Aero Grunge.

[PeterBirder]

This weekend we visited one of our local airfields to meet up with an old friend who was having an air experience flight as a birthday present. While there I took the opportunity to photograph this.


It's a Dasault Mystere IV A of the French Air Force. These entered service in 1953 and served up to the 1980's. Although French designed and built 223 of these aircraft were purchased by the USA for use by the French Air force. When they were withdrawn from service many were returned to the US (presumably for their scrap value ) but this one has been here in rural Essex as long as I can remember. From its markings it served with the 8th Escadre de Chasse (fighter wing) at Cadaux Air Base in Aquitaine.

Interestingly although the cannons and engine have been removed the ejector seat is still in place.


Lots of rivets.




There's so much rubbish in the tail pipe it's sinking into the ground.



The first shot is with the 75-300mm II, the rest with the 25mm f1.8.

Thanks for looking.

[IanB]

Re: Aero Grunge.

we should get that going in weekend or two
Sad to see something costing so much looking like that

TSF

[alfbranch]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Nice shots Peter

[Beagletorque]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Good shots, love the litter bin last.

[PeterBirder]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Thanks for your comments Ian, Alf and Beagletorque.

[Jim Ford]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Good shots, love the litter bin last.

I don't think it's a litter bin, but the tailpipe. I also think I can see turbine blades up there, which is puzzing if the engine has been removed.

Jim

[PeterBirder]

Re: Aero Grunge.

I don't think it's a litter bin, but the tailpipe. I also think I can see turbine blades up there, which is puzzing if the engine has been removed.

Jim

It's certainly functioning as a litter bin as there are quite a few Pepsi cans in there.

I think you're right, there are turbine blades there. They were not visible to the naked eye when I took the shot so that says something about the low light/shadow characteristics of the E-M5 sensor.

Regards.

[Zuiko]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Fascinating - looks like it was a bit agricultural even when it was new!

[PeterBirder]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Fascinating - looks like it was a bit agricultural even when it was new!

You mean the aeronautical equivalent of a Citroen 2CV. It does seem to illustrate the old definition of an aeroplane as "ten thousand rivets flying in formation".

Actually it was one of the early transonic aircraft ie. it could just about exceed the speed of sound.

Regards.

[Jim Ford]

Re: Aero Grunge.

It's certainly functioning as a litter bin as there are quite a few Pepsi cans in there.

I think you're right, there are turbine blades there. They were not visible to the naked eye when I took the shot so that says something about the low light/shadow characteristics of the E-M5 sensor.

Regards.

If there is no engine in there you should be able to see light shining through from the intake, though you won't be able to see straight through because of the bifurcated intake.

Next time you're there, take a can of paraffin and see if you can get it started and go for a spin!
;^)

Jim

[Tordan58]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Out of curiosity, do you know how/when it ended up there, and who owns it?(maybe the land owner).

[jdal]

Re: Aero Grunge.

I think it looks great. If I had a garden big enough to put one of them in I'd love one of them in the garden.

Why is it that instruments of death can look so elegant?

[KeithL]

Re: Aero Grunge.

I do believe there's a good one at Norwich Aviation Museum! They were a nice looking aircraft. Don't know how well they flew, though.

Sad to see, but interesting shots.

[PeterBirder]

Re: Aero Grunge.

Out of curiosity, do you know how/when it ended up there, and who owns it?(maybe the land owner).

I've done a bit of research and found a picture (http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=...n&sort=reg_a_z ) which shows it at this airfield (now called Andrewsfield) in April 1983 so it must have come here straight after withdrawal from sevice in France. At that time there was a private aircraft museum on the airfield called "The Rebel Air Museum". Some time later the museum was moved to another former WWII American airfield a few miles away. Since this museum was principally devoted to WWII American aircraft I suspect it got left behind. The owner of the museum passed away some years ago and the collection has been dispersed to other museums.

The aircraft can be seen in its present position on Google Earth.


Andrewsfield airfield is a grass strip on the location of one of the original runways of the Andrews Field USAAF WWII air base (one of many in this region). In this view you can see from crop/ground marks where the original concrete runways were.


When I was learning to drive in 1963 the concrete was still in place and I, like many others used to go there to practice without being on public roads.

Regards.

[Gwyver]

Re: Aero Grunge.

This weekend we visited one of our local airfields to meet up with an old friend ....

Interestingly although the cannons and engine have been removed the ejector seat is still in place.

Does it still work?