Abingdon 1990ish

[Fatbloke]

I can't compete with the quality that appears on this forum, but I do have some golden oldies which may be of interest. Here are a few shots of the AEW Nimrods and VC10's that were in open storage at RAF Abingdon.

I was never any good with recording dates and serial numbers, but this was the first VC10 to be pulled off the airfield to be prepared for the one-way flight to Filton for conversion into a tanker. You see it on the wash pan, having all the preservative cleaned off, before the techies got to work installing engines etc. The shot was actually taken through the MT Hangar.


VC10 by Coventry Boy, on Flickr

VC10's and AEW Nimrods on the airfield


AEW Nimrods 2 by Coventry Boy, on Flickr


AEW Nimrods 1 by Coventry Boy, on Flickr

The first year they did comic relief on the telly (at least I THINK it was the first year) the station woke up to find that overnight, somebody has painted the nose of one of these red! Apparently the CO went ballistic and it had been painted over again by lunchtime. The following year the same CO (I think) posed to the TV cameras in front of the same aircraft with a freshly painted red nose. The difference I suppose was that it was the CO's idea this time :-)


AEW Nimrod (2) by Coventry Boy, on Flickr


Abingdon 4 by Coventry Boy, on Flickr

Enjoy

[Malfatron Malkovic]

Wonderful stuff, one of the most enjoyable air days i ever went to was Abingdon in 1990, with the BOB 50th flypast. I never managed to snap any of the VC-10s or Nimrods, thank you for the post.

[paddyboy]

IMHO, you have more than competed

Content, NOT quality in WRandN is what I am always told, and this proves the case

Cracking post

Thanks so much for sharing some wonderful shots

Cheers

Paddyboy

[Proteus]

As Paddyboy, you captured and preserved aviation history..............Regards N.

[venom]

that shot with thi 4 nimrods amazing

[Bucky P]

Looks like there is a visiting ANG C130 in the background of the aerial shot!
Very nostalgic, having lived in Abingdon all my life it's great to see some shots of the old place as it used to be.

[2e1var]

Post of the year, fantastic

[350biker]

Wonderful post fatbloke, great shots of the aircraft. Remember seeing some of the AEW airframes at Waddington parked up at the Harmston end. Did they go from Waddo to Abingdon or vice versa? (or were they different airframes?)

[Fatbloke]

Wonderful post fatbloke, great shots of the aircraft. Remember seeing some of the AEW airframes at Waddington parked up at the Harmston end. Did they go from Waddo to Abingdon or vice versa? (or were they different airframes?)

Fraid, I can't answer that one. They were there when I arrived in September 1988 and they were still there when I left in the middle of 1990 - all exept 1 that is. I'd heard they wanted one up at Kinloss for BDR training and that the best way to get it there was to fly it. Then I was working outside one morning and I saw it take off. Didn't have my camera with me at the time though

glad you like the pics though

[Fatbloke]

Looks like there is a visiting ANG C130 in the background of the aerial shot!
Very nostalgic, having lived in Abingdon all my life it's great to see some shots of the old place as it used to be.

Spot on about the C130. During my time there, there was a two week deployment at the same time as I somehow wangled a flight in a 7 AEF Chipmunk around Abingdon and the Vale of the White Horse. I've got more from Abindgon and other locations which I'll put up in due course.

Did you spot the Vulcan?

[Bucky P]

Looks like there is a visiting ANG C130 in the background of the aerial shot!
Very nostalgic, having lived in Abingdon all my life it's great to see some shots of the old place as it used to be.

Spot on about the C130. During my time there, there was a two week deployment at the same time as I somehow wangled a flight in a 7 AEF Chipmunk around Abingdon and the Vale of the White Horse. I've got more from Abindgon and other locations which I'll put up in due course.

Did you spot the Vulcan?

Should be 6 AEF!
Looking forward to seeing some more.

[doodlebug]

I agree with everything Paddyboy says. It's good to see 'em.
Thanks for sharing them with us.

[ACLVC10]

Love it, takes me right back to one I was a kid and went to see the BA VC10s parked up over at RAF Abingdon as it was back then

Great pics, thanks for sharing them, would love to see more if you have any.

Andy


ACLVC10

[ACLVC10]

I'm sure the guys on the VC110.net forum would love to see those to

ACLVC10

[Arthur Tee]

That aerial shot is great - and I didn't realise just how big those dispersals were where the Nimrods were parked-up.
Sort of explains why the based Bulldogs and Chipmunks seemed to be rammed into the corner of the field when viewed from the Static on Show Days.

Thanks for posting!

Arthur

[Surfrdan]

Many memories of flying with 6AEF back in my childhood around the time these were taken. thanks for sharing

[Stroudy]

Ive only just come across this. Brilliant post. All those Nimrod AEW's!

[DJ17]

Great post, especially the air-ground shot, very Interesting.

[steved]

Great really interesting post. It's hard to believe that the VC10 was being prepared for eventual flight . Thanks for posting.

[Cornish-guy]

Really Great post and your Flickr is Smokin.

C.