Morris Minor Owners Club

Just heard the approaching roar of very nice radial engine, went outside and a blue Boeing Stearman Model 75 was passing overhead with a Number 70 on its side. It was going south along the Test Valley towards Romsey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75
It looked and sounded lovely.
Recently there have been several bi-planes in the sky above the house so things must be getting better.

I ‘m fairly certain this is the plane used by the Breitling ‘ Wing Walkers ‘. I live in Shropshire and have had the privilege of seeing them fly over my house probably after a display at Cosford .

Nice
There's about 40 Stearmans on the UK Civil Register, and possibly a few still using their USA credentials.
I think Blue with yellow wings was the standard US Army colours for trainers of the era (1930s), the US Navy ones were more of a yellow all over scheme.

When we were living out in the USA, I treated the Mrs to a flight in a Travel Air 4000 (a very similar looking aircraft) over San Diego for her birthday. Just so happened the price covered 2 passengers...
https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/ ... 014ebecf7e

Shropshiremoggie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 5:45 pm I ‘m fairly certain this is the plane used by the Breitling ‘ Wing Walkers ‘. I live in Shropshire and have had the privilege of seeing them fly over my house probably after a display at Cosford .

Breitling Wingwalkers do use Stearmans, but they are bright orange unless they've changed it.

The Blue/yellow is a very common 'warbird' colour scheme simply because it's authentic.

Bit of a coincidence; this from another 'old nail' site that I frequent:-

https://members5.boardhost.com/classicb ... 22369.html

That Stearman is a regular around here in NW Hampshire and we're fairly sure its based at Thruxton. If you're interested in bi-planes look out for an occasional visitor, a bright yellow Stagger Wing, the only retractable undercarriage bi-plane I've ever seen. See here for a pair of landing Stearman followed by a Stagger Wing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHXGnzyLVSM and here's some good shots of one in flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH5JwC4Oo38 And they're fast, those with the Pratt &Whitney 450 hp "Wasp Junior" cruise around 200mph.
Regards from MikeN.

Mike
Bi-planes I love them.
For my 60th birthday I spent an hour in a Tiger Moth out of Gloucester airport and flew north over the Cotswold's to Meon Hill at the top end of the Cotswold's. Circled over Prescott hill climb course. did a victory roll and looped the loop over the old Honeybourne airfield. Came back via Tewkesbury. I had the controls (but not the victory roll and loop) once we took off but chickened out landing. For my 70th birthday I flew in a microlight out of Popham airfield but the incoming bad weather caused me to relinquish the controls and head home.
We have a private landing strip the other side of the valley and Bi-planes and other interesting aircraft are regular visitors.
When John Fairy was alive there were always interesting planes beating up his large country house and landing at his private strip.
The most interesting flight circling over my house was a Spitfire and a ME109 which were waiting to be called into Middle Wallop air show - round and round they went 12 times in total - I would not come in for my meal - that could wait.
As an anti climax I did a gliding course at Upavon but I was not impressed and never followed on with it. Modified Morris Minors are more interesting.
Regards
Phil

On a similar theme, I heard an unusual engine a few days back and using the flight radar app on my phone discovered the plane overhead was an Antonov propellor plane of some description.
I looked it up at the time and it looked like something from the 1970's.

Why it was in the skies over Lancashire I don't know.apologies I cannot recall the model number.

It could be the Antonov AN2 out of Popham airfield which does go around the country. She is blue and white and is very noisy.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2015 ... -backwards

No it wasn't that one Phil I think from my search it was an Antonov AN26 or very similar.

This is a real bi plane

Murrayminor wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:41 pm On a similar theme, I heard an unusual engine a few days back and using the flight radar app on my phone discovered the plane overhead was an Antonov propellor plane of some description.

What app are you using?

Here's one of many that I built. DH60 Gypsy Moth-quarter scale. The original was at Shuttleworth at the time where I was a member. Photo of me taken in 1997! I still have it ""Moth balled"" and the same will probably happen to me!

Regards
Declan

Looks to be a Vickers Vimy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Vimy

When I worked in the garage at Blockley, Gloucestershire I knew the Rev Alcock, who at the time was the Curate at Blockley church, a relative of Alcock of Alcock and Brown fame. The Rev Alcock (before he became a Rev) went out to Ireland to recover the Vickers Vimy and was feted by the local girls who did not know he was the wrong Alcock.
The Rev Alcock was one of the nicest persons you would wish to know.

If you like An-2s then see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgOPpf3Impw
Lovely inertia starter! And it's a bit like a Morris; see the pipes for de-steaming the windscreen and the rain dripping in at about 6 minutes!
Love the light on a stick over the instruments at the RHD side. (For map reading?) Lots of gorgeous switches too.
MikeN. (Cracking popsie as a co-pilot!)

From one extreme of Russian aeronautics to the other:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhGwR1Ub-_E

KeithL wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:21 am

Murrayminor wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:41 pm On a similar theme, I heard an unusual engine a few days back and using the flight radar app on my phone discovered the plane overhead was an Antonov propellor plane of some description.

What app are you using?

I use the Flightradar24 app

philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:31 am Looks to be a Vickers Vimy

It certainly is.

https://youtu.be/qzoMroZzVDM

Nickol wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:54 pm

philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:31 am Looks to be a Vickers Vimy

It certainly is.

https://youtu.be/qzoMroZzVDM

Not an un-typical landing for the era either....

Heard that radial again and the Boeing has just flown back up the valley and over the house. Under wing marking 'US Army'.
Looks as if it is heading towards Thruxton airfield.

geoberni wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:59 pm

Nickol wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:54 pm

philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:31 am Looks to be a Vickers Vimy

It certainly is.

https://youtu.be/qzoMroZzVDM

Not an un-typical landing for the era either....

One of my better ones