Sunday 9 October 2016

Battle of Britain Bunker - Uxbridge

During the Summer, I visited the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge. Sited on the old RAF Uxbridge Camp. You may remember the scene in the film, Battle of Britain. Where Churchill was chewing on a cigar and was told that ALL the fighter aircraft were up, to combat the approaching German bombers and fighters. It was not actually filmed in the Bunker but carefully recreated in a studio. Sir Winston Churchill was not actually allowed to light his cigar for safety reasons although the Bunker had and still has a very effective air conditioning unit. It can recycle the air in a couple of minutes. Pretty good even for the present day. It is a bit of a challenge to find the building where the entrance to the Bunker is located, but well worth it. Rather than an RAF camp, the whole area is a housing development with houses in various stages of completion.

Once I had found the entrance to the Bunker, which is 60 feet below ground, I had to go down 78 steps to get to it. Of course the problem is returning up them, not going down. The Bunker was built by the Sir Robert McAlpine company. The plans, out of necessity were kept secret.

It was from here that Number 11 Group, led by Sir Keith Park was directed. At the forefront of the battle against the attacking German aircraft.

As Sir Winston Churchill famously said,"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few."

To visit where the few were directed, one has to telephone and arrange a visit, entrance is free.

 
The operations room.
 
 
Here am I imagining I am directing the traffic.
 
 
"Yes Prime Minister, they are all up, everything, no reserves!"
A view from the balcony
 
There is a fascinating museum in the Bunker
 
 
The Fuehrer is looking over your shoulder Fritz !
 
The newspaper says,"The Fuehrer has fallen!"
An actual sign from the prison castle 'Colditz'
Some of the still functioning air conditioning
"I say corporal, you look a bit pale, have you seen a ghost?"
A Hurricane from the Polish Squadron

Spitfire MK9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 30 September 2016

Three Runways - Extra !

If the statistics for future air traffic provided by Roll-Royce are to be believed. The future of airports in South East England will require an extra three runways, not just one.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted will all require approval for an extra runway. Not just Heathrow. With initially a fast rail link between Heathrow and Gatwick.


This view has been strongly echoed by Michael O'Leary, boss of Ryanair, a heavy Stansted user. O'Leary said that three extra runways will resolve the capacity for the next 50 years, while the competition between airports will stop,"passengers being ripped off by 'gold-plated monopoly' runways.
O'Leary went further,"We'll have more capacity to grow, fares will fall and in a declining fare environment, we'll win. He exclaimed.

Michael O'Leary has strong views on residents:
"It's going to happen; three more runways, Heathrow,Gatwick and Stansted. Residents shouldn't be allowed to block expansion, it's ridiculous. You choose to be a resident under the flight path. If you bought a house beside Heathrow, you knew where it was. If you're not happy, move ! All the houses next to the airport have risen in value over the past 10 years. Move!"
Pretty strong stuff from Mr O'Leary, but he happens to be right. Jet aircraft were using Heathrow long before most moved in around the airport. It seems the deal is; move near an airport, then pretend one doesn't know it's there and complain.
 
Extra runways will also remove the fight and scramble for extra slots. Aircraft will get down quicker and not be required to hold so much waiting to land. Things will be freed up and speeded up.

Businesses get impatient with runway decision delay.

Delays on a new runway decision are costing the UK up to £1m an hour


 
 
 
 
 


 


 
 
 
 

 

Sunday 4 September 2016

Farnborough Air Show 2016, a critique

Farnborough 2016, it was moved from September to July a few years back to get the better weather. All they did was curse July with a week of bad weather. This year was no better. On the Monday it rained so hard the chalets were flooded out. I went on the Wednesday believing that Wednesday was still themed as 'Military Day' - wrong ! However I waited and sat in the F-35B mock-up. The man from Lockheed supervising the visitors was a little purturbed when I asked did the engine still cause cracks in the bulkhead and did it stop being stealth when it rained ? Or, did the engine melt decks when it landed vertically ? Oh well it's a snip for £120 million a piece.
During the afternoon I was walking around the flight line wondering why there were so many people about ? On the horizon was a dirty black cloud moving ominously toward us. Nobody seemed to notice or care. I made it post haste to the chalets. Soon after I got under cover, thunder and lightning, then the heavens opened and it was Noah's Ark time.
After some very noisy rain on the chalets a huge roar happened. From the shelter of a chalet door I saw that Boeing had launched the F-18 Super Hornet for a display. Still heavy cloud and rain. I t didn't seem to bother the F-18, which put on a good and noisy display despite the weather. No F35B you may ask ? Well no sign of the new super machine. Hiding under a large umbrella somewhere no doubt?
Clever marketing from Boeing,"Our fighter flies in all weathers, what about yours ??"
 
I returned on the Friday and the F-35B flew this time. Heralded as the one size fits all, I was interested to watch the machine perform. An American military man took control of the microphone to address the enthusiastic throng. Well he sounded pretty enthusiastic anyway. "Now the F-35B will execute a tight turn." He enthused. It took most of the airfield to turn. I wondered how it would deal with the Sukhoi 27-35 series aircraft and the later Mig-29s ? They can turn on a sixpence and do some unsual standing still and tailsliding manoeuvres. Apparently upsetting any tracking doppler radars.
Here is a short video I took with an old camera, a bit of camera shake I'm afraid:-
 
"The pilot only needs to press a single button in the cockpit, and the aircraft lands itself, VTOL style!" Our American cousin purred. The F-35B has AI, 'artificial intelligence'. Very advanced computing, yet this should should be able to go into any fly-by-wire/light fighter ? For somewhat less cost than the F-35B ?
Well, less of the crtiticism of the F-35B, time will tell. Here is another short video of a vertical hover. It cannot tilt and bow to the crowd in acknowledgement as the Harrier does.
 
 
 
London City Airport is one of my favourite places to fly from. It has in the past been restricted to distance and payload of its routes because of the short length of the runway and the 5.5 degree glideslope approach. The only exception being British Airways BA1 to New York. This flight, using an Airbus A318, routes via Shannon in Eire, where the passengers clear US immigration and customs while the aircraft is refueled for the Transatlantic crossing. Landing in New York as a domestic flight. No waiting in queues for the passengers. Just staight through and out. On the return the aircraft is light enough on arrival to fly New York(JFK) London City direct.
 
A new aircraft has appeared on the scene that may very well be a game changer, it is the Bombardier 'C' series. The CS100 will open up routes from London City that previously were not possible. With seating up to 130 pax, it had a difficult period of inception to begin with, problems in configuration, finance etc, but now it has arrived with its new Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G. A light structure from composite materials and aluminium-lithium. Quiet engines with low emissions mean it has a range of 2,350 nm range from London City. I shall be watching its progress. Swiss Lines have just recieved their first aircraft.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The German Dornier 728/928 series of Regional aircraft showed much promiss. Then Dornier had financial difficulties and the Dornier 728/928 went the way of the Dodo.
The new Sukhoi SuperJet 100 appears to be a resurrection of the Dornier project. City Jet of Eire have ordered 13 and received 2. Eventually they will replace the Avro RJ85, an aircraft of which I am personally fond. The Russian Sukhoi carries 98 pax as against the RJ85's 95.
 
 

Sukhoi SuperJet 100
 
 
Here is elegance, the Airbus A350-900 XWB. At the moment it is rarely seen at Heathrow, whereas the Boeing B787 is a common sight. I believe the A350 to be a better aircraft on all counts, but Boeing have produced their aircraft in greater numbers and more quickly.
 
Airbus A350 
 
Here's the big brother, the A380, to which I have nicknamed 'Deux Ponts' after an earlier double decked Breguet aircraft.
Here is an interesting military aircraft, the Airbus A400M Atlas. Some are arguing it falls between two stools. Too big for some missions, not quite big enough for others. Well it is here and looks a useful piece of kit.
 
 
A400M Atlas
 
Here is a genuine replacement for the Lockheed C-130J Hercules, the Brasilian Embraer KC-390. When I visited where the aircraft was parked, there was a number of senior RAF personnel having an invited look. I wonder ??
 
 
 
Embraer KC-390
 
Here is a strange one. The Antonov AN-178, it has a bit of a hump back.
 
The Boeing P8 Poseidon, I would have preferred the Kawasaki P-1. Four engines are better than two for marine patrol.
The Red Arrows did a fly past, then another with the A350. That was it. No more excellent displays at airfield airshows.
Here is real beauty, the vintage De Havilland DH 89A Rapide.
The A350 waves good-bye to the end of another Farnborough in the rain.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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A Radio Station for Heathrow ?


This evening I went to a ‘Back Heathrow’ reception at the Hilton Syon Park.
As, a Heathrow supporter. I strongly emphasised the need for communication.
I proposed a Radio Station for Heathrow.
It would update flights, cancellations on a reg
ular basis.
Plus, it would have travel programmes, like Simon Calder’s travel show on LBC. Question and answer.
It would be a genuinely community radio for Heathrow.
Advertising jobs etc.
There would be interviews with workers and general travel interest .
Through the small hours it would play rock and jazz for everybody to listen.
Heathrow FM/Digital. Would, be an essential service for passengers and workers alike.
It would be a communication vessel for all London, and people that need to know what is going on at Heathrow.
It would also be entertaining.
It would be Heathrow, the best radio station in London. Serving London’s needs.


Simon Calder the premier travel journalist.

Virgin Atlantic Airlines

TripAdvisor

I back Heathrow !














 
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Thursday 23 June 2016

World Tavel Market 2015

The Air Stewardess in the picture kindly allowed me to take a live photo of her.
 
 
 
The cable car gives some great views. A little disconcerting however when it stops half way across and one is left  dangling there.
 
The excellent London City Airport can be viewed from the cable car. The only airport with an 0207 telephone prefix.
 
Sadly this model of a Boeing B777-300 was stolen one evening.
 
Hot curry sir ?
 
 
 
Mexican Mariachi players - great sound.
 
 
Etihad stewardesses are sometimes Italian. Mama Mia !
 
 
Going to the Carnival Bolivia ?
 
 
Nice little ship for a cruise.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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