Warbird Information Exchange

I believe I stated if I found something worth posting I'd post it for the folks here who appreciate them. Courtesy of an ebay listing here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/lestirebouchons ... pg=&_from=
"Photos from a large collection from a deceased RAF officer's estate and is marked on the back "Ministry of Technology Photographic Division"
There's some information that goes along with each photo on the ebay link above.
Some really interesting stuff.

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Zero Surprise!!...

Great pics thanks second pic down looks like a T6 with flame arestors wonder why they did that. Wish they would spell check on this site I really need it

Many thanks Mr. Hood You're alllllright

Behind the Flame arrestor Harvard is the "Slip wing" Hurricane.

Picture 8 is a...... ........I have no idea.

Picture 14 is a....... ........what the F??

Thanks for stealing from the rich and giving to us poor WIXers.

Andy

Is that B-25G in full RAF camo and markings? I don't believe I've ever seen THAT before.

I believe picture 14 is a Short Sturgeon. Picture 8 says "Boulton Paul" to me for some reason but that's just a wild guess.

Is picture 12 a Bristol Bombay?

The early ones appear to be taken at Boscombe Down (Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment -from memory) The "Boulton Paul" is a Martin Baker MB 2. The J serialled pre-war aircraft I'd have to look up.

Pic #8 is Martin-Baker MB2

https://oldmachinepress.wordpress.com/2 ... baker-mb2/


(Edit: Doh! I should really read the previous posts sometimes...or get more sleep)

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Martin-Baker M.B.2! Thanks for that. I also guessed it had Kestrel power but was wrong there as well (apparently it's a Napier Dagger).

Martin-Baker sure built some fine looking hot rods over the years.

Thanks Mr. Hood! Pic 11 is interesting, looks like the gear was an afterthought...

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Always looking for P-51D parts.

Well, it kinda' was - you're probably more used to seeing it in its intended seaplane version - it's a Curtiss SO3C Seamew:

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“To invent the airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything!” - Otto Lilienthal

Natasha: "You got plan, darling?"
Boris: "I always got plan. They don't ever work, but I always got one!"

Remember, any dummy can be a dumb-ass...
In order to be a smart-ass, you first have to be "smart"
and to be a wise-ass, you actually have to be "wise"

I agree with PropsRule that #14 is a Shorts Sturgeon, specifically a T.T.2, which would date to 1949-1953 or so. There is a photo of one in flight on page 416 of Shorts Aircraft since 1900 by C. H. Barnes.

Randy

No, it's short-nosed, cannon-armed G, with 2 .50s exactly where they should be. I've just never seen one of those associated with RAF before.

..and interesting to see it's got a belly turret. I thought they did away with those early in the C/D production, before the G came along.

SN

Whats with the Martlet's exhaust? And I like the tiny mirror on top!!

Close... The Noorduyn-built Harvard Mk IIb was known as the AT-16 on USAAF books as most of them were paid for through Lend-Lease funds.
The RAF still referred to them as the Harvard IIb though

This particular Harvard (FE788) was built by Noorduyn in Montreal for the RAF and was shipped directly to the UK.
She was used at Boscombe Down for 'flame-dampening trials' using a Hedgehog exhaust pipe. (hence the 'P' for prototype on the fuselage)
Anyone who has seen a Harvard/T-6/SNJ flying in the dark can attest to the blue flame from the exhaust, which over wartime England wouldn't have been the most welcome sight while sitting in the cockpit.

Interestingly, there is a Harvard currently painted in these markings (minus the 'P' and the Hedgehog exhaust) flying out of Biggin Hill.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/texanreg ... f3064.html

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