Buccaneer restorations and Frederick Forsyth
Discussion
Just read the book 'The Cobra' by Frederick Forsyth. His style mixes fact with fiction, to the extent that sometimes it's difficult to know whether something he says is actually true, or just invented for the storyline.
In 'The Cobra', he refers to a group of enthusiasts based at RAF Scampton who were (in the story) engaged in the restoration of a couple of Blackburn Buccaneers.
Does anybody know whether anybody at Scampton is indeed restoring Buccaneers - or whether any Buccs are being restored anywhere at all?
Cheers guys.
In 'The Cobra', he refers to a group of enthusiasts based at RAF Scampton who were (in the story) engaged in the restoration of a couple of Blackburn Buccaneers.
Does anybody know whether anybody at Scampton is indeed restoring Buccaneers - or whether any Buccs are being restored anywhere at all?
Cheers guys.
The last I heard Hawker Hunter aviation at Scampton had a Buccaneer, but they concentrate on military contracts and aren't interested in getting it airworthy unless they have some work for it.
http://www.hunterteam.com/aircraft_technical_data....
Apparently they have an SU22 as well.
http://www.hunterteam.com/aircraft_technical_data....
Apparently they have an SU22 as well.
Bruntingthorpe have quite a few "cold war jets" They keep them in running condition and taxi them down the runway a few times a year. Buccaneers,Lightnings,Victor and Nimrod come to mind.
Normally May and August bank holidays.
www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com
Normally May and August bank holidays.
www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com
Edited by MrAndyW on Thursday 13th September 20:31
happygoron said:
Does anyone know what happened to the air worthy buccaneers that were sold following the demise of Thunder City? Though judging by the accident report god knows what state they were in...
I've asked this question a few times on numerous forums - would be a shame to see them a total loss. mattviatura said:
Don't really want to hijack your thread but what did you think of The Cobra?
I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
The Afghan isn't bad though if you're reading, Mr Forsyth.
A bit disappointed, really. I've read all of Forsyth's novels and I think this is one of the worst. The Cobra certainly features Forsyth's trademark obsessive attention to detail even when it's irrelevant to the story - and I do like that aspect of his style, being a fully paid-up pedant - but the story line was weak and repetitive. Whilst the book gave you the feel-good sensation associated with the bad guys getting it between the eyes, that was reversed at the end when the president got cold feet. Loose ends were pretty much tied up, though.I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
The Afghan isn't bad though if you're reading, Mr Forsyth.
Right, as you were, gentlemen.
SVX said:
happygoron said:
Does anyone know what happened to the air worthy buccaneers that were sold following the demise of Thunder City? Though judging by the accident report god knows what state they were in...
I've asked this question a few times on numerous forums - would be a shame to see them a total loss. speedtwelve said:
Funnily enough, here's a Banana Bomber sitting at Scampton a couple of weeks ago. The CAA is decidedly not keen on 'complex' ex-mil fast-jets operating in the UK. Hence we have JPs and Hunters, but no Buccaneers or Lightnings.
If that's the Hawker Hunter Aviation one then.......Hawker Hunter Aviation said:
After in excess of 3250 hours of design verification and critical system analysis work by HHA staff, the aircraft was classified in the BCAR A8-20 'Complex' category and approved for civilian use. It is the first and so far only complex aircraft to have been approved and is the only one of its type to have been cleared to fly in the western hemisphere.
So as mentioned previously if someone were to offer them some work for it who knows!Also, when I was at Bruntingthorpe earlier this year, we were treated to 3 Buc's doing a combined taxi followed by fast runs.
Now that's not something you see everyday!
There's one at my parent's local garage. My Dad wanted to put one in the front garden when they decommissioned the Lossie squadron but it would have been grounds for divorce 
https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=57.663303,-3.312204&...
https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=57.663303,-3.312204&...
gifdy said:
There's one at my parent's local garage. My Dad wanted to put one in the front garden when they decommissioned the Lossie squadron but it would have been grounds for divorce
https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=57.663303,-3.312204&...
Thats awesome https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=57.663303,-3.312204&...
speedtwelve said:
Funnily enough, here's a Banana Bomber sitting at Scampton a couple of weeks ago. The CAA is decidedly not keen on 'complex' ex-mil fast-jets operating in the UK. Hence we have JPs and Hunters, but no Buccaneers or Lightnings.
Yes there was definate talk of them getting it flying again, my dad as an ex-Buccaneer pilot was aware of it. But haven't heard anything recently, perhaps after all the hassle of the Vulcan they knocked it on the head.mattviatura said:
Don't really want to hijack your thread but what did you think of The Cobra?
I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
Exactly this. Reads like a bad 6th form précis of a Forsyth novel. The underlying story and potential intrigue is there, but it's all written in simple declarative sentences of 10syllables or less, grand reveal in 10..9...8.. . 'Forsyth' idea ghostwritten for a DanBrown generation?I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
Total let-down.
Huff said:
mattviatura said:
Don't really want to hijack your thread but what did you think of The Cobra?
I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
Exactly this. Reads like a bad 6th form précis of a Forsyth novel. The underlying story and potential intrigue is there, but it's all written in simple declarative sentences of 10syllables or less, grand reveal in 10..9...8.. . 'Forsyth' idea ghostwritten for a DanBrown generation?I thought it was very, very poor from the man who once brought us The Odessa File, Day of the Jackal and The Fourth Protocol.
Total let-down.
t novels has made Dan Brown a very rich man. Perhaps Freddy has a tax bill to pay?Frederick Forsyth's been on a downward trajectory for decades. First 3 books pretty good, anything after that, missable.
Still, not as awful as Colin Forbes - His first few books were excellent but for 20 years now he's simply released the same one every couple of years with a different title and location...
I'm not sure if these people run out of ideas or just get lazy...
M
Still, not as awful as Colin Forbes - His first few books were excellent but for 20 years now he's simply released the same one every couple of years with a different title and location...
I'm not sure if these people run out of ideas or just get lazy...
M
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