Trev Clark's Obscure Aviation History 馃殎
@clark_aviation
Posting from the obscure corners of aviation history! Ex-@RoyalAirForce & former Curator of @MuseumTangmere, now Trustee/collections manager of @PDHeritageCent.
America's 'TSR2'? The stunning North American A-5 Vigilante could achieve Mach 2+, reached an altitude record of 91,000ft and delivered its nuclear warheads by 'pooping' them out (see image 3)! All of this from a carrier based aircraft, now largely forgotten.
Although the passing today of Ozzy Osborne will no doubt make the headlines, this gentleman probably had a bigger influence on my early years than the heavy metal rocker ever did. His company took plastic kits to a higher level than anyone else.
Official press-release from Tamiya: Announcement regarding the Passing of Shunsaku Tamiya Shizuoka, July 22, 2025 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tamiya, Inc. Chairman Shunsaku Tamiya on July 18th, 2025 at the age of ninety.
Although mostreplies were close, suggesting the Tupolev 'Bear' as the mystery maintenance subject, this is the (more obscure!) correct answer, the Tupolev Tu-114 airliner...which certainly contains 'Bear' DNA! Well done @acabgd and anyone else who came up with this answer. 馃憦馃憦馃憦
Tu-114 in Domodedovo hangar
A 'mystery' maintenance quiz! What's being serviced in this hangar? 馃馃
The Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk was a private-venture, prototype attack helicopter built in 1970. A two-seat aircraft designed around the dynamic drive and rotor systems of the Sikorsky S-61, it was designed as an attack helicopter which could also transport up to eight troops.
Fascinating! I've just watched these depart Fairford on @PlanesTV YouTube channel. Apparently they are flying home non-stop, AAR from an Il-78 tanker.
There is absolutely no better way of researching a subject than seeing it sitting on the tarmac. How else would you even begin to have guessed what this warning stencil was, for example? Thank you to @airtattoo and @DGPR_PAF.
The McDonnell 120 Flying Crane from the 1950s, doing what's it was designed to do. 馃槑 Only two of these lightweight helicopters were built, I do wonder if these 'oil drums' might all be empty, but that's me being sceptical!
Today's cockpit quiz... the highly unusual Blohm & Voss BV 40 glider-fighter, which was intended to be towed to the point of interception by a Bf 109 or Fw 190. An early proposal suggested that the pilot should ram the enemy bomber, but this idea was quickly abandoned.
A very unusual (and uncomfortable) cockpit...but from what aircraft?
OT but 'topical' this weekend... UK summer holiday traffic in the 1960s, not a single 'foreign built' car and a third lane shared by both directions of traffic, how the hell did that work? Check out the Bond Minicar at 1.04!
The summer holidays have arrived for these British holiday makers on their way to the coast. Spot your favourite classic car! Filmed in the 1960s.
I've not posted much about the wonderfully bizarre Handley Page Heyford for a while, so I'll redress that today. The RAF's primary night bomber for much of the 1930s, it was involved in the first radar detection trials and later saw service in WW 2...as a glider tug!
Possibly the worst ratio of 'engine to empty space' under the hood ever in automotive history! 馃槀馃槀
The best car ever to be made in Preston!
Why are they all wearing ear-defenders?? 馃槀馃槀馃槀
Our session on the future of sustainable aviation in defence got people talking today. Our expert panel of RAF & industry experts explored how the sector is tackling climate change through innovation & collab, driving a more operationally resilient & sustainable Air Force.
One of the few aircraft I would have loved to see, the Egyptian Air Force 'Coaler'. Air display had two 'bookended' repeats, I guess to fill for the cancelled aircraft. The B-1 was a no show, today being its only scheduled appearance...unless anybody knows different? @PlanesTV
Morning!!!
Did you know that on July 19, 1961, exactly sixty four years ago today, TWA became the first airline to show scheduled in-flight movies?
I'm reintroducing my old 'Saturday Artwork' slot today, for purely selfish reasons. This image popped up on FB yesterday, without much info, but some here will know what's portrayed. @kevgraham39
Interior view of the Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant鈥檚 (surprisingly snug) cockpit. The Me 323 required a flight crew of at least five, two pilots, a wireless operator, a flight engineer...or two and a loadmaster. The latter was an air gunner, who supervised the loading.
At home watching the excellent @PlanesTV live RIAT coverage expecting to see the RAF's new Boeing Wedgetail fly in formation with the Red Arrows (to at least prove it exists to we taxpayers)...but it's gone U/S en route! 馃ゴ馃槸
Berets in 1940 and suspicious codes? Possibly a fake AI image on FB, thoughts?... 'Riggers examining the damage to the elevators of a Boulton-Paul Defiant, of No. 264 Squadron RAF at Duxford, following their battle with German fighters over Dunkirk on May 29, 1940'.
I've always liked the Blackburn Buccaneer, but I especially like it in the colour schemes it used whilst employed in various aspects of flight testing. Image three shows one undertaking a high altitude pass!
