Tag Archive: phonography


Hawker Demon, August 2009

Another recording on my new web site http://www.field-recording.org.uk/hawker-demon-august-2009/

Hawker Hunter FGA.9 G-ETPS

I’ve posted a recording of a Hawker Hunter on my new website.

It is available from http://www.field-recording.org.uk/hawker-hunter-fga-9-g-etps/

The BAC Strikemaster is the same aircraft as a Jet Provost (the piston version being recorded elsewhere in this blog). As a militarised trainer, the aircraft looks very aerobatic in display. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk.535 turbojet producing 3,410 lbf (15.2 kN).

Doing a bit of digging around using the aircraft serial number, this may not be the billed Strikemaster but a T.3 Jet Provost. Some information from Jet Provost Heaven

Jet Provost T.3 XN637 was built by Hunting-Percival at Luton, and after flight tests was declared ready for collection on 31st August 1961. It was ferried from Luton to RAF Shawbury a week later (7th September) where it went to 27MU, for final preparations for RAF service began. On 5th October 1961, XN637 was issued to No 3 Flying Training School (3FTS), based at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire. This Unit had reformed the previous month as a Jet Provost squadron. XN637 remained in service, latterly as aircraft number ’13′, until January 1963 when it returned to RAF Shawbury for storage. It stayed mothballed with 27MU for nearly ten years until November 11th 1972, when it was moved to RAF Kemble for further storage, this time with 5MU. On 14th February 1973 XN637 was officially declared a NEA – Non Effective Airframe, and within a month it had been struck off charge

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Here’s a snap of the photo during the display. The serial number on the plane in the photo confirms a Jet Provost (?).

BAC Strikemaster, Old Warden, 2nd August 2009

BAC Strikemaster, Old Warden, 2nd August 2009

Recorded on 2nd August 2009, Old Warden, Beds, UK.

Another recording of the pair of PT-22 Recruits based at Old Warden. I was contact by a guy from the US who actually flies one of these in his spare time asking for me to send him some recordings, which of course I have.

The PT-22 Recruit was the first trainer aircraft to be used by the United States Army Air Corps with a single wing (monoplane). Powered by a single Kinner R-5 Raidial. The aircraft has a peculiar sound due to a odd arangement of exhausts and cylinders (a high speed waltz?).

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Heres a photo I took of one of the displaying aircraft during the display on the day.

Ryan PT-22 Recruit, Old Warden, 2nd August 2009

Ryan PT-22 Recruit, Old Warden, 2nd August 2009

Recorded on 2nd August 2009, Old Warden, Beds, UK.

A Mark 1 Hurricane and Sea Hurricane displaying in formation. Not something you see or hear everyday!

The Sea Hurricane is operated by the Shuttleworth Collection and the MK1 Hurricane (R4188) is a Battle of Britain veteran aircraft. More information about R4188 is available from here.

Some interesting information linking these two machines from the web site about the Mk1:

During its lifetime, it was fitted with no fewer than five Rolls-Royce Merlin III engines, and underwent four major rebuilds. It is still powered by a Merlin III (the only other aircraft in the world to retain a Merlin III is the Sea Hurricane at Shuttleworth). It is said to be the most historic fighter aircraft to have survived the war.

During the display you could hear a difference in the two engines although difficult to tell in a blind test. The Sea Hurricane is flown in a very conservative style, no suprise considering the age and rarity (of the two). At a push, the Sea Hurricane has a softer sound.

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Recorded on 2nd August 2009, Old Warden, Beds, UK. This is a quick snap I took of the Mk1 and a photo of the Sea Hurricane from July.

Hawker Hurricane MK1 R4188 at Old Warden

Hawker Hurricane MK1 R4188 at Old Warden

Hawker Sea Hurricane, Old Warden, July 2009

Hawker Sea Hurricane, Old Warden, July 2009

This Merlin engined Spitfire PR.11 PL965 (G-MKXI) turned up at Old Warden at the weekend and did a fantastic display. The sound I recorded starts with the aircraft looping over the field and then a fast flyover right on axis with my mic setup.

Another one of the great aircraft at Hanger 11, North Weald. More information from the Hanger 11 web site.

For a change I took my camera and took a few snaps instead of relying on Wikpedia content.

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See also more Spitfire recordings here: http://www.field-recording.org.uk/supermarine-spitfire/

Supermarine Spitfire PR.11 PL965/R overhead

Supermarine Spitfire PR.11 PL965/R overhead

After the display PL965 prepares to land.

Supermarine Spitfire PR.11 PL965/R

Supermarine Spitfire PR.11 PL965/R landing

Recorded on 2nd August 2009, Old Warden, Beds, UK.

Evening Thunder

Not the usual kind of thing I try to record but managed to get some good examples yesterday. Rain, thunderclaps.

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Sankyo Cine Camera Sounds

I recorded these sounds of an early 1960s Sankyo Cine Camera before throwing it in the bin.

This one is of the camera running at 48fps (pretty sure that means feet per second)

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This one at 32 fps.

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DH.88 Comet 'Grosvenor House' G-ACSS

This is a recording made last year (3rd August) of the DH.88 Comet ‘Grosvenor House’ starting up prior to a taxi at Shuttleworth. A few times a year the aircarft is started up and taxiied but not flown. A while back a runway extension was made to the airfield which I thought was to support this aircraft but still it doesnt fly.

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5 of these were built for air racing in the 1930s, 3 specifically for the MacRobertson Race from England to Australia in 1934. Wikipedia has this to say about the winning performance of Grosvenor House in 1934.

“The scarlet G-ACSS was the property of Mr.A.O.Edwards and was named Grosvenor House after the hotel which he managed. The crew were Charles W.Scott and Tom Campbell Black. When the Mollisons ran into problems at Karachi, Scott & Campbell Black took over the lead and were first into Allahabad. Despite a severe storm over the Bay of Bengal they reached Singapore safely, 8 hours ahead of the DC-2.
They took off for Darwin, but over the Timor Sea lost power in the port engine when the oil pressure dropped to zero. Repairs at Darwin got them going again, although continuing oil warnings caused them to fly the last two legs with one engine throttled back. Their lead was unassailable despite this, and after the final mandatory stop and more engine work at Charleville they flew on to cross the finish line at Flemington Racecourse at 3.33 p.m. (local time) on October 23. Their official time was 71 hours 18 seconds.”.

More information about these aircraft is available from wikipedia by following this link.

G-ACSS Grosvenor House on display at the Farnborough Air Show in September 1988

G-ACSS Grosvenor House on display at the Farnborough Air Show in September 1988

North American Harvard Trainers

Sound of a pair of Harvard trainers chasing around Old Warden.

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Harvards have a very particular sound as like a Stearman there is no gearing between the engine and propeller which consequently moves very fast, with the propeller tips breaking the speed of sound as they turn.

North American Harvard, Old Warden, July 2009

One of the North American Harvards taxying after the display, Old Warden, July 2009

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