Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report

Sunday 30th May 2010

Within a stone's throw of the birthplace of the jet engine, Bruntingthorpe Airfield has aptly become home to some of the most historic names in British aviation history. This is not some dusty collection in a dark and draughty hangar, these aeroplanes are most definitely alive and kicking. The torrential rain that had blighted the last two Cold War Jets Open Days thankfully did not make a return visit, its place taken by broken cloud and a keen 20 knot cross wind which caused some problems of its own for the aircraft, aircrew and spectators alike.

Steve Buckby reports from Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. Photos by the author and Ian Matthews.

Visitors were hoping to see the newly acquired Nimrod MR2 taxiing as a finale, but the MOD still technically own the aeroplane and flatly refused permission to let it move at all until the paperwork catches up. Other new arrivals on static display were an F-104G Starfighter, which had arrived a couple of days beforehand from Lasham, and one of the pair of VC-10s that are being parted out and eventually scrapped.

The opening act was the Comet on the first of its two fast taxis which had the car alarms sounding, followed by the Royal Navy schemed Buccaneer S2 (now complete with under wing slipper tanks) which kept the photographers entertained as it performed carousels and demonstrated the wing-fold, rotating bomb bay, air brake and the arrester hook systems.

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Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report
Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report

Many of the assembled enthusiasts attend these open days to experience the earth shaking fury of a Lightning in full afterburner at close quarters, and former OC Lightning Training Flight Dennis Brooks didn't disappoint in XS904. The Lightning doesn't like crosswinds as it takes a heavy toll on it's skinny high pressure tyres. On closer inspection the canvas was clearly visible. The LPG had some major serviceability problems with one of the Lightning's Avon engines but thankfully this was fixed the day before.

There was much divided opinion in the bumper crowd about the next aircraft to take to the runway, Victor K2 XM715, now freshly re-painted into Operation Granby 'desert pink' after a six month restoration program. Whilst the colour may be questionable, and a much debated issue at present on our forums, Matt Walton and his team have obviously achieved an excellent finish that will keep the dreaded oxidisation at bay for a good many years to come, which is definitely the most important issue at the end of the day.

The blustery conditions however, meant that the Victor could not deploy its brake chute so she could not be exercised to her full extent. A further victim of the crosswind was the BBMF Lancaster which was unable to depart from Coningsby for it's scheduled flypast.

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Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report
Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day Report

Another English Electric product delivered another assault on the senses in the form of Canberra B(I)8/B6. The sound and smell of it's cartridge start certainly grabbed the attention of the audience. The entertainment was not just on the runway, the crowds were also treated to Buccaneer XX900's regular hydraulic system demonstrations and Sea Vixen XJ949 performing a run of a single engine and a test of its wing-fold mechanism.

The organisers and volunteers must be congratulated on what was probably the best Cold War Jets taxi event to date, great value with lots see and experience. Bruntingthorpe will soon have quite a collection of live aeroplanes that it will be able to showcase at future events.

UKAR Says

Comment, reaction and opinion on "Teasin' Tina's" new coat of paint:

"During her six month occupation of the hangar at Bruntingthorpe, prior to applying fresh paint, it became clear that the aircraft had previously been painted in a brownish/pink colour under its matt hemp finish. We obviously were well aware that she had been one of the 8 Victors sent to the Gulf to provide tanker support to the Coalition Forces in 'Operation GRANBY', as part of the Gulf War offensive.

"After quite a bit of research we discovered that all of these aircraft were painted in 'Desert Pink', which is more of a sand colour, so the general consensus amongst our volunteers was that 'Teasin Tina' should return to her 'war colours' as a tribute to our brave forces that went into battle against Sadam's tyrannical regime. A major paint supplier came and matched the new paint exactly to that which had been uncovered under the hemp - so the shade and colour match is near perfect!"

'mat7w'

"I've watch the discussion on Tina with interest and I agree no Victor ever wore Desert Pink, they did not need to as the first Hemp aircraft appeared in 1983 that was XL160. Also I saw most victors just after they returned from the Gulf; they were definitley Hemp. I also saw and photographed the temporary Pink colour applied to the two Tristars and it looked nothing like what Tina currently wears."

'ianf'

"Obviously it is a contentious issue. Hats off to all who keep these aircraft alive. The issue is that the new colour is being attributed to 'war colours'. XM715, nor any other Victor, participated in Operation Granby in anything other than Hemp.

"That research requires to be highlighted if history is to be re-written. Not even the RAF website on Op Granby colours states anything other than Hemp. The photographic evidence of Op Granby shows all Victors operating in Hemp."

'T_J'

"I am all for the current layer of paint applied to 'Tina', anything that can be done to preserve these old Cold War warriors is worthy of note, however it is the wrong colour as I'm certain the Victor fleet never were painted in 'Desert Pink'"

'Trenchard'