On Board HMS Illustrious

[Guest]

I just came back from a great day out in Greenwich. The Illustrious is moored there for the weekend, and was open to the public yesterday and today. I dragged my kids along, and despite the 2.5 hour wait, we all loved it.

It was strange to see such a huge ship in the Thames, especially as it was low tide when we first arrived. After the mammoth queuing session, we were ferried in groups of about 100 to and from the ship. Once on board, we could look around at will, rather than being shepherded to the exit. We spent over an hour there.

As well as the majesty of such a big warship, there was a Navy Rescue Seaking and a Lynx to climb into, a Merlin, lots of ancillary vehicles, life rafts to get into and several guns to pick up and try. The crew were helpful and informative with both kids and adults and their different questions. A really great day, and all free.

I took aver 100 photos, some of which are here:

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[Ian M]

ja jammy bugger.

I was on her last Year when she was in Copenhagen. Freezing cold icy rain and blowing a good n'. And she was totally devoid of helicopters!!!

It looks like you had a great day playing with all those toys.

Ian m

[Guest]

Coincidence Tony wife & I there on Wednesday with my youngest son & his girl friend.

Yes certainly looks big in the Thames. We had a meal in the Restaurant (recommended) next to the Cutty Sark on the Thames frontage. A good number of the crew having a party in the restaurant. Amazing that although the Illustrious relieved the Invincible after the Falklands conflict had been concluded they seemed to know little about the ship's history..

Pictures as it came through the Thames Barrier. Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious passes through Thames Barrier on visit to London | Mail Online.

Downside. £2:50 an hour car parking.

Laurie

[flyjoe180]

Interesting photos Tony. Looks like you had a great day out. Not sure that orange slug look will catch on though :tongue:

[Guest]

Interesting photos Tony. Looks like you had a great day out. Not sure that orange slug look will catch on though :tongue:

My girls certainly wanted one of those survival suits.

I took some interior shots of the Seaking, if anyone's interested. Though I have to confess that for the most part I went all "kid in a sweet shop".

You wouldn't believe the number of kids I had to elbow out of the way to get in the Lynx cockpit; then I realised I'd picked the co-pilot's side, with no joystick. Oh well.

On a more serious note, having no functioning aircraft carrier is not a good situation. History seems to be full of stories of military hardware being dragged back from the scrap heap because some unforseen situation arises. Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands spring to mind.

[Guest]

Full on there Tony. Falklands conflict was a mighty case in point. Just saved by weeks in keeping the old Hermes then having the Illustrious to replace the Invincible.

Not a contest now as they do not, as far as I know, have any Harriers available for the Illustrious. Neither, as I am aware, any for the new aircraft carriers. At the moment defence is up the spout. I bet they have thousands of boots for Falklands terrain, not available at the time, & plenty of linament for feet. Problem is they have little in store for the brains of the top nots & what they have is depleted but then that matches what there is there at the moment.

Laurie

PS I bet the Lynx is the one that was over in Jersey a week ago. "Josaphine".