Parked a mate's in garage to try it for size...

[mental4astro]

Drove past Garden Island a couple of weeks ago. I got one heck of a surprise when I noticed a flight deck and aircraft towering above the surrounding buildings! USS Bonhomme Richard was in dock!

Mate, if ever there was a case trying a mate's ride for size in your garage, I reckon this is one, ;) . Just a smidgen longer than the soon-to-arrive HMAS Canberra, the Bonhomme Richard, it gives a sense of scale of the amphibious cousin.

Can't wait for the Fleet Review that's happening next month. Some 76 naval ships from all over the world will cram into Sydney Harbour, including the largest Russian battle cruiser built to date (I've got a thing for the lines of Ruskie ships, :D). It's going to cause mayhem in central Sydney's streets.

[h0ughy]

looks a bit of a rust bucket ;)

[norm]

Nice Shots Alex,

Its great when these ships come into town. I think some of these were Osprey's and when I drove around to Garden Island, there were Harriers at the back.

Use to work at Garden Island when it was ADI (now Thales). Very fond memories.

Norm :thumbsup:

PS: do you know when these ships are coming ?

[mental4astro]

Houghy, the Bonhomme Richard had just completed a stint in the Middle East, which explains the beat up and grubby appearance of the ship and aircraft.

Norm, the October long weekend is the timing of the review. This review is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RAN. I still remember the review for the 75th anniversary when the USS Missouri was in town. Come to think of it, the Missouri was parked right where the Bonhomme Richard is in these shots. Damn the Missouri was a big tinny.

[GrahamL]

They probably don't like to paint down near the water line while at sea Dave , lose to many paint tins and painters :D

[norm]

Thanks Alex.

Damn, I won't be around by then, otherwise it would be a sight to see.
Hopefully someone will take some pics.

I remember Mighty Mo it was huuuuuuuuuuuge. Have to admit though, USS Enterprise was pretty special too :)

Norm

[Barrykgerdes]

I love references to the goings on at Garden Island having spent 27 years working there. One of my charges was the collimation tower at the southern end of the dock.
I remember the USS Missouri visit I had a special pass to it. It needed some minor electronics repaired. I retired a couple of years after ADI took over.

Worked on HMAS Melbourne during the 1960-70's refits and got asbestos dust exposure that has now progressed to mesothelioma.

Barry

PS Alex expect a visit from security re your pictures.

[mithrandir]

That would be getting a bit wierd. Anyone could take almost exactly those pics from a publicly accessible part of the Woolloomooloo Wharf or, with a slightly different angle, from Cowper Wharf Road.

[AstralTraveller]

Why?? Where are they parking them?? :shrug:

[Barrykgerdes]

Yes the yanks love to put people in prison for taking these type of photos:P:lol::sadeyes:

[Barrykgerdes]

When you retired at GID after 25 years you did not get the "gold watch and chain". You got a nice framed aerial shot of the dockyard when USS Missouri was parked at the fitting out wharf with all the other visitors for the 75th anniversary spread around the other wharves.

Barry

[mental4astro]

Hey, I'm already on their "naughty list" from when I took my big dob to an eastern suburbs park for pole length determination. See here:

Truss Dob + ASIO = Person of Interest (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=58680)

I'm sure the spooks have got a satellite trained on me 24/7! I wonder where the Ecuador consul general in Sydney is...

As a little tacker I visited the old Melbourne on a school excursion. Three things stuck in my mind about it: the timber flight deck, how large the hanger was (we went up the aircraft elevator up to the flight deck, :D ) & how disappointed I was that the aircraft weren't onboard that day. I've had a soft spot for the old Sky Hawks since then.