Today or yesterday Solent skies.
Always look up.
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Category Archives: sky
Calshot Spit.
In 1539, King Henry VIII ordered the construction of a castle at the end of Calshot Spit to defend the port of Southampton.Its strategic importance continued through both world wars. In 1913 the RFC established a flying boat station on the spit known as RNAS Calshot and later RAF Calshot.
Schneider Trophy.
Jacques Schneider was a french industrial manager, and licensed pilot, After giving up flying due to a serious accident, he supported various competitions and aero clubs financially.
On December 5th, 1912, at the Aéro-Club de France, he offered a trophy for a seaplane race and proposed a course of at least 150 nautical miles.This competition became known as the Schneider Trophy. Each club would be permitted to enter up to three competitors with an equal number of alternates. In 1921 the course was increased to 212 nautical miles,
Any team winning 3 races in 5 years would retain the cup and the winning pilot would receive 75,000 francs. Each edition of the race was to be hosted by the previous winning country.
In 1923 The Supermarine S.5 won the Schneider Trophy Race so the British became the host for the 1929 race. Calshot was the base for the race.
The Supermarine S.6 won the 1929 race so again.
Further refinements led to an improved Supermarine S6b and the 1931 race became the 3rd race win for Britain and that kept the Schneider Trophy in England for good.
Sopwith Hanger although the hanger has been reclad in modern materials the 1913 wooden structure of the hanger roof is clearly visible inside.
General views of Calshot Spit.
Hold tight.
De Havilland DH,82A Tiger Moth engine – ROTAX 912S (4 Cycle 100
Horsepower) Flying at Lee on Solent in low cloud this morning.
UP!
This afternoon we picked up a couple of trail camera’s – over night we had some high winds and one of the camera’s had fallen out off its mount and out of its tree.
The recording was quite interesting.
The other camera recorded some of the local deer.
Blast from the past.
A Spitfire coming into land at Lee-on-Solent airfield this evening. The airfield was a Royal Naval Air Staion for the Fleet Air Arm established in 1917 as seaplane base for the first World War.
Lone Crow.
Under a blue sky.
A bright morning as we approach the last day of February.
Blue Tit this 1st one is puffed up in the cold.
Nuthatch.
signs of an approaching change of season.
Mixed day
Today I spent time at Meon Shore and Titchfield Haven watching the sea while my trail cameras were set in the field near home.
Bristow – HM Coastguard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter over the Solent.
Our local Spitfire was also up.
Birds spotted today.
Trail camera captures Roe Deer and a Fox
Lost horizon.
A cold foggy start to the day down on Meon Shore. Looking out into the Solent – the Isle of Wight was lost in a sea fog. The ship movements could not be seen in the haze only the sound of fog horns alert you to the fact that ships are out there.
Eider duck group far out in the solent.
Continued Reflections from my world. 