HMS SULTAN, is the Royal Navy School of Mechanical Engineering..... originally conceived to train stokers for the "new" coal fired, steam powered ships. Now, it is bang up to date, and covers many aspects of Mechanical Engineering as applied to todays modern Royal Navy. Each year, they produce a magnificent summer show, as part of the "community spirit".... it takes the form of an enlarged "village fete".... with many commercial stalls, a travelling fairground, static displays of helicopters, and tanks (from the Royal Marines) and other aspects of the Navy too.
There is a large arena event area, where steam powered traction engines, (including one that used to belong to HMS SULTAN) parade, with vintage cars, dog display team, parachute arrivals, and a cut down version of the famous "Field Gun Run"... to entertain the crowds.... It is a 2 day event, but each day is the same... so it is not "over subscribed" with visitors, all trying to see everything on one day.
One of the displays was by the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team, and I have use my FZ28 in "outdoor sports" mode, to see how it copes with the speed of the "Flying Gunners"... some of the results you can see alongside....
If you ever get the chance to go (next year, maybe???) then it is well worth the money, and it is NOT expensive.... however, beware of the ice cream sellers.... £7.00 for 3 ice creams, is a bit over the top, in my opinion... There are several "food" stalls, but I cannot vouch for them, as we took a picnic with us, and made it a "real old fashioned" day out! ! Parking is Free, and well organised, complete with (temporary) traffic light control for pedestrian to cross in safety, from the car park to the main site.
The little traction engine, is actually towing the large fullsize version!...
The red steam lorry is being driven (very fast) by a lady driver, and gives a step back in time picture, with the Hovercraft to the left, and the Modern HGV to the right of it.!
The Helicopter, is on a raised stand, and was giving kids rides up into the belly using the winch ! great fun for them.... There were several other helicopters there for the kids to go and sit in the pilots seat, for proud mums and dads to take pics of them !... Quite a few of the tanks were also "open" to visitors too.
The motorcycle display team started jumping one vehicle, and ended the show by clearing 4 !... but by the look of it.... only just ! ! The four men, in the pic above the helicopter, were doing "wheelies" from four corners of the display area, and crossing each others path.
The men hanging off of that motorcycle are INSANE.
ReplyDeleteAgreed !
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