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Post by Jeff on Aug 25, 2023 18:07:27 GMT
Anyone on here go to this show? 😁
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Post by keefyboy on Aug 25, 2023 19:27:15 GMT
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Post by Jeff on Aug 25, 2023 19:33:32 GMT
I did a series link on talking pictures of 'look at Life' ages ago and forgot about it...... I have 34 to watch now lol
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Post by davebasing on Aug 26, 2023 8:24:43 GMT
On the subject of old hangars, last week I paid a return visit to Riga and its Central Market. During WW1 the German Army built an airship base at Vainode with two hangars each 240 m long and 35 m tall near the current Lithuanian border with Latvia. The based Zeppelins were used for bombing raids on England and Russia. After WW1 in the 1920s the hangars were dismantled and used to build the market in Riga. The original plan was to retain their actual size but this was modified to just use the upper parts of the hangars. Thus the current roofs are constructed using those parts including the metal structure. In WW2 Vainode was activated again as a Russian AF base which it remained until Latvian independence in 1991 when the based Mig 23s departed and the airfield is now derelict and a nature reserve.  IMG_1459 by dave tompkins, on Flickr  IMG_1460 by dave tompkins, on Flickr  IMG_1461 by dave tompkins, on Flickr |
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Post by graham on Aug 26, 2023 8:45:37 GMT
What a great video, I drive through Upavon several times a month and often wonder about all the aircraft that once flew from there. Location wise, it's up there with Compton Abbas for me. There are a few RAF Vikings based there these days plus a few civvy gliders.
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Post by keefyboy on Aug 26, 2023 9:31:28 GMT
Hi Graham - I frequently drive past Upavon - usually to avoid the A303 bottlekneck that is Stonehenge - but I've never stopped off there as I've always regarded it as a military base. I think the airfield side is now just solely civilian? If so, is it possible to drive into that side and park up to view the gliders without questions being asked? Cheers. Keith
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Post by graham on Aug 26, 2023 13:55:18 GMT
Hi Keith, I don't think you can and I don't think there's access to the eastern side of the field but there is a lane as you head towards Andover a couple of hundred yards after the main road clears the airfield. There's also a layby on the right if I recall as you head towards Andover. There are a couple of crash gates on the eastern side but other than those, I've never quite determined how anyone accesses that side. I only stop if stuff is flying and then use the VRs as everything based there does track.
The hangers there are huge and I do wonder whether there's more inside than just the based civvy and RAF gliders.
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Post by howardlgw on Aug 26, 2023 21:48:18 GMT
Can I add an old hanger with a new use. When you go into Wimbledon Station by train heading towards London on the right hand side in the Railway yard the large building which was once the S&T store was I have been told was an old hanger from Bournemouth from the 1930's . After railway Privatisation. Railtrack planned to demolish it but a preservation order was placed on it as it was the last remaining aircraft hangar of that type.
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Post by keefyboy on Aug 27, 2023 10:44:30 GMT
Thanks Graham - that's very helpful advice.
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Post by davebasing on Aug 27, 2023 18:23:01 GMT
Can I add an old hanger with a new use. When you go into Wimbledon Station by train heading towards London on the right hand side in the Railway yard the large building which was once the S&T store was I have been told was an old hanger from Bournemouth from the 1930's . After railway Privatisation. Railtrack planned to demolish it but a preservation order was placed on it as it was the last remaining aircraft hangar of that type. Thanks for the memory jerker Howard, passed it many times on the train. Its an old WW1 seaplane hangar from the former Naval Air Station at Newhaven. After WW1 it was temporarily used to construct piles to repair Newhaven Pier before moving to Donaldson Road, Wimbledon in 1923 almost exactly 100 years ago . I think its officially listed as a Type G Seaplane Shed in the preservation order. My grandfather served in the RNAS though never at Newhaven. He did serve at the seaplane base at Killingholme on the Humber Estuary. After the Station was disbanded in 1919 the hangers were taken to Grimsby and used to build the bus depot opposite the Police Station, on Victoria Street. The majority of the hangers still stand behind the brick facade which bears the date 1925 |
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Post by howardlgw on Aug 27, 2023 21:35:45 GMT
Thanks Dave for your informative reply to my old Wimbledon Store memory. In my old Railway working days I visited the old Hangar on numerous occasions. I seem to remember it had a number of small holes in the roof caused by an over zealous member of staff bringing in an air rifle to kill a number of pigeons who had taken up residence.
Regards Howard
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Post by dave on Aug 28, 2023 9:06:26 GMT
hi,
ah, that old and trusted British tradition, make do and mend, also coupled with, waste not want not...
regards,
dave...
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