The 'Spirit of Coltishall'

[B58Hustler]

Sorry mods if this is in the wrong place as only the last pic has an aircraft in it.Please move accordingly if so...
Went for a bimble in the RV last week and decided to have a look round 'Colt'.Light poor and shot through the canopy.ISO 1600/2000 was the order of the day.
Last one is XW563 'Spirit of Coltishall' in the grounds of County Hall.Regards,Jay.


RAF Coltishall (Now HMP Bure) by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


'Colt' by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


04 Approach Coltishall by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


04 Piano keys Coltishall by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


RAF Coltishall by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


Coltishall Tower by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


RAF Coltishall mono. by Jayson Cork, on Flickr


County Hall by Jayson Cork, on Flickr

[paddyboy]

Hi Jayson

Your post has got ol' Paddyboy blubbing big time

My beloved Colt, and just look at her now

Thanks for posting anyway

Paddyboy

[tm74sqn]

Fantastic - brings back lots of 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s memories.

Looking on the bright side - the prison buildings look of high quality! Also two of the hangars . . . .

Cheers, TM74

[jpickers56]

Lovely shots but a sad story of a great airfield with so many memories.

[Reach4060]

Nice shots - many happy memories at Colt. I'm also saddened to see it like this now.

[Sparts99]

My 1976 ATC Summer Camp was there, one of the best weeks of my life. 6 Squadron were particularly accomodating, let us have a real good look over the jags, oit that 54 or 41 weren't friendly. I think the Whirwind SAR squadron was 202? they had all the time in the world for us, and the Fire & Rescue team were hilarious, we spent most evenings with them in the fire station. To cap it all off aside from the touch and goes of anything and everything form everywhere the Red Arrows flew in for a refuel and we had a good chat with them too. Only things we were kept well away from was the Jags visiting from RAFG. Seemed to be a really happy station.

[SW Sky Blue]

Very interesting , thanks for posting

[350biker]

Great shots, that PV array is something else and as a PA28 pilot that runway looks in very good condition with fresh runway markings. Is it used by anyone? Would certainly drop in there in an emergency!

[B58Hustler]

Thanks for your comments people,glad they are of interest.Brings a tear to my eye every time I think of the place,so many childhood memories of 'proper' aeroplanes and great friends.
Ian,the runway is 'disused' although doesn't yet have the yellow 'x' so maybe there are plans though this seems unlikely.Certainly agree that it's well usable.

[jag636]

It hurts it really does, to see such a great place used for dumping ground for the low life in society from where once great feats of airmanship had set off against overwhelming odds and the ensuing years of the cold war. It was one of my homes and full of good people who worked on the big cat, I'm amost in tears.

[paulh]

Some excellent shots there - but very sad at the same time.

[fox4g]

Oh those good old days called in there nearly every other Tuesday morning on my Norfolk run. That crash gate was brilliant for seeing what was in and for take off and landings. If anybody’s got a good memory I used to be in a Blue Luton Transit with RCF tools on the van and a slight Brummie accent ha ha 75 to 78 good times.

[jagnut]

A company called Swift Aircraft are planning to build a two seat touring/training light aircraft in Number 2 Hangar and use the runway for testing etc from early next year.

[Nighthawke]

That's also one heck of a solar farm!

[TinyB]

Excellent photos but it does make me sad to see what was my home for 17 years of my career, come to that in the end.

[roughcutter]

At least the runway isn't infested with cars....

[jem60]

The price of peace, technology, and costs. Nostalgia is a thing of the past, I'm afraid.

[3Greens]

Great aerial selection there B58Hustler
What ever you do don't fly over Binbrook

3Greens

[B58Hustler]

Thanks again people.As for Binbrook,what can I say,you only have to Google Earth it.Unbelievably sad.......