Cold War, Rotary Launch Pad ''Whirlygig'' (Target Practise) Norfolk Coast Path, Stiffkey.
The Stiffkey "Whirlygig" - Beside the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path between Stiffkey and Warham, leading along the Warham Salt Marshes, there is an overgrown circular area which measures 300ft in diameter and is surrounded by a metalled track. At its centre there is a metal pole, known locally as "The Whirlygig". This was a Cold War Rotary Launcher installed in the early 1950's by the U.S.A.A.F and used to launch RCAT's (Radio Controlled Aircraft Targets) for the practice firing of anti-aircraft guns. Examples are known from the United States but this may well be the only one known and extant in the U.K.
The aircraft used was a Radioplane 19, a monoplane with a wing span of almost 12ft, of metal / wood construction, weighing about 320lb, and capable of flying at more than 200mph. It was fitted with a 4-cylinder 2-stroke engine of about 72hp, a radio receiver and control system and basic flying controls. It had no undercarriage or wheels and therefore had to be catapult-launched and returned to earth by parachute when the fuel was used up or it was shot down. Almost 50,000 RP19 aircraft were built in 20 years from 1945 onwards.
Information sourced from - www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/10958
Cold War, Rotary Launch Pad ''Whirlygig'' (Target Practise) Norfolk Coast Path, Stiffkey.
The Stiffkey "Whirlygig" - Beside the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path between Stiffkey and Warham, leading along the Warham Salt Marshes, there is an overgrown circular area which measures 300ft in diameter and is surrounded by a metalled track. At its centre there is a metal pole, known locally as "The Whirlygig". This was a Cold War Rotary Launcher installed in the early 1950's by the U.S.A.A.F and used to launch RCAT's (Radio Controlled Aircraft Targets) for the practice firing of anti-aircraft guns. Examples are known from the United States but this may well be the only one known and extant in the U.K.
The aircraft used was a Radioplane 19, a monoplane with a wing span of almost 12ft, of metal / wood construction, weighing about 320lb, and capable of flying at more than 200mph. It was fitted with a 4-cylinder 2-stroke engine of about 72hp, a radio receiver and control system and basic flying controls. It had no undercarriage or wheels and therefore had to be catapult-launched and returned to earth by parachute when the fuel was used up or it was shot down. Almost 50,000 RP19 aircraft were built in 20 years from 1945 onwards.
Information sourced from - www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/10958