HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

[viscount]

Can I repeat the request for the times of the 'Black Cats' on Sunday. I did hear them on Friday, but did not write them down!

Is the information that HMS Illustrious is open to the public still:
Sunday 25th 1230 to 1700
Monday 26th 1000 to 1600

When does she set sail on 27th?

I don't wish to divert this thread onto the matter of the potential collision between the Royal Daffodil and the tanker Ramira, but clearly there is interest.

There was no sense of panic, certainly an aura of silence as passengers apprehensively looked at each other and began to wonder just how close we could get; afterwards some good Liverpool humour though. Certainly I was not alone in looking around for a position to brace if the vessels did come together and considering how best to rid myself of heavy clothing should I end up in the water.

I don't know quite how the rules of the sea apply, certainly in my opinion both ships were in the wrong as either could and should have prevented the situation of the two vessels getting so close long before they did. The tanker was faster and coming from behind as the ferry course converged with it. The ferry steersman should have been looking behind, as he must have seen the tanker coming up the Mersey fast as he turned out of Birkenhead landing stage. He was marginally the first to react and turn to port. The wheelhouse crew on the Ramira really should have seen the coverging course of the ferry long, long before they reacted with a long blast of the air horn and turn to starboard. Rules of the road would judge them both 'driving without due care and attention' I should think. Once the ships started to turn it was amazing how quickly they seperated. The crackling hiss of Ramira's bow wave could be heard over the running noise of the ferry, it really was that close.

No, it was not one of our photos in the Echo, I have a photo, but not the joined-up technology to get it from digicard to internet.

[Deleted]

A quick log on to see how things are while I'm away. I don't wish to hijack this thread either, but talk about history repeating itself! I was on a Mersey ferry in 1970 looking at HMS Eagle and we came far too close for comfort to a tanker then - I can even remember its name - "Oboe Prince" - I have a very blurry photo of the back end of it somewhere as we got tossed about in its wash

Great pictures folks, just sorry I missed it. Keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Dave

[viscount]

Airbus has PM'ed me the answer to my previous post. As I'm sure others would be interested, I'll repost the details here.

As with any timetable/schedule it is subject to change without warning. For the record I'll repeat the whole programme, including events that have already happened.

Static Park at the Pier Head: Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon 1000-1600.

HMS Illustrious to berth at 1400 hours on Thursday 22nd.

Fly Navy 100 centenary flypast, 1400 hours Friday 23rd.
'Black Cats' display off Pier Head 1600 hours, Friday.

Saturday 24th, flying display over the Mersey off the Pier Head 1430-1530 Anyone there in the wind and showers to report on what participated ?

Sunday 25th, HMS Illustrious open to the public 1300 to 1700 (last entry 1630)
Flying Display off the Pier Head 1130-1230.

Monday 26th, HMS Illustrious open to the public 1000-1600 (last entry 1530).

Tuesday 27th, HMS Illustrious leaves the cruise liner berth 1400 hours.

[alexmac]

Rules of the road would suggest that the Mersey Ferry was NOT the stand on vessel and therefore should have altered course to avoid the tanker. ALL vessels should, at all times, take any action necessary to avoid a collision...

I believe the flying displays will consist of the Black Cats (who were flying around Crosby today [pilot an ex Merchant Taylors schoolboy]) and a 771 Sqn Sea King on winchex with the RNLI.

Regards
Alex

[Speke-EZY]

Hi everyone!

Not sure if this represents any changes but noted aboard HMS Illustrious at 0800 today were Sea King HC.4 ZD627 848 NAS/WO,Merlin HM.1 ZH850 820 NAS/no visible code,and Lynx AH.7 XZ612.
There may have been more aircraft parked further forward on the deck or below but the three I saw were all aft of the superstructure...and I got the Merlin I was looking for! A worthwhile use of this morning's "extra" hour!
Cheers,Keith

[alexmac]

Also on deck are XZ246/434 Lynx HAS3 815 Sqn Endurance Flight
XZ692/642 Lynx HMA8 702 Sqn
and ZD406 Harrier GR9

Nothing new. Aircraft will remain embarked when ship departs on Tuesday. Remaining helos which displayed today (pics/log later) departed straight back to Yeovilton and Culdrose respectively.

Regards
Alex

[viscount]

Quite a nice little display along the Pier head water front. Started 1130 prompt and lasted until 1215. I was still some distance back at the start as the wife had decided there was time to window shop.

Display involved:
......../.... Merlin HM.1
......../.... Sea King AsC.7
ZD479/WQ Sea King HC.4
XZ697/641 Lynx HMA.8 (interestingly this one was not in Fridays flypast, but was at Shawbury).
XV648/18 Sea King HAR.5 retro scheme
XZ248/634 Lynx HAS.3 (Half of the Black Cats, the other Lynx held off to the north of the city centre.

First phase of the display involved the Merlin, Sea King AEW, Lynx 8 and Sea King HC.4. After a short gap the Sea King HAR arrived and performed an SAR scenario in junction with the RNLI. Finally a single Black Cat Lynx (while the other held off).

With so many people around, we did not go to find out how long the Carrier queue was. Any reports on what is below decks and wether the public is allowed up onto the flight deck.

[Beemer]

Vicount. Your missing aircraft were,
ZH841 Merlin
XV707/184 Sea King

[alexmac]

Public are indeed allowed up onto the flight deck and there are no aircraft in the hanger. The NSW disembarked in the Bristol channel.

Alex

[Beemer]

[Beemer]

Static Display

XT466/X-V WS-58 Wessex HU.5


ZD254/306 W.Lynx HAS.3


XV700/ZC Sea King HC.4

[icebreaker]

Nice view of a pair of Lynx "holding" over Anfield footy ground today I say holding because they went around about eight times - then a single Lynx came over, and finally, a flight of four in single file

[viscount]

I've been reviewing the past 6 pages of posts, and many thanks to those with accurate factual detailed posts. Have (I think) worked out with a great detail of certainty those helicopters that arrived with Illustrious, those in the flypast, those in the ground static Pier Head show.

Thanks to mtlnorth I know that the Sea King HC.4 and Wessex HU.5 arrived by road and thanks to 'lower case only' barfluer that the Lynx arrived later. So now for my question, did the Lynx HAS.3 XZ254/306 also arrive by road, or did it fly in - if so did it hop-off HMS Illustrious or did it arrive from further away ??

[cantillon01]

Went down to pier head today but queue was to big to get onboard. Saw 3 helicopters on back and 1 at front these were seen from walking upto boat Has anyone a suitable log to tie these up? 2 were seaking size at back I think.
Mtia Mike.

[crumb]

Went down myself and the queue was at least half a mile long. Took the ferry and whilst on board there was another incident on the river when 2 canoeists paddled across from the Wirral to directly alongside ILLUSTRIOUS. They were rapidly intercepted by a tug and a police launch and escorted away. I'm amazed they actually got across the river without capsizing as the ferry was bobbing up and down with the strong winds and high tide.There were also a couple of very big ships heading up the river at the time. They would have stood no chance of seeing these guys.