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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0967.PDF
FLIGHT, 24 July 1953 121 THE QUEENS REVIEW . . . they go. Now all of "Frontroom" are away and "Wisteria" blue leader (S/L. J. S. Owen) moves ahead of us. This is it! We are turning on to the runway . . . and then that wonderful, long-lived push in the back (who says jets have poor acceleration ?). We are off—in less than 800 yards (S/L. Crampton's estimate, not ours). Soon Blue leader seemingly backs up toward us; a touch of air brake to kill our excess speed and we settle down on his starboard side. The first long turn on the forming-up "race track" is com pleted and all around us are the other elements gradually closing in. Wainfleet gunnery range goes by, now port again; Spurn Head, the Humber, Grimsby. "Eight miles to base, sir, Rebecca" . . . Over Binbrook, set course on time, 1525 hr 14 sec. And so it goes on. "On time, sir" at the first turning point, Nottingham; speed up to 300 knots; straight again. Peterborough's tall brick field chimneys show up ahead; second turning point on time, 1541/42. The first formation in this 600-plus procession will already have passed the Queen. This seems a rough ride to me; managed a sketch just now, but it's like drawing on a jelly. Nearing Cambridge; starboard again and a three-second (!) error. Meteor N.F.ns slide in ahead, and their reserves break away as we watch. Heading for Leavesden now, and closing up. Just 1554/35 .at the "gate," and after this it's a seven-minute straight run to Odiham. Somebody says over the R/ X . that he's got a compressor stall, but immediately rights it. All play stops at a cricket match near Denham; groups of people stare up from every vantage-point. Appropriately enough, Windsor Castle passes below. Formation very nice and tight now. "Frontroom" is riding well, stepped up ahead . . . can't see behind. The novelty is beginning to wear off this rumble-seat, and it's very, very warm in here. "One minute to go," from the group captain. All discomfort is forgotten, Odiham is ahead. "Met." was right—visibility is good down south. The airfield comes into view. There are the lines of aircraft; there, for a fleeting second, is the dais. Blue leader blocks our view ... three ... two . .. one .. . The time runs out. Binbrook has done it again! We have saluted the Queen. Lasham now, i.a.s. 350 kiots, and we are turning starboard. "Relax, chaps," from the leader. A slight opening out takes place, but we are still "showing the flag." Rainstorms seem to sidestep our track and the met. man's moderate turbulence becomes severe for a period—rather like a fast car on a corrugated dirt road. A circumspect atomic diversion around Harwell, then on back to the North. "Northampton coming up—look back to starboard for the Sabres crossing"—this as part of a magnificent running commentary for our benefit from S/L. Crampton. No Sabres, but one Chipmunk now at two o'clock high, apparently proceeding rearwards at about 300 kt. Here few stand and stare; a cricket match goes uninterrupted. Visibility decreases as we The "Flight" photographs above show (top left) Shackletons; top right, Neptunes; lower left, Vampires of the R.A.A.F.; and Meteor 8s. These aVjacent show (below) R.C.A.F. Sabres and (left) Swift F.H.
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