Bruntingthorpe arrivals since 1988

[320psi]

Hi all,

As its abit slow on the Lightnings news front I thought I would put this and the Brunty airshows threads together for your viewing

Airshows coming soon

Right as you already know we took delivery of XR728 on June 24th 1988

One of the first, if not the first privatley owned super sonic jet in the uk, all 16 tons of her



We were pretty much on our own (apart from Nev's collection) for the next 5 years, then a mad Jan in 1993 happened

Jan 23rd 1993



Tails together



And we were a 'two Lightning group'

1993 ended up being a 'big' year at Bruntingthorpe, in Jan we took delivery of 904 and in the middle of March David told us about 'this Vulcan 'thing' that was in the 'offing'.

He invited some of us to join him and his family on the 23rd March to fly over to Waddington to watch 558 leave, so on that windy and cold March morning we arrived early, towed both of ours out to the reception pan and waited for the DC3.

I forgot my camera ! Doh

So brought I disposable one on the way and wasnt happy with it, as it played up all day

Just when you dont want to forget your camera !!!

9am The 'Taxy' arrives



Landed at Waddo



Here she comes



There she goes





And then back to Brunty



I missed the landing as I was fighting with the camera, so just watched it.





When the crowds had gone we got close, even learnt how to attach the tow bar and towed it the next day to the pan where she stood out in the open for a few years







And that unfortunatley is all I got, as the camera kept packing up, but I did have a great day


After lots of digging in the loft I havent found the shots of the Victor landing,

I have the 'landed' ones so these will have to do sorry, its really bugging me to be honest

As I said above 1993 was a busy year, Brunty had her first airshow (big thunder, which I will cover in another thread) in July which was really good fun, with loads of visting aircraft, the two Buccs doing a low level beat up along the length of the runway will stick in my memory for ever

We ran our first 'simulated pairs' take off which was impressive to say the least

Anyway at the end of the year in November we had two aircraft delivered on the same day, the Victor XM715 for Davids BAH collection and the first Camberra XH568 for a private owner (a married couple to be honest), they arrived within an hour of each other, sadly 568 is not longer of this world, she was spares recovered to keep 163 flying and was finally chopped in 2005, her cockpit was saved though.








And the crew handing over the aircraft to the Walton Family
To the left of the pilot is: Liz Walton, Cees Walton (RIP),John Walton, David Walton and Peter Walton



And then the Camberra













Quite a day, and b***** cold as well

Few more coming up
Cheers

[RLN]

Thanks for the pics and commentary, Andy. Fascinating stuff.

[Xplumberlives]

Great stuff as always Andy, thank you!

[320psi]

Thanks, its bringing back some memories for me

Right next lot:

The next two aircaft to be delivered came in the early part of 1994, they were Camberra's WT333 and WK163 brought by a the same couple that bought XH568.,
I had a call from an LPG member to get my self to Brunty quick one morning, made my excues at work and dashed over only to miss 333 landing by a few mins and just got 163 !

163 rolling to a stop as I arrived



333 just taxing into the pan as I turned round



Then later in the day





Then in the spring Brunty had another delivery, a big one

Again I just missed the landing Doh !

This was the famous 747 that was spares recovered then blown up on luggage bay explosion trials, she was finally swept up in about 1999





Now I hope you can forgive me for this little diversion but the first arrival in 1995 was this 'little' lot, x 8 40ft trailor loads rusty steel

Eeeeeeeeeeek !



And by Feb 1995 it was all unloaded, waiting for us to start, those doors in the forground are the ones that are up and being worked on at the mo



Back to the aircraft

The first of 1995 was tristar which came in just before the Guppy, the Tristar was spares recovered and eventually chopped up, she had been 'swept' up by about 2002









In the late spring of 1995 the Guppy arrived, again I just missed the landing by about 30mins, traffic jam on the M1 B***** !



Then 2 weeks before the 1995 Big Thunder Airshow the Swiss Hunter was delivered, this was a hush hush thing and I missed the delivery by a few days, the shot below was taken on the day we helped the guys disarm the seat prior to the airshow.

We learnt all we know about the Hunter that day



1995 was for me a great year at Brunty, In May David held a 40's dance and party in the hangar where 558 now sits, Sally B came in and was positioned inside with the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane either side of her, with the 40's band sat infront, as a celebration of 50 years since VE day, it was an an amazing night, everyone dressed up in the right gear, all sat outside under the tree's eating and drinking from their hammpers then a big band dance, and I didnt take my camera !

The airshow of 95 was the best one for me peronally, clambering over all the visiting aircraft and refueling most of them, great

Then in 1996 the couple who owned the Camberra's brought in their Dove which stayed for a few months the left us





There was then and gap of a year before the two last deliveries which were the Iskra in the spring of 1997 and last but not least the Comet Canopus, again I got a phone call and dashed out of work on a cold October day, as I got there the sun was just going down and she arrived over the hedge, didnt do a go round just straight in and down.

Iskra first



The support 'ship' was the most 'interesting'







Then the Comet on that cold dark October evening





The last delivery was back in 2001 when the latest 747 (with Asda logos now on the side) was delivered, I didnt bother making the journey to see 'her in'.

And that wraps it up for 'flown in's'

All the other aircraft in the collection have been 'roaded in' and put back together over the same period of time that this photo diary spans, some have been brought back to taxying and some as static's.

Oh I forgot there was this one that I missed, a Beech 17 Volpar conversion for the 'Beech boys' which flew the nest for Austraila at the end of 2008

This 'lovely' arrived in Feb 2005










I hope you have all enjoyed this trip of mine down memory lane

Cheers

[Dan4th]

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!

There's about a DAY of DETAILS to look at....

Oh, and who's that LADY in the last shot of 558?

Hubba Hubba!!!!!!!!!

Andrew, you are a MIRACLE, sir....

Dan4th

[Mayfly]

The crew in the last shot of Andys first post is


Barry Masefield AEO, Graham O'Conner NAV, Paul Millikin Pilot & Al Slack NAV - I note DT was missing - probaly chatting up some young lady with a beer in his hand

I THINK the young lady is Graham O'Conners wife, but not certain.

[320psi]

Thanks for that Mayfly always wondered who the lady was

DT was talking to Dave Walton behind me when I took the shot, (so he is not guilty ) dont think there were any full crew shots taken on the day.

They however all came for a pint with us all at the pub in Arnsby village afterwards

Great day

Oh Ive added a shot of the crew from the victor above

[Mayfly]

I think the canberra belonged to Peter Gill but can't remember what his wifes name was [ must be old age]

[320psi]

I think the canberra belonged to Peter Gill but can't remember what his wifes name was [ must be old age]

Mayfly yep your correct, I cant remember his wifes name either, met her so may time as well

[Dan4th]

Can't Possibly be old age, Pam.....

It has to be.....uh.....has to be......uh
.....Y'know! Whaddyacallit!

Danf.

[Mackrick]

Andy thanks for the photo diary of arrivals, as always a joy to see. As I havent been to Brunty in ages I wonder what the current state of the collection there is now (How about a few shots of the collection when you get a spare 5 minutes).

[Gaz]

I remember standing outside watching the Guppy fly in, I've got a couple of photos somewhere, probably at my mums house. I'll see if I can find them

[320psi]

Andy thanks for the photo diary of arrivals, as always a joy to see. As I havent been to Brunty in ages I wonder what the current state of the collection there is now (How about a few shots of the collection when you get a spare 5 minutes).

No worries I enjoyed it as well

Right heres few snaps in no particular order

The Navy Bucc, the first time around,fresh off the back of a lorry, in 1995, she left in about 1998 and returned in around 2003 and is now close to taxying, after alot of time and money



And 3 Harriers that resided with us for a few years before being sold on



And this little beauty, Maurice and Peter Ballyis TR9 Spitfire, she was flown in from Cov in her primer after many years of rebuilding to be resprayed in the 558 hangar into the livery you see her (in fact this shot was taken just before her first flight in this scheme) in 1995, she stayed for a few years, we helped the owners out no end, really interesting to work on a Spit
And they left around 2002/03 she flew to Cov, the gear wouldnt come down due to a loose nut in the gear selector box, the pilot, (Paul Day) put her down nice and gentle, but on her belly, wirting off the prop, which had just been re 'tipped' and shock loading the Merlin, after another rebuild she finally flew to East Kirby where she now resides and is flown reasonably regually

Lovely





The collection from the air in 1995, the semi circle 'RUB' tent in the trees is where our Q shed now stands



The BDR Jaguar when it first arrived in 1999



Comet about the same time



The first Bucc to arrive by road, back in 1994 for Daves CWJ collection



Victor, 2003



Guppy, 2003



Camberra WT333 having a brake change in 2004





Camberra WK163 just after her repaint and new nose in 1998, she left for Cov not long afterwards



Oh and our two, before we had a roof



The 'beech boys' Beech 17 in 2006 which came in on the back of a lorry in 1992, in a right state, they have spent years and I dread to think how much on her since, she is now about 5 years away from flying again



Camberra XH568 with 558 in the back ground in 1995



JP





Victor and Iskra



Oh the Asda 747 in 2005



Vixen



Mystere



Scout



The lastest Hunter a T7 being brought back to life slowly



Navy Bucc have an engine fitted



Later on



The third Camo Bucc, privatley owned and will one day, they hope be brought to taxying state, but if the Navy bucc's progress is owt to go by, its goona be some years away yet





WT333 again



The swiss Hunter



Our two, standing where they stood and we worked for 19 years



Me geting some 'time in' in Ian Wildes Long eze



2008's new comer, the starfighter







Hope your have enjoyed

[Dan4th]

Enjoyed??????????

Hee! Hee! Hee!

A little bit more than that, Andy.....

Danf.

[320psi]

Oh good

Some more snaps ?

Wet miserable day in 2002



Jag again before her 'jaguar' green paint scheme



Hunter, shes needs a run before next Sunday



The Volpar Beech just after her rather fetching paint scheme had been applied and just before she flew off to warmer 'parts' in late 2008, me and Cameron got a 20 minute trip round about with her and her owner, lovely





You know this one









Just a few more, oh look its raining again well I never















Airshow thread coming very soon,

[Wedgy]

Speechless - pictures say a 1000 words. Love these

[Gaz]

Great stuff Andy. Thanks for sharing

[Mackrick]

Fantastic Andy

[Cluny]

Great pics Andy
Btw
The Spit [MJ627] left East Kirkby in 2007

[Jigsaw]

I for one will never tire of this. Thanks as always Andy, keep 'em coming mate

[Hihonyr8811]

Great pics Andy
Btw
The Spit [MJ627] left East Kirkby in 2007

And just to add to that, she's based at RAF Waddington with their flying club (So I read), but is grounded at the moment due to a taxing accident where she lost or damaged a wingtip.


Must agree with everyone else Andy, keep the pics coming, absolutly facinating

[320psi]

Great pics Andy
Btw
The Spit [MJ627] left East Kirkby in 2007

And just to add to that, she's based at RAF Waddington with their flying club (So I read), but is grounded at the moment due to a taxing accident where she lost or damaged a wingtip.


Must agree with everyone else Andy, keep the pics coming, absolutly facinating

Thanks for info Hihonyr, very interesting, shame she has come to grief again,

Maurice Bayliss is a lovely chap