posted 04-24-2005 03:02 PM            

It ficused on the Brsitish A- and H-bombs , the British V-planes (Valiant,Vulcan and Victor) and the Blue Streak missile.
There was a great deal of previously secret classified UK government film footage in this documentary which I had not seen before.

The footage of the A-bomb and H-bomb explosions - in colour - were stupendous .
I had seen b$w prints and press photos but to see the cine film footage was something else of those terrifying 'mushroom clouds'.
I for one am pleased that nuclear bomb war useage stopped at Nagasaki having seen the stupendous power of these type of bombs.

But,it wasn't the A-/H-bombs that was interesting. It was the footage of the Blue Streak.

Here we saw engineers making the very thin metallic hoops for the 1st stage . Non of your computerised techniques here. It was several workers feeding the flat thin metallic plate to other workers who 'wound' the plate over and around a wooden wheel which looked like a water wheel ! Once the first stage was constructed we saw an engineer demonstrating how thin walled the vehicles tanks were . He punched the tank which then bent inwards before flexing back to shape. Of course, the propellants when loaded helped strengthen the vehicle. The analogy between a fizzy drink can and this Blue Streak stage was drawn.

Other footage showed the construction of Spadeadam and Woomera, the assembly and testing of the Rolls Royce RZ2 engines at Spadeadam and then,later the assembly of a Blue Streak vehicle with RZ2's at Spadeadam and undergoing captive firing tests. Brilliant! It was also noted in the film that Britain developed the idea of underground silos for use by Blue Streak (never used) and that,later,other nations then adopted the idea and put it to use!

After Blue Streak was cancelled - with never a test flight to its name - that Britain offered it to be used by ELDO as the first stage for the ELDO launcher. It was only in this guise that Blue Streak undertook its first launch from Woomera. The film footage of the preparations for this were interesting.

posted 04-25-2005 03:06 AM               

If interested I can post some photos to this thread when I get home tonight.

BTW, that RN Sea Harrier is the oldest surving Harrier and is in fact a pre-production model of 1966 vintage. I have photos of this as well.

Any cS member coming up to Scotland should make a visit to the museum as it really has some fine vintage airframes including Sir Percy Pilcher's "Hawk" which is the oldest surving airframe in the UK of 1896 vintage.

Regards, Derek

P.S. I missed this program as I was not at home so if anyone could copy it onto video for me I'd be most grateful and would pay the costs involved.

posted 04-25-2005 11:20 AM               

quote:

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I learned an awful lot and, like you, never knew that the UK had plans for silo and train based missiles well before anyone else. Thank goodness we didn't go down that route!

---

Yeah, no kidding. I've been on English trains.

If war had broken out in 1962 and you guys had your rockets on trains, they wouldn't have been in a position to fire until 1988.

posted 04-25-2005 11:57 AM            

Also I think Cosford had one and I'm sure if I dig deep I'd find photos of both in my collection.

And DukeofURL, the missiles would have arrived on time in 1962 since still a lot of steam engines around then on network. In fact I was riding to college everyday on steam hauled trains.The big intercity diesel elec Deltics were faster then than most of today's intercities !

Phill

posted 04-25-2005 12:00 PM            

Do you have opening times of the Museum?
Especially for this coming SUNDAY (1 May)

I gave a space talk many many years ago at East Fortune on Apollo (circa late 60's/early 70s). They gave me a VIP trip around that day but I'd forgotten my camera :-(

posted 04-25-2005 12:25 PM            

OK It was on web page
10am to 5pm
Phill

posted 04-25-2005 12:32 PM            

Teir image shows it outside.

What do they do with it in winter?
Cover it?
Take it inside?

Is the Blue Streak inside?

I've just noticed they have a historic vehicle rally this Sunday which will make access busy and displays busy - so I may postpone until later in May - just so I can drive in,rush around to just see roclets and then drive out again as my time is limited as it would be a short stopoff enroute elsewhere in Scotland.

Phill
UK

posted 04-25-2005 12:36 PM            

Though no fullsize vehicle they did have full size equipment bay,RZ2 engine and other items (some control desk parts,official papers etc).

Photography was NOT allowed unless you signed a paper that said images only to be used for self use. Any potential commercial use had to be paid for and cleared. I think this is becasue a number of the images were taken by and belong to "The Crown" (MoD property) .

So, though I have a lot of images I don't suppose I can show them?

Phill

posted 04-25-2005 02:13 PM               

The Blue Streak used to be housed inside the Rockets/Spaceflight hangar which is first hangar you pass on your way into the museum (you can only get access to it once a ticket for the museum has been purchased at the entrance to the Concorde hangar). I've not been to the museum since last June and since then they have completely changed the displays around.

I'm in temporary housing at the moment (due to a flood) and my photograph files are in storage so unfortunately I could only find the image below which shows the Blue Streak lying horizontally behind the ME-163.

Viewing the exhibits in the museum on a day without the hordes that attend a "special events" day would be by far the most desirable option. The events days are great for families and for getting youngsters interested in the history but no fun if you're an enthusiast looking to take some decent photographs!!

I'm trying to work from memory here... they used to have on display the Blue Streak, Blue Steel, Black Knight, Sea Slug, Polaris A3 all of which were housed indoors. The only missile outside in the open air was the Thunderbird.

If I can help with any other details don't hesitate to ask. Phil, drop me an email and I'll email you a few pics and can advise about the local area as I am originally from East Lothian. If in East Lothian you must stop at "Luca's" of Musselburgh for Ice Cream... their vanillia is HEAVEN itself!!

posted 04-26-2005 04:43 AM            

Derek

Thanks for detail and image on Blue Streak.
I cancelled going 1st May after seeing the 'historic car day' - as I want just see the rockets/missile.

My time at East Fortune will be very limited - 30 mins? - as I am off elsewhere to visit at Glasgow.

If the ice cream shop is nearby I'll call in.
I'm a 'sucker' for ice cream. Off neaopolitan land soon - ice cream by the bucket full!

Phill

posted 04-26-2005 09:44 AM               

Sorry I could only find the one photograph. A fairly thorough visit to the Museum of Flight would be approximately 3 hours to tour all the hangars so 30 minutes to "do" the rockets would just about be enough.

As for the ice-cream... Luca's is a must http://www.s-luca.co.uk/shops/musselburgh/musselburgh.html if you are a conniseur of ice cream and would be well worth the extra hour on your day... I guarantee it ... The best you'll find ANYWHERE!!!!!!

posted 04-27-2005 05:52 AM            

Derek - I'm going hold you to that ice cream being nice - I'm adding extra time to take it in :-))