Swiftsure in her prime

[robbie]

Hi All ,

Thought this might be of interest, it's the only pic I have of Swiftsure after a "D" check carried out by EAS in Perpignan, summer of 1988, no digital cameras at that time, the Captain, Mike Grace, just place his camera on his flight bag and used the timer.

That's a much younger me in the center , we completed the air test and then, with ATC permission, did a missed approach that allowed a low pass along the beach, much to the delight of the EAS workforce who had assembled at the local watering hole.

Enjoy

Robbie.

[DaveB]

If only that sort of thing were allowed here! Was that '88 or '87 mate.. be nice to get it right for the Vanguard phots album on Superb She was lookin' good then mate.. still only a puppy at 25/26 years old

ATB

DaveB

[Effoh]

Steady DB, I have a damp copy of the Sporting Life here if you need a quick wipe down

Cracking pic Robbie

Rgds,

Colin

[robbie]

Hi Dave,

I just checked some old diary entries in my flight bag, It was Late September 88.

Robbie

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

'88 it is then.. thanks for that

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Great pic Robbie...thanks for that

Shows well the size of the beast

[John]

That's a stunning picture!

JR

[DaveB]

Shows well the size of the beast

Yes.. that or they're all, err, vertically challenged

As it happens, the shot.. taken with the camera resting on a flight bag, has caused a very impressive optical illusion. I'm 6ft (I've dropped the extra inch due to age droop!) and often look in the heat exchange intakes without the use of steps (the two nostrils on the lower fuse) to straighten the blanks we have in Superb (See Techy's sig pic). Looking at that shot, you'd imagine it would take a giant to be able to reach them! Saying that, the Vanguard is NOT a small aircraft.. far from it. Stand next to a Viscount.. itself no tiddler then stand next to a Vanguard and the Vanguards size becomes apparent That said.. the ground does go up a little in front of Superb but on the other hand, we're currently tail-heavy so the nose gear oleo is pretty much at full extension

Whatever trick the lens of Robbies camera has played.. I love it

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

I've only been up close and on board to a Vanguard when I was 11 so I was a bit smaller then and it seem big to me

Like the Viscount the large windows gave it the impression of being smaller than it was, but the windows are not so obvious on the Merchantman

[DaveB]

The Vanguard really is quite big whether you're 11 or 31 but I see where you're coming from Just noticed on that shot.. Swiftsure still has her HF radios Surprising what you see when you keep going back to a shot

ATB
DaveB