Google Satellite photo of Lancaster over UK
 

Here's an email my brother sent me. I think you all will find it interesting.


"When you have a few minutes, and want a bit of a mind-boggle - go to the following URL

<http://www.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF-8&o...2043.20%22%20W>

make sure it's set to satellite (button at top right of the map) and click on to the second or third tick (down from the plus sign on the scale at the top left of the picture) to set height above the ground.

It's a Google Map segment where the satellite picture caught the Lancaster bomber in flight (at 52 20' 10.95" N 0 11'43.20"W) over England. Now it's preserved in the photo. Since Google updates the satellite maps at irregular intervals, it's impossible to say how long that image will be present - but it's kind of neat that the plane was caught in the air at all :-))"

Jeez... how the hell did you find THAT??!! :D

I didn't find the site my brother sent it to me and my youngest son is home from Queens University and he did the post. My brother and a partner had a computer software business so his computer skills are above average. So that is how the info got here, how anyone would ever find that shot of the Lancaster does stretch the imagination.

Well, like winning the National Lottery. (That English game where 20 million of the poorest people give money away to send 250 of the richest to the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden)

The chances of Lancaster PA474 being just there at that time is slim but perhaps not that unusual. . . . . . . . . This BBMF aircraft is one of two flying, as you have the other in Canada, and if you draw a straight line to extrapolate the flight path from where it is over Huntingdon you will find its base at RAF Conningsby just some 50 miles ahead.

Of course there's the other Lanc privately owned by a couple of chicken farmers who bought it when no one was interested and keep it on the ex WWII airfield they have as the farm, this does fast taxi runs but isn't flight cleared, however, I'm told its in excellent condition and certification could be quite "simple" although in this context and facing the CAA (Campaign Against Aviation - AKA Civil Aviation Authority) the term "simple" takes on a very different meaning.

R.

here it is
 

Here is the chicken farm Lanc doing it's stuff . Wouldn't it be tempting to just open the throttles up and let her go .....

Mike

2
 

2

3
 

3

If I were in that cockpit, I know damned well I wouldn't be able to resist just pulling back on the control column at that point... :D

Sad ending.....
 

Maybe your daddy could have done that but you get your feet back on the ground where they belong..
Ya might have got her off the ground but then what..??

But I know the feeling...

What a beautiful sight..

Re: Sad ending.....
 

Oh bugger off... FYI, I've had a little stick-time, so there! :p

Re: Re: Sad ending.....
 

Ya....But flying through the air at the mess on Friday night dosen't count.... :yappy: :drunk: :remember :support

Re: Re: Re: Sad ending.....
 

Damn, I just shat m'self....

I tried the same Lat/Long on Google Earth and the picture came up. Here it is

Excellent find.

Re: here it is
 

Yes it would. . . . . . . . . . . .
Here's a bit about it:
http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.tasker/lancs1b.htm

And a night run piccy I've lifted from elsewhere; I reckon from the colour of the exhaust flame they have the carbs just about spot-on.

R.

Re: Re: Re: Sad ending.....
 

Sunray's "flying through the air at the mess on Friday night" involved the game of "Grease the Gun".

Anyone remember that one?

More particularly suited to Highland units, though.

I sure as hell don't remember THAT one, Jon... :eek: Oblige us, please...

BTW, might be getting together with Dentay, Bundy and Edwards next weekend for a spot of getting up to no-good, ie shooting things and blowing stuff up. It could get interesting...

Re: Richard
 

That night piccy is GORGEOUS...

The problem with the "Chicken Farmers" Lanc, is the main spar.

The replacement as such is no little job. Even a bigger problem will be the replacement spar. BA were lucky with the other UK Lanc, they found a main spar off another later type airplane, that was basically a blank, and were able to machine to the Lanc's specs.

One has dip ones lid to the "Chicken Farmers" have spent a lot of time and money, to get her to taxi stage.

Much help from ex RAF types, who just never seem to loose their skills.

The advantage the RAF has, it that it does not have the help and advice of the CAA, to keep theirs in the air.

Big money, I suspect much time and many frustrations to get this ex French naval aircraft back into the air.

Regards

Col

You could find many interesting things using Google Earth, but some will be just a little harder to find:

Ok; the flying Lancaster is something else - but here is another one:

Boeing B-17 "Sally B"

52°05'32,22''/E0°07'44,52''

Super-Constellations ?

N32°24'43.27"/W111°13'26,6''

These are newer models - but some "strange" ones are there as well...

N32°10'00,38''/W110°50'20,07''

Howinhell did I miss this one?

What date is this?

How did it go?

Interesting what is blured or missing
 

I grew up in Washington, DC and knew many of the military bases in that area, some of them rather sensitive it is interesting to note which ones are blurred and which ones have lots of empty tarmac or lots of empty docks, like someone knew when the picture was going to be taken. It is also clear that in some of them certain section were taken at a different time than what surrounds them.