MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Hedge on March 10, 2012, 12:04:49 am
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Something very dear to my heart. :love: :notworthy:
Channel 4 will be broadcasting the long awaited dramatised documentary based on the first Black Buck bombing mission at 2000 on Sunday 18 March. The programme was made by Darlow Smithson Productions and features, among others, Martin Withers, David Thomas (as technical adviser) and XM655 at Wellesbourne (playing her rather more famous sister XM607!). The film also includes location work filmed at Wellesbourne Airfield.
Here is an excerpt from the press release:
"Falklands’ Most Daring Raid brings alive a fast-paced, funny story of true grit and classic British derring-do to create a thrilling and uncharacteristically upbeat account from the Falklands War. This gripping film tells the humorous yet heroic account of how a crumbling, Cold-War era Vulcan flew the then longest range bombing mission in history and how a WW2 vintage bomb changed the outcome of the Falklands War. Astonishingly, this story of one of the RAF’s greatest modern feats has been downplayed into near obscurity by history.
On 30th April 1982, the RAF launched a secret mission; to bomb Port Stanley’s runway, putting it out of action for invading Argentine fighter jets. The safety of the British Naval Task Force, steaming towards the islands, depended on its success. But the RAF could only get a single Vulcan bomber 8,000 miles south to the Falklands and back again and even that was going to take a 16 hour continuous flight from Ascension Island and an aerial refuelling fleet of thirteen Handley Page Victor tankers. At the heart of the RAF’s plan was the iconic but ageing Avro Vulcan bomber. But as Britain’s original Cold War nuclear deterrent, the ‘Tin Triangles’ were in the process of being scrapped.
Now, just months from being decommissioned, three of the surviving nuclear bombers - one to fly the mission and two as reserve - had to be kitted out for war and retro-fitted to carry 21 x 1,000lb WW2 iron bombs. Crucial spare parts had to be scavenged from museums around the world and whilst others were found in scrap yards – one vital piece was discovered being used as an ashtray in the Officer’s Mess. In just three weeks, the Vulcan crews had to learn air-to-air refuelling, something the Vulcan hadn’t done for 20 years – and described by one pilot as like ‘trying to stick wet spaghetti up a cat’s backside’ –and conventional bombing, which they hadn’t done for ten. The RAF scoured the country to find just enough WW2 bombs and refuelling calculations were done the night before on a £5.00 pocket calculator. With a plan stretched to the limit and the RAF’s hopes riding ultimately on just one Vulcan, the mission was flown on a knife-edge; fraught with mechanical failures, unreliable navigation, electrical storms and empty fuel tanks. Of the Vulcan’s 21 WW2 bombs, only one found the target. But that was enough to change the outcome of the war…
Based on Rowland White’s best-selling book, Vulcan 607, the documentary uses strong first-hand testimonies from the original Vulcan and Victor crews and stylised drama filmed in and around a surviving Vulcan Bomber. It is the Dambusters for the 1980s generation."
Watch and learn folks. :love: :notworthy:
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Good shout, right up my street that! :drinking:
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Something very dear to my heart. :love: :notworthy:
Watch and learn folks. :love: :notworthy:
Thanks Hedge, loaded in the planner :happy2:
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good shout :happy2:
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I read the book...Looking forward to this. :drinking:
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Oh very nice, has been noted on the planner.
Cheers :happy2:
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Really looking forward to this. My dad, and both of my uncles were pilots in RAF, but only one of them (my uncle) flew the Vulcan. Asked him about this and got a large sigh and then "not me, did 10 years on the Vulcan and left in '79". You should hear the bloody war stories at Christmas time when they all get together. :signLOL:
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Great heads-up, Ian! :drinking:
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Nice one tiger. Will be adding to the planner :happy2:
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Nice to see some like-minded individuals and fellow enthusiasts. :happy2:
If you haven't read Vulcan 607 by Rowland White I can whole-heartedly recommend it. A proper Boys Own read.
Available here. http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk/product/Vulcan_607_BK003 (http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk/product/Vulcan_607_BK003)
or here signed by Martin Withers DFC. http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk/product/Signed_Vulcan_607_Book_SGN607 (http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk/product/Signed_Vulcan_607_Book_SGN607)
but sadly out of stock for the signed copy. :ashamed:
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Sky+'ed :happy2:
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In theory, the book should have been the dull story of a logistical challenge. But it was gripping, thrilling and left me filled with admiration for all those involved.
I've set the timer, too.
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I was lucky enough last year to hear Martin Withers give his talk on the mission. Very engaging. :happy2:
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Nice to see some like-minded individuals and fellow enthusiasts. :happy2:
....I can't call myself an enthusiast and I know very little about Vulcans but they are something which I fully appreciate when opportunities present themselves. So, the Ch4 prog will interest me greatly and I know I'll enjoy it. :drinking:
How can any performance car enthusiast not appreciate the Vulcan's power, sound, and presence.... Charisma!!
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Nice to see some like-minded individuals and fellow enthusiasts. :happy2:
....I can't call myself an enthusiast and I know very little about Vulcans but they are something which I fully appreciate when opportunities present themselves. So, the Ch4 prog will interest me greatly and I know I'll enjoy it. :drinking:
How can any performance car enthusiast not appreciate the Vulcan's power, sound, and presence.... Charisma!!
That says it all for me Robin. :happy2:
Go see it fly this year Robin. I fear it's days are numbered. :sad1:
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I've seen the Vulcan many times and very very little compares to the noise it makes on a turning climb and trust me I've seen some amazing machinery in my time
Only thing that's ever come close is being a few feet away from 7 jump jets in sync performing a hovering nose tip
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Cheers Ian, ill be watching that. Love all the Military history surrounding the falklands
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Hi Hedge,
Do you go to Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Park?
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I often saw them fly when I was a boy up north in Lincolnshire(?) IIRC. That was probably in the early 1960's and there were often several at once. I remember being completely awestruck by them. The experience may even have been what started my enjoyment of any loud and powerful machine, steam railway engines included. Seeing a steam locomotive weighing over 100 tons pulling a train of carriages at approaching 100 mph is something I'll never ever forget!! I can see and hear it all now, in my memory as if it was 5 minutes ago. But I can hardly remember what day it is most days!
These 'things' like the Vulcan and Coronation class steamers are not merely machines - They are very much alive!
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Hi Hedge,
Do you go to Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Park?
I have done mate. That's when my love affair with the Vulcan started. I waited patiently in 2008 only to be told it was a no show. Never mind as I had joined the Vulcan to the Sky club and the rest is history. I was there 2010 and 2011. :ashamed:
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These 'things' like the Vulcan and Coronation class steamers are not merely machines - They are very much alive!
I agree. I saw them as a child in Lincolnshire but never thought too much about it. I guess these things come home to roost sometimes. :grin:
To me seeing the last flying Vulcan display is more than just an airshow, it is an emotional experience the likes of which cannot be expressed in words on a forum. Quite often there is some grit in the air that seems to get in quite a few eyes once she displays. :ashamed:
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Hi Hedge,
Do you go to Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Park?
I have done mate. That's when my love affair with the Vulcan started. I waited patiently in 2008 only to be told it was a no show. Never mind as I had joined the Vulcan to the Sky club and the rest is history. I was there 2010 and 2011. :ashamed:
I went last year for the first time, and the Vulcan was a no show then as well, but I really enjoyed it. I've never really been into aviation, but the power and noise when they flew overhead was awe-inspiring. My Mrs works for one of the shows' sponsors, so we are going again this year. Some cracking motors as wellof course!
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Cheers for the heads up Ian, will go and set the DVDR for that shortly. :happy2:
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I've seen the Vulcan many times and very very little compares to the noise it makes on a turning climb and trust me I've seen some amazing machinery in my time
Only thing that's ever come close is being a few feet away from 7 jump jets in sync performing a hovering nose tip
What this noise :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: 39secs :drool: :drool: :drool:
Yes I know I have posted it before :laugh: but there is no way you can get bored of that noise :smiley:
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Ah yes Ben. 1 dead sheep later. :surprised:
Yeovilton or 1st Flight are a couple of the best sounds of the Vulcan. Youtube has plenty. :wink:
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What this noise :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: 39secs :drool: :drool: :drool:
Yes I know I have posted it before :laugh: but there is no way you can get bored of that noise :smiley:
.... :pomppomp: :pomppomp: :pomppomp: :pomppomp: :pomppomp: :star: :jumpmove: :star:
And may it get posted again... Many times!
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sounds like its screaming at you! LOVE that noise :party:
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sounds like its screaming at you! LOVE that noise :party:
....She can scream as much as she likes - I love a bit of noise. :wink:
Very menacing coming in low with her foglights on - Oops! Apparently they're DRL's not foglights.
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It's affectionately known as the "Vulcan howl". As well as being the only flying Vulcan she can only do it because of he Olympus 201 engines. The later Olympus 301 engined planes didn't howl. :sad1:
Mmmm. Delta wings and Rolls-Royce Olympus engines now that does sound familiar......... :wink:
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Tuesday night 8:00pm Ch5
Revealed - The Great Falklands Gamble. Could be worth a watch. :happy2:
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Tuesday night 8:00pm Ch5
Revealed - The Great Falklands Gamble. Could be worth a watch. :happy2:
....I was literally about to post that same heads-up :happy2: - The trailer on TV showed the Vulcan and looked good. [fortunately it doesn't clash with hot American girlies in 90210 on E4]
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I expect quite a few programmes along this theme as it's 30 years since the Falklands.
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30 years!!!!? It only seems like 10. That's very scary.
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"What could possibly go wrong?"
"Monty Python couldn't have done it any better"
:signLOL: I'm looking forward to this :happy2:
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To me seeing the last flying Vulcan display is more than just an airshow, it is an emotional experience the likes of which cannot be expressed in words on a forum. Quite often there is some grit in the air that seems to get in quite a few eyes once she displays. :ashamed:
Very true mate, very true! Thanks for giving the heads up about the programme, got it set to record now! Hopefully it'll be as good as we're all expecting and will be full of all the jets involved, Vulcan, Victor, Nimrod etc.....should be brilliant!:D
Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk
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Great aircraft. Lets see what propaganda the RAF use...............
Good read below.
http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf)
The raids are still seen by many as a RAF command wish to be involved in a war when Defence Cuts were rife. (deja vu?) Sea Harrier already proved it was capable at keeping the Argentinian airforce on the ground................................
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Planner set! :drinking:
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Great aircraft. Lets see what propaganda the RAF use...............
Good read below.
http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf)
The raids are still seen by many as a RAF command wish to be involved in a war when Defence Cuts were rife. (deja vu?) Sea Harrier already proved it was capable at keeping the Argentinian airforce on the ground................................
Interesting read. :popcornsoda:
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A very interesting read - I shall enjoy reading that before the prog tonight. Cheers QD :drinking: - Things are rarely as they seem in such high level matters.
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That does make for some interesting reading :happy2:
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I wonder if this series will cover the story of the Exocet missile, thats another fascinating story
In a nut shell it was used by the argies against us to great effect against our navy due to its surface skimming abilities and built and supplied by the French, the UK government requested the French to stop supplying it to them, the French refused. So mysteriously the manufacturing plants for it were targeted by an anonymous (at the time) special force and sabotaged to prevent production and export (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fserve.mysmiley.net%2Finnocent%2Finnocent0009.gif&hash=facf4dfd3c3648e7721899436ba8068ab36599f4)
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I wonder if this series will cover the story of the Exocet missile, thats another fascinating story
In a nut shell it was used by the argies against us to great effect against our navy due to its surface skimming abilities and built and supplied by the French, the UK government requested the French to stop supplying it to them, the French refused. So mysteriously the manufacturing plants for it were targeted by an anonymous (at the time) special force and sabotaged to prevent production and export (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fserve.mysmiley.net%2Finnocent%2Finnocent0009.gif&hash=facf4dfd3c3648e7721899436ba8068ab36599f4)
Probably not
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Brilliant and madly eccentric mission as only us Brits can do. It's up there with the bouncing bomb and Balcombe Street. I didn't even consider the re-fuelling activity and the thinking behind that was spot on.
Maybe the actual effect was a bit diluted but it certainly told'em we meant business.
Did anybody else feel good about our forces like I did? Hats off to all of them I say. :congrats:
Regards,
John
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Great aircraft. Lets see what propaganda the RAF use...............
Good read below.
http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf)
The raids are still seen by many as a RAF command wish to be involved in a war when Defence Cuts were rife. (deja vu?) Sea Harrier already proved it was capable at keeping the Argentinian airforce on the ground................................
Interesting read. :popcornsoda:
That mirrors exactly what id always thought had happened tgere with the raf bombing attempts.
I think the RAF should release all fixed wing aircraft to the navy and rotary aircraft to the army air corp, then build up our carrier fleet with the millions of money that's saved.
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Excellent prog and it captured the feel of just how dangerous the mission was. Those guys willingly and knowingly risked their lives. I thought it shocking that not all the crew were awarded proper medals - Typical very mean-minded side of Britain!
When the fook is 'Great' Britain gonna really help its heroes!!
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That said, on another note countering that report on the failure of the vulcan missions, some of the naval tactics and equipment left alot to be desired and almost lost us the falklands war. (That doesn't include the fleet air arm though, they were pivotal in the success)
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Great aircraft. Lets see what propaganda the RAF use...............
Good read below.
http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/pdfs/1580.pdf)
The raids are still seen by many as a RAF command wish to be involved in a war when Defence Cuts were rife. (deja vu?) Sea Harrier already proved it was capable at keeping the Argentinian airforce on the ground................................
Interesting read. :popcornsoda:
That mirrors exactly what id always thought had happened tgere with the raf bombing attempts.
I think the RAF should release all fixed and rotary wing (non transport)aircraft to the navy and all land field equipment to Army, Virgin/BA can operate the transport fleet (on time, and better availability). Save Money and Dis-Band the RAF.
Fixed.
The RAF motto is we Check-In not Dig In.
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A good watch, our boys/men put the Great in Britain. As a child I was glued to the TV 30 years ago "looking out" for my Dad (RAF Pilot).