View allAll Photos Tagged Operational
A Ford Focus and officers belonging to the Operational Guard Unit of the Moscow Police. The operational guard unit is responsible for protecting static posts, such as government buildings and other such sites. Seen here near a post at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre.
NOAA's' Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T) is in view inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2022, as it is being prepared for encapsulation in the United Launch Alliance Atlas V payload fairings. The fairings will secure and protect the satellite during launch. GOES-T is scheduled to launch on March 1, 2022, atop the Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. GOES-T is the third satellite in the GOES-R series that will continue to help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety. The launch is being managed by NASA's Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America's multi-user spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
British Transport Police [B838] | Operational Support Unit - Protected Carrier | Vauxhall Movano | LJ15 LJX out in London, Uk
To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, City Of London, West Midlands, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police, responding, click here.
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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!
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Warwickshire And West Mercia Police | Force Operational Tasking | Kawasaki ZG 1400 CDF | VX64 LCL at a traffic stop in Worcester, UK
Thanks to the great officers of Force Ops Tasking!
To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, City Of London, West Midlands, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police, responding, click here.
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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!
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Warwickshire And West Mercia Police | Operational Policing Unit - Armed Response Vehicle | BMW X5 | VX64 LFU out in Herefordshire, UK
To see a video of this responding, click here.
To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, West Midlands, City Of London, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police and more, responding, click here.
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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!
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Operational Contract Support Joint Exercise 2016 participants go through combat medical training lanes March 24, 2016 at Fort Bliss, Texas. This exercise provides training across the spectrum of OCS readiness from requirements and development of warfighter staff integration and synchronization through contract execution supporting the joint force commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder/Released)
A Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 prepares to lift an external cargo load during a cargo loading and transporting exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 24, 2021. The lifts were part of the ongoing operational assessment of the King Stallion Heavy Lift Helicopter as the Marine Corps modernizes and prepares for future endeavors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Colton Brownlee)
Garibaldi, Oregon
Plans for the boathouse were drawn in 1934, and construction began in 1936. The marine railway became fully operational in June 1937, allowing the two 36-foot motorized lifeboats and one 26-foot oar-powered surfboat to be rapidly launched fully manned.
The boathouse and its crew first served the Barview Life-Saving Station, then the Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi from 1943 to the early 1960s, when the Coast Guard relocated to a new facility.
Pier’s End extends 760 feet into Tillamook Bay on a series of over 100 individual pilings. With seven accessible turnouts, it’s the perfect spot for crabbing, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
At over 700 feet in length, Garibaldi’s Pier’s End pier is the longest in Oregon. It is located across U.S. Highway 101 from the historical Coast Guard Headquarters building. Near its end is a building that served as a boathouse for the Coast Guard from 1934 until the early 1960s.
The Port of Garibaldi took ownership of the pier as part of a land swap with the federal government in the late 1970s. Although the building is under private lease, the pier itself is open free to the public for a wide range of recreational fishing opportunities, including crabbing, bottom fishing for sturgeon and other species, and salmon fishing. A stairway provides public access to the clam beds below. There are several turnout locations for setting up chairs while tending your crab pots or fishing lines. The pier is open from dawn to dusk.
Reference: tillamookbayheritageroute.org/historicboathouse;visitgaribaldi.gov/piers-end
Image best viewed in large screen.
Thank-you for your visit, and any comments or faves are always very much appreciated! ~Sonja.
London Fire Brigade [OSU6] | Operational Support Unit | Mercedes-Benz Atego | AE07 HXP out in London, UK
To see a collection of videos featuring fire appliances from across the UK, such as London Fire Brigade, West Midlands Fire Service and Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service, responding, click here. __________________________________________________
Thankyou to all emergency services!!!
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© CobraEmergencyPhotos
Landrover Defender 110 Station Wagon. This unit has standard response clinical equipment and is equipped for difficult access including Inland Water Operations. On the right is a newly operational VW T5 4motion SORT Response Unit designed for rapid scene assessment, scene management and clinical support. The Special Operations Response Division is part of the National Risk and Resilience Department. The Special Operations Response Teams operate a range of specialist vehicles and equipment to enable them to access, triage and treat patients in environments where other paramedics are not able to operate.
Small selection of specialist equipment Pods, equipped and ready to be taken to the scene of any incident requiring that equipment - logistics, resupply, clinical etc. Also pictured is one of several Bateson twin axle equipment trailers. The Pod with the red AMBULANCE sign is a Welfare Pod, equipped with cooking and washroom facilities and used at protracted incidents and events. The Special Operations Response Division is part of the National Risk and Resilience Department. The Special Operations Response Teams operate a range of specialist vehicles and equipment to enable them to access, triage and treat patients in environments where other paramedics are not able to operate.
These tracks are all set to bear the burden of trains after ECR's approval. According to ECR's DRM, trains will start operating on this section from end of June. Firstly, Buxar and Jhajha bound passenger trains will be run which will ply from here. After successful run, long distance trains will be allowed to operate from here.
Location : Patliputra Jn, Patna / Danapur - Sonepur / Hajipur section, Patna, Bihar
Operational Conversion Unit, Kuwait Air Force. Royal International Air Tattoo 2022, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK.
HMS CAVALIER AT MOORED AT THE ROYAL CHATHAM DOCK YARD KENT IN A LONDON BOROUGH SUBURB HISTORICAL STREET VENUE ENGLAND HMS CAVALIER. BUILT 1944. PAID OF AT CHATHAM 1972. LAST OPERATIONAL DESTROYER WW2
.HMS CAVALIER R73 C-CLASS DESTROYER.
BUILDER SAMUEL WHITE &; CO. AT COWES I.O.W.
LAID DOWN MARCH 1943
LAUNCHED NOVEMBER 1944 DSCN0606
West Mercia And Warwickshire Police | Force Operational Tasking | Volvo V70 & BMW 330d | VU60 BSZ & BX62 FGP on standby for parade duty at Copenhagen St Worcester Fire Station's last operational day.
There was a convoy of all the fire appliances, including a spare, escorted by police on blue lights through the city from the old site to the new site, to see the video click here.
To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, West Midlands, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police, responding, click here.
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Nuestros complejos industriales cuentan con un sistema de refino eficiente e integrado, de los mejores de Europa que destaca por su excelencia operativa. Más info en
Our industrial complexes have an efficient and integrated system that have been qualified as the best in Europe for its operational excellence refining . More info at
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T), enclosed in its payload fairing, exits the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida, for its trip to the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 17, 2022. The satellite will be lifted up inside the integration facility and secured to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket. GOES-T is scheduled to launch atop the Atlas V rocket from SLC-41 on March 1, 2022, at 4:38 p.m. GOES-T is the third satellite in the GOES-R series that will continue to help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety. The launch is being managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America’s multi-user spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is the first of the Harrier Jump Jet series of aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as the first operational close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities and the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many that arose in that era. The Harrier was developed directly from the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel prototype aircraft, following the cancellation of a more advanced supersonic aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley P.1154. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) ordered the Harrier GR.1 and GR.3 variants in the late 1960s. It was exported to the United States as the AV-8A, for use by the US Marine Corps (USMC), in the 1970s.
During the Harrier's service the RAF positioned the bulk of the aircraft in West Germany to defend against a potential invasion of Western Europe by the Warsaw Pact forces; the unique abilities of the Harrier allowed the RAF to disperse their forces away from vulnerable airbases. The USMC used their Harriers primarily for close air support, operating from amphibious assault ships, and, if needed, forward operating bases. Harrier squadrons saw several deployments overseas. The Harrier's ability to operate with minimal ground facilities and very short runways allowed it to be used at locations unavailable to other fixed-wing aircraft. The Harrier received criticism for having a high accident rate and for a time-consuming maintenance process.
In the 1970s the British Aerospace Sea Harrier was developed from the Harrier for use by the Royal Navy (RN) on Invincible-class aircraft carriers. The Sea Harrier and the Harrier fought in the 1982 Falklands War, in which the aircraft proved to be crucial and versatile. The RN Sea Harriers provided fixed-wing air defence while the RAF Harriers focused on ground-attack missions in support of the advancing British land force. The Harrier was also extensively redesigned as the AV-8B Harrier II and British Aerospace Harrier II by the team of McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace. The innovative Harrier family and its Rolls-Royce Pegasus engines with thrust vectoring nozzles have generated long-term interest in V/STOL aircraft.
Warwickshire And West Mercia Police | Operational Policing Unit - Armed Response Vehicle | BMW X5 | VX64 LFU out in Herefordshire, UK
To see a video of this responding, click here.
To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, West Midlands, City Of London, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police and more, responding, click here.
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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!
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The Guard of CItyTrain X912 to Roma Street has a curious glance at the camera while the passengers de-train from ICE 158/152 at Mooloolah on the North Coast Line. This service terminated at Caboolture and formed CItyTrain X403 to Gympie North due to limited available of ICE Units.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The ASTA (Aerospace Technologies of Australia, formerly Government Aircraft Factories) Baza development was started in 1995 when the Royal Australian Air Force was searching for a two-seat training aircraft that would allow the transition from initial training on piston-engined aircraft to jets, and could also be used for weapon training and CAS/reconnaissance duties.
ASTA responded with a low-wing two-turboprop-engined all-metal monoplane with retractable landing gear, capable of operating from unprepared strips when operationally required. The aircraft, internally coded “A-31”, was of conventional, all-metal (mainly duralumin) construction. The unswept cantilever wings have 3° of dihedral and are fitted with slotted trailing-edge flaps.
The A-31 had a tandem cockpit arrangement; the crew of two was seated under the upward opening clamshell canopy on Martin-Baker Mk 6AP6A zero/zero ejection seats and were provided with dual controls.
Armor plating was fitted to protect the crew and engines from hostile ground fire. The aircraft was powered by a pair of Garrett TPE 331 engines, driving sets of three-bladed propellers which were also capable of being used as air brakes.
The A-31 was designed for operations from short, rough airstrips.[The retractable tricycle landing gear, with a single nose wheel and twin main wheels retracting into the engine nacelles, is therefore fitted with low pressure tires to suit operations on rough ground, while the undercarriage legs are tall to give good clearance for underslung weapon loads. The undercarriage, flaps and brakes are operated hydraulically, with no pneumatic systems.
Two JATO rockets can be fitted under the fuselage to allow extra-short take-off.
Fuel is fed from two fuselage tanks of combined capacity of 800 L (180 imp gal; 210 US gal) and two self-sealing tanks of 460 L (100 imp gal; 120 US gal) in the wings.
Fixed armament of the A-31 consisted of two 30mm Aden cannons mounted under the cockpits with 200 rounds each. A total of nine hardpoints were fitted for the carriage of external stores such as bombs, rockets or external fuel tanks, with one of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) capacity mounted under the fuselage and the remaining two pairs of 500 kg (1,100 lb) capacity beneath the wing roots and wings inside of the engine nacelles, and two more pairs of hardpoints outside of the engines for another 500 kg and 227 kg, respectively. Total external weapons load was limited to 6,800 lb (3,085 kg) of weapons, though.
Onboard armaments were aimed by a simple reflector sight, since no all weather/night capabilities were called for – even though provisions were made that external sensors could be carried (e. g. a TISEO or a PAVE Spike pod).
Severe competition arose through the BAe Hawk, though: the Royal Australian Air Force ordered 33 Hawk 127 Lead-in Fighters (LIFs) in June 1997, 12 of which were produced in the UK and 21 in Australia – and this procurement severely hampered the A-31’s progress. The initial plan to build 66 aircraft for domestic use, with prospects for export, e. g. to Sri Lanka, Indonesia or Turkey, was cut down to a mere 32 aircraft which were to be used in conjunction with the Australian Army in the FAC role and against mobile ground targets.
This extended role required an upgrade with additional avionics, an optional forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor and a laser ranger in an extended nose section, which lead to the Mk. II configuration - effectively, only five machines were produced as Mk.I types, and they were updated to Mk. II configuration even before delivery to the RAAF in August 1999.
Since then, the ASTA A-31 has been used in concunction with RAAF's Pilatus PC-9 and BAe Hawk Mk. 127 trainers. Beyond educational duties the type is also employed for Fleet support to Navy operations and for close air support to Army operations.
The 'Baza' (christened by a small sized bird of prey found in the forests of South Asia and Southeast Asia) has even seen serious military duty and already fired in anger: since August 2007, a detachment of No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAF has been on active service at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan, and a constant detachment of six A-31's from RAAF 76 Suqadron has been assigned to armed reconnaissance and protection of approximately 75 personnel deployed with the AN/TPS-77 radar, assigned the responsibility to co-ordinate coalition air operations.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length (incl. Pitot): 14.69 m (48 ft 1 ½ in)
Wingspan: 14.97 m (49 ft)
Height: 3, 75 m (12 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 30.30 m2 (326.1 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 6.9:1
Airfoil: NACA 642A215 at root, NACA641 at tip
Empty weight: 4,020 kg (8,863 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
Internal fuel capacity: 1,280 L (280 imp gal; 340 US gal)
Powerplant:
2 × Garrett TPE 331-11U-601G turboprop engines, 820 kW (1.100 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 515 km/h (311 mph; 270 kn) at 4.570 m (15.000 ft)
Cruising speed: 430 km/h (267 mph; 232 kn) at 2.500 m (8.200 ft)
Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph; 77 kn) (flaps and undercarriage down)
Never exceed speed: 750 km/h (466 mph; 405 kn)
Range:1.611 km (1.000 mi; 868 nmi), clean and internal fuel only
Ferry range: 3,710 km (2,305 mi; 2,003 nmi) max internal and external fuel
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,808 ft)
g limits: +6/-3 g
Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1.276 ft/min)
Armament
2× 30 mm ADEN cannons in the lower nose
Up to 6,800 lb (3,085 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints
The kit and its assembly:
Like many of my whifs, this was spawned by a project at whatifmodelers.com from fellow user silverwindblade that ran under the handle "COIN aircraft from a Hawk" - and in fact, the BAe Hawk's fuselage with its staggered cockpit and good field of view appears as a good basis for a conversion.
I liked the idea VERY much, and while silverwindblade's work would rather develop into a futuristic canard layout aircraft, I decided to keep the COIN aircraft rather conservative - the FMA 58 'Pucara' from Argentina would be a proper benchmark.
The basis here is the Italeri BAe Hawk Mk. 127 kit which comes with the longer nose and modified wings for the RAAF version, as well as with false decals.
Anyway, I'd only use the fuselage, anything else is implanted, partly from unlikely donation kits! Wings incl. engine nacelles and stablizers come from the vintage box scale (1:166?) Revell Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind flying boat(!), the fin from an Academy OV-10 Bronco.
The landing gear was puzzled together, among other from parts of a 1:200 Concorde, the propellers were scratched.
Biggest mod to the fuselage is the dissection of the air intakes (and their blending with the fuselage) as well as a new tail section where the Adour jet engine's exhaust had been.
Painting and markings:
This model was agood excuse to finally apply an SIOP color scheme, which was originally carried by USAF's strategic bombers like B-52 or FB-111. But what actually inspired me were Australian C-130s - it took some time to figure out that their scheme were the USAF's SIOP colors (FS 34201, 34159 and 34079). But that made the Baza's potential user's choice (and fictional origin) easy.
As a COIN role aircraft I settled on a wraparound scheme. I found a pattern scheme on an USN Aggerssor A-4 Skyhawk that had been painted in SIOP colors, too, and adapted it for the model. Basic colors were Humbrol 31, 84 and 116, good approximations - the result looks odd, but suits the Baza well.
Later, panels were emphasized through dry painting with lighter shades and a light black ink wash was applied.
The landing gear became classic white, the cockpit interior medium gray - nothing fancy.
The markings were improvised - the Italeri Hawk Mk. 127 features RAAF 'roos, but these are printed in black - wrong for the OOB kit, but very welcome on my aircraft. The rest was salvaged from the scrap box, the tactical code A-31-06 created with single letters from TL Modellbau.
Tynemouth is a coastal town in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the north side of the mouth of the River Tyne, hence its name. It is 8 mi (13 km) east-northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is best known[dubious – discuss] for Tynemouth Priory.
Historically part of Northumberland until 1974, the town was a county borough which included the nearby town of North Shields.
In 2001, the population of the town was recorded at 17,056. In the 2011 census, it along with North Shields had a population of 67,519. Which makes it the largest settlement in North Tyneside.
History
An aerial shot of Tynemouth Castle, taken in 1917, which was a major coastal fortress and the control centre of the Tyne defences, which stretched from Sunderland to Blyth.
The headland towering over the mouth of the River Tyne has been settled since the Iron Age.[3] The Romans may have occupied it as a signal station, though it is just north of the Hadrian's Wall frontier (the Roman fort and supply depot of Arbeia stands almost opposite it on the southern headland of the Tyne). In the 7th century a monastery was built in Tynemouth and later fortified. The headland was known as Pen Bal Crag.
The place where now stands the Monastery of Tynemouth was anciently called by the Saxons Benebalcrag
— John Leland at the time of Henry VIII
The monastery was sacked by the Danes in 800, rebuilt, and destroyed again in 875, but by 1083 it was again operational.
Three kings are reported to have been buried within the monastery: Oswin, King of Deira (651); Osred II, King of Northumbria (792); and, for a time, Malcolm III, King of Scots (1093). Three crowns still adorn the North Tyneside coat of arms. (North Tyneside Council, 1990).
The queens of Edward I and Edward II stayed in the Castle and Priory while their husbands were campaigning in Scotland. King Edward III considered it to be one of the strongest castles in the Northern Marches. After the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Edward II fled from Tynemouth by ship.
A village had long been established in the shelter of the fortified Priory, and around 1325 the prior built a port for fishing and trading. This led to a dispute between Tynemouth and the more powerful Newcastle over shipping rights on the Tyne, which continued for centuries. For more history see North Shields.
Prince Rupert of the Rhine landed at Tynemouth in August 1642 on his way to fight in the English Civil War.
Tynemouth was incorporated as a borough in 1849. The first Town Clerk was Thomas Carr Leitch.
Tynemouth was later administered as a county borough with its headquarters at Tynemouth Town Hall in North Shields until 1974.
Tynemouth was listed in the 2018 Sunday Times report on best places to live in Northern England.
Climate
Tynemouth has a very moderated oceanic climate heavily influenced by its position adjacent to the North Sea. As a result of this, summer highs are subdued and, according to the Met Office 1981–2010 data, average around 18 °C (64 °F). Due to its marine influence, winter lows especially are very mild for a Northern English location. Sunshine levels of 1515 hours per annum are in the normal range for the coastal North East, which is also true for the relatively low amount of precipitation at 597.2 millimetres (23.51 in).
Attractions and amenities
Beaches
Tynemouth Longsands
In the late 18th century, sea-bathing from Tynemouth's east-facing beaches became fashionable. King Edward's Bay and Tynemouth Longsands are very popular with locals and tourists alike.
Prior's Haven is a small beach within the mouth of the Tyne, sheltered between the Priory and the Spanish Battery, with the pier access on its north side. It was popular with Victorian bathers and is now home to Tynemouth Rowing Club and the local sailing club.
King Edward's Bay (possibly a reference to Edward II) is a small beach on the north side of the Priory, sheltered on three sides by cliffs and reached by stairways or, by the fit and adventurous who understand the weather and tides, over the rocks round the promontories on the north or south sides.
Longsands is the next beach to the north, an expanse of fine sand 1,200 yards (1,100 m) long, lying between the former Tynemouth outdoor swimming pool and Cullercoats to the north. The outdoor pool opened in 1925 and was considered a major tourist attraction in its heyday.
In 2013, Longsands was voted one of the best beaches in the country by users of the world's largest travel site TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor users voted the beach the UK's fourth favourite beach in its 2013 Travellers' Choice Beaches Awards. The beach was also voted the 12th best in Europe.
King Edward's Bay
Front Street
A statue of Queen Victoria by Alfred Turner, unveiled on 25 October 1902, is situated at the edge of the Village Green which is home to the War Memorials for the residents of Tynemouth lost during the Second Boer War of 1899–1902. Designed by A.B. Plummer, it was unveiled on 13 October 1903 by William Brodrick, 8th Viscount Midleton.
The larger central memorial is made of white granite with a cruciform column rising from between four struts in a contemporary design for its time. The front face has a relief sword and wreath carved onto it with the inscription below. The other three faces hold the honour roll for those lost during both World Wars. It was unveiled in 1923. DM O'Herlihy was named as the original designer but a press report stated that a Mr Steele designed the monument and credited O'Herlihy with preparatory works on the village green. The 82 names from World War II were added in 1999.
Tynemouth Clock Tower on Front Street was erected in 1861 by William Scott, esq., a native of the town. Designed by Oliver and Lamb with carvings by Robert Beall, the tower housed a clock by Joyce of Whitchurch. At ground level there were drinking fountains (and drinking troughs for dogs) on the north and south sides, a marine barometer (by Negretti and Zambra) to the west and an access door to the east. Made of polychrome bricks and ashlar, the tower (which has been Grade II listed since 1986) is described as being in the Venetian Gothic style.
Kings Priory School
Located on Huntingdon Place, Kings Priory School (formerly The King's School and Priory Primary School) is a co-educational academy with over 800 pupils aged between 4 and 18. Though founded in Jarrow in 1860, the school moved to its present site in Tynemouth in 1865 originally providing a private education for local boys. The school has an Anglican tradition, but admits students of all faiths. Formerly a fee-paying independent school, in 2013 the school merged with the local state Priory Primary School to become a state academy.
Former King's School was named in reference to the three ancient kings buried at Tynemouth Priory: Oswin, Osred and Malcolm III. Its most famous old boy is Stan Laurel, one half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Hollywood film director Sir Ridley Scott, and racing driver Jason Plato also attended the school.
Tynemouth Pier and lighthouse
This massive stone breakwater extends from the foot of the Priory some 900 yards (810 metres) out to sea, protecting the northern flank of the mouth of the Tyne. It has a broad walkway on top, popular with Sunday strollers. On the lee side is a lower level rail track, formerly used by trains and cranes during the construction and maintenance of the pier. At the seaward end is a lighthouse.
The pier's construction took over 40 years (1854–1895). In 1898 the original curved design proved inadequate against a great storm and the centre section was destroyed. The pier was then rebuilt in a straighter line and completed in 1909. A companion pier at South Shields protects the southern flank of the river mouth.
A lighthouse had built on the old North Pier (first lit in 1895, it displayed three lights mounted vertically: green over white over red, with a range of 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi)); however, when the pier had to be rebuilt to a new design, an entirely new lighthouse was required. The work was undertaken by Trinity House, beginning in 1903; the lighthouse was finished before the pier itself, and was first lit on 15 January 1908. The revolving optic, manufactured by Barbier, Bénard, et Turenne, displayed a flash three times every ten seconds; it remains in use today. The light source was an incandescent oil vapour lamp, which (together with the optic) produced a 70,000 candle-power light with a range of 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi). The lighthouse was also equipped with a reed fog signal, powered by compressed air, which was mounted 'on the cupola'; it sounded one long blast every ten seconds. It was manned by four keepers, with two on duty at any one time. In September 1961 a new, more powerful electric light was installed by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners (powered from the mains). Then in 1967 the lighthouse (by then staffed by six keepers on rotation) was automated; a diesel generator was installed along with an electric foghorn.
Before the pier was built, a lighthouse stood within the grounds of Tynemouth Priory and Castle. It was demolished in 1898. It stood on the site of the now-disused Coastguard Station.
On 20 October 2023, the dome of the lighthouse was "forcibly removed by the relentless combination of sea and wind" caused by Storm Babet.
The Spanish Battery
The Spanish Battery c. 1870.
The headland dominates the river mouth and is less well known as Freestone Point. Settlements dating from the Iron Age and later have been discovered here. The promontory supposedly takes its name from Spanish mercenaries who manned guns there in the 16th century to defend Henry VIII's fleet. Most of the guns had been removed by 1905. It is now a popular vantage point for watching shipping traffic on the Tyne.
Beyond the Battery, and commanding the attention of all shipping on the Tyne, is the giant memorial to Lord Collingwood, the Collingwood Monument. Collingwood was Nelson's second-in-command at the Battle of Trafalgar, who completed the victory after Nelson was killed in action. Erected in 1845, the monument was designed by John Dobson and the statue was sculpted by John Graham Lough. The figure is some 23 feet (7.0 m) tall and stands on a massive base incorporating a flight of steps flanked by four cannons from HMS Royal Sovereign – Collingwood's ship at Trafalgar.
The Black Middens
These rocks in the Tyne near the Monument are covered at high water, and the one rock that can sometimes be seen then is called Priors Stone. Over the centuries they have claimed many ships whose crew "switched off" after safely negotiating the river entrance. In 1864, the Middens claimed five ships in three days with many deaths, even though the wrecks were only a few yards from the shore. In response a meeting was held in North Shields Town Hall in December 1864 at which it was agreed that a body of men should be formed to assist the Coastguard in the event of such disasters. This led to the foundation of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade.
Tynemouth Aquarium
Blue Reef Aquarium
Undersea aquatic park, containing seahorses, sharks, giant octopus, frogs, otters and many other creatures. Its Seal Cove is a purpose-built outdoor facility providing an environment for a captive-bred colony of harbour seals. The 500,000-litre (110,000 imp gal; 130,000 US gal) pool includes rocky haul-out areas and underwater caves, specially created to ensure marine mammals are kept in near natural conditions. It was previously known as the Blue Reef Aquarium Tynemouth.
Transport
Maintaining transport links between Tynemouth and Newcastle is Tynemouth Metro station, originally opened in 1882 as a mainline station catering for the thousands of holiday-makers who flocked to the Tynemouth beaches. Its ornate Victorian ironwork canopies have earned it Grade II listed status. They were restored in 2012, and the station now provides a venue for a weekend "flea market", book fairs, craft displays, coffee shops, restaurants, exhibitions and other events.
Tynemouth is the end point for the 140-mile (230 km) long Coast to Coast Cycle Route from Whitehaven or Workington in Cumbria.
Religion
Tynemouth's Parish Church is the Church of the Holy Saviour in the Parish of Tynemouth Priory. It was built in 1841[45] as a chapel of ease to the main Anglican church in the area, Christ Church, North Shields. In Front Street there were two other churches, the Catholic Parish of Our Lady & St Oswins, opened in 1899, and also Tynemouth Congregational Church, which closed in 1973 and is now a shopping arcade.
Notable residents
Susan Mary Auld – naval architect
Thomas Bewick – engraver, spent many holidays at Bank Top and wrote most of his memoirs there in 1822
Septimus Brutton – played a single first-class cricket match for Hampshire in 1904
Toby Flood – England rugby player, was a pupil at The King's School
Ralph Pake – professional footballer
Ray Slater - (1931–2005), professional footballer
Andy Taylor – former lead guitarist for the new wave group Duran Duran was born in Tynemouth in 1961 at the Tynemouth Jubilee Infirmary.
John of Tynemouth (canon lawyer) – (died 1221), Canon lawyer, author, teacher at Oxford University later canon and judge.
John of Tynemouth (chronicler) – (fl. c. 1350), vicar of Tynemouth, author of world history and of British hagiography.
John of Tynemouth (geometer) – (fl. early 13th century), author of a book on geometry later relied on by Adelard of Bath and Roger Bacon. Possibly the same man as the canon lawyer.
Notable visitors
Charles Dickens visited Tynemouth and wrote in a letter from Newcastle, dated 4 March 1867:
'We escaped to Tynemouth for a two hours' sea walk. There was a high wind blowing, and a magnificent sea running. Large vessels were being towed in and out over the stormy bar with prodigious waves breaking on it; and, spanning the restless uproar of the waters, was a quiet rainbow of transcendent beauty. the scene was quite wonderful. We were in the full enjoyment of it when a heavy sea caught us, knocked us over, and in a moment drenched us and filled even our pockets.'
Giuseppe Garibaldi sailed into the mouth of the River Tyne in 1854 and briefly stayed in Huntingdon Place. The house is marked by a commemorative plaque.
Lewis Carroll states in the first surviving diary of his early manhood, that he met 'three nice little children' belonging to a Mrs Crawshay in Tynemouth on 21 August 1855. He remarks: 'I took a great fancy to Florence, the eldest, a child of very sweet manners'.
Algernon Charles Swinburne arrived hot foot from Wallington Hall in December 1862 and proceeded to accompany William Bell Scott and his guests, probably including Dante Gabriel Rossetti on a trip to Tynemouth. Scott writes that as they walked by the sea, Swinburne declaimed his Hymn to Proserpine and Laus Veneris in his strange intonation, while the waves 'were running the whole length of the long level sands towards Cullercoats and sounding like far-off acclamations'.
Peter the Great of Russia is reputed to have stayed briefly in Tynemouth while on an incognito visit to learn about shipbuilding on the Tyne. He was fascinated by shipbuilding and Western life. Standing 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) and with body-guards, he would not have been troubled by the locals.
Festivals
Mouth of Tyne festival
The Mouth of the Tyne Festival currently continues the local festival tradition. This annual free festival is held jointly between Tynemouth and South Shields and includes a world-class open-air concert at Tynemouth Priory.
Tynemouth pageant
Tynemouth Pageant is a community organisation in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England, devoted to staging an open-air dramatic pageant every three years in the grounds of Tynemouth Castle and Priory, by kind permission of English Heritage who run the historic monastic and defensive site at the mouth of the River Tyne.
Waterbirds frequently preen and adjust those glorious feathers. Just look at how intricately patterned this one is! When they fly they look like small planes! I believe the trumpeter swan is North America's largest waterbird.
OPERATIONAL DATA
Rated power 3,300 kW
Cut-in wind speed 3 m/s
Cut-out wind speed 25 m/s
Re cut-in wind speed 23 m/s
Wind class IEC IA/IEC S
Standard operating temperature range from -20°C* to +45°C with de-rating
above 30°C (20°C for 3.45 MW variant)
SOUND POWER
(Noise modes dependent on site and country)
ROTOR
Rotor diameter 105 m
Swept area 8,659 m2
Air brake full blade feathering with 3 pitch cylinders
ELECTRICAL
Frequency 50/60 Hz
Converter full scale
c/n CBAF.IX4646
Built 1945
Delivered from the Castle Bromwich to RAF Brize Norton on 18th July 1945, RW388 served operationally with 667 and 612 Squadrons before joining the Fighter Command Control & Reporting School. In September 1952 she was allocated the Maintenance serial 6946M and became an instruction airframe at RAF Colerne where she remained until 1962. She then went on display as a gate guard at RAF Andover, but in early 1968 she was taken to RAF StAthan and ‘restored’ to represent Spitfire VB ‘AB917’ for static use in the 1968 Royal Tournament and then the 1968 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. She was then stored at RAF Bicester until being repainted at RAF Kemble in early 1971. In February 1972, following a further year in store back at Bicester, she was presented to Stoke-on-Trent and went on permanent display in the city as a tribute to designer R.J.Mitchell, who was born in Butt Lane, a village to the North of the city.
In February 2018 she was moved to Rochester and restored to a high standard by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society before going back on display in June 2021.
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands, UK
9th June 2022
Union Pacific Tower 17, the last operational switch tower in Texas before it was retired and moved to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.
The staircase is supposed to have a 90 degree bend outward half way down, but because I used the parts I did it just goes straight. Personally I prefer it this way.
It's also supposed to have a sand green roof, but, you know, I'm not made of money. Or plastic. Or even plastic money.
Operational Climax type locomotive 1694 in the museum. Built in 1928 for the Forests Commission of Victoria, it was used on the Tyers Valley Tramway until being abandoned in the 1950's at the State Sawmill in Erica before eventually being preserved at Puffing Billy. Displayed in the original Menzies Creek Museum it was restored to service in 1988 for its first return to traffic. It ran for a number of years before being stored and then rebuilt again with its latest operational stint beginning in 2013.
Puffing Billy Railway's Menzies Creek Museum Re-Opening Monday 24-02-2020.
Large scale handmade operational model engine replica; 9 cylinder radial engine; in custom-made plexiglass case
----Image from the SDASM Curatorial Collection. This item is currently on display in the Museum Rotunda. Note: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
NS GP38-2 5642 is seen from about 40ft above the ground as NS 975 sits at Devine Jct., Columbia, SC waiting to reverse into NS Andrews Yard.
Operational tests on F35-B stealth fighter aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Picture: LA(Phot) Keith Morgan
Between 18-22 May 2015 photos were taken of the operational tests on F35-B stealth fighter aircraft ahead of the planes joining the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers in 2018-2020. The F35-B Lightning II testing programme is currently taking place at Edwards Air Force Base, California. 17(R)Test and Evaluation Squadron comprising RAF and RN personnel, make part of the Joint Strike Fighter Programme with the USA, Netherlands and Australia.
FX150155
9H-MIP HI FLY MALTA AIRBUS A380-800 msn 006 painted in "Save the Coral Reefs" special colours Jul 2018
re-configured "Cargo (Covid-19)" Jun 2020 ferried from Beja to Toulouse before repainted in white on Dec 17 2020
last operational flight for HiFly Malta
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew that served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder". The Mosquito was also known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace.
When the Mosquito began production in 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service in 1942, the Mosquito was a high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft, continuing in this role throughout the war. From mid-1942 to mid-1943 Mosquito bombers flew high-speed, medium or low-altitude missions against factories, railways and other pinpoint targets in Germany and German-occupied Europe. From late 1943, Mosquito bombers were formed into the Light Night Strike Force and used as pathfinders for RAF Bomber Command's heavy-bomber raids. They were also used as "nuisance" bombers, often dropping Blockbuster bombs - 4,000 lb (1,812 kg) "cookies" - in high-altitude, high-speed raids that German night fighters were almost powerless to intercept.
As a night fighter, from mid-1942, the Mosquito intercepted Luftwaffe raids on the United Kingdom, notably defeating Operation Steinbock in 1944. Starting in July 1942, Mosquito night-fighter units raided Luftwaffe airfields. As part of 100 Group, it was a night fighter and intruder supporting RAF Bomber Command's heavy bombers and reduced bomber losses during 1944 and 1945. As a fighter-bomber in the Second Tactical Air Force, the Mosquito took part in "special raids", such as the attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and in precision attacks against Gestapo or German intelligence and security forces. Second Tactical Air Force Mosquitos supported the British Army during the 1944 Normandy Campaign. From 1943 Mosquitos with RAF Coastal Command strike squadrons attacked Kriegsmarine U-boats (particularly in the 1943 Bay of Biscay, where significant numbers were sunk or damaged) and intercepting transport ship concentrations.
The Mosquito flew with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other air forces in the European theatre, and the Mediterranean and Italian theatres. The Mosquito was also used by the RAF in the South East Asian theatre, and by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) based in the Halmaheras and Borneo during the Pacific War.
By the early-mid-1930s, de Havilland had a reputation for innovative high-speed aircraft with the DH.88 Comet racer. The later DH.91 Albatross airliner pioneered the composite wood construction that the Mosquito used. The 22-passenger Albatross could cruise at 210 miles per hour (340 km/h) at 11,000 feet (3,400 m), better than the 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) Handley Page H.P.42 and other biplanes it was replacing. The wooden monocoque construction not only saved weight and compensated for the low power of the de Havilland Gipsy Twelve engines used by this aircraft, but simplified production and reduced construction time.
Air Ministry bomber requirements and concepts:
On 8 September 1936, the British Air Ministry issued Specification P.13/36 which called for a twin-engined medium bomber capable of carrying a bomb load of 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) for 3,000 miles (4,800 km) with a maximum speed of 275 miles per hour (443 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,600 m); a maximum bomb load of 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) which could be carried over shorter ranges was also specified. Aviation firms entered heavy designs with new high-powered engines and multiple defensive turrets, leading to the production of the Avro Manchester and Handley Page Halifax.
In May 1937, as a comparison to P.13/36, George Volkert, the chief designer of Handley Page, put forward the concept of a fast unarmed bomber. In 20 pages, Volkert planned an aerodynamically clean medium bomber to carry 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) of bombs at a cruising speed of 300 miles per hour (480 km/h). There was support in the RAF and Air Ministry; Captain R N Liptrot, Research Director Aircraft 3 (RDA3), appraised Volkert's design, calculating that its top speed would exceed the new Supermarine Spitfire. There were, however, counter-arguments that, although such a design had merit, it would not necessarily be faster than enemy fighters for long. The ministry was also considering using non-strategic materials for aircraft production, which, in 1938, had led to specification B.9/38 and the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle medium bomber, largely constructed from spruce and plywood attached to a steel-tube frame. The idea of a small, fast bomber gained support at a much earlier stage than sometimes acknowledged though it was unlikely that the Air Ministry envisaged it not using light alloy components.
Project Mosquito:
Once design of the DH.98 had started, de Havilland built mock-ups, the most detailed at Salisbury Hall, in the hangar where E0234 was being built. Initially, this was designed with the crew enclosed in the fuselage behind a transparent nose (similar to the Bristol Blenheim or Heinkel He 111H), but this was quickly altered to a more solid nose with a more conventional canopy.
The construction of the prototype began in March 1940, but work was cancelled again after the Battle of Dunkirk, when Lord Beaverbrook, as Minister of Aircraft Production, decided there was no production capacity for aircraft like the DH.98, which was not expected to be in service until early 1941. Although Lord Beaverbrook told Air Vice-Marshal Freeman that work on the project had better stop, he did not issue a specific instruction, and Freeman ignored the request. In June 1940, however, Lord Beaverbrook and the Air Staff ordered that production was to focus on five existing types, namely the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, Vickers Wellington, Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley and the Bristol Blenheim. Work on the DH.98 prototype stopped, and it seemed that the project would be shut down when the design team were denied the materials with which to build their prototype.
The Mosquito was only reinstated as a priority in July 1940, after de Havilland's General Manager L.C.L Murray, promised Lord Beaverbrook 50 Mosquitoes by December 1941, and this, only after Beaverbrook was satisfied that Mosquito production would not hinder de Havilland's primary work of producing Tiger Moth and Oxford trainers and repairing Hurricanes as well as the licence manufacture of Merlin engines. In promising Beaverbrook 50 Mosquitoes by the end of 1941, de Havilland was taking a gamble, because it was unlikely that 50 Mosquitos could be built in such a limited time; as it transpired only 20 Mosquitos were built in 1941, but the other 30 were delivered by mid-March 1942.
During the Battle of Britain, nearly a third of de Havilland's factory time was lost because the workers took cover in the factory's bomb shelters. Nevertheless, work on the prototype went quickly, such that E0234 was rolled out on 19 November 1940.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Britain, the original order was changed to 20 bomber variants and 30 fighters. It was still uncertain whether the fighter version should have dual or single controls, or should carry a turret, so three prototypes were eventually built: W4052, W4053 and W4073. The latter, both turret armed, were later disarmed, to become the prototypes for the T.III trainer. This caused some delays as half-built wing components had to be strengthened for the expected higher combat load requirements. The nose sections also had to be altered, omitting the clear perspex bomb-aimer's position, to solid noses designed to house four .303 machine guns and their ammunition.
Overview:
The Mosquito was a fast, twin-engined aircraft with shoulder-mounted wings. The most-produced variant, designated the FB Mk VI (Fighter-bomber Mark 6), was powered by two Merlin Mk 23 or Mk 25 engines driving three-bladed de Havilland hydromatic propellers. The typical fixed armament for an FB Mk VI was four Browning .303 machine guns and four 20 mm Hispano cannon while the offensive load consisted of up to 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of bombs, or eight RP-3 unguided rockets.
Construction:
The oval-section fuselage was a frameless monocoque shell built in two halves being formed to shape by band clamps over a mahogany or concrete mould, each holding one half of the fuselage, split vertically. The shell halves were made of sheets of Ecuadorean balsawood sandwiched between sheets of Canadian birch, but in areas needing extra strength— such as along cut-outs— stronger woods replaced the balsa filler; the overall thickness of the birch and balsa sandwich skin was only 7⁄16 inch (11 mm). This sandwich skin was so stiff that no internal reinforcement was necessary from the wing's rear spar to the tail bearing bulkhead. The join was along the vertical centre line. This split construction greatly aided the assembly of the internal equipment as it allowed the technicians easy access to the fuselage interior. While the glue in the plywood skin dried, carpenters cut a sawtooth joint into the edges of the fuselage shells, while other workers installed the controls and cabling on the inside wall. When the glue completely dried, the two halves were glued and screwed together. The fuselage was strengthened internally by seven bulkheads made up of two plywood skins parted by spruce blocks, which formed the basis on each half for the outer shell. Each bulkhead was a repeat of the spruce design for the fuselage halves; a balsa sheet sandwich between two plywood sheets/skins. Bulkhead number seven carried the fittings and loads for the tailplane and rudder, The type of glue originally used was Casein, which was later replaced by "Aerolite", a synthetic urea-formaldehyde, which was more durable. Many other types of screws and flanges (made of various woods) also held the structure together.
The fuselage construction joints were made from balsa wood and plywood strips with the spruce multi-ply being connected by a balsa V joint, along with the interior frame. The spruce would be reinforced by plywood strips at the point where the two halves joined to form the V-joint. Located on top of the joint the plywood formed the outer skin. During the joining of the two halves ("boxing up"), two laminated wooden clamps would be used in the after portion of the fuselage to act as support. A covering of doped Madapolam (a fine plain woven cotton) fabric was stretched tightly over the shell and a coat of silver dope was applied, after which the exterior camouflage was applied. The fuselage had a large ventral section cut-out, which was braced during construction, to allow it to be lowered onto the wing centre-section. Once the wing was secured the lower panels were replaced, and the bomb bay or armament doors fitted.
The all-wood wing was built as a one-piece structure and was not divided into separate construction sections. It was made up of two main spars, spruce and plywood compression ribs, stringers, and a plywood covering. The outer plywood skin was covered and doped like the fuselage. The wing was installed into the roots by means of four large attachment points. The engine radiators were fitted in the inner wing, just outboard of the fuselage on either side. These gave less drag. The radiators themselves were split into three sections: an oil cooler section outboard, the middle section forming the coolant radiator and the inboard section serving the cabin heater. The wing contained metal framed and skinned ailerons, but the flaps were made of wood and were hydraulically controlled. The nacelles were mostly wood, although, for strength, the engine mounts were all metal as were the undercarriage parts. Engine mounts of welded steel tube were added, along with simple landing gear oleos filled with rubber blocks. Wood was used to carry only in-plane loads, with metal fittings used for all triaxially loaded components such as landing gear, engine mounts, control surface mounting brackets, and the wing-to-fuselage junction. The outer leading wing edge had to be brought 22 inches (56 cm) further forward to accommodate this design. The main tail unit was all wood built. The control surfaces, the rudder and elevator, were aluminium framed and fabric covered. The total weight of metal castings and forgings used in the aircraft was only 280 lb (130 kg).
In November 1944, several crashes occurred in the Far East. At first, it was thought these were as a result of wing structure failures. The casein glue, it was said, cracked when exposed to extreme heat and/or monsoon conditions. This caused the upper surfaces to "lift" from the main spar. An investigating team led by Major Hereward de Havilland travelled to India and produced a report in early December 1944 stating that "the accidents were not caused by the deterioration of the glue but by shrinkage of the airframe during the wet monsoon season". However a later inquiry by Cabot & Myers definitely attributed the accidents to faulty manufacture and this was confirmed by a further investigation team by the Ministry of Aircraft Production at Defford which found faults in six different Marks of Mosquito (all built at de Havilland's Hatfield and Leavesden plants) which showed similar defects, and none of the aircraft had been exposed to monsoon conditions or termite attack; thus it was concluded that there were construction defects found at the two plants. It was found that the "Standard of glueing...left much to be desired”. Records at the time showed that accidents caused by "loss of control" were three times more frequent on Mosquitoes than on any other type of aircraft. The Air Ministry forestalled any loss of confidence in the Mosquito by holding to Major de Havilland's initial investigation in India that the accidents were caused "largely by climate" To solve the problem, a sheet of plywood was set along the span of the wing to seal the entire length of the skin joint along the main spar.
Information regarding the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito has been taken from excerpts contained on Wikipedia
Aston Martin Ulster Roadster (1936)
In 1927 Aston Martin was taken over by race driver A. C. Bertelli. He designed a 1.5-litre, SOHC engine which would eventually power the LeMans-racing Ulster. Thoughout the years the engine was devloped to include dry sump lubrication.
The Aston Martin Ulster stands as one of the most respected pre-war racecars. It was largely based on the Mark II which came before it.
The Ulster had a breif two year race program. During this time they dominated the British Tourist Trophy at Goodwood. In 1934, Ulsters took first, second and third place. The best LeMans result was achieved in 1935. Chassis LM20 raced to third overall which put it first in the 1101 to 1500cc class.
After the race efforts, Aston Martin readied a production version of the LeMans cars. Twenty-One of these cars were built of which all are accounted for today.
Aston Martin Ulster information used from:
www.supercars.net/cars/2084.html
In the 1980's a small number (7) replicas of the Aston Martin Ulster Roadster were manufactured as a kit car:
Fergus Mosquito (Aston Martin Ulster replica)
Kop Hill Climb - 25th September 2011
Fergus Mosquito - an Aston Martin Ulster replica.
Only seven were made in Kingsbridge, Devon, in the 1980s, using donor Morris Marina B-series engines and other parts.
UIJ233 is the best of the 7 replicas.
These two models, the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito aircraft and the Aston Martin Ulster Roadster of 1936 have been created in Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts' 79th Build Challenge, - 'LUGNuts goes Wingnuts" - featuring automotive vehicles named after, inspired by or related to aircraft.
Our guide called the local Yugo the worst car in the world, but being made of actual metal it's of course not half as dodgy as the classic Trabant.
RAF Horsham St. Faith was a Royal Air Force station at Norwich, Norfolk, which was operational from 1939 to 1963. It was then developed as Norwich International Airport (NWI)
The airfield was first developed in 1939 and officially opened on 1st. June 1940 as a RAF bomber station. It had been built with five C-type hangars.
The first aircraft there were Bristol Blenheims dispersed from 21 Squadron at RAF Watton, Norfolk in 1939 but the first operational aircraft there were fighters, Supermarine Spitfires of 19 and 66 squadrons from RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Boulton Paul Defiant's of A Flight, 264 Squadron began sorties on 12th. May 1940.
The first operational bomber units were 139 Squadron and 114 Squadron of No. 2 Group of RAF Bomber Command with the Blenheim IV. 114 Squadron then moved onto RAF Oulton, Norfolk which was a new satellite station for Horsham.
In August 1941, an aircraft from 18 Squadron flying from Horsham St. Faith en route to attack a power station at Gosnay, France, dropped a box by parachute over the south-west corner of St. Omer - Longeunesse airfield, containing a pair of legs for Wing Commander Douglas Bader who had been shot down over France and had lost his artificial limbs in the process.
In December 1941, 105 Squadron arrived from RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk to begin training on the new de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber and from June 1942 the squadron carried out photographic and bombing missions over Germany.
In September 1942 Horsham St. Faith was made available to the USAAF for use by the Eighth Air Force. The USAAF designated the airfield as Station 123 (HF).
The first USAAF tenants at the airfield were the 319th. BG (M), arriving from RAF Shipdham, Norfolk on 4th. October 1942. Flying the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber, the group stayed until 11th. November when the group reassigned to Twelfth Air Force as part of the North African Campaign at Saint-Leu Airfield, Algeria.
The airfield then lay unused over the winter until the arrival of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt's of the 56th. FG, transferring from RAF Kings Cliffe, Cambridgeshire on 6th. April 1943. The group, nicknamed 'Zemke's Wolkpack' after their commander, Colonel Hubert 'Hub' Zemke consisted of the following squadrons:
61st. Fighter Squadron (HV)
62nd. Fighter Squadron (LM)
63rd. Fighter Squadron (UN)
The group entered combat with a fighter sweep in the area of St. Omer on 13th. April 1943, and flew numerous missions over France, the Low Countries, and Germany to escort bombers that attacked industrial establishments, V-weapon sites, submarine pens, and other targets on the Continent.
On 8th. July, the group had to move to RAF Halesworth, Suffolk when work started on enlarging Horsham St. Faith for use as a heavy bomber station with hard surface runways and concrete hardstands and a perimeter track. The move was not particularly popular with the men of the 56th. who had to give up the comparative comfort of Horsham's barracks for the temporary huts and muddy accommodations at Halesworth.
With runway construction finished, the 458th. BG (H) arrived at Horsham St. Faith late in January 1944 from Tonopah AAF, Nevada. The group consisted of the following squadrons:
752nd. Bomb Squadron
753rd .Bomb Squadron
754th. Bomb Squadron
755th. Bomb Squadron
The group flew its first mission on 24th. February with Consolidated B-24 Liberators.
On 2nd. March, B-24-H, serial number 41-28669 and nicknamed 'Ginny' of the 752th. BS, took off on it's first operational mission, commanded by 1st. Lt. Kenneth Gorrell. Shortly after take off it stalled possibly due to icing on the wings and crashed at Hellesdon in Norwich which was under it's flightpath. Of the crew of ten, seven died in the crash, the other three, including the pilot, returned to duty.
In September 1944, like other bomber groups in the area it participated in shipping fuel to American forces in France, these were known as 'Trucking missions'
At approximately 1630, on the 20th. September, B-24-H, serial number 42-7516 and nicknamed 'Gator' of the 755th. BS took off, heading to Clastres under the command of 2nd. Lt. Herbert H. Humke. This aircraft had only flown on 27 combat missions, but those missions had taken their toll. The aircraft had been declared, "unfit for tactical use" almost one month before. The aircraft was loaded with almost 7,000 pounds (3,530 galls) of fuel and the day was hot with no wind blowing, less than ideal take-off conditions for a heavily laden aircraft. Add to this an inexperienced pilot and the danger is multiplied. While 2nd. Lt. Humke had 500 hours total flying time, he had no combat experience although he had been checked out as proficient and ready to fly combat, but this would be his first take-off in a fully loaded Liberator.
Witnesses stated that the Liberator used the entire length of the runway before becoming airborne. They also stated that the nose did not appear excessively high at any time during the take-off run but that the engines sounded normal and that the pilot seemed to be having difficulty in getting aircraft into the air when the runway ran out. The Liberator just managed to clear the airfield's perimeter and flew on for one mile before crashing at 16.31 hrs. and 30 seconds on Hastings Avenue, Hellesdon, killing Mrs Ethel Smith from number 21 and causing minor injuring to five other civilians. Twenty civilian homes were either damaged or completely destroyed by fire and impact of the aircraft. Six of the crew died including the pilot and four survived. The responsibility for the accident was listed as 'unknown' but undoubtedly the pilot’s inexperience was a contributing factor.
The group flew its last combat mission on 25th. April 1945, flying 240 missions, losing 47 aircraft in combat along with another 18 in non-combat accidents before returning to Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota in July 1945. The group claimed the destruction of 28 enemy aircraft.
The airfield was transferred back to RAF Fighter Command on 10th. July 1945. Four Gloster Meteor Squadrons one of which, 307 Squadron, was entirely composed of Polish personnel, were the first RAF aircraft to return with the jets arrived during 1946-48.
RAF Horsham St. Faith was a front-line RAF station for many years and its squadrons participated in many post-war exercises until the station was closed on 1st. August 1963.
With the end of military control the airfield was redeveloped into Norwich International Airport (NWI).
Operational details on TPA Aloha Airline Douglas DC-3s. The Douglas DC-3 was the only airplane in the Aloha fleet from their start up in 1946 until the F-27 turboprop was introduced in 1959. Aloha provided passenger service to Honolulu on Oahu; Hilo, Kona, and Upolu on the Big Island of Hawaii; Kahului on Maui; Hoolehua on Molokai; and Lihue on Kauai.
Large scale handmade operational model engine replica; 9 cylinder radial engine; in custom-made plexiglass case----Image from the SDASM Curatorial Collection. This item is currently on display in the Museum Rotunda. Note: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Operational Support Unit, BAU/CIU/LRP (breathing apparatus unit / chemical incident unit / light rescue pump) MAN and a Toyota MTFA (marauding terrorism firearms attack) Fire Support Unit.
MAN was an Eddie Stobart delivery lorry from Atlas/Oxford, the pump and van are from Tiny in Hong Kong. All 1/76