Its interesting to know they still used wood on the canberras.I used to live in Pondersbridge not far from the base and my first visit was when Valiants were there.I have also made a few videos of Alconbury base which is closed for flying.Regards Ken
it was good, it was my first posting there. canberras tho quite big but were easy to work on, only difficult part was the tail fin which had a wooden panel which needed doping and fabric stuck on, its the part which has the symbols painted on. now looking at google earth the paintshop i worked in is no more, its all been knocked down. its a shame as it was my favourite posting, st ives and huntingdon were nice places too. at least theres still flying there.
@fabianlabian Well Wyton now is used for AEF flights by the ATC. No Canberras in the hangers now that i ahve seen just Grob Tutor 115E's and a few other light aircraft. There is a Canberra on display outside though. Hope ths helps. I'm an Air cadet btw and have flown at Wyton 3 times now :)
@aemj95 thanks for the reply. raf wyton was the best place ive worked at, i enjoyed myself at st.ives and huntingdon also. I dont recall seeing any grob tutors, but i guess its all changed now, looking at google earth, the old paintshop i used to work at has been demoslished. Is the canberra on display near the front gates? if so ive probably painted that :o). thanks for the info, enjoy your flying
@aemj95 i was a painter finsiher, at wyton i painted canberras, hawks, a little bit of nimrods, lot of toe caps but mostly aircraft parts. i also did fabric work such as making camouflage bags , some webbing, etc
@aemj95 i thought i did a reply 2 days ago but it didnt come up, strange. anyway i was a painter finisher, i painted canberras, hawks,a nimrod once, lots of shoe caps but mostly aircraft components. i also did fabric work, making camouflage bags, belts and webbing etc
@aemj95 ive replied to you but for some reason it comes up lower in the comments and not up here straight after your last comment to me, so look below after a day max as i can reply quickly. heres what i wrote
not anymore,i left in 1998, medical discharge. i enjoyed it a lot, went to a few bases and most probably would of still been in it if i could.
so whats flying like? i never flew tho ihad chances in a jaguar and tornado up in lossiemouth, i,m scared of heights and flying.
@fabianlabian It is absolutely briliant. I'm not fond of heights either but when you are up in the air you dont realise how high you are and in the end you completly lose your fear. But if you do get the chance again go up because it is fantastic.
Medical discharge? Do you mind me asking what it was? I'm goinmg to the RIAT this weekend actually should see some amazing aircraft! :)
I did a stint at Wyton 1994 - 2000. There was still Canberra in one of the hangars there, that came out on special occasions. Such a fantastic runway, and all they fly from there now are Grob Tutors and microlights! :-( I used to fly RC models there too - really sharpens up your landings flying off concrete.
It must be marvellous learning to fly;since I went to the air display I have lived in Spain and have never been back to Wyton,I expect its changed a lot now.
All RAF Wyton is used now for is ATC AEF for kids like me!
rjdas97 1 year ago
Its interesting to know they still used wood on the canberras.I used to live in Pondersbridge not far from the base and my first visit was when Valiants were there.I have also made a few videos of Alconbury base which is closed for flying.Regards Ken
birdman143 2 years ago
it was good, it was my first posting there. canberras tho quite big but were easy to work on, only difficult part was the tail fin which had a wooden panel which needed doping and fabric stuck on, its the part which has the symbols painted on. now looking at google earth the paintshop i worked in is no more, its all been knocked down. its a shame as it was my favourite posting, st ives and huntingdon were nice places too. at least theres still flying there.
fabianlabian 2 years ago
i served at wyton as a painter finsher from 91-94.
there were plenty of canberras around which always needed rivets doing. are any of them left?
fabianlabian 2 years ago
It must have been great to work on the old Canberras as far as I know the base is only used for Grob trainers now.Regards,Ken
birdman143 2 years ago
@fabianlabian Well Wyton now is used for AEF flights by the ATC. No Canberras in the hangers now that i ahve seen just Grob Tutor 115E's and a few other light aircraft. There is a Canberra on display outside though. Hope ths helps. I'm an Air cadet btw and have flown at Wyton 3 times now :)
aemj95 8 months ago
@aemj95 thanks for the reply. raf wyton was the best place ive worked at, i enjoyed myself at st.ives and huntingdon also. I dont recall seeing any grob tutors, but i guess its all changed now, looking at google earth, the old paintshop i used to work at has been demoslished. Is the canberra on display near the front gates? if so ive probably painted that :o). thanks for the info, enjoy your flying
fabianlabian 8 months ago
@fabianlabian Oh really! It as changed quite a bit now judging from these photos.So what did you do when you were in the RAF?
aemj95 8 months ago
@aemj95 i was a painter finsiher, at wyton i painted canberras, hawks, a little bit of nimrods, lot of toe caps but mostly aircraft parts. i also did fabric work such as making camouflage bags , some webbing, etc
fabianlabian 8 months ago
@aemj95 i thought i did a reply 2 days ago but it didnt come up, strange. anyway i was a painter finisher, i painted canberras, hawks,a nimrod once, lots of shoe caps but mostly aircraft components. i also did fabric work, making camouflage bags, belts and webbing etc
fabianlabian 7 months ago
@fabianlabian Oh really thats brilliant! Are you still involved in RAF work any more?
aemj95 7 months ago
@aemj95 not anymore,i left in 1998, medical discharge. i enjoyed it a lot, went to a few bases and most probably would of still been in it if i could.
so whats flying like? i never flew tho ihad chances in a jaguar and tornado up in lossiemouth, i,m scared of heights and flying so i,ll never know.
fabianlabian 7 months ago
@aemj95 ive replied to you but for some reason it comes up lower in the comments and not up here straight after your last comment to me, so look below after a day max as i can reply quickly. heres what i wrote
not anymore,i left in 1998, medical discharge. i enjoyed it a lot, went to a few bases and most probably would of still been in it if i could.
so whats flying like? i never flew tho ihad chances in a jaguar and tornado up in lossiemouth, i,m scared of heights and flying.
fabianlabian 7 months ago
@fabianlabian It is absolutely briliant. I'm not fond of heights either but when you are up in the air you dont realise how high you are and in the end you completly lose your fear. But if you do get the chance again go up because it is fantastic.
Medical discharge? Do you mind me asking what it was? I'm goinmg to the RIAT this weekend actually should see some amazing aircraft! :)
aemj95 7 months ago
I did a stint at Wyton 1994 - 2000. There was still Canberra in one of the hangars there, that came out on special occasions. Such a fantastic runway, and all they fly from there now are Grob Tutors and microlights! :-( I used to fly RC models there too - really sharpens up your landings flying off concrete.
combatwombat71 2 years ago
Thanks for the info;I have not been there since I made the video.
birdman143 2 years ago
wow, the pics are older then myself
trechan 3 years ago
Well its a good thing this oldtimer was around to take the photos :-)
birdman143 3 years ago
Check out the link below for forum discussion:
w w w . huntingdonshireaviationgroup . co . uk
gunner17470 3 years ago
Thanks for watching my video;I have visited the web site you mentioned and found it very interesting.
birdman143 3 years ago
i go there to fly in the grobtuter with aircadets
timhawkfs40 4 years ago
It must be marvellous learning to fly;since I went to the air display I have lived in Spain and have never been back to Wyton,I expect its changed a lot now.
birdman143 4 years ago
Been there too... just the once. Airshows in the UK are a pale shadow of the old days. Expensive too.
rockinroy555 4 years ago
good shots
mikec300 4 years ago
Thanks a lot,living here in Spain I really miss the air shows.
birdman143 4 years ago