USAF Alconbury TR-1A's 'Dragon Ladys"Late 80's 90's

[fisherman]

The arrival at USAF Alconbury of a TR-1B "Dragon Lady" with two cockpits? It was a no brainer to make another trip North. I Hope there of interest?

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2 ... ry-in.html

Regards, Michael Fisher.

[dragonchaser]

Some super memory’s there, I remember seeing one of the two seaters at Alconbury in a white colour scheme.

[minotaur]

Awesome photos, most unrepeatable, thanks for sharing!

[Unknown74]

Have you any pictures of TR-1A. U.2R from the 1988 Air Fete, I seem to remember there was one on Static and one was in the flying display that day? I also seem to remember the white two seater was over the far side so noone could get a good look at it?

[Knife 04]

Great article Michael - never got to see a 'B' model and great to see these at Alconbury back in the day Thanks for sharing

Have you any pictures of TR-1A. U.2R from the 1988 Air Fete, I seem to remember there was one on Static and one was in the flying display that day? I also seem to remember the white two seater was over the far side so noone could get a good look at it?

There is only one listed on the Scramble database that year and I am assuming that is the one in the flying display. Got shots of most of the statics that year and dont have any of a TR-1 (not even in the background of others). As for the 'white' one never heard of this being there at the time of the show and not listed - happy to be proven wrong though

Cheers

Darren

[tm74sqn]

My memory may be c - - p, but wasn't a white 2-seater brought in by lorry/train/air (delete as appropriate) and converted to a single seater for display at the Duxford museum?

[XX105]

While stationed at RAE Bedford (from 1987-1991). The TR-1's were regular up to the lead up to the Gulf war.
Between 1987 and 1988 the "White" TR-1B's 80-1064 and 80-1065 wereregular visitors and on some occasions we had up to 3 in the circuit which was so good to "check his wheels" so really just watch them !!!!

Thurleigh was the designated Cross wind diversion airfieldto Alconbury ,to the point in 1988 there were high level discussions with the US Dept of Defence,with us having to collate our hourly runway use and sent to America.The intention was DoD was going to pay to have our short runway resurfaced 24/06 as our runway was made up of large concrete blocks ,which were NOT great to drive on never mind LAND on.
Infact 51 Sqn at Wyton Nimrods XW664-6 were BANNED from carring out Touch and Go's when they did a PD (Practice Diversion).
Of course in the end the end this never happened and we only ever had one diversion....but I had the pleasure of being the follow me ATC car ....large V8 Mustang ...eh no Ford Escort 1.1 Estate

[Unknown74]

Hi Knife 04, when I mean 1988 Air Fete I don't mean Mildenhall Air Fete 1988, There was an Alconbury Air Fete 1988 in August and there was a TR.1 in static and 1 flying. Sorry for the confusion!

[paddyboy]

Defo remember a ‘White Whale’ being on the far side of the airfield near a HAS at one of AR’s displays

[Unknown74]

Hi Paddyboy, I heard a story about the White Whale being positioned on the Far Side of the Airfield at the 1988 Airshow because they didn't want the people who were at the Airshow to get a close look at it! (That would include me then!).......

[tm74sqn]

My memory may be c - - p, but wasn't a white 2-seater brought in by lorry/train/air (delete as appropriate) and converted to a single seater for display at the Duxford museum?

The U-2 that I am (sort of) remembering was U-2CT %6-6692 - the white two-seater that was converted to single-seat configuration at RAF Alconbury, repainted black and presented as a U-2C to the aircraft museum at Duxford in/about 1991.
I'm sure that other people on this forum may know how and when it arrived at Alconbury and have a deeper knowledge.

[Skywatcher]

Intresting thankyou for that tm74sqn as it happens I am going to dx on the 17th of the month for a flight in Classic Wings Tiger Moth (cant wait ) so when I have look round Museum I will do some investigating and see if I can I’d the converted lady,intresting story ,did not realise it was a converted twin stick ,cheers for that
Apologies just re read your post ,miss read slightly ,seems it is already I’d ,hopefully Graham etc may know a bit more
Ps awesome post from original poster ,thankyou for the link ,I don’t rember Alconbury as a flying station , I was very very little when it closed
Edit ,given the thunderstorms expected tomorrow in the area ,have now postponed the trip but fortunately have a few other days in mind

[Dick Johnston]

We had at least one diversion into Marham too during the period 86-88 when I was stationed there. Used the short runway as it was into wind when Alconbury was out of crosswind limits. We were put on standby to receive a TR-1 several times I seem to recall but as the memory fades I really can't be sure whether more than the one definitely turned up. Interesting times.

[UKdragon]

My memory may be c - - p, but wasn't a white 2-seater brought in by lorry/train/air (delete as appropriate) and converted to a single seater for display at the Duxford museum?

The U-2 that I am (sort of) remembering was U-2CT %6-6692 - the white two-seater that was converted to single-seat configuration at RAF Alconbury, repainted black and presented as a U-2C to the aircraft museum at Duxford in/about 1991.
I'm sure that other people on this forum may know how and when it arrived at Alconbury and have a deeper knowledge.

I do indeed, since it was my idea to get 692 'deconverted' to look like a real spyplane, and gifted to Duxford. This prompts me to write a post about this on my website www.dragonladyhistory.com, which I will do shortly.

[Nnthusiast]

There is a video of Marham circa mid 80's about the victors kicking around, showing B-52's on the pad, and TR-1A landing.

[Bilvo]

Have you any pictures of TR-1A. U.2R from the 1988 Air Fete, I seem to remember there was one on Static and one was in the flying display that day? I also seem to remember the white two seater was over the far side so noone could get a good look at it?

Hmmm I'm pretty certain there was no flying U-2 (or back then TR-1A) at Air Fete'88 and 100% there was no white "two seater" parked on the south side I''ll check back through Merv Hamblings comprehensive logs of Mildenhall airshows when home this evening to confirm.

The white two seater may have been a BDR training frame, will get bck to you.

[Nighthawke]

Norfolk Air Review May 1988 reports TR-1A 01081 (80-1081) ad flying only both days (28th and 29th May).

I presume this is the Merv Hambling reference? The Mildenhall show book only went as far as 1987.

Brings back memories as I helped to put these together as well as co-editing some sections over the years along with Merv, Len Bartram, Steve Bowes and Keith Mason. They have a lot to answer for though as they got me into this hobby.

[Knife 04]

Norfolk Air Review May 1988 reports TR-1A 01071 (80-1081) ad flying only both days (28th and 29th May).

Agree - there was a TR-1A in the flying display - unfortunately cannot make out which one from my shots of it

[Nighthawke]

Apologies for the typo in my original post - should have read 01081 (or 80-1081) so same airframe both days.