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Posted (edited)

Hi All,

Following on from my earlier selection of photos of Chivenor in the 1980's - and inspired by the brilliant SAR choppers in the finished models category, I have scanned a few more old photos from Chivenor...

whirlwind-3.jpg

XP350 very low over Braunton Burrows taken by my brother.

whrilwind-4.jpg

XD186 gate guardian.

WHIRLWIND1.jpg

Returning to the SAR pan along the taxiway!

wessex.jpg

A poor shot of the SAR pan and a visiting Wessex - 1980/81 I think.

WHIRLWIND2.jpg

A slightly better shot of the Whirlwinds taken by my big brother on his SLR!

SEAKING.jpg

seaking-2.jpg

Interesting contrast, taken in 2009 on a visit home from the same spot - bit of a difference in airfield security in 30 years!

Cheers
Simon

Edited by SimonR
Posted

Was your brother wearing his clothes while he was at Braunton Burrows? ;-) I seem to remember a great pastime for the SAR crews (and the Cadets in the back) in those 80s summers was to fly along very low and “pop up” over the dunes, with eyes peeled for the topless ladies grabbing for their bikinis ;-P

bestest,

m.

Posted

Fantastic set of shots - I remember the Whirlwinds from Leconsfield when on holiday in Scarborough in the 70s.

Nice catch of the SAR banded Wessex - SARTU perhaps?

Posted

Fascinating photos, thanks for posting them. The Wessex replaced the Whirlwind during 1981/82, was this 'A' Flights first one?

Posted

Ha! Love the TR7 parked by the apron - or was it broken down? :evil_laugh:

Posted
Was your brother wearing his clothes while he was at Braunton Burrows? ;-) I seem to remember a great pastime for the SAR crews (and the Cadets in the back) in those 80s summers was to fly along very low and “pop up” over the dunes, with eyes peeled for the topless ladies grabbing for their bikinis ;-P

bestest,

m.

I think so!! he was a Warden!! :D

Posted
Was your brother wearing his clothes while he was at Braunton Burrows? ;-) I seem to remember a great pastime for the SAR crews (and the Cadets in the back) in those 80s summers was to fly along very low and “pop up” over the dunes, with eyes peeled for the topless ladies grabbing for their bikinis ;-P

bestest,

m.

we used to do that in the gliders too :hypnotised:

steve

Posted

Yeah the Wessex shot is great, have to make a kit of that I think!

  • 2 years later...
Posted

I remember watching these things practising off the beach at Broad Haven Pembrokeshire when I was a kid! Really cool pictures, I am especially taken with the one with the TR7 in the foreground; but then I would be wouldn't I!

Martin

Posted

Nice nostalgic pics. I echo the like of the yellow banded Wessex. very interesting.

Around the same sort of time somewhen in the early to mid 80's, I was on a hol in the area and me and the missus went for a stroll along the footpath a nd perimete r from wher those pics seem to be taken. The thing was there was an RAF chap ( rock ape?) with a weapon close by and raised it in our direction so we made off! I don't know why the aggressive stance towards us back then. Managed to get a few pics of Hawks and the gate guard Whirly though.

Posted

TR7's great isnt it Martin!!

Paul, we used to sit on a bench on the old railway line as lads right next to the taxiway, its now part of the Tarka trail, never had any hassle from the RAF, I put some more photos up a while ago mostly taken from our favourite spot! You must have got them on a twitchy day!!

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62540-raf-chivenor-1980s/

cheers

Simon

Posted

Nice nostalgic pics. I echo the like of the yellow banded Wessex. very interesting.

Around the same sort of time somewhen in the early to mid 80's, I was on a hol in the area and me and the missus went for a stroll along the footpath a nd perimete r from wher those pics seem to be taken. The thing was there was an RAF chap ( rock ape?) with a weapon close by and raised it in our direction so we made off! I don't know why the aggressive stance towards us back then. Managed to get a few pics of Hawks and the gate guard Whirly though.

Possibly looking at you through a tele sight?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I seem to remember a great pastime for the SAR crews (and the Cadets in the back) in those 80s summers was to fly along very low and “pop up” over the dunes, with eyes peeled for the topless ladies grabbing for their bikinis ;-P

We used to do the same over Rhoscolyn on Anglesey when I was on SARTU. :bouncy:

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