The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Came across this internet photo and wondered if XAR 658 was a members Major?
Here http://fearoflanding.com/photography/th ... hotograph/ is the story behind the photo.

That is an amazing picture, especially from an age when people did not carry cameras around 24/7!!

Funny that they make no mention of the amazing tractor in the photo -

Thanks for sharing - SR

That's brilliant, and lovely to be able to read the story!!

As a bairn I remember the Lightning coming into production, and how at air-shows the pilots enjoyed scaring the life out of us with the sonic boom!

Great photos both of them!!

Richard.

Registration not found on the DVLA registrations search engine.

I've been around the world a time or two, lots of industrial locations, numerous airports, some military displays including Victor / Vulcans standing on their tails at full chat.

Having lived most of the non travelling time about 5 miles from the end of RAF Coltishalls runways, there IS no noise louder than a squadron of Lightnings pointing at 12 o'clock with full afterburners.

My story is of working on Mr. Fines, the butcher in Colltishall tractor, an Allis "B", behind a hedge at the end of the main runway. I could not see the runway and all was quiet when a roar started in the distance and got closer and closer. It was getting really bad so I dived for cover under the tractor, peering out from behind a wheel I saw four flaming tail pipes belching smoke and flame seemingly just above the hedge and the air seemed to crackle. They were practising for the Coltishall air show and the Vulcan had just taken off then stood on her tail right above my head.

When they tested the proto-type Harrier it was on North Pickenham aerodrome, on the disused runways around the Thor ballistic missile site. Father and his boss had just finished harvesting corn from between the runways and father was trying to bale the straw but everytime they brought the Harrier and Kestrel down or took off, the lines of straw disappeared to all points of the compas.