Hello all,
We returned safely from the land of Scotch and sheep, and had a great time! Here are the results of the first day. As an experiment I included latitude/longitudes for most locations, which can be used with Google Earth or (even better for the UK) flashearth.com. Please let me know wether you think this is a good idea, as it requires some work to include which I am not going to do if it is not needed.
After flying in to Edinburgh on Thursday night we started the day at Addiston Mains in nearby Dalmahoy. According to my information a Gazelle should be based here, and we did find the hangar easily. Unfortunately nobody was present, but we could get a glimpse of a helicopter inside. It did look like a Gazelle, but we weren't sure, so we decided to try again later this week.
Townhill (56º 5' 16" N, 3º 26' 6" W)
XR627/X Scout AH.1 std, no mks
This is in the front garden of a house on Forest Place. When entering the village from the South take the first street to the right (Muir Road) and then the third to the left. This is Forest place, the helicopter is on your right soon (don't remember exactly which house, but you can't miss it).
Next stop was the former airfield Balado.
Balado Activity centre, Kinross (56º 13' 3.8" N, 3º 27' 22.5" W)
XM412/41/49 Jet Provost T.3A pr, 1 FTS mks
This is on the site of the former airfield. The entrance is along the A91 but is not signposted too well, so you will easily drive past it with full speed (like we did). When you enter the airfield, the JP is on your far left hand side.
Just on the other side of the M90 and Loch Leven is a small glider aerodrome.
Portmoak Aerodrome (56º 11' 21" N, 3º 19' 21" W)
ZE504/VH Viking TX.1 (ACCGS/643 VGS)
ZE591/WU Viking TX.1 (662 VGS)
ZE602/XB Viking TX.1 (ACCGS/643 VGS)
ZE607/XG Viking TX.1 (ACCGS/643 VGS)
ZE683/YT Viking TX.1 (661 VGS)
XN156 Sedbergh TX.1 BGA3250/EGM, full RAF c/s
(XX893) Buccaneer S.2B std, nose, 208 sq mks
BGA2132/DHE T.53B RAF Station East Fortune mks
The reason to visit this aerodrome were the Sedbergh and Bucc, but just before we started the trip we heard that there was a summer camp with gliders going on as well. A nice bonus, even if we both only needed one of the aircraft. A sixth Viking was present, but that had made a rough landing and was stored in a trailer, and as we didn't need it we didn't look it up. The Sedbergh and Bucc both live in the big hangar behind the clubhouse. Here also the T.53 was present, which carried a badge and also a british roundel. What's the story of this? Nice weather, so some nice pics, and then on to the next location.
Fife Airport, Glenrothes (56º 11' 6" N, 3º 13' 7" W)
43-6021 L-4 (G-BWEZ), no mks
G-AANL DH.60M ex Danish AF S-357
G-ANRF Tiger Moth II ex T5850
Tutors of Aberdeen, Dundee & St. Andrews UAS/East Lowlands UAS: G-BYUM/UM, G-BYUR/UR, G-BYUU/UU, G-BYUW/UW, G-BYUX, G-BYUY/UY
Both De Havillands live here, the Cub was just visiting. Anybody who knows more about its id? The c/n is 6021 (hence the fake registration), and apparently it was built in 1940, but I can't find the real serial. The Tutors were temporarily based here since Leuchars is still closed due to runway repairs. A very friendly welcome, we were shown around all hangars without a problem!
The owner of the Tiger Moth should have another one at his house which is being restored slowly. We did find his house, but nobody was there and we didn't see it through any barn windows unfortunately. Hopefully it will fly one day...
Pilmuir Farm, Lundin Links (56º 13' 22.5" N, 2º 58' 42" W)
G-BIYJ L-18C ex MM51-15303
When we arrived here the owner was just having his lunch, but he was so friendly to show us his Piper anyway. He doesn't fly much, but the aircraft is in a good shape.
Wilkieston Farm, Peat Inn (56º 17' 53" N, 2º 53' 24" W)
XE802 Cadet TX.3 std, no mks
This is stored in a big barn opposite the house. The (Australian if I remember correctly) lady who lives here is not the owner, but she called him to ask if she could show it to us and that was no problem.
Kemback (56º 19' 19.6" N, 2º 56' 46.6" W)
(XA917) Victor B.1 pr, nose, no mks
This is in the back garden of a private house. When you enter the village from the South there is a row of houses on your left hand side, the nose is behind the first house. We first saw it through a window, but it is also visible from a little bridge next to it. We woke the owner up, who was having a nap on the couch, and were allowed to photograph it. There was also a panel on the wall of the shed next to it with serial XL188 on it, presumably a nose wheel door.
RAF Leuchars (too obvious for a location mark....)
XZ345 Gazelle AH.1 7 Reg, 3 Flt
ZB688 Gazelle AH.1 7 Reg, 3 Flt
(ZE338)/GJ Tornado F.3 43 sq
(ZE791)/HF Tornado F.3 111 sq
(ZE838)/GH Tornado F.3 43 sq
ZE967/UT Tornado F.3 pr gate, 25 sq and 56 (R) sq mks
(XW265) Harrier T.4A pr, nose
XR713/C Lightning F.3 pr, 111 sq mks
XT864/A/BJ Phantom FG.1 pr gate, 25 sq and 111 sq mks
(XV582/M) Phantom FG.1 pr, 111 sq mks, black c/s
XV586/AJ Phantom FG.1 pr, 43 sq mks
Don't know wether the Harrier nose has any squadron markings, it was partly covered up. Anybody who knows this? The three Tornados were seen in the hangar where also the gazelles are living; one of those was also seen in here. I understand they have four? I guess it's too much to hope that one is away, so we can find out the id of this one? We asked wether we could photograph the two gate guards, and after a telephone call that was allowed. very nice, perfectly in the sun! The Lightning can easily be seen between the shelters from the A91 on the south side of the airfield (so from across the river!). We finally managed to get "Black Mike" from here as well. Park your car at the "Fast 'n Fresh" and walk back some 150 meters; from here you can see the Phantom in front of the HAS area. For the third Phantom yuo have to drive to the North side of the airfield, by passing the main gate, turn right and follow the fence (you have to follow your nose a bit here). It shows up right in front of you.
Drumshade aerodrome (56º 39' 1" N, 3º 2' 1" W)
WB975 Sedbergh TX.1 std (BGA3288), no mks
This glider is stored at the little airfield of Drumshade, just south of Kirriemuir. There is a sign saying gliding club or similar on the A928; you need this to find the spot! The Sedbergh is currently not flying, and it might never do that again. It is owned by a group of people, but the club is using two other twin seaters at the moment. Again a very friendly welcome here by the way!
Perth airport
WP860/6 Chipmunk T.10 (G-BXDA), no mks
G-ADLY Hornet Moth ex W9388
G-KAMP L-18C ex 96+27
The Chipmunk doesn't live here; it is based at Kirknewton but was present for overhaul. The Hornet Moth lives in hangar three, the Piper in the aeroclub hangar. We hoped to see the instructional aircraft that Perth College uses here, but their part of the aeroclub hangar was already closed and the Whirlwind and Sioux couldn't be seen from outside. According to MAM2006 also Chipmunks WP839 and WP860 should live here, but according to our guide from the aeroclub they didn't. Who knows more about their homes; I need both....
Morris Leslie ltd., Errol (56º 24' 2.2" N, 3º 11' 31.7" W for the Vampire)
XE897 Vampire T.11 std, real id XD403, 43 sq mks
XG882/LM-771 Gannet T.5 pr, 849 sq mks
Both are at the former airfield. The Gannet is easily visible when you enter the first part of the airfield, the Vampire is stored in a building behind it. If you stand next to the Gannet and look straight ahead you'll see an old low brick building on the other side of an acre, with the booms of the Vampire sticking out. Also reported as stored in parts at this location is Buccaneer XN981, but I have also read a report that this has been scrapped; who knows for sure? The guard who allowed us to graph the gannet had such a thick accent that we couldn't figure out wether the Bucc was still there or not....
By now is was almost dark, and we still had a few locations on our schedule. We decided tofinish with Strathallan aerodrome, and skip the rest for today. It took us about an hour to find the right road to the aerodrome, as roadworks caused some roads to be closed, and the diversion route wasn't signposted well. In the end we decided to ignore the "road closed" signs, and that way we made it.... But only to find that the Magister that should be based here (R1914) had left many years ago! Apparently it had gone some 5 years ago, unfortunately the people at the skydiving club didn't know where to. Any offers please?
And with that small disappointment we ended the day. We didn't make it back to the hotel before 11 pm, so it was a long but fruitful day!
As always additions and corrections are very welcome.
That's all folks!
Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
(please feel free to use, but with a credit)
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