Predannack Royal Naval School Of Fire Fighting (Pic Heavy)

[hydealfred]

I know this site has been posted before on the Forum, however, this is my take on this fascinating place. The airfield is operated by the Royal Navy and is home to the Royal Naval School Of Fire Fighting. The airfield itself dates from World War Two and was opened in 1941. During the war Coastal Command flew anti submarine and convoy support missions using such aircraft as Bristol Beaufighters and De-Havilland Mosquito’s.

Flying continues today with the 626 Volunteer Gliding Squadron using the airfield to fly its Grob 109 powered gliders.

The shots are from April 2010.

Handley Page Jetstream T2 - XX479

Hawker Siddeley Dominie T1 - XS738

Landing light detail - Hawker Siddeley Dominie T1 - XS738

Cockpit detail - XS738

Navigators Position - XS738

Close up navigators position - XS738

English Electric Canberra B(I)6 - WT308 - the aileron attached to the wing was making a forlorn sound
as it flapped in the wind

Roundel and tail detail - WT308

Switch detail - WT308

WT308 was formerly based at the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment Boscombe Down

Data stamps - WT308

Westland Sea King HAS.5 - XS570

Cockpit detail - Sea King XS570

Zap as attached to XS570

Air dropped torpedo

Westland Wessex HAS.1 - XS885

Instrument panel - XS885

Sepecat Jaguar T4 - XX845

XX845 - Recently delivered from RAF Cosford

XX845

Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 - XX969

Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 - XV753 - tail detail

British Aerospace Sea Harrier - F/A.2 - ZD581 - such a shame as this is still a very state of the art fighter
they really were retired too early

Engine bay detail - ZD581

Pegasus engine vectored thrust nozzle opening - ZD581

30mm Aden cannon breech - ZD581

Stencilling detail - ZD581

Westland Wessex HAS.3 - XP137

Roll Royce Gnome Turboshafts - Westland Wessex HU.5 - XS520

Even the windsock has seen better days

Thanks for looking.

 

[BahrainPete]

I love your pics and have always felt that there is something unique about derelict avaition. Its a real shame to see aircraft dying of the same type that private owners are struggling to restore to keep a memory of our heritage.

Great stuff.

 

[KooK.]

Awesome stuff, love the Westland.

 

[lost]

That's excellent, I would love to 'explore' some 'planes.

 

[fluffy5518]

Top notch report with some crackin' photo's.Are the planes still used in conjunction with fire training or are they just dumped awaiting the (gas) axeman !! Are there any others or is this the lot !!!

 

[chaoticreason]

It seems there are new planes or atleast ones we didn't get to,the 'XX845' takes my fancy,It was the one plane we didn't go to 'it looked all asunder upon it's knee's'.Have to go back now,cheer's for some great shots,I love Predannick.The military gave us verbal permission to be on site.Not! I think that that makes it an open house.
I will just add a lot of the land surrounding is open access.including the mounds betwixt the planes.shot me dead if I am wrong!

 

[hydealfred]

Top notch report with some crackin' photo's.Are the planes still used in conjunction with fire training or are they just dumped awaiting the (gas) axeman !! Are there any others or is this the lot !!!

I believe they are still used for non-destructive training but eventually they pass their sell by date and are then removed from site for scrapping. Once this happens new airframes are brought in to continue the process. There are some others on-site but on the far side of the airfield mostly Harriers. Getting to them would mean walking across the centre of the airfield so I was not that brave !!

 

[Munchh]

Aircraft porn, love it! Tidy set alf

 

[klempner69]

Simply wonderful stuff.

 

[Lamb Phall]

Ive got to visit this place, nice report.

 

[hydealfred]

Canberra WT308

Looking through some old shots I found this photo I took in 1984 of WT308, on approach to Boscombe Down which is shown derelict in my post of Predannack. Sad really, from airbourne to scrap metal It was like meeting an old friend from the past as I hadn't realised I had this photo

 

[Scaramanger]

I heard this is quite a trek to get to??

 

[hydealfred]

Hit the wrong button with regards the thanks It is not a trek if you have a look at the map you will see.

 

[J_a_t_33]

Awesome pics!

 

[Bloomers]

excellent pictures bud. the jetstrem and jag are new additions since i last visited, last year

 

[dangerous dave]

the jetstream has been there a while its a wicked site well worth the risk

 

[stuck247]

Great set of photos hyfred.Especially like the detail shots.
If I ever get sent nearby with work I shall definitely be making a visit.
Nice to see the in-flight shot of the Canberra.