RED ARROWS DISPLAY TEAM.

Officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. They are based at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, England. The Red Arrows trademark formation is the Diamond Nine Formation. They initially flew Folland Gnat Trainers. In late 1979 they switched to the BAE Hawk Trainer aircraft. There are nine pilots and 91 support members. I took these photographs at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire in 2007 and they are the first photographs I have taken of aircraft in flight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TONG CHURCH.

Saint Bartholomew`s church at Tong is over 600 years old. This notable landmark is often described as "The Westminster Abbey of the Midlands". The church appears in Simon Jenkins Thousand best churches in England and is one of the very few grade I listed churches in Shropshire, England. St Bartholomew`s church is also recognised as the setting for the closing chapters of Charles Dickens " The Old Curiosity Shop". Despite the significance of the churches heritage, Tong is only a tiny parish with less than 200 inhabitants. As well as being a significant example of early fifteenth century architecture, the church contains the tombs of many members of the Vernon family. It has retained numerous original features including 16 choir stalls with Misericords, the original chancel screens and pews, a fine 16th century chantry chapel and the tomb to Sir Thomas Stanley with an epitaph written for him by William Shakespeare. It`s unusually shaped tower contains, among others the Great Bell of Tong , which is the largest bell in Shropshire. On the day we visited the church was closed, so was unable to photograph the lovely interior. Maybe we will go back another time.

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance Gate into the church grounds.

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A beautiful stone carving.

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Stone ruins. Not certain what they were, probably from the castle that once stood there.

 

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AIRCRAFT #1.

 

MIKOYAN - GUREVICH  MIG - 27 FLOGGER 71.

 

Ground attack fighter.

 

Built in the 1970s. Entered service in the mid 1970s. Carries a crew of one, Max speed:- Mach 1.7, Range:- 805 miles, Service ceiling :- 61,000 feet, This aircraft is powered by one Turmansky R-29B Turbojet rated at 12,310 KGP ( 27,000lbs ) static thrust with afterburner. It was designed to carry a total of sixteen 550lb bombs.

 

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MIKOYAN - GUREVICH  MIG-23 FLOGGER 07.



 



Air combat fighter.

 

Built in the late 1960s. Entered service in the early 1970s. Carried a crew of one. Max speed:-Mach 2.35. Range:- 805 miles. Service ceiling:- 61,000feet. This aircraft is powered by one Turmansky R-29B Turbojet rated at 27,000ibs static thrust with afterburner. It could be fitted with one 23mm twin barrel gun, four weapon pylons for rocket packs and air to air missiles.

 

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WESTLAND WESSEX HC. MK2 XV728.



 Military Transport Helicopter.

Aircrew:-2, Max speed:- 132mph, Range:- 478miles, Service ceiling:-10,000feet, Loaded weight:- 8,657lbs, Rotor Dia:- 56feet, Length:- 65feet-9inches, Height:- 16feet-2inches, Armament:- provision for SS.11 air to surface missiles, torpedoes, rocket launchers and machine guns. Power plant:- two coupled Rolls-Royce Bristol gnome mk 110/111 shaft turbines rated at 1,350 s.h.p.

 

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SAAB S-35XD DRAKEN AR-107.

 

Photographic Reconnaissance Fighter.

 

Aircrew:- one. Max speed:- 1,320mph. Range:- 2,020 miles. Service ceiling:- 60,500 feet. Loaded weight:- 27,557lbs. Span:- 30feet-11inches. Length:- 50feet-4inches. Height:- 12feet-10inches. Armament:- two 30mm cannons, four air to air missiles or bombs. Power plant:- one Volvo RM6C engine rated at 17,262lbs static thrust with afterburner.

 

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HANDLEY-PAGE HASTINGS T.5 TG517.

 

Multi-purpose transport/training aircraft.

 

Flew for the first time during 1948. Delivered to RAF Kemble in July 1948. Carried a crew of five plus up to 50 passengers. Max speed:- 348mph. Range:- 4,250 miles. Service ceiling:- 26,500 feet. The aircraft is powered by four Bristol Hercules 106 radial engines, each developing 1,675 HP. The aircraft did not carry any armament but in addition to its internal load could carry two landrovers slung under the fuselage. The Randome seen here was a later addition when the aircraft was used to train Vulcan crew.

 

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MK.1 MECHANICAL HANDLER (mini-horse).

 

This pedestrian controlled vehicle was used for towing ground equipment up to 15 tons in weight. It consists of a three wheeled chassis on which a Coventry Victor AD 3.6 HP air-cooled diesel engine provides the drive to two rear wheels via a three speed/reverse gearbox and differential unit. Transmission is through an automatic centrifugal clutch. Steering is controlled by a pivoted tiller arm on the front wheel and incorporates the throttle control squeeze lever which, when released, reduces engine speed to a tick over and automatically disengages the clutch. Hydraulic brakes on the rear wheels are applied by the tiller.

 

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BLUE STEEL.

 

air to surface missile, speed mach 2.5, range 200 miles. This was the Nuclear "Stand Off" weapon carried by V-bomber aircraft like the Vulcan. It was fitted with a B.S Stentor rocket motor and an Elliot inertial control system for driving moving foreplanes and elevons.

 

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YELLOW SUN.

 

This was Britains first H-bomb with the tail fin fitted it was 21 feet long and with a weight of 7,250lbs. It had a yield of 500KT but was never used and was withdrawn from service in 1970.

 

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BLACKBURN BUCCANEER S.1 XN964.

 

Maritime strike/ reconnaissance aircraft.

 

Flew for the first time on the 21st July 1963. Entered service with 801 squadron in 1964. Carried a crew of two. Max speed:- 646mph.Range:- 4,000 miles. Service ceiling:- 40,000 feet. This aircraft is powered by two Bristol-Siddeley Gyron Junior 101 Turbojets, each rated at 7,100lbs static thrust. Its armament consisted of a bomb bay with a capacity for 4,000lbs total weight of bombs, plus 3,000lbs of bombs carried on each of four external wing pylons. The aircraft is also equipped for air to air refuelling.

 

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LOCKHEED T.33A  51-9036.

 

Tandem two-seat dual control advanced trainer.

 

Left the Lockheed factory in April 1953. Entered service with Armee Del Air in 1954. Carried a crew of two. Max speed:- 600 mph. Range:- 1,345 miles. Service ceiling:- 47,500 feet. The aircraft is powered by an Allison 723 - A35 Turbojet rated at 4,600lbs static thrust. For armament it could be fitted with two 12.7mm M.3 Machine guns.









 









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MONSALE DALE - Derbyshire UK.

is a valley in the Peak District of Derbyshire, England. In geological history this area of Derbyshire was long ago under water, and is formed from a subsequent uplift of resultant sedimentary deposits, known as the Derbyshire Dome. Overlying sandstone and shale have been eroded away, exposing the underlying  limestone which forms the basis of the area today, which is consequently known as the Whitepeak. Monsal Dale is a site of special scientific interest ( SSSI ). The local landmark is the Headstone Viaduct, built by the Midland Railway, over the river Wye. The headstone viaduct is 300 feet long, with five 50 foot span arches, some forty feet high at the centre. The viaduct no longer has trains going over it, it is now used by ramblers and cyclists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The river Wye.

 

 

The headstone viaduct.

 

 

 

A close up of the farm you could see in the first photograph.

 

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