‘Scene’ at Bruntingthorpe Airfield Part 2 on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For Part one of this feature see blog dated 30 January 2016.

 

Located South of Leicester, the present Bruntingthorpe Airfield opened as RAF Bruntingthorpe in 1942 and in its service days served both the RAF and the USAF.

 

These days it serves a multitude of purposes ranging from storage facility to a flight test centre.

 

Several times a year some of the veteran aircraft that are based there are allowed to perform a fast taxi down the runway and at the point of becoming airborne, their throttles are closed and instead of taking off, they come to a gentle halt.

 

It might sound frustrating, however the attending enthusiasts (and there are many) are treated to the sight and sound of multi engined aircraft at some speed.

 

Not as good as seeing the aircraft in the air maybe but the next best thing.

 

Apart from the ‘performing’ aircraft there are also a wide range of static types a few of which are ‘scene’ here.

 

The SEPECAT Jaguar GR-3A was an Anglo French attack aircraft being a collaboration between ‘Breguet' and the ‘British Aircraft Corporation’.

 

Originally conceived as a jet trainer, it developed into a supersonic strike aircraft with a tactical nuclear capability in addition to its more conventional weaponry.

 

Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

XZ 382 SEPECAT Jaguar GR-3A.

 

It first flew and was delivered to the RAF in March 1977. 

 

It arrived at Bruntingthorpe during 1988.

 

 

Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

8-MV ‘French Air Force’ Dassault Mystere IVA.

 

Built as Constructors No. (CN) 85, the Mystere was a transonic fighter bomber.

 

Powered by a French built derivative of the Rolls Royce Tay engine and armed with 2 30mm cannon.

 

The type also served with the Indian and Israeli Air Forces seeing action with the Israeli’s against Egypt in 1956.

 

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XJ 494 ‘Royal Air Force’ De Havilland  DH110 Sea Vixen FAW 2 (Fighter All weather).

 

It first flew as a FAW 1 in March 1959 and delivered in April of the same year.

 

With 29 new build FAW 2’s and 67 FAW 1’s upgraded between1962 and 1964, it was powered by 2 Rolls Royce Avon 208 engines and armed with either Matra rocket pods or Red Top of Firestreak missiles.

 

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XX 889 ‘Royal Air Force’ Blackburn (later Hawker Siddeley) Buccaneer S2B.

 

Built in 1974 and delivered to 15 Squadron (Sqn), RAF Germany  in December 1974.

 

In 1982 it went to 208  ‘Sqn’ at Lossiemouth.

 

Between then and March 1994 when it was retired it served with  237 OCU and ’12 Sqn’ where it was painted in the pjnk colour scheme in preparation for its use during Operation Granby in Iraq.

 

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22+35 ‘German Air Force’ Lockheed F104G Starfighter.

 

At the time of writing, it was engineless but the search for a suitable one continues.

 

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ZD 610 ‘Royal Navy’ British Aerospace Sea Harrier F/A.2

 

Built in 1985 for the Fleet Air Arm as a Sea Harrier FRS.1.

 

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5X DAD ‘Olympic Airways’ Boeing 747-221B’.

 

Carrying partial ‘Olympic Airways’ (OA) livery was new as 9V-SQI to ‘Singapore Airways’ in August 1979 before moving to ‘OA’ in 1985.

 

The 5X-DAD currently carried is a Ugandan registration.

 

Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

ZA 326 ‘Royal Air Force’ Panavia Tornado GR1P.

 

Built in 1983 and used exclusively as a trials machine, the aircraft is currently being restored to fast taxi condition.

 

Painted in what is known as the ‘Raspberry Ripple’ livery which denotes an aircraft based at RAF Boscombe Down and flown by the ‘Aircraft and Armaments Experimental Establishment’ (A&AEE) that was based there.

 

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XR 713 ‘Royal Air Force’ English Electric Lightning F.3

 

Seen in the colours of No. 111 Squadron (Sq.111).

 

Delivered to  ‘Sq 111’ in January 1965 . It later served with No.s 14 and 15 Squadrons together with the Lightning Training Flght before retirement to RAF Leuchars where it was displayed for some years.

 

It then moved the RAF Wattisham Station Heritge group from whom it was acquired in 2014 by the ‘Lightning Preservation Group’ at Bruntingthorpe.

 

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XM 365 ‘Royal Air Force’ Hunting Percival Jet Provost T3.

 

It was delivered to the RAF in August 1959 and eventually served with No’s 1, 2 and 3 Flying Training Schools before being put into store in 1998. 

 

It was sold to ‘Global Aviation’ as G-BXBH in 1993. Passing through various owners, the registration was cancelled in 2002.

 

It came to Bruntingthorpe in May 2010 for restoration.

 

 

‘Scene’ at Bruntingthorpe Airfield 1

Located South of Leicester, the present Bruntingthorpe Airfield opened as RAF Bruntingthorpe in 1942 and in its service days served both the RAF and the USAF.

 

These days it serves a multitude of purposes ranging from storage facility to a flight test centre.

 

Several times a year some of the veteran aircraft that are based there are allowed to perform a fast taxi down the runway and at the point of becoming airborne, their throttles are closed and instead of taking off, they come to a gentle halt.

 

It might sound frustrating, however the attending enthusiasts (and there are many) are treated to the sight and sound of multi engined aircraft at some speed.

 

Not as good as seeing the aircraft in the air but the next best thing.

 

ZD 241

 

A Vickers Super VC-10 1151

 

Built in 1968 as G-ASGM an airliner for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) being delivered in March of that year.

 

Withdrawn and sold to the RAF in 1981, It was stored at Abingdon until 1991 when it was ferried to Filton (Bristol) for conversion to a K4 Tanker for the RAF which was completed in 1995.

 

It was finally withdrawn and flown to Bruntingthorpe in March 2013.

 

XV 226

A Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR 2. 

 

It was built in 1968 as Maritime Reconnaissance (MR)1 and was one of 35 that were re built to MR 2 standard in the late 1970’s.

 

It was retired and came to Bruntingthorpe in April 2010.

 

XM 715

 

A Handley Page Victor K2.

 

Built in 1962 as a B2 bomber. 

 

It was delivered in December of that year to 100 Squadron (Sqn). Later it went to 543 ‘Sqn’ before conversion to a K2 Tanker started in 1970 which was completed in 1975.

 

As a K2 it served with No.s 55 & 57 ‘Sqns’. until withdrawal in 1993 and preservation at Bruntingthorpe in that year.

 

XW 544

 

A Hawker Siddeley (originally Blackburn) Buccaneer S2B.

 

Built and delivered to the RAF in June 1972. It served both both 15 and 16 ‘Sqn’ at Laarbruch in RAF Germany.

 

The entire Buccaneer fleet was grounded for 6 months in 1982 following the crash of 

XV 345 whilst in the USA.

 

It continued with 15 ‘Sqn’ until 1982 when it was withdrawn and became ‘Maintenance Airframe’ 8857M.

 

Finally withdrawn in 1985 and sold into private ownership.

 

It came to Bruntingthorpe in 2004.

 

 

XR 728

 

An English Electric Lightning F6.

 

First flew in March 1965 and was delivered to the RAF’s  23 ‘Sqn’ at Leuchars in November 1967. 

 

A major overhaul followed in 1971 before joining 56 ‘Sqn’ at Wattisham in 1975 then on to 5 ‘Sqn’ at Binbrook in 1978.

 

Finally moving to XI ‘Sqn’ before withdrawal and coming to Bruntingthorpe in June 1988.

 

66654

An Aero L-29 Delfin

 

A 2 seat jet trainer built in Czechoslovakia.

 

Seen in Romanian Air Force colours.

 

WT 333

 

An English Electric Canberra bomber.

 

Built as a B(I)8 model in 1956 and delivered to the Armament Department of the ‘Royal Aeronautical Establishment ‘ (RAE) as a trials machine.

 

It spent its working life with various Experimental and Research units including the ‘Weapons Research Establishment’ and the ‘Radar Research Establishment’ before being sold as G-BVXC to ‘Classic Aviation Projects’ in 1995.

 

Its final flight (to Bruntingthorpe) was on 9th. January 1995 where after being sold again it is still maintained in taxi-able condition.

 

XL 565

A Hawker Hunter T.7.

 

Built at Hawker’s Kingston on Thames factory in 1958 being the third T.7 to be built.

 

After being used by ‘Rolls Royce’ on engine development work it was used initially by the RAF with various Squadrons in Aden.

 

Repatriated to the UK in 1965, after overhaul it served at RAF Valley as an advanced trainer and with 237 Operational Conversion Unit for training Buccaneer pilots.

 

Between 1981 and 1984 it was in use by the Royal Navy’s ‘Fleet Requirement Unit’ at RNAS Yeovilton.

 

It then went to the ‘Institute of Aviation Medicine’ unit at Farnborough before being retired from service at RAF Lossiemouth in 1993.

 

After a number of civilian owners, the aircraft came to Bruntingthorpe in 2002 where it was restored to taxi-able condition in the livery it had worn in Aden. 

 

Quite a career !.

 

XP 672

A Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.4

 

Built for the RAF in 1962.

 

Serving with a variety of training units including No. 2 ‘Flying Training School’ at Syerston, ‘The College of Air Warfare’ at Manby and the ‘School of Refresher Flying’ at Leeming it became ground instructional airframe 8458/C at Halton in 1989.

 

Sold as G-RAFI, after various owners it came to Bruntingthorpe in 2011.

 

F-BTVG

Developed from the Boeing C-97  which in itself was derived from the Boeing Stratocruiser. This In turn was a new fuselage wedded to the tail, wings and engines of the Boeing B50 which was a derivative of the B-29. The 'Atom Bomber'.

 

Further developed with turboprop engines, a new tail and an enormous fuselage extension to become the ‘Super Guppy’

 

Used by ‘Aero Spacelines’ to deliver outsize loads.

 

G-CPDA

 

A De Havilland DH-106 Comet 4C.

 

It first flew in September 1963 as XS 235 and was delivered to the ‘Royal Aircraft Establishment’ (RAE) in December of that year. Named ‘Canopus’, whilst there.

 

It served for many years at the ‘Aircraft and Armaments Research Establishment’ at Boscombe Down from where it was retired in 1996.

 

Its last flight was to Bruntingthorpe on 30th. October 1997.

 

ZE 705

A Lockheed L-1011 Tristar

 

Built for ‘Pan American ‘and delivered as N509PA in July 1980 as ‘Clipper Golden Eagle’.

 

To the RAF in July 1984 for conversion to C2 tanker. It came to Bruntingthorpe in March 2014 for storage along with 5 others.

 

It was re-registered  N703CS to ‘CSDS Aircraft Sales & Leasing’ in May 2014.

 

It is presumed that eventually the aircraft will be exported to the USA. Maybe for further service??

 

 

'Scene' at the East Midlands Aeropark (EMAp)

After a long and difficult gestation period the EMAp finally settled into a site adjacent to the perimeter of the airport which is easily accessed from Castle Donnington village. It opened on this site in 2001.

 

With a diverse collection of aircraft on display it has recently added the cockpit and front fuselage of former RAF VC-10 XV 108 to its collection. This is from an aircraft recently scrapped at Bruntingthorpe.

G-BEOZ

Armstrong Whitworth AW 650 Argosy 101 c/n 6660. Built for ‘Universal Airlines’ as N895U, it first flew on 16th. December 1960. Returned to the UK in the early 1980’s, it worked for ‘Air Bridge Carriers’ (ABC) who were based at the nearby airport. Now displayed in ‘Elan’ livery it was donated to the EMA in 1987 by ABC.

 

Part of the fuselage has been converted into a cinema.

Whilst stored in the rear fuselage, is part of the fuselage of Beagle- Auster (B-A) Terrier 2 registered G-ASDL.

Originally built in the 1950’s as an Auster T7 for The Army Air Corps with the military serial of WE 558. It was sold to B-A in 1961.

 

Originally the Blackburn NA 39, then named the Blackburn Buccaneer which then became the Hawker Siddeley (HS) Buccaneer when HS took over Blackburns in 1960.

 

XV 350

A former Royal Navy S2B model delivered in 1967. It served with the MoD (Procurement Executive) and the A&AEE from 1969. 

 

It spent some time in the USA working with the US Navy before being retired in 1993. It is the only aircraft of its kind in preservation carrying this livery.

 

ZF 588

English Electric Lightning F53. Built for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) as its 53-693 being delivered in May 1969. 

 

It served the RSAF until 1985 when it was one of 22 bought back by British Aerospace as part of the deal with the RSAF to buy Tornado’s.

 

At one time it was thought that the RAF would form an additional squadron using the ex RSAF machines but it came to nothing.

 

Displayed in the colours of an RAF F6 in 74 Squadron markings.

 

XL 569

Hawker Hunter T7. It first flew in March 1958 serving with several RAF Squadrons and Training Units. Its final ‘posting’ was to RAF Abingdon from where it was purchased by the ‘Aeropark Volunteers Asssociation‘ (AVA).  

 

XT 604

Westland Wessex HC2 for the RAF. First few in 1966 being a Napier Gazelle powered development of Sikorsky’s S-58.

Operated in the UK by 103 and 208 squadrons and in the Middle East by 78(Bahrain) squadron. Stored in 1995 at RNAY Fleetlands from where it was acquired in 2002.

 

XG 588  

Westland Whirlwind 3. Built as a piston engined machine for the Royal Navy where it served in the Pacific. Retired and sold to Bristow Helicopters, converted to Rolls Royce Gnome turbine power and registered as G-BAMH. It was later Bermudan registered as VH-BEP. It came to the Aeropark in 1986 and is painted to represent an RAF Air Sea Rescue machine.

 

 

XX457

Aerospatiale SA 341B Gazelle AH1. One of 212 built for the British Army and Royal Marines. Delivered in 1976, It crashed and rolled over on a flight from Middle Wallop in 1987, was written off and became an instructional airframe.

 

It now carries the marking TAD 001.

XD 382

De Havilland Vampire T11 built in 1953. This aircraft was rebuilt using the wings and tail from XD 382 and other parts from XD 447 which arrived at the Aeropark in 2009.

 

XW 664

BAe Nimrod R1 Developed from the De Havilland Comet airliner and the Nimrod MR2 the Nimrod R1 was a specialist reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering variant.

 

Delivered in 1972 to 51 squadron at RAF Wyton, the squadron relocated to 

RAF Waddington in 1995 from where the aircraft flew until retirement in 2011. It arrived at the Aeropark in July of that year.

The massive tail mounted radar frames Meteor TT20 target tug WM224.

 

G-FRJB

The Britten Sheriff. (John Britten was half of Britten Norman Ltd (BNL) who found major success with the Islander).

He left BNL in 1976 and started work on the Sheriff. Unfortunately John died in in 1977, work came to a halt and the aircraft was never completed. It came to the Aeropark in 1986.

 

An unusual feature was that the engines originally were to be mounted behind the wing in pusher mode.

 

G-ANUW (I think)

De Havilland DH. 106 Dove which has a long, long way to go !

 

WM 224

Gloster Meteor TT20. It was built as a NF11 (Night Fighter) and joined the RAF in 1952 flying first with 228OCU and later 29 Squadron. It was converted to a Target Tug in 1961. This involves removing all its weaponry and fitting a winch above the starboard wing. At one time it was in a museum at North Weald before coming to the Aeropark in 2003.

 

WH 740

English Electric Canberra T17 was originally built as a B2. Delivered to the RAF in 1952 it was one of 15 similar aircraft loaned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1958 and saw action in Malaya during the ‘Confrontation’. It returned to the RAF in 1962 and was converted to T17 configuration. Operated by 360 Squadron before becoming an instructional airframe at RAF Cosford from where it joined the Aeropark.

 

 XM 575 (G-BLMC)

Avro Vulcan B.2. Delivered in 1963 to No. 617 (Dambuster) Squadron which was based at RAF Scampton. At that time it carried the Blue Steel stand off weapon. Converted to free fall bombs in 1969, it continued with 617 squadron and went on to serve Nos. 101, 50 and 44 squadron’s before retirement in 1982 coming to the airport in 1983.

 

XJ 714

Hawker Hunter FR10. This is an amazing aircraft being built out of parts of fellow Hunters WT 684, XF 383, XM 126, XG 226, PH-NLH and ET-272 and you cannot see the joins !!!

WV 382

Hawker Hunter GA11 of the Royal Navy was built as an F4 for the RAF in 1955. Stored for some time it re emerged in RN service in 1962. Operating from Lossiemouth and Brawdy with 738 squadron in the 1960’s it eventually went to Kemble for modification.

Next to a Fleet Requirements Unit at Hurn and then Yeovilton and finally, It went back to Kemble for storage in 1976.

 

XP 568  

Hunting Jet Provost T4 was built for the RAF in 1962. At one time it served with the RAF College at Cranwell before being struck of charge at RAF Shawbury in 1970. It then went to the RAF Hatfield Technical College in 1971. It came to the Aeropark in 2008.