What a beautiful noise...

mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

No, not a Neil Diamond thread, before y'all get excited.

I live close to RAF Halton, they're having their annual fete today, the highlight being a Battle of Britain memorial fly past.

The Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster passed extremely low over my house a couple of times, an amazing sight, but Wow.....what a beautiful noise.

After a few passes the Lancaster & Hurricane cleared off, but the Spitfire remained for about a half hour longer, making repeated passes - although none as low as the initial two by the full flight.

The Lancaster is of special significance to me as my Grandfather worked on them during the war, we still have many of his repair manuals etc.

Whilst the sound of a Merlin engine gets the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, i can only imagine the fear it must have struck into the hearts of the hun as they "received back again that measure of fire and steel which they have so often meted out to others."

https://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/rafcms/mediafiles/4B23EB98_1143_D71E_46DB47E5652B7B67.jpg

https://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/rafcms/mediafiles/4B1DA21E_1143_D71E_466101E853A817D0.jpg

https://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/rafcms/mediafiles/4AF88250_1143_D71E_46A08A954909582B.jpg

"The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. "
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silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

growler · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Karma :

I went to see "Just Jane" a couple of years ago when they were running her out to taxi

wow!!!! gave me goosebumps as we stood and they started up the engines one at a time then ran it up to quatre power and as they taxied past the wing passes over your head
she then turns to face us and run up to half power and we watch the pilot struggle to keep the tail on the ground as she looks like she just wants to be in the air
the sound is amazing

we then went on a tour round the air field in a bomb transporter with an elderly man who was a child went the field was built and told us about him and his mate watching the lancasters rolling down the runway struggling to get airborne with a full payload

it was an amazing experience
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multijoy · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Karma :

Whenever I'm feeling hubristic, I just flick through the obits in the Telegraph.

"during the war, Joe Bloggs singlehandedly destroyed 3 ports, whilst taking part in a reconnaissance mission, carrying a wounded comrade on his back. He was mentioned in dispatches 8 times and was awarded so many medals for gallantry his blazer had to be reinforced. On his demobilisation, he returned to his position as sub-postmaster and led a largely blameless life, splitting his retirement between the bowls club and his local."

It's astonishing what otherwise normal blokes ended up doing during the war, and just a little bit humbling.
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Handsome · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Karma :

WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 21 Mar 2002 Karma :

I've had this video bookmarked for a while, for the noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2nlGN6aS8g&feature=channel_video_title
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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

Nice one... I kind of miss living on RAF bases, or thereabouts for the sightings, and also miss driving around the base with Dad in his landrover, and being at work in his hanger. Smile

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mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

The BoB flight were probably on their way to/from the Trooping of the Colour in Central London.

I was stood baking in the sun in the grounds of Buckingham Palace as they thundered overhead - what a noise, made the Typhoons/Tornadoes that followed seem a bit pants!

The only thing I would rather see/hear would be Lightnings!
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mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 21 Mar 2002 Karma :

Which is about as much as you can hope for. Since the last flying lightnings killed their pilot at Thunder City a while back, I doubt we will ever see them flying again.

Another plug for the book I finished last week, if you are into the jet era.

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G3xoqaRdL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg

Wonderful test pilot stories about the hunter, lightning, vulcan et al.
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DXB · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Karma :

Such sweet memories of trying to harmonize the 4, 30mm aden cannons in the Hunter gun pack, or almost loosing fingers whilst loading the twin 30 mils on a Lightning.

Pull up a sand bag and i will tell you all about it.
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