FlyPast - August 2022

118 Pages·2022·26 MB·English

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Welcome
Hello, and welcome to the August issue. If you have had a feature on Ultimate High’s Top Gun dogfighting experience.
flick through the magazine before arriving at this page, Admittedly, the aircraft used for these high adrenalin
you will have seen this month’s ‘Classics’ section shines a pleasure flights fall outside our usual remit, but the
spotlight on the Handley Page Victor. Slightly controversial, experience itself, the combat tactics and formation flying
but I’m going to say it anyway, the Victor has always been my are similar to those used by the fighter pilots of today and
favourite of the V Bombers. Don’t get me wrong, I love the yesteryear, and it’s an interesting read, hence it’s inclusion in
Vulcan, but I’ve always found myself drawn to the Victor. this month’s FlyPast.
Perhaps it’s my love of the underdog and because the Vulcan I’m also of the opinion that by its very nature, the historic
always steals the limelight that I’ve developed a fondness for aviation scene can be a tricky one to participate in. Other
Handley Page’s contribution to Britain’s V Bomber force. I than visiting museums, attending air shows, or becoming an
even owned a large chunk of one for a time, having bought unpaid volunteer, it can be difficult to indulge your passion
an ejection seat at one of Bruntingthorpe’s old Big Thunder and ‘get involved’. Activities like those shown on page 76 are
shows in the late 1990s. an affordable way to experience some of the emotions and
My engineer uncle fabricated a cradle for it so that it could physical activities of those we enjoy reading about today.
still be used as a seat and I employed it as a gaming chair, Keeping history alive and relevant is the only way to pass this
but like any young male, such toys had to go when I moved in knowledge on to the next generation.
with my girlfriend and it was sold – for just a few hundred
pounds – to a chap on eBay who planned to install it on his
trike for his wife to sit on. I’m sure he appreciated the joke
more than she did. James Peene
Another slightly controversial choice this month is the Editor
A majestic image of a Handley Page Victor against the backdrop of a fabulous cloudscape. I often think that the cockpit and front design
resemble those of the Ming Bomber from the 1930s Flash Gordon movie series KEY ARCHIVE
[email protected]
Editor James Peene GENERAL ENQUIRIES TO: damage incurred. All items submitted for publication at additional mailing offi ces. Periodicals Postage Paid at
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August 2022FlyPast 3
6 Gallery
Elvington’s Handley Page Victor FlyPast Classics
XL231 Lusty Lindy
HANDLEY PAGE VICTOR
10 Hurricane pair
Darren Harbar describes a 50 V for Victory
fantastic opportunity for warbird The third of Britain’s fabled
experience lovers – getting V-bombers performed an essential
airborne in a two-seat Hurricane role in the Falklands War, keeping
alongside a second example of the Avro Vulcans and a host of other
Hawker classic aircraft in the campaign. Tanker
versions of the long-lived type
20 Cockpit even served in the first Gulf War.
In our regular Cockpit section In two features, Glenn Sands
The sight of two Hawker Hurricanes we bring you the latest historic describes the genesis of this
airborne together is special enough, and aircraft and restoration news, plus successful and distinctive aircraft
even more so now that you can fl y in images from the archive, and event and examines its crucial role in
one of them DARREN HARBAR
reports. This month we celebrate the South Atlantic. Our regular
the return to flight of several Classics section also includes
FlyPast, ISSN 0262-6950 (USPS 6118) is published
significant warbirds exclusive Victor profile artwork
monthly by Key Publishing, PO Box 100, Stamford,
Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ, United Kingdom. from Andy Hay
The US annual subscription price is $72.99. 36 FlyPost
Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named
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Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid
at Brooklyn, NY 11256 40 Fortress Malta
US Postmaster: Send address changes to FlyPast,
WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, With this year marking the 80th
Jamaica, NY 11434, USA.
anniversary of Operation Pedestal,
Subscription records are maintained at Key
Publishing, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, Joseph Galea Debono details the
PE9 1XQ, United Kingdom. incredible operation to resupply
Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent.
the strategically significant island
BELOW: The Canadian Warplane Heritage
Museum’s Fairey Firefl y WH632 recently
ran its engine for the fi rst time in eight
years. See Cockpit News DEREK MICKELOFF
CoAUnGUSTt 202e2 ntNos 493
68 Argus farewell
Tony Fairbairn was on hand
to witness the final operations
of ‘Rumbleguts’, the Royal
Canadian Air Force’s Canadair
Argus, as the fleet prepared to
fly into the history books
76 Combat school
Dogfighting for pleasure? It’s a
possibility at Goodwood. Luke
Bimm straps in with Ultimate
High flying experiences for a
Top Gun style adventure
86 Testing times
In the first of a two-part
feature, Nigel Gibson reflects
on the role of Hucknall’s Flight
Test Establishment and its
relationship with Rolls-Royce,
both before and during
World War Two ABOVE: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 410077 104 Tank busters
made its fi rst fl ight in more than 75 years This year marks the 80th
92 Wings of salvation on May 24. See page 20MARTHA MARTIN- anniversary of the climactic
MIDWEST AERO RESTORATIONS
The horrors of war sometimes Battle of El Alamein in North
led to aircraft being given a Africa. Andrew Thomas reflects
more positive use, bringing than 75 years old. Robin Evans on the role played by Hawker
aid to the isolated. The Mission and Darren Harbar recount its Hurricane ‘tank busters’ from
Aviation Fellowship is now more fascinating history the RAF’s 6 Squadron
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August 2022FlyPast 5
Gallery
6 FlyPast August 2022
‘Lusty Lindy’
An atmospheric night shot of
Handley Page Victor K.2 XL231
Lusty Lindy, an airframe that’s
preserved in ‘live’ condition at
Elvington, Yorkshire.
Lusty Lindy joined 139
Squadron on February 1, 1962,
returning to Handley Page for
conversion to become a B(S.R)
Mk 2 variant in November
1963. It went on to join the
Wittering Wing in July 1964.
It was converted to become
the prototype K.2 tanker on
January 23, 1972, and saw
service in the Falklands
conflict (in support of air
operations from Ascension
Island) and in the Gulf War.
In November 1993, it was
flown into retirement at
the Yorkshire Air Museum,
where it is kept in ground
operational condition.
Handley Page Victor XL231 at the
Yorkshire Air Museum PETER LANE/ALAMY
August 2022 FlyPast 7
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200/22
TWO-SEATER HURRICANE
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HHHEEEAAAVVVEEENNN
As a Hawker Hurricane superfan, Darren Harbar never thought he’d
achieve his ultimate ambition of flying in the famous fighter, let alone in
formation with another. That lifetime ambition has now been achieved
thanks to a new proposition from Hurricane Heritage
10 FlyPastAugust 2022