‘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Withdrawn and sold to the RAF in 1981, It was stored at Abingdon until 1991 when it was ferried to Filton (Bristol) for conversion to a K4 Tanker for the RAF which was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It was finally withdrawn and flown to Bruntingthorpe in March 2013.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It continued with 15 ‘Sqn’ until 1982 when it was withdrawn and became ‘Maintenance Airframe’ 8857M.

 

Finally withdrawn in 1985 and sold into private ownership.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’ whilst out and about Monday 25/01/2016

Most weeks my wife (Barbara) have a day out usually by bus and Monday was it. 

 

Most people who know me know that I have been writing a series of articles for some years about days out by bus for a local (to mid Derbyshire) community based magazine called ‘all Things Local’.

 

This requires some research and todays outing took me to Bakewell, Chesterfield and Sheffield.

 

This short selection were the pick of what I saw.

 

First then was Bakewell.

 

EK51 XXE

 

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart bodywork working for ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

 

This now elderly bus has been around a long time and has worked for ‘South Lancs Travel’ of Atherton amongst others.

 

For its age, it looked quite tidy and sounded well.

 

YX65 RFZ

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 of ‘High Peak Buses’ (HPB) working on the ‘Transpeak’ service from Derby to Buxton.

 

This is a ‘short’ working. The full route runs from Derby to Manchester.

 

‘HPB’ it will be remembered is a joint operation owned by ‘trentbarton’ (tb) and ‘Centrebus’.

 

PIL 6648

A Volvo B10M with Van Hool Alizee bodywork of Tideswell based operator ‘Andrews’.

 

It was new to ‘Wallace Arnold’ as K804 HUM which according to my reckoning makes it 24 years old !

 

For its age it looked superb.

 

FD53 WWH

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork of ‘TMTravel’ (TMT) working its ‘Peak Line 218’ service to Sheffield via Chatsworth House.

 

‘TMT’ being part of the ‘Wellglade’ group. 

 

The bus was new to fellow ‘Wellglade’ group member ‘tb’.

 

This particular bus took us a s far as Sheffield.

 

Where ‘Star’ of the day was this.

 

SM65 EFF

 

A Wright StreetDeck of ‘First South Yorkshire’ working on and branded for the X78 service from Sheffield to Doncaster.

 

One of 22 buses so painted. 

 

I have been critical in the past about ‘First’s choice of liveries but I think that this livery is superb.

 

So, back via Chesterfield then, where I am treated to another superb livery.

YN64 AOE

 

A Scania N230UD with ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 bodywork of ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ working on the X17 service from Sheffield to Matlock via Chesterfield.

 

The ‘pronto’ service from Chesterfield to Nottingham via Mansfield is a joint operation between ‘tb’ and ‘Stagecoach’.

‘tb’s rolling stock is usually branded Scania L94UB’s with Wright Solar bodies although I have seen a lot of fleet liveried buses in service recently.

 

The ‘pronto’ has always been in shades of pink but I think that in the last year, buses have been painted in much darker shades of the two colours.

 

FJ03 VWA

 

 An Optare Solo

 

Another ‘TMT’ bus caught at a crew change.

 

Seen wearing the colours of another ‘Wellglade’ group member ‘Kinchbus’ of Loughborough from whom it has been transferred.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Bournemouth, ‘Yellow Buses’ (YB)

 

My wife (Barbara) and I have been holidaying in Bournemouth for over 30 years. During that time I have watched with much interest the comings and goings in the bus fleets locally.

 

The major operator in Bournemouth  (although not by much) is ‘Yellow Buses’ (YB).

 

‘YB’ has its roots in ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ dating back to the tramways days in the early 1900’s. 

 

Buses came to be used as feeders to the trams which in turn were replaced by trolleybuses. 

 

By the time I discovered Bournemouth, the trolleys had followed the trams into history.

 

Sold by Bournemouth Borough Council in 2005 to  ‘Transdev’, ‘YB’ became part of the French ‘RATP’ group in 2011.

 

Variety has always been the attraction to me in Bournemouth and I can say that I have never seen the degree of variety present in the ‘YB’ fleet as there is today.

 

The first three images all show Wright Gemini bodied buses but look at the detail.

 

HF03 ODW

 

Is built on a Volvo B7TL chassis and displays the deep windows on both decks together with the simple head and sidelight combination.

 

 HF11 HCX

This time built on Volvo’s 9TL chassis. This Wright Gemini 2 bodied bus has unpainted window frames and a revised front panel to present the ‘smiley face’ beloved of current bus designers which I think Irizar introduced on their ‘Century’ series coaches.

 

BF15 KFE

 

Is A Volvo B5L with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork.

 

The upper deck windows are markedly shallower whilst the front panel although still keeping the ‘smiley face’ is revised again.

 

HJ02 HFF

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Vyking bodywork.

HF04 JWK

 

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllennium bodywork. Similar to the Vyking but different. (the upper deck front windows, the front bumper and the drivers offside window).

 

X203 UMS

 

A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork.

 

New to ‘London United’ which is part of the ‘Transdev’ group as is ‘Yellow Buses’.

 

SK07 DYB

 

A Dennis Trident with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 400 bodywork. A one off in the fleet. 

 

Originally a demonstrator with ‘ADL’ serving ‘Lothian Transport’ amongst others.

 

The single deck fleet is no less varied.

 

R8 TYB

 

An Optare Tempo.

 

HF05 LYW

 

A VDL SB120 Merit with Wright Crusader bodywork.

 

Some sources quote this bus as being an SB200 while ‘Yellow Buses’ fleet list has it as being an SB120.

 

T21 TYB

 

An Optare Versa.

 

YX65 RGZ

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 or 300 (I do not know which) is one of the latest acquisitions.

 

SN55 HTF

 

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork is one of the oldest.

 

YN08 NLG

A Volvo B7RLE with Plaxton Centro bodywork that is one of a number that came from ‘Minsterley Motors’ in Shropshire.

 

HF13 FZP

 

A Wright Streetlight DF.

 

KX07 OOY

 

An earlier ‘ADL’ product was this Dennis SLF Dart with Enviro 200 bodywork.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ on a Day Out with Dennis

This set of images is to illustrate an article written for a magazine called ‘All Things Local’. This community magazine is produced and distributed from a base in Kilburn, Derbyshire and covers large areas of the towns of Ripley and Belper.

 

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING FROM BELPER, 

 

your first bus of the day will be ‘trentbarton’s (tb) ’the sixes’ from Belper to Ripley.

 

A Swedish built Scania chassis carrying a Wright body produced in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

 

FJ55 BZT

 

The bus from Ripley to Sutton in Ashfield (SiA) will be an Optare Solo.

 

The Solo is one of the most successful buses of recent years and is produced at Sherburn in Elmet in Yorkshire.

 

FJ09 MVU

 

Between ‘SiA’ and Clay Cross your bus will probably be a Dutch built VDL chassis (the successors to the DAF company) with another Yorkshire produced body. 

 

This time from Plaxton of Scarborough. 

 

I say probably because sometimes the operator will substitute a different type of bus if circumstances demand.

 

YJ07 JWU

 

Between Clay Cross and Matlock your bus will be Alexander Dennis Ltd. (No relation unfortunately) Enviro 200 which is operated by ‘Littles of Ilkeston’ who have recently taken over the route.

 

SN65 OFA

 

From Matlock back to Belper and home, you are once more on one of ‘the sixes’ buses.

‘Scene’ at ‘The East Midlands Airport’

Located almost at the side of the M1 with the cities of Derby, Leicester and Nottingham all less than 20 miles away, the ‘EMA’ is superbly situated at the centre of the East Midlands region.

 

This is what attracts the range of operators that it does

 

N319UP

 

An American registered Boeing 767-34AF of ’United Parcel Service’. (UPS)

 

It first flew in August 1997 and was delivered new to ‘UPS’ the following month.

 

G-BTPE

 

A British Aerospace ATP-F of ‘West Atlantic Airlines’. 

 

It was originally built for ‘British Airways’ (BA) as ‘PE’ and first flew in March1989 spending almost 10 years with ‘BA’ before moving as EC-GZH to ‘Air Europe Express’ (AEE) in Spain.

 

It later carried the registration EC-HGE whilst with ‘AEE’ before being restored to the UK register with ‘Atlantic Airlines’ in October 2007 before moving to ‘West Atlantic’ in  April 2009.

 

EI-SEV

An Irish registered Boeing 737-300 of ‘Ryanair’.

 

An unusual aircraft in the ‘Ryanair’ fleet in that it is the only 737-300 in an otherwise totally 737-800 fleet. The reason being that it was bought specifically as a crew training aircraft and not for commercial operation.

 

It first flew in January 1999 as N60436 with Boeing and was delivered to ‘Azzurra Air’ as EI-CRP the following April.

 

Since then it has flown as PR-SAE in Brazil, OY-MLW in Denmark and HK-4627 in Colombia before joining ‘Ryanair’ in June 2015.

 

N714SA

 

An American registered Boeing 777-FZB of ‘Southern Air’. (SA)

 

Seen being loaded outside the massive DHL freight terminal.

 

Delivered in March 2012 to ‘SA' operating for DHL.

 

G-JECX

A Canadian built Bombardier DHC 8-Q402 of ‘flybe’.

 

The ‘Q’ in the designation indicates quiet.

 

EC-HCF

 

A Brazilian built Embraer EMB 120RT Brasilia of Spanish operator ‘Swift Air’.

 

It first flew 1n 1985 as PT-SIB.

 

The blanked off windows indicate that the aircraft has been converted to a freighter.

 

G-MCGH

Sikorsky S-92A operated by ‘Bristow Helicopters’ on behalf of HM UK Coastguard.

 

CS-TLZ

 

A Portuguese registered Boeing 767-375ERF of ‘euroAtlanticargo’ operating for ‘Star Air’.

 

It first flew in December 1988 with the test registration of N6055X and was delivered in March 1989 as C-FCAJ to ‘Canadian Airlines’.

 

It moved to ‘VARIG’ in Brasil as PP-VPV in December 1997 before coming to its current operator having been converted to a freighter.

 

G-JMCP

A Boeing 737-4Q8F of ‘West Atlantic Airlines’ (WAA).

 

Built as N39340 March 1987 for ‘Continental Airlines’. 

 

Converted to freighter configuration, it moved to ‘TNT Airways’ as a freighter with the Belgian registration OO-TNB.

 

It moved to ‘WAA’ in December 2013.

 

TF-FIG

An Icelandic registered Boeing 757-23APF of ‘Icelandair Cargo’ (IC).

 

It first flew in July 1989 as N571CA for ‘Challenge Air Cargo’ by whom it was leased in Australia to ‘Ansett World Wide’.

 

It came to ‘IC’ in September 1999 who converted it to freighter.

 

OE-IAT

An Austrian registered Boeing 737-4M0F of ‘TNT Airways’.

 

Built for the leasing company GECAS and first registered to Boeing as N1015B. 

 

Its first flight was in January 1999 and was delivered to the Russian operator ‘Aeroflot’ in April 1999.

 

It was registered as VP-BAR. The Russians registering the aircraft in Bermuda to avoid paying import taxes in Russia.

 

In 2004, it moved to ‘Garuda’ in Indonesia as PK-GZO before being converted to a freighter and joining ‘TNT’ in June 2012.

 

OY-SRL

A Danish registered Boeing 767-232F of ‘Star Air Freight’ (SAF), a Danish company. 

 

Interestingly it carries joint ‘Maersk’ titling. 

 

‘Maersk’ being a major company worldwide in the transport and energy sectors. 

 

Delivered to ‘Delta Airlines’ in January 1983 as N107DL.

 

It was converted to a freighter by Israel Aircraft Industries in 2006 when it joined ‘SAF’.