FlyPast – August 2018

(John Hannent) #1

WARBIRDS BAE SYSTEMS HERITAGE FLIGHT


28 FLYPAST August 2018


yet for the BAE Anson, with
appearances at RAF Cosford, RIAT
and Goodwood, as well as our
commitments to support the RAF
at their various family days
for Marham, Valley, Coningsby
and Lossiemouth.
“Bearing in mind her original
role as a reconnaissance and
transport aircraft, she is a really
comfortable cruiser and a delight
to fly. The control forces are quite
heavy and roll rates are sluggish
but the fantastic cockpit field of
view makes up for this, especially
during dynamic displays. We can
fly wingovers and reversals and
she handles quite tight turns well,
as long as we maintain a sensible
minimum speed of around 80
knots. We always display her with
two crew for the benefits of task-
sharing and lookout, and I have to
say I prefer flying her with someone
else there to monitor parameters
and to talk to!”
The Anson was one of the stars at
the Shuttleworth Season Premiere
airshow on May 6, where she made
her public debut as ‘TX176’. The
crowds at the ‘RAF100’-themed
event also saw the Anson paired
with the Battle of Britain Memorial
Flight’s Avro Lancaster and then
witnessed it flying alongside the
Aircraft Restoration Company’s
unique Bristol Blenheim. A busy
season lies ahead for the heritage
fleet and credit must go to BAE
Systems for putting so much effort
into celebrating the company’s
fine history.

Above
A view inside the
aircraft’s fuselage during
maintenance.

Right
The Avro in its previous,
civilian scheme.
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