Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
Boscombe Down 1970s
Boscombe Down 1970s
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
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Lightning XS422 - This is the one hopefully being restored to flight status in Mississippi
BD_Lightning_XS422_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_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.
BD_Hunter_XL612_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Jaguar XX916 - Sadly crashed in 1981 with the loss of the navigator
BD_Jaguar_XX916 by Derek Small, on Flickr
A sad Lightning
PICT0041 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Canberra WJ865. Cockpit survives at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (last picture, taken last week)
BD_Canberra_WJ865_4 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Canberra_WJ865_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Canberra_WJ865_1 copy by Derek Small, on Flickr
DSC_0014 by Derek Small, on Flickr
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
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Buccaneer_XV337_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Lightning XS422 - This is the one hopefully being restored to flight status in Mississippi
BD_Lightning_XS422_1 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_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.
BD_Hunter_XL612_2 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Jaguar XX916 - Sadly crashed in 1981 with the loss of the navigator
BD_Jaguar_XX916 by Derek Small, on Flickr
A sad Lightning
PICT0041 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Canberra WJ865. Cockpit survives at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (last picture, taken last week)
BD_Canberra_WJ865_4 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Canberra_WJ865_3 by Derek Small, on Flickr
BD_Canberra_WJ865_1 copy by Derek Small, on Flickr
DSC_0014 by Derek Small, on Flickr
Derek
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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.
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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
Thanks for posting.
T1
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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!.
- Nighthawke
- Posts: 5270
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
Hastings serial WD496
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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!
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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.
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
I saw the Hastings in July 1987, but the Lightning had gone by then.
Great post BTW.
Great post BTW.
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
Hi Derek
What an awesome set
Some absolute belting 'frames there
Thanks for posting
Paddyboy
What an awesome set
Some absolute belting 'frames there
Thanks for posting
Paddyboy
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 48699
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
- Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
Very nice to see these
Boscombe is a shadow ( no pun intended) of its former glory in terms of interesting movements
Boscombe is a shadow ( no pun intended) of its former glory in terms of interesting movements
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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.
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
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
I suspect the Basset was XS742 - thanks for posting these
Re: Boscombe Down 1970s
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).
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).
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: nickyp and 38 guests