500mph Mustang pass…
Discussion
I had my doubts, but it sure looks like it, Steve Hinton at the controls.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/pgsZotADkihgJ3eg/...
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/pgsZotADkihgJ3eg/...
Edited by tdm34 on Wednesday 2nd October 07:04
Tony1963 said:
tdm34 said:
That Merlin sound, sounds like it's absolutely on the edge, what a motor!
Yep. Certainly exposes the BBMF as gently nursing their engines around the airshow circuit. Still, not long til they are disbanded. 
.....and running some pretty special fuels as well.Sadly, yes, I am also expecting there will likely be an announcement regarding BBMF over this winter in the wake of their first crew loss back in spring.
I was surprised that they flew the Lanc again so late in this years season, and especially as its also Merlin equipped, so they must know the reason for the problems with the Mk.9 that crashed, and its therefore not a Merlin specific reason other wise the Lanc wouldn't have been cleared to return to fly, which doesn't bode well for them flying the fighters again.
aeropilot said:
Sadly, yes, I am also expecting there will likely be an announcement regarding BBMF over this winter in the wake of their first crew loss back in spring.
I was surprised that they flew the Lanc again so late in this years season, and especially as its also Merlin equipped, so they must know the reason for the problems with the Mk.9 that crashed, and its therefore not a Merlin specific reason other wise the Lanc wouldn't have been cleared to return to fly, which doesn't bode well for them flying the fighters again.
The Lanc flew late because of the planned work they were doing on it which included making brand new tail planes and the Mk.XIX flew again today, harldy the acts of a team who think they’ll be disbanded or are you going to suggest they’ll only fly the Lanc, two PR Spitfires and a Dakota in future?I was surprised that they flew the Lanc again so late in this years season, and especially as its also Merlin equipped, so they must know the reason for the problems with the Mk.9 that crashed, and its therefore not a Merlin specific reason other wise the Lanc wouldn't have been cleared to return to fly, which doesn't bode well for them flying the fighters again.
There’s been one article by a random bloke who wants to sound like he knows what he’s talking about because he worked within the BBMF 30 odd years ago and people are taking it as gospel
I’ll happily put money (to an aviation charity) on nothing happening to the BBMF over the winter/next 12 months
zsdom said:
aeropilot said:
Sadly, yes, I am also expecting there will likely be an announcement regarding BBMF over this winter in the wake of their first crew loss back in spring.
I was surprised that they flew the Lanc again so late in this years season, and especially as its also Merlin equipped, so they must know the reason for the problems with the Mk.9 that crashed, and its therefore not a Merlin specific reason other wise the Lanc wouldn't have been cleared to return to fly, which doesn't bode well for them flying the fighters again.
The Lanc flew late because of the planned work they were doing on it which included making brand new tail planes and the Mk.XIX flew again today, harldy the acts of a team who think they’ll be disbanded or are you going to suggest they’ll only fly the Lanc, two PR Spitfires and a Dakota in future?I was surprised that they flew the Lanc again so late in this years season, and especially as its also Merlin equipped, so they must know the reason for the problems with the Mk.9 that crashed, and its therefore not a Merlin specific reason other wise the Lanc wouldn't have been cleared to return to fly, which doesn't bode well for them flying the fighters again.
There’s been one article by a random bloke who wants to sound like he knows what he’s talking about because he worked within the BBMF 30 odd years ago and people are taking it as gospel
And I know why the Lanc was delayed, but the fact that it has been cleared to fly (same engines as the non-Griffon Spits) and the Griffon engine Spit has been flown, but NOT the Merlin Spits or the Hurri's does create an question mark over why they are still grounded, or were for whole season, so either single seat Merlin systems related issue, rather a type issue, as Hurri's could be cleared to fly if so, or a Merlin specific issue, as Lanc is cleared to fly.
And if they are waiting for SI/BOI or whatever its called these days, it could well be that next year it still will only be just the Lanc, (and Dak hopefully) and the Mk.XIX flying.....(depending on what swathing cuts are applied to the defence budget next month of course which could affect RAFT as well as BBMF)
I think eventually we'll have to face the facts that these 80-85 year old warhorses - which were designed for a life of maybe six months - will need to be retired. I'm glad the BBMF haven't ragged the nuts off them or they'd have been gone many decades ago and we'd never have seen them in the air.
I think the USA safety record says all you need to know about their operation of classic aircraft compared to the rest of the world
I’m glad the majority of operators here turn the wick down as such
I dont think warbirds will be retired eventually, if anything the opposite will happen. When I was part of a podcadt with Richard Grace last year he said (not in do many words) that restorations & operations are the best they’ve ever been due to modern technologies, some restorers are even taking on apprentices to maintain & enhance the skills needed
I’m glad the majority of operators here turn the wick down as such
I dont think warbirds will be retired eventually, if anything the opposite will happen. When I was part of a podcadt with Richard Grace last year he said (not in do many words) that restorations & operations are the best they’ve ever been due to modern technologies, some restorers are even taking on apprentices to maintain & enhance the skills needed
Edited by zsdom on Thursday 3rd October 21:38
Simpo Two said:
Given sufficient funds you could of course build an entire replica warbird from scratch, including a replica engine, but it would only be a copy.
The three recent MK.1 Spitfire 'restorations' have been exactly that other than the engines, and minor parts.......many of the P-51's flying again, are exactly that as well.The biggest issue facing flying warbirds is fuel, with more and more of the GA world moving away from 100LL, there will be a point where environmental pressures, and the lack of volume demand will mean the fuel companies will say its no longer economically viable to continue to make.
I remember BBMF saying back in the 1990's that they thought that would likely be around the mid 2040's, but it maybe earlier than that now.
One of the big drivers behind the ending of the BBMF is that the RAF has been found, yet again, to be falling short of what is required. The findings of the investigation could well be quite scathing, and a few shiny careers will be stopped in their tracks.
One possible get out for the RAF: the MAA is still populated by ex-RAF officers. And that, post-Nimrod disaster, was exactly what investigators were trying to get away from.
I’m not blaming the techies here, I’ve worked with a few, and they were excellent, thorough, safe. But the culture appears to be wrong, in a similar way to how the culture at the Red Arrows was wrong.
One possible get out for the RAF: the MAA is still populated by ex-RAF officers. And that, post-Nimrod disaster, was exactly what investigators were trying to get away from.
I’m not blaming the techies here, I’ve worked with a few, and they were excellent, thorough, safe. But the culture appears to be wrong, in a similar way to how the culture at the Red Arrows was wrong.
Tony1963 said:
One of the big drivers behind the ending of the BBMF is that the RAF has been found, yet again, to be falling short of what is required. The findings of the investigation could well be quite scathing, and a few shiny careers will be stopped in their tracks.
One possible get out for the RAF: the MAA is still populated by ex-RAF officers. And that, post-Nimrod disaster, was exactly what investigators were trying to get away from.
I’m not blaming the techies here, I’ve worked with a few, and they were excellent, thorough, safe. But the culture appears to be wrong, in a similar way to how the culture at the Red Arrows was wrong.
Indeed, its the clusterfOne possible get out for the RAF: the MAA is still populated by ex-RAF officers. And that, post-Nimrod disaster, was exactly what investigators were trying to get away from.
I’m not blaming the techies here, I’ve worked with a few, and they were excellent, thorough, safe. But the culture appears to be wrong, in a similar way to how the culture at the Red Arrows was wrong.
k that the MOD/RAF MAA has become as shown in several recent events regarding the Reds and other losses, not to mention hanging Martin Baker out to dry, instead of the VSO's responsible for the mess, that will as you say, be the likely ending of BBMF. There’s no evidence or suggestions the BBMF will be disbanded other than people & their ‘trust me bro, I’m clever’ type of attitudes that flows through the hobby
The facts are they’re still flying, they’re still restoring aircraft & contracting out major work. They wouldnt be doing that if they’re going to be disbanded.
The facts are they’re still flying, they’re still restoring aircraft & contracting out major work. They wouldnt be doing that if they’re going to be disbanded.
aeropilot said:
The biggest issue facing flying warbirds is fuel, with more and more of the GA world moving away from 100LL, there will be a point where environmental pressures, and the lack of volume demand will mean the fuel companies will say its no longer economically viable to continue to make.
Where's Rod Banks when you need him eh?Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff