Planning a trip to Europe

[mustangdriver]

How far is Duxford from London?

[Mudge]

London to Duxford is 53 miles. Easiest was to get from London to Duxford is to catch a train from King's Cross to Cambridge. Walk out of the Cambridge Rail station and about 100' away is the bus stop. Bus will take you to Duxford and back for about L4. Staying in Cambridge? There's a B&B about 2 blocks from the station called the Railway Lodge. Couldn't be easier. If you stay in Cambridge overnight, you MUST have a Steak & Ale pie and a *Foster's at The Eagle. See all the squadron writings on the ceiling. Can't beat the ambiance. I don't drink but at The Eagle, you can't NOT have a pint.

I forgot to add Re: the bus service. If you're going to take the city bus to Duxford, get a "day pass" (L4 per person). That'll get you to Duxford and back and anywhere else in the city for that day. Unless you stay in the downtown area ($$$) you'll need to take the bus to get around. The routes are well marked and if you have any problem, just tell the driver what you're trying to do and, helpful blokes that they are, they'll 'splain to you exactly how to do it.

Mudge the traveller

*or a Guiness

Like I said, if you want a bunch of info re: touristy stuff in London, Hendon, Cambridge, Duxford...PM me. I've been there ALMOST as many times as Mike Shreve.

Last edited by Mudge on Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

Alright Mudge the Eagle it is. I am reall looking forward to this.

[mike furline]

It's about 1hr north of London. I found it best to stay a day or two in Cambridge. Duxford is about 7 miles from Cambridge.
There's a ton of stuff to see in Camb.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cambridge_(England)

Theres a Pub in Cambridge, I think it's called The Eagle. AAF pilots and crew drank there during WWII. Thier names are still marked on the ceiling and walls. It's like stepping back in time.

Regards,

[JDK]

It's like stepping back in time.

So's much of England, except it's all at 22nd century prices.

I'm surprised more haven't recommended the Science Museum in South Kensington. It's 'just' got the world's oldest surviving jet aircraft, the first aircraft across the Atlantic (non stop) a de Havilland built Wright Flyer to replace the original Wright Flyer, and the explanation as to why the Flyer was in Britain until 1948, a genuine Battle of Britain Hurricane, only survivor with the fabric-covered wing, the only genuine Fokker Eindekker, and many other must see types, prototypes and a phenomenal engine collection.

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmu ... light.aspx

As to aviation museums, I wrote an article listing the majority of them a few years ago on the 24 Hour Museum website.

Duxford, Hendon, Yeovilton I'd suggest are must see's with Shuttleworth for a show day, or evening, which is an absolute. IIRC, Shuttleworth's Czech flown Spitfire AR501 escorted a B-17 called 'Memphis somethingorother' on a raid or two, not, as the (modern) film would have you believe, P-51Ds.

Cheers

[mustangdriver]

Awsome, I will have to check it out. I can see that while some of my family is shopping, I will be doing airplane stuff with my dad. Not a bad trade off.

[Bill Greenwood]

Brad asked about acro in a PM so I'll answer here in case others are interested. I use the official Pilot Notes, for MKIX,XI, and XVI, the small blue grey pamphlet. It is for an average service pilot, not a beginner nor a master. Entry speeds are given, 260 knots for a loop, 285k for a half roll off the top of a loop. 206k for a roll; no specific power setting given. At sea level you might get the loop speed at plus 7 or 8 lbs and 2650 rpm. I use 10 or 12 lbs boost and 2850, remember I am doing mine at around 12,000 feet msl. I pull perhaps 3 to 4 gs on the way up, and I have not found the need for a lot of rudder on top. Please rember I am no super expert acro pilot and a sweet as a Spitfire is it can still kill you. Have lots of altitude and enough speed before you try it and not on a whim. Be patient on top, the speed can get down below 125 knots. It will climb on it's back, just add gentle back pressure to continue the loop. Don't do it in a 2 seater unless you are sure of your cg specs. Rolls are no sweat, 3 or 4 lbs and 2000 to 2400 rpm gives the speed easy. Just pitch well up, release g's and roll with aileron, no rudder needed or a little to make it nice. Just don't pull inverted as the elevator in a Spit is very powerful. I there is a truer handling warbird in a hard turn or accelerated stall I have not found it.

[Bill Greenwood]

The previous was supposed to be a seperate topic!

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Hey Mudge,

Paul Woodage the owner and director of Battlebus is a friend of mine. I hope you are into airborne history, because he is one of the , if not the best tour guide in Normandy.

Jiggersfromsphilly!

Honorable Member of Easy Co 506th PIR 101st Airborne.

[Randy Haskin]

I'm sensing a WIX get-together at The Eagle for a couple pints, then a day at Duxford.

I'm in.

Depending on the security situation...anyone up for a RAF Lakenheath tour during the same timeframe?

[mustangdriver]

Ummmm Yeah!!!

[Mudge]

Randy, We'll be there on Thu., Fri., & Sat. for dinner. I'll even stand a round.

As far as the Lakenheath tour is concerned, we have a "tourist" day on Friday the 6th but have no way to get there.

Bill, I'm gonna' try to remember all that when I'm pulling 4 gs at 12,000' in my high performance Piper Warrior.

Mudge the acrophobic

Yes, it's true. I have acrophobia. No ladders, roofs, etc. Airplanes OK, though.

[mustangdriver]

I have a little of that too Mudge.

[Firebird]

Paul Woodage the owner and director of Battlebus is a friend of mine. I hope you are into airborne history, because he is one of the , if not the best tour guide in Normandy.

Yup, I can vouch for Woody's encylopeadic knowledge, you'll not get a better tour from anyone else.

I spent many years doing Living History with Woody so for a small fee, if you want incriminating and embarrasing stories about him I can ablige there as well......

Mustangdriver, I'm in London so if you want any specific hints/tips/advice, whatever, PM me.
Happy to meet for a beer if you want as well.

[FAFG_Xav]

I recommend Normandy of course !!! lots of museum and historic places as others mentioned above.
(by the way, the good writing for the cities are "Caen"" and "Arromanches" )
Here is one of the numerous website about D-Day :
http://www.normandiememoire.com/


If you're interested in WWI, you shall go to Perronne and Verdun. In the area of Verdun is the biggest American cemetery in Europe (almost twice bigger than the normandy cemetery of Colleville).

On the aviation side, you shall go to Paris visit the Air and Space Museum of Paris-Le Bourget. a fantastic collection of very old and rare aircrafts like for instance, Guynemer's Spad, a recently restored B-26, Concorde prototype, Mirage 4000, Ariane rockets...