Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: plane

The 'Thank You NHS' Spitfire PR.XI PL983 flew over Leicester Royal Infirmary today to thank all the frontline healthcare staff who have worked so hard throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The star of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre's flying programme for me was the display by Duxford's rebuilt Bristol Blenheim F1 L6739. The aircraft was first restored in 1987 as a Mark IV aircraft but unfortunately, the Blenheim crash-landed in August 2003 at Duxford. While the aircraft suffered considerable damage, she wasn’t broken beyond repair and as a Mark 1 nose had been acquired already it was decided to rebuild it as the early version. It made it's maiden flight in this guise in November 2014.

VIP Event in Hangar 3 RAF Finningley (now Robin Hood airport) with Avro Vulcan XH558.

The only flying Vulcan in the world banks away from RAF Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport) on the first leg of its Cold War Tour.

Taking off from RAF Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport) is XH558, the only flying Vulcan in the world.

Waiting to board a Pilatus in the Sahara desert south of Hassi Massouad. We were en route to a seismic crew shooting a survey in the Lasmo-operated El Ouar drilling permit, Algeria. It was pretty cramped for the first stage of the journey from Hassi with a full complement of passengers in the small aircraft but after dropping off most of them at this wellsite the two of us flying on to El Ouar could spread out. It was said that El Ouar meant "the worst" in Arabic referring to the the sand dunes being the most impassable. They had a relief of up to 1000ft and were so dense that it was impossible to drive/walk around them. This meant some serious climbing was needed to progress through the area. While the dunes gradually increase in size & density from the north to the south the dune belt stops very abruptly along a southwest-northeast line. I have flown over the area since on the way to West Africa & from 30,000ft this change from sand to rocky desert is very clear & hence it is easy to locate yourself.

RAF Finningley Air Display, September 1972. Lightning formation flying.