RAF Finningley airshow 1969
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:44 pm
These are digitised 35mm slide film from my step grandfather. He passed away 12 years ago and in the days and weeks afterwards the family didn’t keep any of his photographs. However my brother did keep a few and these are the gems I rediscovered recently.
I didn’t know the year but using www.scramble.nl/showreports I think they are all from 1969. The one exception is the Shackleton and Auster, which I think, was taken at the 1974 show.
I thought I’d share them as, assuming they are from 1969, there doesn't appear to be many photographs online from that show. In the process of working out the year most of the images had airframes with interesting or tragic histories. I’ve included the text for interest.
The one image from 1974 is actually two slides of a Shackleton and a Auster T.7. I’ve stitched two of the slides as I think that’s the image he was after.
All were digitised by using a Nikon DSLR, a 105mm macro lens and an LED light pad.
XP705 | Lightning F3
Lightning F3 XP705/L 29 Squadron. Built 12/10/63
Crashed in sea 35 miles from Akrotiri, Cyprus, 8/7/71; pilot ejected safely.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56561
C-7 | F27 Troopship
Military transport version of the Fokker F27 Friendship for Royal Netherlands Air Force. 334 Squadron KLU
WZ744 | Avro 707C
The Avro 707 is a British experimental aircraft built to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan.
The 707C was the final variant developed; originally four examples were ordered by the RAF for use in orientation training revolving around flying aircraft with delta wing configurations. The 707C had "side-by-side" seating with dual-controls but the production order was cancelled with only the sole prototype, WZ744 built.The 707C had its maiden flight on 1 July 1953 and was ultimately employed in other research that did not involve Vulcan development.
WZ744 is now on display at the RAF Museum, RAF Cosford
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
WG777 | Fairey Delta 2
The Fairey Delta 2 was a British supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation Company in response to a specification from the Ministry of Supply for a specialised aircraft for conducting investigations into flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. Key features of the type include the adoption of a delta wing and a droop-nose. On 6 October 1954, the Delta 2 conducted its maiden flight, flown by Fairey test pilot Peter Twiss; a total of two aircraft would be produced. The Delta 2 was the final aircraft to be produced by Fairey as an independent manufacturer.
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
WZ736 | AVRO 707A
The Avro 707 is a British experimental aircraft built to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan.
Avro 707A was the third variant of the 707 with two being built. WD280 was built for higher speed testing. Experience with the dorsal intake of the earlier 707 and 707B had shown that as speed increased, the cockpit induced turbulence which interrupted the intake airflow, so the intakes were moved to the wing roots. When the Vulcan appeared, it looked very much like an enlarged 707A. Later, this 707A was used to test the compound leading edge sweep subsequently used on all Vulcans. Although the first Vulcan prototype was already flying, a second 707A WZ736 was built to speed the development programme, making its maiden fight on 20 February 1953.
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
Also Handley Page Hastings TG605, Vulcan XM645
XS782 | Beagle Bassett CC.1
Beagle Aircraft Limited
207 Squadron
XM645 | Avro Vulcan B MK.2
14 October 1975
On this date there was the terrible tragedy of the loss of 5 crew, and 1 civilian, and Avro Vulcan XM645 over the town of Zabbar.
At about 12.30PM local time (11:30 GMT), an Avro Vulcan B MK.2 XM645 of IX Squadron contacted Malta's control tower to confirm its position some 100 miles from the island, requesting permission to land on rwy 24 at RAF Luqa, at the Wied il-Knejjes end of Luqa village.
Barely 15 minutes later, the aircraft joined the landing circuit to perform its final approach to its last stage of a routine exercise flight from England, as it was based at Waddington at that time.
Just before hitting the runway, the Vulcan's port wing sank dangerously, making contact with the ground. As a result the mainwheel undercarriage on that side was torn off, and fell onto the runway. During landing the port (left) undercarriage collapsed forcing the crew to overshoot to do another circuit for an emergency landing on foamed runway.
The aircraft slid on its belly for some time, damaging the undersurfaces, although the pilot managed to put oll four Olympus engines into full throttle to force his crippled mount back into the air. Air Traffic Control warned the pilot about the damage, and that his aircraft was on fire; he replied that he would do a circuit and attempt a belly-landing on the same runway after it had been covered in foam. On the inbound track of the circuit pattern, the aircraft suddenly exploded, breaking into two main sections and a smaller third part which floated down into Zabbar, trailing a thick pall of smoke. Over Poala village, two parachutes were seen, and a few seconds later XM645 turned into a fireball. The Captain and Co-Pilot, the only two crew members provided with ejector seats, where thrown out with the force of the explosion and managed to escape by parachute; the other five members of the crew were killed. Luckily the largest part of the aircraft, including the engines and the front fuselage and wing, fell into a field a few metres away from a densley buil-up area, not so far from the Government Primary School. Part of the wing on the roof of Zabbar Primary School and another part in the main street of Zabbar village. The windows, doors and parked cars in main street all were burnt by the aircraft's fuel. Being a residential area it was fortunate that only one civilian woman and the other members of the crew died. It could have been much worse
Fire-fighters from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN) together with members of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), Admiralty Constabulary, the police and numerous civilians rushed to the scene to fight the raging flames at the crash site. They brought wiht them a stream of crash tenders, fire engines, ambulances and mobile cranes.
Rescue squads had to demolish a wall to make way fro the crash tenders which arrived from Luqa, their progress through some of the narrow streets of Zabbar further being hampered by a number of people who rushed to the scene of the accident, some in panic, others in shock.
At one point the rescue operation was threatened by a shortage of water, and this precious commodity had to be brought to the crash site by Royal Marine Commandos from No. 41 Commando Group, RN. Others who arrived to lend a hand in the rescue operations included men from the Pioneer Corps and other paramilitary bodies and members from the St John Ambulance brigade. The AFM evacuation operation was under the command of Major A.J. Gera, Acting Commander AFM, Major W.E. Abela and RSM R.Zerafa.
RN Sea King helicopter XV711/74 from the commando carrier HMS Hermes landed in a field on the outskirts of Zabbar (on the Xaghjra side) disembarking more rescue crews and para-medics while it remained on stand-by with engines running. Two other Wessex helicopters from the same ship flewmore men to the scene while a Super Frelon operated by a Libyan crew, attached to the AFM air squadron, also arrived to provide assistance.
Fight Lieutenant G.R. Alcock (pilot) and Flying Officer E.C. Alexander (pilot) were the two members of the Vulcan crew who parachuted to safety.
Credit: <a href="http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55313" rel="noreferrer nofollow">aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55313</a>
RM619/AP-D | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV
NL985 | Tiger Moth
Shackleton MR.3/3 | Auster T.7
RAF Finningley 1974
WR977/B | Shackleton MR.3/3
WE600/7602M | Auster C.4 Antarctic (T.7)
WR977 now on display at the Newark Air Museum
WE600 was used by Dr. Vivian Fuchs Joint Commonwealth Transatlantic Antartic Expedition in 1956
Hope you enjoyed those.
Let me know if the year(s) is incorrect.
I didn’t know the year but using www.scramble.nl/showreports I think they are all from 1969. The one exception is the Shackleton and Auster, which I think, was taken at the 1974 show.
I thought I’d share them as, assuming they are from 1969, there doesn't appear to be many photographs online from that show. In the process of working out the year most of the images had airframes with interesting or tragic histories. I’ve included the text for interest.
The one image from 1974 is actually two slides of a Shackleton and a Auster T.7. I’ve stitched two of the slides as I think that’s the image he was after.
All were digitised by using a Nikon DSLR, a 105mm macro lens and an LED light pad.
XP705 | Lightning F3
Lightning F3 XP705/L 29 Squadron. Built 12/10/63
Crashed in sea 35 miles from Akrotiri, Cyprus, 8/7/71; pilot ejected safely.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56561
C-7 | F27 Troopship
Military transport version of the Fokker F27 Friendship for Royal Netherlands Air Force. 334 Squadron KLU
WZ744 | Avro 707C
The Avro 707 is a British experimental aircraft built to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan.
The 707C was the final variant developed; originally four examples were ordered by the RAF for use in orientation training revolving around flying aircraft with delta wing configurations. The 707C had "side-by-side" seating with dual-controls but the production order was cancelled with only the sole prototype, WZ744 built.The 707C had its maiden flight on 1 July 1953 and was ultimately employed in other research that did not involve Vulcan development.
WZ744 is now on display at the RAF Museum, RAF Cosford
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
WG777 | Fairey Delta 2
The Fairey Delta 2 was a British supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation Company in response to a specification from the Ministry of Supply for a specialised aircraft for conducting investigations into flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. Key features of the type include the adoption of a delta wing and a droop-nose. On 6 October 1954, the Delta 2 conducted its maiden flight, flown by Fairey test pilot Peter Twiss; a total of two aircraft would be produced. The Delta 2 was the final aircraft to be produced by Fairey as an independent manufacturer.
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
WZ736 | AVRO 707A
The Avro 707 is a British experimental aircraft built to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan.
Avro 707A was the third variant of the 707 with two being built. WD280 was built for higher speed testing. Experience with the dorsal intake of the earlier 707 and 707B had shown that as speed increased, the cockpit induced turbulence which interrupted the intake airflow, so the intakes were moved to the wing roots. When the Vulcan appeared, it looked very much like an enlarged 707A. Later, this 707A was used to test the compound leading edge sweep subsequently used on all Vulcans. Although the first Vulcan prototype was already flying, a second 707A WZ736 was built to speed the development programme, making its maiden fight on 20 February 1953.
Credit: https://www.wikipedia.org/
Also Handley Page Hastings TG605, Vulcan XM645
XS782 | Beagle Bassett CC.1
Beagle Aircraft Limited
207 Squadron
XM645 | Avro Vulcan B MK.2
14 October 1975
On this date there was the terrible tragedy of the loss of 5 crew, and 1 civilian, and Avro Vulcan XM645 over the town of Zabbar.
At about 12.30PM local time (11:30 GMT), an Avro Vulcan B MK.2 XM645 of IX Squadron contacted Malta's control tower to confirm its position some 100 miles from the island, requesting permission to land on rwy 24 at RAF Luqa, at the Wied il-Knejjes end of Luqa village.
Barely 15 minutes later, the aircraft joined the landing circuit to perform its final approach to its last stage of a routine exercise flight from England, as it was based at Waddington at that time.
Just before hitting the runway, the Vulcan's port wing sank dangerously, making contact with the ground. As a result the mainwheel undercarriage on that side was torn off, and fell onto the runway. During landing the port (left) undercarriage collapsed forcing the crew to overshoot to do another circuit for an emergency landing on foamed runway.
The aircraft slid on its belly for some time, damaging the undersurfaces, although the pilot managed to put oll four Olympus engines into full throttle to force his crippled mount back into the air. Air Traffic Control warned the pilot about the damage, and that his aircraft was on fire; he replied that he would do a circuit and attempt a belly-landing on the same runway after it had been covered in foam. On the inbound track of the circuit pattern, the aircraft suddenly exploded, breaking into two main sections and a smaller third part which floated down into Zabbar, trailing a thick pall of smoke. Over Poala village, two parachutes were seen, and a few seconds later XM645 turned into a fireball. The Captain and Co-Pilot, the only two crew members provided with ejector seats, where thrown out with the force of the explosion and managed to escape by parachute; the other five members of the crew were killed. Luckily the largest part of the aircraft, including the engines and the front fuselage and wing, fell into a field a few metres away from a densley buil-up area, not so far from the Government Primary School. Part of the wing on the roof of Zabbar Primary School and another part in the main street of Zabbar village. The windows, doors and parked cars in main street all were burnt by the aircraft's fuel. Being a residential area it was fortunate that only one civilian woman and the other members of the crew died. It could have been much worse
Fire-fighters from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN) together with members of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), Admiralty Constabulary, the police and numerous civilians rushed to the scene to fight the raging flames at the crash site. They brought wiht them a stream of crash tenders, fire engines, ambulances and mobile cranes.
Rescue squads had to demolish a wall to make way fro the crash tenders which arrived from Luqa, their progress through some of the narrow streets of Zabbar further being hampered by a number of people who rushed to the scene of the accident, some in panic, others in shock.
At one point the rescue operation was threatened by a shortage of water, and this precious commodity had to be brought to the crash site by Royal Marine Commandos from No. 41 Commando Group, RN. Others who arrived to lend a hand in the rescue operations included men from the Pioneer Corps and other paramilitary bodies and members from the St John Ambulance brigade. The AFM evacuation operation was under the command of Major A.J. Gera, Acting Commander AFM, Major W.E. Abela and RSM R.Zerafa.
RN Sea King helicopter XV711/74 from the commando carrier HMS Hermes landed in a field on the outskirts of Zabbar (on the Xaghjra side) disembarking more rescue crews and para-medics while it remained on stand-by with engines running. Two other Wessex helicopters from the same ship flewmore men to the scene while a Super Frelon operated by a Libyan crew, attached to the AFM air squadron, also arrived to provide assistance.
Fight Lieutenant G.R. Alcock (pilot) and Flying Officer E.C. Alexander (pilot) were the two members of the Vulcan crew who parachuted to safety.
Credit: <a href="http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55313" rel="noreferrer nofollow">aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55313</a>
RM619/AP-D | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV
NL985 | Tiger Moth
Shackleton MR.3/3 | Auster T.7
RAF Finningley 1974
WR977/B | Shackleton MR.3/3
WE600/7602M | Auster C.4 Antarctic (T.7)
WR977 now on display at the Newark Air Museum
WE600 was used by Dr. Vivian Fuchs Joint Commonwealth Transatlantic Antartic Expedition in 1956
Hope you enjoyed those.
Let me know if the year(s) is incorrect.
1969 was my first Finningley.
