-
Welcome to Stafford Forum. Please or sign-up and start posting!
Stoopid Pictures: The Pictures Strike Back.
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
My hospital trip this morning involved a detour through the old RAF houses, and a glimpse of the sign for Tedder Road reminded me of Air Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder's response to the aftermath of the little-known Operation Man Friday.The crew of a Messerschmitt relax between sorties.
Operation Man Friday was not one that appeared in the official war histories. It was the speciality of a New Zealand Wellington pilot known as 'Popeye' Lucas. When things got a bit much, and enough people had had a bit too much, he would have a mixture of boot polish and other substances applied to the soles of his bare feet and then, with suitable support, 'walk' upside down across the ceiling of the Officers' Mess, leaving a starkly visible trail.
One of these operations occurred the night before a visit by Sir Arthur and there was some consternation about his potential reaction, but there was no possibility of covering things up. It began to look like Sir Arthur was pretending to have not seen them, although he must have, and, when he had left, plans were laid to cover them up before he, or any other brass, turned up again. Luckily, this hadn't started when somebody bothered to read what he had written in the visitors book - "These foot prints to remain for all time!"
I believe that one of the installations was at RAF Hampstead Norris, which was subsequently sold off. I've always wondered if they are still there. There may have been two or three other sets, too.
I have a suspicion that there could also have been one at Feltwell, which is currently a USAF base. If so, then that one may have had more chance of Sir Arthur's order being obeyed.
Frederick 'Popeye' Lucas.
(Not a "stoopid picture", obviously.)
BobClay
Well-Known Forumite
An interstellar rock raced through our solar system recently at tremendous speed. They gave it the name Oumuamua which is Hawaiian for 'messenger from afar.' It's dimensions were measured by radar and it was found to be a very dramatically shaped beast, so an artists impression was made using these figures.
So look closely at these pictures ..... coincidence ??
Also the following strange advertisement appeared in the Exchange and Mart:
"Second hand Imperial Star Destroyer for sale. Good runner, but needs work. No MOT. Buyer must collect."
Draw your own conclusions ....
So look closely at these pictures ..... coincidence ??
Also the following strange advertisement appeared in the Exchange and Mart:
"Second hand Imperial Star Destroyer for sale. Good runner, but needs work. No MOT. Buyer must collect."
Draw your own conclusions ....
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
The Messerschmitts had no reverse gear, but they didn't need one, they had a two-stroke engine that could be stopped and then started in reverse after the timing was altered - this meant that you had all four gears in reverse, as well, and you could get 60mph out of it, backwards as well as forwards.The crew of a Messerschmitt relax between sorties.
Noah
Well-Known Forumite
I think that most bubble cars had no reverse gear and therefore could be driven on a motorcycle licence. Dearth of genuine British makes. The Trojan was manufactured under licence from Heinkel, the Isetta was Italian but manufactured in Britain under licence from BMW and the Peel P50 and Trident were manufactured in the Isle of Man. Didn't stop one UK comedy show filming a dogfight between Messerschmitts in German aircraft markings and Trojans in British markings. Apparently Peels are making a comeback.
A "British" Trojan -
A "British" Trojan -
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Isettas had reverse, they were stuck with it, due to having a four-stroke motor that would only go one way, unless you swapped the camshaft, as did happen on some marine vessels, I believe - you're also looking at oil-pumps, etc., then, too. Easier to just stick a reverse gear in.
A chap I worked with had an Isetta and a TR6. They got really shirty when he claimed mileage for the TR, having got up early and gone to Manchester in the Isetta. They didn't mind paying the money, they just hated the idea of an employee winning on the deal.
Some Cossack bikes, intended for sidecar use, did have a reverse gear - entertaining, if you tried it with the sidecar off...
A chap I worked with had an Isetta and a TR6. They got really shirty when he claimed mileage for the TR, having got up early and gone to Manchester in the Isetta. They didn't mind paying the money, they just hated the idea of an employee winning on the deal.
Some Cossack bikes, intended for sidecar use, did have a reverse gear - entertaining, if you tried it with the sidecar off...
Noah
Well-Known Forumite
Friend of mine had a Russian replica of the wartime German military motorbike & sidecar which had reverse gear. Not sure he ever tried going backwards.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Yeah, that's it - sold as Ural or Cossack here - I had an urge for one at the time - came with a spare wheel, as all three wheels were interchangeable, unusual on a bike.
BobClay
Well-Known Forumite
I owned a Trojan Bubble Car back in the 70's. At the time I only had a bike licence, but that reverse gear thing wasn't applicable as I also owned a couple of Reliants in that decade and they had reverse gears. I don't know where that reverse gear law came from unless it was a much earlier law. It certainly didn't apply in the 70's.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
As I remember it, it was cylinder capacity, weight and number of wheels. I remember being surprised when I found that I had a licence for a Reiant-type thing, when I had never even sat in one as a passenger.
It struck me as a good* way to teach yourself to drive a car, as you could drive a Reliant on your bike licence, without needing a qualified driver with you, and it was essentially identical to driving a 'real' car.
It all got massively complicated about four years ago, but I believe that pre-existing qualifications remain valid.
https://www.gov.uk/ride-motorcycle-moped/licences-issued-before-19-january-2013
I did have an urge for a Bond Bug at one time.
* I say 'good' when I mean 'cheap'.
BobClay
Well-Known Forumite
I think the group was a Motor Tricycle not exceeding 8 cwt. There was no restriction on a reverse gear. I had an old Reliant Regal (Del Boy type) then later a Reliant Robin, all driven on a bike licence. As bikers got older, riding times in the winter got shorter ... 
BobClay
Well-Known Forumite
Took this on Boxing day on a little lake in Stourbridge where I was staying with family. This fellow (some kind of Swan I think, any ornithological types out there please put me right if not) was up out of the lake chasing people off the path with hissing and real aggro.
I assured the crowd of members of my family that it just needed a few nice words and a bit of politeness as I approached it to take this pix. Then … boy did I have to leg it !!!
This bird was a complete nut job, the Norman Bates of the Swan world.
I assured the crowd of members of my family that it just needed a few nice words and a bit of politeness as I approached it to take this pix. Then … boy did I have to leg it !!!
This bird was a complete nut job, the Norman Bates of the Swan world.
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
They can break your arm, you know...Took this on Boxing day on a little lake in Stourbridge where I was staying with family. This fellow (some kind of Swan I think, any ornithological types out there please put me right if not) was up out of the lake chasing people off the path with hissing and real aggro.
I assured the crowd of members of my family that it just needed a few nice words and a bit of politeness as I approached it to take this pix. Then … boy did I have to leg it !!!
This bird was a complete nut job, the Norman Bates of the Swan world.
View attachment 4967
