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[FRE07962128]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

It was actually called the beast.

It was built by an Autobox Specialist called John Dodd I think was his name.

I had a write up of it in a magazine called speed and power.  One day he was going down the M1 @ 110 mph when he saw a Ferrari 512 BB catch up with him.  He floored it and you dont eed an explanation of what happened next.

It red lined at 2650 rpm, cruised at 107 mph @ 1250 rpm in 2nd gear and if he dropped it into 3rd he had to be doing 125 mph.

Rolls Royce took him to court for using the grill, there was also an issue about parking tickits as it took up 2 spaces, so he turned up to court having it towed by a donkey that crapped every where.


There was also a Capri bodied 27 Litre monster, same issue with the roller grill.  Got pulled for going the wrong way on a German one way street, put it in reverse and got done for speeding    

You are right of course Skruntie; it is just me showing my affection for this great car and the Merlin engine, both legends in their life time!

I was told two years back by someone apparently 'in the know' that after the car was burnt out abroad (in the 1980s?) Rolls Royce grabbed back the engine, shipped it to their Derby site where it is still held.  Can you Skruntie or anyone confirm this or explain what actually transpired please? :-/ :-/   Photo's would be nice.

[FRE07962128]

Lizzie, you are a woman of hidden depths.Never knew that you were so up on aviation. We get all sorts of winged exotica flying over us here in Lincolnshire.

Oh yes, with a father in the RN for 26 years from 1940, who still lives and breathes military history, I grew up surrounded by what many people would consider 'big boy toys', but as a girl I just loved the beauty and emotional elements surrounding ship, planes, trains, and cars along with the historical facts I now thrive on!

One of my best childhood experiences (with planes at least) was spending a few hours in the RAF control tower at Luqa air base / airport with my father (who had friends in the RAF) and watching Vulcan's that were taking part in exercises landing and taking off at close quarters.

As for Lincolnshire Optimist, it was the home of many wartime bases for both RAF Bomber Command and the US 8th Army Air Corp, with a very special place now in aviation history!

By the way in my original posting I mentioned the B24, when I should have stated the B29's, one of which carried the new weapon of mass destruction, the atomic bomb, to the Japaneses cities of Hiroshima  and then Nagasaki on the 5th and 9th of August, respectively, in 1945.

[FRE07962128]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

I will mention that to my dad tomorrow !!!!  He was one of the "handsome heroes"    Up until a few years ago his was the only remaining complete crew iirc. His Lanc was "Oor Wullie".

My soft spot, however, is still the Spitfire. Although I do get goose bumps when a Herc flies over ----- can't beat the old Vulcan bomber at low altitude for raising the hairs on your neck though.

I can readily identify with that Holy Count!  Please see my little comment on the Vulcan and Malta!

[psychnurse]

Its the DC-3/C-47 for me.... what a versatile beautiful succesful machine. The sheer veratility and adapptability are to be admired and commended  

Then I love civilian airliners... juts somekind of beauty to them. My wife thinks im sick as I love air crash on nat geographic! Faf ha to be the BAC 111, or the DC-10.

[FRE07962128]

The Shackleton had Griffon engines, (with contra rotating props) which were a later & much more powerful version of the Merlin. So powerful in fact, they could actually fly on 1 engine.

Thanks for that great info Bedders!  Yes I well remember watching Shackelton's over Malta practising shutting down their engines and flying around with a few props 'feathering', although I cannot recall now them going down to just one. What a lovely sound they made though, and I can still clearly see and hear it in my mind  This is when I get very emotional!

[FRE07962128]

Ahhh.... The Shackelton  
I looked after some "equipment" at RAF Lossimouth which required regular trips there in the mid to late Eighties. Shackletons were still in front line service then and I used watch them slowly and I mean sloooowwlyyy set off down the runway rattling and shaking always wondering if they were going to make it , but they did .
Incredible planes ,what was the saying " fourteen thousend rivetts flying in formation".     Respect......
My mate launched the last transatlantic Shack flight from Goose Green twice but thats for him to say why.....
If you want to cry then look at this
http://www.skippyscage.com/aviation/az/wl790/
They also had the last ( I believe ) Canberra  in service which I seen on two occassions with a set of golf clubs in the second seat and a squadron of Buccaneers .
Ah happy daze.....
Don

Thanks Olympia for that great web site, and yes I am now crying with mixed emotions of joyful memories and very sad reflection that I will never hear, see or smell these beautiful 'Shacks' flying again.  

[FRE07962128]

Should live where I do

Hawk's spending all day in the air, F18's visit often, and the od GR1's

but nothing is better than having a pair of long bow's and chinook flying level with the office windows...

It's great living and working on the flight path to RAF Valley

Oh and free air shows too !

Red arrows live there

Imagine one of these flying by.    WoW.


Planes are just getting bigger , more powerfull and more devastating.

But where is the emotional worth of these 'wings' without props?

Don't get me wrong Skruntie, they are very impressive aircraft of today, but to me it is like comparing a diesel 'box on wheels' railway engine to a beautiful, exciting and sexy Sir William Stanier Duchess Pacific Class, LMS painted, steam loco; no contest!  So with  flying wing, stealth, no moving parts, muffled roaring fighter planes v. a sleek aesthetically appealing, beautifully sounding, V12 driven Spitfire; no contest!

[FRE07962128]

Although of cource the Shackleton was NOT the successor to the Lancaster....it was simply a modified Lanc to support a different role.

The successor was a truly massive leap forward for what was a design out of the same team as produced the Lanc.

This picture is a current favourite of mine.......note the new modern up-start in the middle, both the two old planes currently have a more proven and effective weapons system at the moment!



 

Although you are absolutely right to state that Mark, aircraft enthusiats and historians that I have read usually term the Shackelton as the "successor" to the Lanc, even though it is a modification of the latter and, I understand, only served in a maritime role never under Bomber Command. Rather like the Nimrod, which is based on the civilian Comet airframe.

And yes the Vulcan was certainly the great 1950s leap forward in bomber design and technology by the Avro design team from the old Lanc.  We must never forget of course the other 'V' bombers, the Victor and Valiant.

[FRE07962128]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

you might like this then Lizzie http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/projectcardetail.asp?id=4 it's a Rover SD1 with a Meteor engine which is the tank version of the RR Merlin V12 !!!

sounds like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-aC5B348rA&feature=related

turn the sound up it's glorious

You are so right HerefordElite; what a sound!

It made me giggle when I read he had installed an LPG kit!
With an engine of that size why worry about economy?!

[FRE07962128]

Perhaps you might like this in your garden Lizzie

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1319775,00.html

I would Growler if I had £24,000+ to spare!  

Mind you I could charge a £1 a go to sit in the (mock) cockpit, and sell refreshments as well!

[Andyb]

one for you lizzy
turn sound up
   when i saw this close up i shed a tear or two  couldnt explain to my son why i felt the way i did
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj25AAuQzUc
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJ8rIEPLOo&feature=related

[FRE07962128]

I saw a programme on a team who restored a super constellation. The sound of the 72 air cooled cylinders of the 4 wright cyclones was described as being like "a hell's angel's funeral".  

I pity the poor sod who gets to change the spark plugs though.

Heard a few tasty sounding aircraft earlier when I was in the garage LPGing. Have just remembered there's a war re-enactment at the Watercress Line. Should have had a look. Last time I was treated to a Spitfire, a P51 and a Dakota display visible from my own back garden.

Kevin

Kevin

What a marvelous, beautiful and magical mix Kevin!  I am so envious! 8-) 8-)

It gets better. I had a tip off that the spitty was overnighting at the gliding club where I am a member so I saw another impromptu display when it arrived there, and even got to have a look over it at close quarters.

Kevin


EDIT: As I hit the send button I heard a rumble, turned and looked out of the window to see a Dakota doing a tight turn over my back garden!  

Now you are really making me jealous!  You will tell me next that MN 35005 Canadian Pacific has just steamed by!

[FRE07962128]

Its the DC-3/C-47 for me.... what a versatile beautiful succesful machine. The sheer veratility and adapptability are to be admired and commended  

Then I love civilian airliners... juts somekind of beauty to them. My wife thinks im sick as I love air crash on nat geographic! Faf ha to be the BAC 111, or the DC-10.

Yes, the 'ill fated 'Tristar', which the Yanks call now the 1011? .....and the VC10 which to me is still a British classic of 1960s/70s  air travel Psychnurse!

[psychnurse]

Its the DC-3/C-47 for me.... what a versatile beautiful succesful machine. The sheer veratility and adapptability are to be admired and commended  

Then I love civilian airliners... juts somekind of beauty to them. My wife thinks im sick as I love air crash on nat geographic! Faf ha to be the BAC 111, or the DC-10.

Yes, the 'ill fated 'Tristar', which the Yanks call now the 1011? .....and the VC10 which to me is still a British classic of 1960s/70s  air travel Psychnurse!

The DC-10 was ill fated and a huge sucess too! The lockheed L1011 tristar was shorter and encorporated a flyby wire system... I belive it also was much safter too!! Ahh the VC-10... now that was a sexy plane!  

[FRE07962128]

one for you lizzy
turn sound up
   when i saw this close up i shed a tear or two  couldnt explain to my son why i felt the way i did
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj25AAuQzUc
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJ8rIEPLOo&feature=related

Wow Andy!  Many thanks!  I cannot stop watching and listening to that.  It is brilliant!