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Boscombe Down 1970s

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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Del
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Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Del » Tue May 22, 2018 7:52 am

Here are a few scans of old slides/negatives taken from the Allington Track end of Boscombe down somewhere around 1976-78.

I'm afraid they're not very good quality and don't stand up to enlarging, I've had to use Photoshop quite a lot on some of them to bring up some detail, but some folk may find them of interest.

Buccaneer XV337

ImageBD_Buccaneer_XV337_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageBD_Buccaneer_XV337_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageBD_Buccaneer_XV337_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr

Lightning XS422 - This is the one hopefully being restored to flight status in Mississippi

ImageBD_Lightning_XS422_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageBD_Lightning_XS422_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr

Hunter XL612 - This was on diaplay at Swansea Airport I believe, don't know if it still is.

ImageBD_Hunter_XL612_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr

Jaguar XX916 - Sadly crashed in 1981 with the loss of the navigator

ImageBD_Jaguar_XX916 by Derek Small, on Flickr

A sad Lightning

ImagePICT0041 by Derek Small, on Flickr

Canberra WJ865. Cockpit survives at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (last picture, taken last week)

ImageBD_Canberra_WJ865_4 by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageBD_Canberra_WJ865_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageBD_Canberra_WJ865_1 copy by Derek Small, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0014 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Derek

Snoop 95
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Snoop 95 » Tue May 22, 2018 8:10 am

Very nice nostalgic set. I remeber being in the same spot one day around this time and seeing no less than 28 different RAF aircraft types! Thanks for posting.

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Tiger 1
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Tiger 1 » Tue May 22, 2018 12:11 pm

A sad Lightning indeed and a Varsity and what looks a Beagle Basset... I think? ... but a very interesting post from a time when we had an airforce.

Thanks for posting.

T1

jem60
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by jem60 » Tue May 22, 2018 12:45 pm

Tis a Bassett. I thought the Varsity might be a Hastings? Not sure without checking windows etc.Sea Vixen is there as well. The suns shining so that will have to wait!. :)

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Nighthawke
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Nighthawke » Tue May 22, 2018 12:56 pm

Hastings serial WD496

Bucky P
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Bucky P » Tue May 22, 2018 1:28 pm

I think the Lightning and the Hastings hung around until the mid 80's before being scrapped, I'm sure I remember seeing them in around 1984ish!

Bucky P
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Bucky P » Tue May 22, 2018 1:32 pm

Bucky P wrote:
Tue May 22, 2018 1:28 pm
I think the Lightning and the Hastings hung around until the mid 80's before being scrapped, I'm sure I remember seeing them in around 1984ish!
1988 for the Lightning and 1989 for the Hastings from a quick look if the Lightning is XR717?

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BP2324
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by BP2324 » Tue May 22, 2018 3:54 pm

Great Post. Spent a few days down there over the last 7 years and noticed a decline in movements and type over that time. Used to be happy to get a F3 or an Andover, times have changed.

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Ferrari
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Ferrari » Tue May 22, 2018 10:21 pm

I saw the Hastings in July 1987, but the Lightning had gone by then.
Great post BTW.

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paddyboy
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by paddyboy » Wed May 23, 2018 5:49 am

Hi Derek :P

What an awesome set :thumbs:

Some absolute belting 'frames there :O

Thanks for posting :thumb:

Paddyboy :clap:
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slogen51
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by slogen51 » Wed May 23, 2018 7:12 am

Very nice to see these

Boscombe is a shadow ( no pun intended) of its former glory in terms of interesting movements

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Del
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Del » Wed May 23, 2018 8:21 am

Thanks all for the comments.

I started going to Boscombe Down 50+ years ago (my parents took me !!). As Snoop 95 said, on a good day the planes would be queuing for the runway and performing touch-and-goes. As good as any airshow back then.

I went back a couple of years ago for the first time in about 40 years and was amazed how little the Alllington Track end had changed - brought back many memories of looking back to the trees and seeing a Vulcan coming towards you just above your head.

Despite the lack of flying, it's still a nice trip to go to the museum and cafe at Old Sarum and then pop over to the airfield for a walk.
Derek

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Yammer
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by Yammer » Wed May 23, 2018 9:35 am

I suspect the Basset was XS742 - thanks for posting these
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NickB
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Re: Boscombe Down 1970s

Post by NickB » Fri May 25, 2018 1:21 pm

Lovely pics.

I spent many an hour at that spot in the early to mid 90s - still lots of diverse types to be seen then and it was pretty busy flying wise most days.

Sadly a shadow of its former self now I believe (like most airfields).

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