past but hadn’t really grasped what it was about. I had envisaged something more like a wind tunnel, but it is all about the conditions that items have to work in. It is on a grand scale and a most impressive piece of equipment.

Airliners Over Windsor

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Our day out in Windsor was not about photographing aircraft. However, the place is so close to the flightpath for Heathrow that I could hardly avoid the things. When in the town, we had a few pass very close by and it would have been churlish not to grab a shot or two. Later, as we walked through the Great Park, the jets on approach to Heathrow were visible above the castle as they were on final approach. Rather distant for a clear shot but still worth a pop.