Pinback Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) Hi - Short Belfast "Hector" (ex RAF XR 365) is becoming a bit of a pilgrimage everytime I get to Cairns. Here are two shots of him (her?) as of yesterday. I have also added a couple of previously posted shots taken in 2013 and 2008 . Not much change from 2013 Happier days in 2008 Lastly. Never, ever, ever trust an emu. Edited August 28, 2016 by Pinback 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Has it stopped flying now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Saw her about a month ago on a transiting back from PNG for a couple of days. Used to see them coming in and out of Sydenham regularly. A shame it's just sitting there and slowly rotting. There was also an RCAF C-17 sitting on the ramp that day, not much difference in size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Has it stopped flying now? Don't think that an Emu has ever flown 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Cracking shots, what a beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Cornes Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Has it stopped flying now? What, the Emu? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinback Posted August 29, 2016 Author Share Posted August 29, 2016 I think both are now large flightless birds Sadly I can't see much of a future for Hector - he has sat through a few wet seasons - but we can all live in hope. As for the emu - never turn your back on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Saw her about a month ago on a transiting back from PNG for a couple of days. Used to see them coming in and out of Sydenham regularly. A shame it's just sitting there and slowly rotting. There was also an RCAF C-17 sitting on the ramp that day, not much difference in size. I wouldn't say 'rotting', I believe there is a team that keep it in good nick. It was rumoured recently that they want to get it flying again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Nice photos of a long time favourite aircraft of mine, I've always been a sucker for the under dog.. What is the story behind her being in Cairns? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Maybe Roden or Micro Mir will provide a nice 1/144 th model sometime soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I too, am hoping that Micro Mir or Roden will bring us a decent 1/144 kit of the Belfast. After all, they seem to be satisfying a lot of people with Beverley, Argosy coming, VC10 and so on. My build would be XR367 'Heracles'. I had a 3 hour circuit basing session in her from Brize while on ATC camp to Bicester. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I worked on Theseus XR362 I believe, and a twenty minute air test. This was at Manston at the end of the seventies when we had three to look after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I bought my 1/72 VC10 along to one of our club meets, and someone else had bought along his 1/72 Belfast that he was doing, the VC10 is a big plane but put against the Belfast looked tiny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaw Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 The Anigrand Belfast is pretty good! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 I'd be interested to find out how it got there too. Slightly off topic, but I heard of a Christmas card Shorts sent to Lockheed one year, which showed a Hercules fuselage poking out of the back of a Belfast. Never been able to track it down though........ Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 It flew Trevor, It was flying around that neck of the woods for some time before retiring. I actually have the Magna models beast, it weighs a tonne! I'll get some pics.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinback Posted September 2, 2016 Author Share Posted September 2, 2016 Hi Steven , Max - Heavylift had an operation based in Cairns. (not sure if they still do) The Heavylift 727 tucked under the Belfast wing in the photo taken in 2008 has since been scrapped. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 So basically when the work ran out, it was cheaper to leave it there rather than reposition back to Europe/Africa/whereever I'm guessing. Kinda sad. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 I wouldn't say 'rotting', I believe there is a team that keep it in good nick. It was rumoured recently that they want to get it flying again. With the climate there mate, it will be a gradually losing battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 Had the pleasure of flying in a Belfast from RAF Brüggen to RAF Valley for an armament practice camp in the mid seventies. Nice ride comfortable, and very quiet when compared to the Herc. Only problem was, we landing in gale force winds, aquaplaned and nearly went off the runway at the road end of the runway at Valley. We were so close to the end that the crew had to taxi the aircraft backwards until there was enough space to turn round....... I also spent my first posting out of training in the engine bay at RAF Brize Norton working on the wiring harnesses and prop control units on the Tyne engines. XVTonker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 My Dad was a fitter with Shorts until 1967/8ish. Worked on r&d on the Skyvan too. Massive redundancies when the mod turned their back on this fabulous bird. Such a shame! I can still remember the feeling of betrayal that pervaded the whole city. Didn't know any model had been produced. Must have a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I don't think the full potential was ever realised with the Belfast. During my time with them at Manston we at Invicta were at one time on the cusp of operating them for Euro Latin the owners. Make a nice what if.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinback Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) Since posting the photos it seems that Cairns Airport has gone to court claiming over $100,000 in outstanding rental fees due from Hector's owner, Flying Tiger Oversize Cargo. They are looking to get the company wound up. Apparently Hector is not airworthy which does not bode well. Edited January 18, 2017 by Pinback typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Thanks for the update Pinback, it doesn't look good does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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