Ulster Aviation Society Open Day, Long Kesh, 11 June

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Member for

20 years

Posts: 313

The UAS collection is now housed in one of the hangars at the one-time RAF Long Kesh airfield (and beside the infamous Maze prison site, now closed). Things are a bit cramped and they are hoping to obtain use of the second hangar, which is alongside. The aircraft are mostly in very good condition and there are also several very good historical displays about aviation in Northern Ireland over the years.

Here are some photos from last Saturday's open day at the site; Unfortunately it is not feasible for the collection to be open permanently but I understand that visits can be arranged with the UAS.

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G-14-1 Short Sherpa by Irish251, on Flickr
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G-BTUC Short Tucano Prototype by Irish251, on Flickr
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WN108 Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 by Irish251, on Flickr
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XV361 Buccaneer S.2B by Irish251, on Flickr
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XV361 Buccaneer S.2B by Irish251, on Flickr
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XR517 Wessex HC.2 by Irish251, on Flickr
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G-BDBS Short 330 prototype by Irish251, on Flickr
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JV482 Grumman Wildcat V by Irish251, on Flickr
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XM414 Jet Provost T.3A by Irish251, on Flickr
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EI-MES S-61N at Long Kesh by Irish251, on Flickr

Original post

Member for

15 years 11 months

Posts: 5,339

Nice shots.

Member for

16 years 6 months

Posts: 6,000

Yes very nice pics.

That Wildcat must be one of the longest on going restoration projects ever.!

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 2,828

Good stuff.
Never heard of G-14-1 Short Sherpa before!

Profile picture for user Phantom Phil

Member for

16 years 4 months

Posts: 1,067

Nice pictures....but none of the Canberra PR9? ;-)

Member for

20 years

Posts: 313

I took this one for the record but it is hemmed in in such a way that a clear photo of the whole aircraft was not possible. The good news is that the Canberra is virtually complete again after reassembly.
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XH131 Canberra PR.9 by Irish251, on Flickr

Member for

13 years

Posts: 3

Cools stuff! I like all the shots, very nice sharpness. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Member for

13 years

Posts: 169

Hi

Great photos. I wondered what happened to the Sherpa after Sky Fame closed at Staverton.

Roger

Member for

13 years 8 months

Posts: 319

Very nice pix. The Sea Hawk looks good in black and the collection in great shape.
Thanks.
PS: I'm visiting Krakow in Poland. Its Air Museum would probably need some creative minds to shape its 60/70's soviet era jets. They look quite pathetic displayed outdoors. I'll post some pix soon.

Member for

16 years 3 months

Posts: 1,813

Hi

Great photos. I wondered what happened to the Sherpa after Sky Fame closed at Staverton.

Roger

Been a few places since its Staverton days. Guess it came from Rochester where it was refurbished..... Would be great to see with it some wings, believe they were "lost" even before it arrived at Staverton.

Never realised hangars survived at Long Kesh, just thought the place was covered with "H" blocks. Mind you it is 25 odd years since I used to drive by there.

Planemike

Member for

19 years 6 months

Posts: 430

Is that a V-1 I see behind the Wildcat? Or a derivative of?

Nice pics, must see about a visit sometime, didn't know they have so many complete aircraft and that Sherpa looks very interesting. I'm with EGTC, never heard of that particular one before.