Criggion VLF

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Joined
Sep 27, 2017
Messages
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Location
Surrey, UK
Would this group be interested in photos of the aerial complex whilst the station was operational? If yes, let me know and I can post some. It might take me a bit of time to dig them out, but they are in electronic format. They are all pre 1996. I took them without standing on private land, they have never been published and I have copyright. Sorry if this post wastes bandwidth, not sure what group or if any of you would have an interest, as its my first post. If you have an interest, probably best to email me to remind me to do this - I seldom get time to do anything these days!
 
Would be quite interesting, I'm too young to remember it not being battered...
 
I will try to post next week-end, currently out of the UK, returning 17 Jan. Images are stored on my home computer. They are taken from a light aircraft above the aerial complex. Some of Briden(Sp) Hill - the old winch house, as well. If I forget, please email me! As I get older, the memory fades!
 
How can I upload photos? I have tried using the advanced option, but just get an icon asking for the URL. The photos are on my computer, they are not on the web. Can't see any icon or other way to upload photos. What am I missing, I see other people manage it OK!

Alan
 
Thank you "oldscrote"

Criggion VLF aerial photos below:
Sorry the quality is not that good. Technology at the time (1987 & 1994) limits quality and it had to be a fast shutter speed to reduce vibration from the aircraft. Hope they are useful. I do have more taken at ground level, but copyright could be akward to work out - don't want to get a problem and anyway, I like my pension!


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Was quite the place back then, it's interesting to see how much the quarry has changed since then too...
 
Fantastic, I explored Criggion after it became derelict but before renovations started - I thought I'd posted a thread on here, but I guess it must be elsewhere on a defunct forum. Anyhow, it was a fascinating place and I really enjoyed researching its history. Thanks so much for posting the aerial shots. :)

Out of interest, were these shot from a Cessna 152 or 172 (judging by the high wing and strut?) I bet the pilot made sure he kept at least 500 feet above the masts!
 
Wolfism,
I have just checked my log book. I hired a Cessna 152 (G-BNOZ) from Welshpool. Second person pressed the shutter release. I always follow regulations 8<)) and was 500ft or more. Beside, it would be very embarrassing flying into the aerials I was responsible for maintaining! Seriously, you don't want to be closer than 500feet at the power being transmitted from any VLF station.
 
That makes sense, I guess the induced currents from the transmitter could mess up any instruments not worked using gyros or pitot heads.

Great photos though, do you still do some aerial photography? Something I'd like to try, sometime…
 
Wolfism,
I have just checked my log book. I hired a Cessna 152 (G-BNOZ) from Welshpool. Second person pressed the shutter release. I always follow regulations 8<)) and was 500ft or more. Beside, it would be very embarrassing flying into the aerials I was responsible for maintaining! Seriously, you don't want to be closer than 500feet at the power being transmitted from any VLF station.

Though it might be a 182 or a tail dragger of some kind. Yes a fly on the wall while explaining that would have been interesting . Would have though there would be a no fly restriction area around it ! nice pics
 
Sorry I don't. Wish I did, but I lost my medical back around 2004 - diabetis. Nowadays, its not a show stopper, but the thought of doing all that work again, not at my age!
It does mess up the mag compass! Most instruments seem OK'ish.
I remember walking under the VLF aerial at Rugby. I wear metal rimmed glasses. I could feel the induced voltage across my cheek! This area was not open to the public. In fact, we carried out regualr field strngth tests to ensure the public roads were within limits.
 
No restrictions, but marked very clearly with height on UK aviation charts. I did have a very tall mast catch me out once, in USA. I was concentrating inside the cockpit and the flashing light got my attention, must have been about 1 and a half to 2 miles away. Too close for me. That didn't happen again!
 
I find these places fascinating, and it's interesting that you mention Rugby: I explored the buildings at Rugby "B" after they shut, too. Sadly there's a limited supply of VLF sites - as far as I know, Anthorn and Skelton are very much live.
 
Supply is based on need. Not much of a requirement for VLF. Very limited number of "Customers", at least in the UK - albeit Anthorn, Criggion and Rugby were worldwide coverage. It was fun when we had the transmitter (agreed outage for maintenance with customer) to transmit a short 4 char message, wait around 1second and pick it up on the receiver after it had travelled the world! Anthorn I only visited a couple of times, I never visited Skelton, so no nothing about that site. Criggion had very good coverage to the Mediterranean, Rugby was more general. Rugby B was a good site, remember it well. Have you worked out the main characteristic of the sites? They all have one thing in common - other than being VLF stations. Took the Americans a number of years to work out why we could get the coverage with lower power transmitted than they used. To get the same coverage, they just throw more power at it - a lot more power! Also remember being up a mast a Criggion checking on something. Back in London the boss called me in and said have you seen your photo? (I was clearly recognisable). I said no, he said you should, its perfect! He wasn't referring to my looks, just as a manager I had to lead by example and use all the safety kit, the photo (taken by a American satellite) clearly showed I was fully compliant! Really enjoyed my time doing that work.
 
Just a guess, but was the main characteristic of the sites the fact that a net of cables was laid just under the surface to complement the tower-mounted aerials?

From my research at the time, I think Inskip was another VLF station?
 
Hi Wolfism,
You are on the right lines. However, all the main sites were in flood planes. Yes, Rugby would flood after heavy rain, The pond with a wall around it on the other side of the main road would nearly dissappear! Criggion flooded from the local river and Antorn is right next to the sea. We had very good earth readings!
 
Great photos I flew my Drone there recently, Shame the buildings aren't that easy accessible now.

 

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