Further to Woodsy's 'Ships and Mortar' post, here's a shot of the 'Golfballs' at Fylingdale I took out of the car window, this year on the way to Richmond in Yorkshire. Hard to see amongst the hedges, but there are lots of them. It seems to have been renamed too.
Addendum - It seems I have my balls mixed up - RAF Fylingdales is a different site and has had the geodesic golf balls removed. Just the main array is visible now. Pic courtesy of Wikipedia.
The gate guardian is an F35 Lightning II rather than the Raptor. BAE do the electronics and build the rear fuselage, tailfins and some other engine and parts for the British version. When I lived in Lancashire I used to drive past them on my way to work when they were at BAE Samlesbury. You don't realise just how massive the EE Lightning is until you get close to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about the noise from the EE Lighting?? I hear the F-35 is noisy too??
DeleteYeah the noise is deafening. I saw one take off at an air display and go vertical straight away. Amazing sight.
DeleteSomeone said that Lightnings only have wings to keep their navigation lights apart. They are almost rockets!
DeleteAhh thanks Yorkie - you're right on both counts of course, its Salmsbury, not Warton. I'm out touch with my planes these days, makes sense now that the newer plane is a Lightning too!
DeleteWhat was the second plane before the F35? a Hawk? I seem to recall a Canberra being on the base too.
ReplyDeleteThat's right they used to have a Canberra too. I think the F35 replaced its spot, though it may be somewhere out of sight to the public. If you get the chance have a day trip to Elvington air museum near York. Lots of planes there. A Victor, Nimrod, Buccaneer, T33, Meteor, Canberra, Harrier plus WW2 and WW1 fighters and bombers and a few replica planes. During the war it used to be a bomber base for a French squadron and has friendly links with French avaition fans and has a Mirage III and a Mirage IV on display.
DeleteSorry, I'm confused.
ReplyDeleteAre there still any balls at Fylingdales, or not ?
No the balls (radomes) were replaced by a pyramid type structue in 1992 when the base was upgraded. Their is another air base near Harrogate called RAF Menwith Hill thats still has balls still.
DeleteThanks Yorkie.
ReplyDeleteGreat word that, radomes! So Quatermass!
ReplyDeleteRadome - Radar Dome. Made from a material that will not interfere with the radar. Those domes always look impressive.
ReplyDelete