Hucknall?

[Thunderbolt II]

Hello,
In January I moved to a charming town in Notts called Kimberley, really close to this former RAF and RR aerodrome. seems that it had a fascinating history which I've been finding out about. Recently met an old gent who joined 504sq RAuxAf there in 1938! Know that flying went on with some interesting types tested by Rolls Royce into the 70s. Does anyone have any interesting old pics from Hucknall? I'd love to see them. Although there wasn't any flying there, any pics from RAF Watnall would be just as good

[BOLLO]

Kimberley pleasant,your aving laugh mate,I'm from Bilborough just down the A610 and i know Kimberley well. Hucknall is where the only Luftwaffe pilot to escape back to Germany in the war tried one of his many attempts and also back in the 70's the Blue Angels were there with there F4's.

[Sheff]

I'd also be very interested to see any pictures of Hucknall from the past. Rolls Royce certainly operated a variety of interesting types from the airfield, the most famous being the VC10 with its RB211 engine. There was also at least one Phantom (FG1) based there for a while although others visited, and of course Lightnings were based there too, and at least one Vulcan. Hunters were used too and various helicopters including Wessex and Belvedere. Not the busiest of places but definitely one of the most interesting.

Perhaps the most important point is to consider Hucknall's place in history. If the concept of fitting the P-51 with a Merlin engine hadn't been pursued at Hucknall, the USAAF might not have obtained a suitable escort fighter for a long time, and this might well have had an outcome on WWII's ending. Had it not been for Hucknall, things might have turned-out very differently.

[Bilvo]

Try a Google image search!! I just turned up quite a few pics searching "RAF Hucknall"

[Bilvo]

I've also given airliners.net a try but they only have recent shots from Hucknall. Does anyone have access to Air-Britain's photo archive, you may turn up something on there!?

[rattler]

When I was a kid, I would visit my grandmother who lived near Hucknall. I can remember seeing in the circuit an all white prototype Vulcan, a Lincoln with an additional engine mounted in the nose, a Canberra with trailing exhaust pipes (reheat trials) and a Bolton Paul Balliol. Also witnessed four RCAF Canadair F-86 Sabres performing aerobatics one day - presumably from North Luffenham.

Mick F

[Sheff]

Bilvo I've tried the various sites many times but I just wondered if anyone had any pictures that haven't been seen all that much. I'm surprised that the afore-mentioned show (with the Blue Angels) has never yielded any pictures considering how many people must have been there! There used to be a few shots of the Rolls Royce aircraft floating around but even these seem pretty rare these days. It's a shame but I guess pictures have just drifted into obscurity and been lost. I once had a shot of their trials Vulcan taking-off at Hucknall with obscure engines fitted (seem to recall it might have had a Spey installed at the time) - wish I knew where the guy is who I borrowed it from now aargh!

[drefaldwyn]

I have fond memories of looking out of my bedroom window (immediately opposite the control tower) watching the lightning and spitfire flying together - quite a challenge for both pilots I imagine!!

Also saw the white Vulcan prior to its crash at a Syerston Airshow. The other 2 V-Bombers also made appearances in the late '50's/early '60's. Civvie aircraft included the Elizabethan (twin turbo-prop) and,I believe, the Airspeed Ambassador. I was fortunate to get a private visit into the works whilst the Phantom was being fitted with Speys.

I apologise if my memory has let me down regarding the details but for me it was a fantastic time, with annual airshows - the Blue Angels have already been mentioned .... they mercilessly beat up the airfield on full re-heat for the whole display. I enjoyed it but the animals at the local zoo weren't quite so happy! Also the "Black Diamonds" were regular airshow participants.

My first ever flight was a pleasure flight aboard a "Derby Aviation" DC3 at a cost of 10/6 (real money).

Coming up to date, whilst the activities at the airfield are now restricted to the weekend flying by the Merlin Flying Club and the RRMAC model flyers (7 days/wk) the spirit and atmosphere of this historic airfield is very much alive.

Don't forget that the Merlin club hosts a number of fly-ins during the year and also holds an annual flying display which invariably includes several military aircraft with R-R connections .... I don't think I need to name them all!!

There is a Heritage Centre in the R-R works which houses masses of R-R related artefacts...

http://www.rolls-royce.com/about/who_are/heritagetrust/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A wonderful place!!!

Dave

[NAM Updater]

Also saw the white Vulcan prior to its crash at a Syerston Airshow. The other 2 V-Bombers also made appearances in the late '50's/early '60's.

As an aside, the family of one of the 'Syerston Vulcan' crew members visited Newark Air Museum a couple of weeks ago and went on board XM594 - I'm told this was a very emotional visit for them all!

[Thunderbolt II]

Giv ovver Bollo, its all rait 'up Watnall end ya bogger! I work in Wollaton, so I know all about Bilborough. Thanks for the replies guys- surely someone has some interesting pics?

[old_git]

The most famous use for the Vulcan test bed was of course as a test bed for the Concorde engine flight test programme.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... s%3Disch:1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BOLLO]

Giv ovver Bollo, its all rait 'up Watnall end ya bogger! I work in Wollaton, so I know all about Bilborough. Thanks for the replies guys- surely someone has some interesting pics?

Blimey,posh Wollo hey with all the "cash and carry" owners.

[beefsteak]

As a Carlton (Born and bred, now in Cheshire) Boy , I can catagorically state that Kimberley has never been the same since they closed down their loverly brewery, come to think of it that's probably why I moved!! Best pint of mild in the world!!

Any way I digress:- "When I wurra lad" We used t go t both 'Ucknull and Toller 'un airshows in the 60's and 70's I well remember the "Frighning" doing it's usual , "Approach from behind , on (Seemingly) full chat and scaring the living poo out of us"!!! I also have memories of watching a Mosquito and Messerscmidt doing a mock dog fight from Bullwell Hall Park which must be some where near where "drefaldwyn" originates!!

But there's one thing no one seems to have remembered , and that is the "Flying Testbed" was developed there. There's even a pub nearby (Or was) named after it "The Flying Bedstead." Without that there would be no Harriers!!

[Thunderbolt II]

Probably best avoid 'The Flying Bedstead' is my advice! Its a bit grim. This thread's gone a bit awry hasn't it? Never knew there were so many from Notts on FC. Hope you all support Forest. Still no Hucknall pics tho, I'm amazed!.....

[NAM Updater]

As a follow-up to this education DVD I’m currently working on a new Airfield Trail publication with Notts County Council and the museum.

Similar in format to the NKDC publication the Trail will chart the county’s airfields and aviation memorials. At a meeting last week we had an interesting discussion about the afore mentioned public house and it will be in the ‘memorial section’.

Last week I gave a talk in Southwell and the topic of the Flying Bedstead came up and apparently Rolls-Royce gave some funding to the Holgate School during the late 1950s and some reference to the Flying Bedstead was incorporated into the school logo! Another line of research to be pursued!

Footnote: Hucknall features heavily in the education DVD; both wartime and post-war testing!

[BOLLO]

Probably best avoid 'The Flying Bedstead' is my advice! Its a bit grim. This thread's gone a bit awry hasn't it? Never knew there were so many from Notts on FC. Hope you all support Forest. Still no Hucknall pics tho, I'm amazed!.....

I know my sister had some from then years ago.Will ask if she still has them,ya never know.

[NAM Updater]

I’ve just realised that another former Hucknall VTOL trial aircraft (Meteor FR.9 VZ608 in ‘coal scuttle configuration’) is in the webpage banner (left hand side) on the link – this was rescued from the Hucknall fire dump in 1970 and has featured in the NAM logo ever since!

It will form part of my FC Tour on the 17th!

[NAM Updater]

Earlier on this week I re-visited Hucknall to photograph various memorials for the Aviation Trail that’s being prepared – has anyone else seen the Flying Bedstead sculpture on the roundabout on the A611?

[Thunderbolt II]

Still no pics from fc-ers? Did find this rather exciting pic on airliners. Looks like shows at Hucknall were pretty cool.http://www.airliners.net/photo/Zambia-A ... 0901109/L/