One of most frightening aviation “horror film“ I’ve ever seen here on TH-cam, regarding the scrapping scenes of the mighty Belfasts. Many thanks for the Short Belfast flight videos! 👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's nothing more gut wrenching to watch, than a marvel of aviation being broken up for scrap. Nothing wrong with these aircraft. They just arbitrarily decided it was cheaper to destroy them than to maintain them.
I am so glad I skived off of school and spent time mostly in my earliest love XR371 Enceladus out of RAF Brize Norton. No-one can take that away from me now.
I worked in Shorts, Belfast when these huge aircraft were in production. They were truly huge machines. Loved my time there, I was with the radio section. Finished serving my apprenticeship working on Belfast's.
Such a shame they ended up being scrapped, but I suppose nothing is forever. I still have photographs of the Belfast being cut up, with a lot of the cockpit controls being intact.
I was with Transmeridian as an engine tech when these arrived at STN. We did quite a lot of work on them. Marshalls at Cambridge did the work to get them onto the UK civil register. It's nice to see some old friends again, even if they are no longer with us. I'm retired now, and just about everything I ever worked on is a museum piece! Is the one at Cairns Australia still in one piece?
@@robinpinnock2678 Thanks for replying Robin. The CL44 - O Guppy at Bournemouth is hanging on for dear life. I did my check ride as a loadmaster on her on Mother's Day 1998. The problem is that RR have removed their support for the engines and there is serious corrosion in the main spar centre section. She'll probably never fly again. There is now so much legal stuff around money owed for various services ,the ownership and parking fees so it's only a matter of time.....
Its all to do with defence cuts back in the 1970's...ironically, after selling the Belfasts, we then paid a fortune to Heavylift getting them to cart stuff around for us!!....
The RAF was keen to hang on to the Belfasts, especially after the Britannias were cut from Transport Command, but politicians made the decision to save money, although it ended up costing more to hire the aircraft back from HeavyLift..!
as what i read elsewhere the cost of renting them back for the falklands dwarfed any savings made. my understanding is at the time the brits were cap in hand to the usa again in the 1970s? and in exchange for the special relationship, more c130s were purchased. in one sweet move that pretty much closed down production and prevented anyone else from buying them, guaranteeing the usa more c130 sales.
The C130 did not replace the Belfast. The Herky Bird is a tactical transport used over short/medium range and has a STOL and rough airfield capability. The Belfast was a strategic transport; long range and heavy loads. It didn't have a STOL or rough field capability. The Hercules replaced the rather inadequate Argosy in RAF service and had been operating for nearly ten years by the time the Belfast retired. The senseless bit is that the government were persuaded that the RAF didn't need a strategic heavy lifter and could manage with the Hercules. Of course, the Falklands War demonstrated the stupidity of that decision because the C130 just couldn't carry the heavy/bulky loads that the Belfast had been designed for. Not only that but when it was heavily loaded it didn't have anything like the required range. So, the MOD had to hire back the good old Belslow to do some of the hard work and spent a packet doing it. Thanks for the upload. ......one of my favourite aircraft being given the limelight it deserves.
Not by a lot, and not as pricey. And way better than a Herc. Another superior British aeroplane that just didn't get traction as a world beater. Like the VC10
@@chriswilliams5498 , my father worked on the Belfast in the RAF . Also for heavy lift , in there civilian role . He told me , Shorts were designing . A Belfast mk2 , which would have had jet engines . A bit like the USA starlifter, makes you wonder. If that had been built , we wouldn't have needed the C17 ... Although , I know that is a great aircraft
What a waste and what a pity! We're talking about aviation masterpieces that could carry 35 metric tons of supplies! Ideal for emergency situations! They should've been mothballed instead.
One of most frightening aviation “horror film“ I’ve ever seen here on TH-cam, regarding the scrapping scenes of the mighty Belfasts.
Many thanks for the Short Belfast flight videos! 👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's nothing more gut wrenching to watch, than a marvel of aviation being broken up for scrap. Nothing wrong with these aircraft. They just arbitrarily decided it was cheaper to destroy them than to maintain them.
Darts and Tynes, the best sounding prop turbines in existence
I am so glad I skived off of school and spent time mostly in my earliest love XR371 Enceladus out of RAF Brize Norton. No-one can take that away from me now.
Was completely unaware of this plane now I am obsessed……. The sound of the RR Tynes wow!
More Tynes!
th-cam.com/video/eQFb_KUyFtE/w-d-xo.html
I worked in Shorts, Belfast when these huge aircraft were in production. They were truly huge machines. Loved my time there, I was with the radio section. Finished serving my apprenticeship working on Belfast's.
Tynes are music to the ears. Keep it coming!
I just simply LOVE your channel!
Thanks for all the great content 👍🏻
All 10 Belfasts were a big part of my life for most of the 1970's at Abingdon and Brize. So sad to see how they've ended up.
Such a shame they ended up being scrapped, but I suppose nothing is forever.
I still have photographs of the Belfast being cut up, with a lot of the cockpit controls
being intact.
Makes me cry.
those big props are well clear of the ground !! .
I was with Transmeridian as an engine tech when these arrived at STN. We did quite a lot of work on them. Marshalls at Cambridge did the work to get them onto the UK civil register. It's nice to see some old friends again, even if they are no longer with us. I'm retired now, and just about everything I ever worked on is a museum piece! Is the one at Cairns Australia still in one piece?
For now, but it's days could be numbered .
@@robinpinnock2678 Thanks for replying Robin. The CL44 - O Guppy at Bournemouth is hanging on for dear life. I did my check ride as a loadmaster on her on Mother's Day 1998. The problem is that RR have removed their support for the engines and there is serious corrosion in the main spar centre section. She'll probably never fly again. There is now so much legal stuff around money owed for various services ,the ownership and parking fees so it's only a matter of time.....
363 in Dad’s log 😥
why could it not survive, and the Antonov 12 is still flying today?
Its all to do with defence cuts back in the 1970's...ironically, after selling the Belfasts, we then paid a fortune to Heavylift getting them to cart stuff around for us!!....
Why did the RAF retire these early? They are equivalent to A400 yet we’re retired after less than a decade with no replacement.
The RAF was keen to hang on to the Belfasts, especially after the Britannias were cut from Transport Command, but politicians made the decision to save money, although it ended up costing more to hire the aircraft back from HeavyLift..!
as what i read elsewhere the cost of renting them back for the falklands dwarfed any savings made. my understanding is at the time the brits were cap in hand to the usa again in the 1970s? and in exchange for the special relationship, more c130s were purchased. in one sweet move that pretty much closed down production and prevented anyone else from buying them, guaranteeing the usa more c130 sales.
The C130s were heaps of shit they always had Spar lines cracking
And smaller
U
Is the Am400 Atlass , that much better than the Belfast .
The C130 did not replace the Belfast. The Herky Bird is a tactical transport used over short/medium range and has a STOL and rough airfield capability. The Belfast was a strategic transport; long range and heavy loads. It didn't have a STOL or rough field capability. The Hercules replaced the rather inadequate Argosy in RAF service and had been operating for nearly ten years by the time the Belfast retired.
The senseless bit is that the government were persuaded that the RAF didn't need a strategic heavy lifter and could manage with the Hercules. Of course, the Falklands War demonstrated the stupidity of that decision because the C130 just couldn't carry the heavy/bulky loads that the Belfast had been designed for. Not only that but when it was heavily loaded it didn't have anything like the required range. So, the MOD had to hire back the good old Belslow to do some of the hard work and spent a packet doing it.
Thanks for the upload. ......one of my favourite aircraft being given the limelight it deserves.
@@michaelevans205 , my dad . was a load master on the Belfast. When they were in civilian use , for Heavylift cargo airlines
Not by a lot, and not as pricey. And way better than a Herc. Another superior British aeroplane that just didn't get traction as a world beater. Like the VC10
@@chriswilliams5498 , my father worked on the Belfast in the RAF . Also for heavy lift , in there civilian role . He told me , Shorts were designing . A Belfast mk2 , which would have had jet engines . A bit like the USA starlifter, makes you wonder. If that had been built , we wouldn't have needed the C17 ...
Although , I know that is a great aircraft
Frustration while watching this
This is painful to watch.
What a waste and what a pity! We're talking about aviation masterpieces that could carry 35 metric tons of supplies! Ideal for emergency situations! They should've been mothballed instead.
G
Idol j ha suhh red
Jo
Never heard of this aircraft before. Why the f*ck didn't we buy these aircraft instead of buying from the Americans
You can always rely on politicians to f**k things up!
Yep exactly. This plane was way ahead of its time.
Politicians taking it in the back pocket yet again. Will the electorate ever learn,