I love hearing someone actually admit that they're not aware of what they're looking at. "We would love to be corrected in the comments" is a big thing to say; max respect.
Just FYI, there was an American pilot in Vietnam, flying an F-4 if memory serves, who pickled off his external tanks going into a dogfight after being jumped by North Vietnamese MiGs, and actually hit one of them, taking it out of the fight. I don't remember many of the details, but it's a helluva story. It was a successful mission kill with an improvised weapon. If I remember correctly, the North Vietnamese pilot tried to limp it home and ultimately was forced to eject not long after. A lot of US pilots used similar tactics, though I only know of that one case where it actually scored a kill. They've also been used upon occasion as improvised CAS weapons, with mixed success. At one time it was standard practice to drop them if you had to dogfight, since they do add both weight and drag, decreasing maneuverability and energy retention. Energy in the context of momentum, putting it into laymen's terms. Energy is Life, in a dogfight. Even with powerful engine and high thrust-to-weight ratio, you never want to lose all of your energy in a dogfight, because it leaves you vulnerable and unable to maneuver. So external tanks were frequently dropped prior to a dogfight or bombing run. It's generally less of an issue on modern warplanes, especially with conformal external tanks blended into the airframe, most of which can only be removed by ground crew.
The "tank" is an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a lightly armored vehicle. It is a Soviet-designed ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft weapon system. The 23 stands for the round size in millimeters, which is very close to one inch in diameter. This thing was a formidable weapon against low-flying aircraft. The round object on the top rear is the onboard radar, which was advanced for its time. It had a 12-mile range. Former Intell Analyst in US Army.
It's nice to read a professional: the comment is short and to the point. Krypto Kharma, , do not take it personally, further for those far from the topic. For those who are not in the subject, there is only one small clarification: traditionally, the caliber of rifled artillery (as well as small arms) in Russia is measured by the fields of the barrel rifling, and not by the bottom of the rifling. This figure is indicated in the reference literature, army documents and et cetera. The true diameter of the projectile (or bullet) is important only for ammunition manufacturers and designers. Yes, of course it is bigger, but it is not remembered when describing the caliber of the gun, also by tradition. Therefore, "23 mm" and without any "approaches an inch". And another nuance: in the designation ZSU-23-4, the number 4 indicates the number of barrels of the artillery system. So it was, for example, ZSU-57-2, which had two barrels of 57 mm. Just the Soviet system of designations, pure nomenclature.
@@arakkisblacksun2507, I'm sorry, you named this car correctly, but you made a mistake in the details: "Shilka" is not the name of the ZSU-23-4 in NATO terminology, it is its designation according to the Soviet nomenclature. There is such a feature in Russia: not to give formidable "animal" names to samples of military equipment. The Shilka is a river in Siberia, a tributary of the Amur. There were also "Argun", "Amur" - this is from the "river" names that I remember. There are "flower" - "Cornflower", "Acacia", "Tulip", "Carnation" and so on. Geometric theme - "Cube", "Circle", "Square". Even the heroes of animated films - "Pinocchio", "Cheburashka". Yes, there are many more examples, we are such jokers.
Great job fellas! I served in the U S Army during the times when much of this hardware was "state of the art". Now the planes lie broken and abandoned. May they rest in peace!
@@ryangoslingIRL kind of stupid as many military forces do this but they could make a substantial amount of money if they just disarmed and sold them. Many people I know would love to restore these despite the high upkeep fighter jets tend to come with.
The French planes are the Dassault Mystere IV. Back in the 1980s I was in the USAF. There were several Mysteres at RAF Sculthorpe Norfolk. We took the engines out of them and made aircraft decontamination units by mounting them on trailers. The airframes were then used as decoys and for aircraft battle damage repair mock ups at RAF Lakenheath.
Can you explain more on how the engines were used in decontamination? My mind is thinking giant freaking fan, but would love clarity on that. It sounds fascinating. I love the idea of repurposing old equipment into something else!
So, you discovered RAF Spadeadam in north Cumbria, which used to be part of my mapping surveying area back in the 80/90s. A range of aircraft have been deposited/dumped there over the last 50 years - to be used as targets (non-destruction I guess) on the range. We used to parkup in a layby on the approach to watch Tornado and Jaguars coming in low. Sometimes Rapier or similar would be set up in the surrounding area - I guess for practice. Even more interesting is the history of the actual "base" which was the testing location for the UK rocket development programme in the 50/60s. It later was (and stlll may be) used for explosive testing by the gas industry. Some huge concrete rocket testing constructions - but you are unlikely to get in amongst them.
Indeed, it is still used for explosive testing. I have carried out work around that area several times. Now and again you can hear explosions coming from the base. I haven’t been in the base itself but from speaking to the locals in the nearby village. They explained the base is used for various explosive testing and not just for the military.
When I was a kid in the early 1980`s living in Johannesburg, myself and a few friends found a walled off field that housed tonnes of damaged and retired military equipment, most I suspect were the result of the Border War up in Angola against the MPLA and their Cuban allies, there were shot out tanks, Ratel APC`s, helicopters and even a few MIG`s that had seen better days, we had a blast playing in them all day long...
@@Itseugza This was 1984 around the Wadeville area, just off Osborn Road, i doubt very much that it`s there now, but some research may yield a few answers, from what I remember it was near the old Scaw Metal smelter facility, near what is now Dinwiddie, I lived on a little estate called Summer Villages that was located in the middle of a cabbage farm just off Rondbult Road that travels from Van Dyk Park to Alberton, Dodgson Street, maybe Google map it from there and see what comes up...I hope this helps, if it does, please let me know... : )
RAF Spadeadam,Electronic Warfare Tatics Range is where you are.Prior Lancey is the mock airfield you are on, also known as Collinski.The Russian aircraft came from Boscombe Down The Mysteres came fromthe French Air force the T33's came from the Belgian Air Force.The Russian helo is a Mil Mi-24 Hind
They also have a working SAM-8 launcher located on the base, which is used for Tactical Weopons Training exercises and a Iraqis Scud missile launcher. Great video
@@andrewhirst1653 It is also a training ground for RAF regiment and special forces too , The containers are a mock air traffic control tower . Its a bit concerning they were not picked up by the base security as that is one of the most sensitive bases in the uk .
Could u send me the location privately or publicly I used to do exploring but stopped due to not feeling it anymore however this makes me want to go back to it!
@@chrisg1234fly Theyre easy to ID with people with interest in aviation/military history. But for an average joe like these two they may appear to be AAM, AGM and ASMs.
@@Its_Me_Romano I mean yeah, they had east german markings, not to mention the fact that most people who lived during the cold war can identify a plane from that era. What im talking about is not everyone knows that planes could use external fuel tanks, and may assume they are bombs, missiles, etc.
Hi The place served as a model for a military base. Pilots can detect from the air and practice identifying. The two planes you saw first Stand ready to take off. This is very common to practice. Even the planes that stand on the side. Practice parking before taking off. A very beautiful film Enjoy seeing you traveling and taking pictures
Huge respect fellas, great video you should definitely do these mission documentaries more often as they're really immersive. After spending a good while scoping out this place pre pandemic it's great to see it up close nice work 👍
Happened across this today, great to see some older vehicles. The quad gun that loos like a tank is a ZSU23-4, 23mm x4 anti-aircraft weapon. Great find.
Er no! the "Model of a Tank that never saw action" is actually a Russian ZSU 23/4 anti aircraft system the dish on the turret is the targeting RADAR, this weapon system has been used in action across the globe for decades, the only unusual feature is this one carries a British Military Registration number.
@@arganelichens1713 no there would have been no need to steal one the East German Army had hundreds of them and they would have been removed from service between 1989 and 1991 as the equipment was stored and sold off to other 3ed world countries.
It's sad to see these war birds sitting out in the middle of nowhere. It would be nice to see someone restore these plains or paint them up and put them in a museum.
Bloody hell think this is your best video yet lads. Loved seeing the behind the scenes stuff too with your getting to the place. Can't believe they had a Sukhoi just sat there and surely that Helicopter belongs in a military museum. Seems like a peaceful spot for those beautiful aircraft and I loved the pine tree that was growing next to one of them. Really great work and I bet you got some incredible pictures!
Thank you, we will totally include more behind the scenes in the future. A lot of these items belong in a museum for sure. Our pictures did come out well but I think it would have been hard for them not to - the place was very photogenic!
Great video guys,by co-incidence a few years ago on my way to Carlisle I was stuck behind the low loader carrying the Shilka for miles till it turned off the main road for the base!
I'm glad I found you guys! love the way you produce the videos with relaxing music and not screaming and shouting every few minutes like some guys do. Keep up the good work!
that hind came into the UK in 1993, i know because it used to be in a shed right next to where i live, it also came with 2 other hinds and a host full of other soviet aircraft which are still in sheds.
Great docu Thank you! What makes me feel sad is that we as a specie have wasted not millions or billions , but countless trillions over the past decades on war machinery....look at abandoned ships and whole fleets.....when we could have done so much good for our sisters and brothers world wide in desperate need! And I'm an atheist....not a goody goody dreamer! Cheers From Germany
Ha! I'll write in English... I live in Germany too. My Grandfather had to flee to Argentina befor Adolf took control.... And, surprisingly, your comment has only 8-9 likes.... Well, let me make you notice, you are not the only one thinking that way.... But so are our brothers, they love killing, and war, and war machinery that cost so much, no one talks about..... Sad but true.... Bleib gesund!!
those “missiles” attached under the wings aren’t “missiles”, they’re droppable/jettisonable fuel tanks to extend the range of the plane. such fuel tanks are still used to this day…
I used to regularly visit a friends farm up there on the range and it may still be in place but there was a shoot first ask later policy but that was over the base side. As for aircraft, i used to sit for hours watching the planes come overhead at tree level on practice runs.
Thanks for the very interesting video, those "big bombs" scattered around the planes are called "Drop Tanks" which are extra fuel tanks that can be fitted outside the aircraft for more long range, when empty, the pilot just discharge/drop the fuel tanks from the wings or from under the belly fuselage in order to reduce drag and fuel consumption and gain speed. That armoured car is a stand alone anti aircraft cover/protection with four canons and that dish is a certain type of radar for detecting/homing incoming enemy aircraft or missiles to shoot down, almost all military airstrips have a set or 'protection system' installed around the field.
The "tank" you found is a ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". It is a radar guided anti-aircraft weapons system. Developed by the Soviets and place into service in 1960. Has been updated several times and is still in use by the Russians and has been sold/donated to numerous countries around the world. Besides being an effective weapon against low flying planes and helo's, it has become a very deadly anti personnel ground weapon, abet only able to aim at targets via visual aiming. The guns are 23mm and spit out an impressive 1000 rounds per minute per gun, so that would be 4000 rounds per minute for all four guns(vehicle is limited to 2000 rounds loaded due to the size of the round.)
There's a few videos of them being used by the Syrian Army during the recent civil war, plus lots of T-72 action. Tanks in Space is probably the best Go Pro channel.
Epic video guys! Loved the helicopter! Those were always so intimidating when you'd see them in movies in the 80's! Still remember the one from Red Dawn. They're huge!
Ironically, the ones in Red Dawn weren't Mil Hind helicopters, they were HEAVILY modified Puma helicopters, with front cabins fabricated to replicate the Hind A (the first version flown).
If I remember correctly (I'm happy to be corrected) this is a mock (training) airfield previously used by RAF spadeadam, hence the aircraft being from other nations, the fuel trucks windows being covered, cockpit windows metal framing and model of the AA vehicle etc, interesting the veiw as these aircraft will have flown and are not replicas but the site used to be used as a training aid
You’re correct. It is known as Colinsky airfield, obviously never been active. It is still used to replicate an enemy airfield so that various types of training serials can be conducted, anything from Fighter ground attack to dismounted ground based missions.
Attenborough WAS good but he then became a green lefty seriously corrupt loony narating videos about climate change with falling ice from other places hundreds of miles away. The Black Bstard Corruption outfit WERE good but the rot is well overdue for the crematorium. These guys are on the way up, dont thwart their progress while they have something good to offer. To be fair, I suppose your comment is right. The bbc DO need to employ such talent but the bbc would instantly destroy that talent so the guys should look down on the globalist NWO directed bbc and laugh at them.
Great video!! Another friendly comment as you said their welcome: the "heed" in "Lockheed" is pronounced like the heed in "heed way!" As opposed to the "head" in "headache". Keep making videos mate! This is lovely
The items you called torpedos are actually fuel tank drop tanks that are used to extend the flight time and range of the aircraft and they can be ejected by the pilot for improved and faster flight
The Missile looking thing is a Drop Tank (External Fuel Tank) that's used to extend the range of aircraft. The parabolic directional antenna looking thing is not a Dish antenna, it's a Radar used to detect air targets and by the way this Tank thing is an Anti Aircraft Artillery (AAA) used to engage close proximity Air targets usually in the range of 4 to 6 km.
Guys, learn the equipment! 15:30 This is an anti-aircraft gun. ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". This is not a model! This airfield was used for training combat operations with a potential enemy. Imitation of a Soviet airfield. For potential bombing or capture or sabotage. This is evidenced by the Soviet identification marks on French and American aircraft. They are very similar to Soviet planes 1950-1960.
This is a fabulous video guys. I’m an aero plane and even more of a helicopter geek. I live in Chester and work by Airbus, that Mil-Mi24 helicopter used to live there so mad how it’s ended up where you were today. New subscriber - love your calm narrative and the places you are going to. Some of the abandoned places you have visited are incredible, it’s scary how many abandoned places there are yet we have such a shortage of places to live and the cost of everything is so high.
@@ArsxnT Hawarden airport in North Wales. There's loads of ex soviet planes there too, it's not an abandoned airport though, quite the opposite. All airbus wings are made there and it's where the Belugas come and go from.
that is super cool im glad you can have these adventures as a young man its something you will cherish for the rest of your life i live in the us so there was never anything cool like this for us mostly old buildings etc but i still remember them to this day and its been a few years lol
the "one of the coolest things ive ever seen" is a ZSU-23-4 shilka and is not a tank but a SPAAA (Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Artillery) and the radar dish if for more accurate firing also i doubt its a replica
I was expecting everything but those old "Mystere IVA" with the original FAF markings. Dear RAF I've been a good Frenchman and since you don't use those, I would appreciate one for Christmas. Also thank you for the video, it was very enjoyable to watch.
This video, like your others, is brilliant. Beautifully shot and excellent use of mood-provoking and atmospheric music, specifically 'We were warned' by Walt Adams. I understand how easy it would be to misidentify some of the military hardware, considering these snippets of dialogue were caught 'in the moment' where your excitement was understandably evident. I like your honesty and willingness to be corrected. Would be great to see you film in some of the ex-British Military locations in Germany. Looking forward to your next vid.
Great Video Lads, The Containers you discover at 07:00 are for the missiles ( firing tubes) for the Milan ATGW, they are the K115 with the stand off charge, Any Milanier would have had the ZSU 23/4 as a Prioritive target back in the day..
I recommend, if you havent done so already, get little pop covers/wind shields for your microphones, it will add hugely to the viewing experience not have this loud audio of the wind noise on your camera mics
Love it. Bit of a stroll to get there, eh? When I was in USAF in the 80's, adjoining our training area for DLI was the military dog school which had, for training, a small piece of runway with some fine old aircraft, a Canberra included, I recall. And Security Forces had a few areas with runways and old aircraft on which to train. Kinda cool for a plane buff, like me. Do you have a vet friend you could bring along on some of these?
I think Canberra’s are rare, especially in the USA. That is the only foreign jet bomber the USA ever bought that was a foreign design and manufactured in a foreign country.
Absolutely amazing, loved this..surprised how relatively easy you got in..really thought there would of been more security..this is an amazing find..one of your finest I would say..throughly enjoyed it..the aspect of you being able to explore and document is very appealing..loved it
@@Urbandoned This is not true. Another youtuber got arrested on this very same site, he posted a pic of himself in the cockpit of one of the aircraft. THey are quite fed up with youtube urbexers ilegally coming on what is an extremely dangerous property. Its active MoD land so its not just slap on the wrist you've been a naughty boy trespassing if you are caught, its serious trouble. Its location is not a big secret either, its RAF Spadeadam, you'll find many videos on it on here, most with permission. But I would advise anyone watching this video not to trespass on this property. I grew up near by so know it well. I appreciate you don't vandalize anything, you are respectful of the places you explore, and I do enjoy your channel, but you guys need to be very careful in places like this, unless of course in reality you got permission to film and want to create the illusion of trespassing because who needs a black car arriving outside their house for the sake of a youtube video? You must know this place is still a very active firing and electronic warfare range and those planes and the airstrip are certainly not abandoned, its a mock up airfield and the planes are part of it for low flying electronic 'practice'.Just be happy a Eurofighter didn't pass over you at 50 ft while you were there :) It is also the only current UK location where NATO strike fighters and bombers can actually discharge live ammunition i.e real freaking bombs and missiles !!!!
Changed a lot, spent later part of 70 s draining, pulling hill ploughs and building roads in prep for tree planting all over that moor.Iron age and Roman fortlets and old battlegrounds all ploughed over. When we were there it wasn't unusual for the US and RAF jets to turn around and fly right over us.. or worse jump us. The bluestreak rocket test site was just over the hill.
@@jaehyung2737 bro, answering the comments about aircrafts, I spoke only about aircrafts. Zsu 23-4 "Shilka" I saw a couple live. + I live near the factory where they were produced)
It's an electronic warfare range, the still working SA6 and SA8 surface to air missile tanks on the station are set up around the fake runway and "defend" it to provide training for pilots.
Just a quick note, The Dassault Mystere. The maufacturers name is pronounced 'Dassoh' simliar to the car manufacturer Renault. Really interesting vid!!
Cockpit windows made of organic glass. It has an amazing and unusual property of burning. I had the opportunity to check it out as a child. There was an Aircraft Graveyard near my house. And I sawed off the glass for subsequent burning. The glass bubbles and crunches loudly when burning. It was funny then. Hello from Russia✌️
It is a problem for both planes in museums and abandoned that the hydraulic seals on the undercarriage legs fail and as the fluid leaks out, the plane sags closer to the ground. Also, flat tyres and soft ground makes thing much worse...!
You really made the atmosphere of this kind of place come to life----all the wondering what it is for and incredulity at why this stuff would be in Britain on a disused RAF base----well done boys.--Anyway how the hell did you get back in the dark?
now why is it that every urban explorer that i ever watched without fail has a hard time understanding the good use of wind sound reducing equipment for their cameras ,sighs, or do you think that it is a romantic authentic sound effect that is enjoyed by viewers ?
I'm guessing the French and older US jets were used as part of an "aggressor" squadron used to teach RAF and NATO pilots how to deal with Soviet and Warsaw Pact tactics. That would explain the red stars on all the tail sections and later regulated to simulation ground attacks. The ZSU 23/4, Hind attack chopper and SU attack bomber may also have been ground targets for mock attack runs (non-live fire).
The red stars are just additons when they were positioned on the mock airfield/range. The Lockheed T-33s are ex-Belgian air force and were flown into Prestwick airport in 1979 after retirement. They were then transported to the range for use on the mock airfield. The Dassault Mystere were supplied to the French air force under the US military assistance program. When retired they were still US property and flown into the UK pending disposal in the 1970s. They were later assigned to the range/mock airfield. The red stars are just later additions and applied on the range over the years.
Did it cross your mind that you may have been walking thru a "firing range" either past and/or current? When former planes are set out like that, they are normally used as "ground targets" during live firing, from airbourne aircraft. The fact that most are former Soviet aircraft, suggests that RAF brought them back from East Germany, for that intent.
Urbandoned! Chegando para prestigiar seu trabalho... Que lugar sinistro e assustador... Imagens incríveis parabéns... Estes aviões são um marco da guerra... Quanto investimento e depois deixados para ser consumido pelo tempo... Excelente vídeo sucesso sempre... Tmj... Abração do AVENTUREIRO PAULEK!
I love hearing someone actually admit that they're not aware of what they're looking at. "We would love to be corrected in the comments" is a big thing to say; max respect.
The "torpedoes" are external fueltanks, to increase range.
Can it be dropd too?
@@Circle912 they can be dropped if empty or in (merge for dogfight) but they are not dangerous depending on the situation
@@Circle912 when empty or jettisoned in case of an emergency
Just FYI, there was an American pilot in Vietnam, flying an F-4 if memory serves, who pickled off his external tanks going into a dogfight after being jumped by North Vietnamese MiGs, and actually hit one of them, taking it out of the fight. I don't remember many of the details, but it's a helluva story. It was a successful mission kill with an improvised weapon. If I remember correctly, the North Vietnamese pilot tried to limp it home and ultimately was forced to eject not long after.
A lot of US pilots used similar tactics, though I only know of that one case where it actually scored a kill. They've also been used upon occasion as improvised CAS weapons, with mixed success.
At one time it was standard practice to drop them if you had to dogfight, since they do add both weight and drag, decreasing maneuverability and energy retention. Energy in the context of momentum, putting it into laymen's terms. Energy is Life, in a dogfight. Even with powerful engine and high thrust-to-weight ratio, you never want to lose all of your energy in a dogfight, because it leaves you vulnerable and unable to maneuver. So external tanks were frequently dropped prior to a dogfight or bombing run. It's generally less of an issue on modern warplanes, especially with conformal external tanks blended into the airframe, most of which can only be removed by ground crew.
@@Circle912 yes
The "tank" is an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a lightly armored vehicle. It is a Soviet-designed ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft weapon system. The 23 stands for the round size in millimeters, which is very close to one inch in diameter. This thing was a formidable weapon against low-flying aircraft. The round object on the top rear is the onboard radar, which was advanced for its time. It had a 12-mile range. Former Intell Analyst in US Army.
Yep, and it doesn't look like a model or mock-up, you wouldn't put a functioning cupola on a model. And guns on it doesn't look like fakes at all.
Nato codename: Shilka
Ok nerds
It's nice to read a professional: the comment is short and to the point.
Krypto Kharma, , do not take it personally, further for those far from the topic.
For those who are not in the subject, there is only one small clarification: traditionally, the caliber of rifled artillery (as well as small arms) in Russia is measured by the fields of the barrel rifling, and not by the bottom of the rifling. This figure is indicated in the reference literature, army documents and et cetera. The true diameter of the projectile (or bullet) is important only for ammunition manufacturers and designers. Yes, of course it is bigger, but it is not remembered when describing the caliber of the gun, also by tradition. Therefore, "23 mm" and without any "approaches an inch".
And another nuance: in the designation ZSU-23-4, the number 4 indicates the number of barrels of the artillery system. So it was, for example, ZSU-57-2, which had two barrels of 57 mm. Just the Soviet system of designations, pure nomenclature.
@@arakkisblacksun2507, I'm sorry, you named this car correctly, but you made a mistake in the details: "Shilka" is not the name of the ZSU-23-4 in NATO terminology, it is its designation according to the Soviet nomenclature. There is such a feature in Russia: not to give formidable "animal" names to samples of military equipment. The Shilka is a river in Siberia, a tributary of the Amur. There were also "Argun", "Amur" - this is from the "river" names that I remember. There are "flower" - "Cornflower", "Acacia", "Tulip", "Carnation" and so on. Geometric theme - "Cube", "Circle", "Square". Even the heroes of animated films - "Pinocchio", "Cheburashka". Yes, there are many more examples, we are such jokers.
Great job fellas! I served in the U S Army during the times when much of this hardware was "state of the art". Now the planes lie broken and abandoned. May they rest in peace!
I'm sure this stuff can be sold for a lot of money, obviously it is not as easy as it sounds but still
@@joeiacobacci6978 Yeah, theyre still government property, even though theyre abandoned. If you rock up and take them you could be arrested.
@@ryangoslingIRL kind of stupid as many military forces do this but they could make a substantial amount of money if they just disarmed and sold them. Many people I know would love to restore these despite the high upkeep fighter jets tend to come with.
Thank you for serving
@@sirheinzbeenz3477 Often, at the end of their “second “ service, they will be offered for sale or as a donation to established groups and museums
The French planes are the Dassault Mystere IV. Back in the 1980s I was in the USAF. There were several Mysteres at RAF Sculthorpe Norfolk. We took the engines out of them and made aircraft decontamination units by mounting them on trailers. The airframes were then used as decoys and for aircraft battle damage repair mock ups at RAF Lakenheath.
Can you explain more on how the engines were used in decontamination? My mind is thinking giant freaking fan, but would love clarity on that. It sounds fascinating. I love the idea of repurposing old equipment into something else!
(7:55) Sukhoi Su-22, (9:06) Dassault Mystere IV, (10:32) fuel drop tanks, (15:03) ZSU-23-4 "Shilka", (19:31) Mil Mi-24D.
Theres an abandoned Dassault Mystere at Andrewsfield, Essex... only reason i knew what they were when i saw them. Very similar markings too.
So, you discovered RAF Spadeadam in north Cumbria, which used to be part of my mapping surveying area back in the 80/90s. A range of aircraft have been deposited/dumped there over the last 50 years - to be used as targets (non-destruction I guess) on the range. We used to parkup in a layby on the approach to watch Tornado and Jaguars coming in low. Sometimes Rapier or similar would be set up in the surrounding area - I guess for practice. Even more interesting is the history of the actual "base" which was the testing location for the UK rocket development programme in the 50/60s. It later was (and stlll may be) used for explosive testing by the gas industry. Some huge concrete rocket testing constructions - but you are unlikely to get in amongst them.
Indeed, it is still used for explosive testing. I have carried out work around that area several times. Now and again you can hear explosions coming from the base. I haven’t been in the base itself but from speaking to the locals in the nearby village. They explained the base is used for various explosive testing and not just for the military.
Twenty Two minutes of pure loveliness.
Enjoying the pre-explore shenanigans
Thank you mate, more of that sort of thing will be showcased in the future
When I was a kid in the early 1980`s living in Johannesburg, myself and a few friends found a walled off field that housed tonnes of damaged and retired military equipment, most I suspect were the result of the Border War up in Angola against the MPLA and their Cuban allies, there were shot out tanks, Ratel APC`s, helicopters and even a few MIG`s that had seen better days, we had a blast playing in them all day long...
Hi Ca i live in Johannesburg i would love to know were about they are maybe it would nice to go have a look
I envy you
@@Itseugza This was 1984 around the Wadeville area, just off Osborn Road, i doubt very much that it`s there now, but some research may yield a few answers, from what I remember it was near the old Scaw Metal smelter facility, near what is now Dinwiddie, I lived on a little estate called Summer Villages that was located in the middle of a cabbage farm just off Rondbult Road that travels from Van Dyk Park to Alberton, Dodgson Street, maybe Google map it from there and see what comes up...I hope this helps, if it does, please let me know...
: )
A Dream fit Kids😂
RAF Spadeadam,Electronic Warfare Tatics Range is where you are.Prior Lancey is the mock airfield you are on, also known as Collinski.The Russian aircraft came from Boscombe Down The Mysteres came fromthe French Air force the T33's came from the Belgian Air Force.The Russian helo is a Mil Mi-24 Hind
don't forget the Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun ZSU 23-4 Shilka. Nice too
The colour of the Hind makes me think that it was in use by the Polish despite the lack of markings.
You were obviously in the raf ?
They also have a working SAM-8 launcher located on the base, which is used for Tactical Weopons Training exercises and a Iraqis Scud missile launcher. Great video
@@andrewhirst1653 It is also a training ground for RAF regiment and special forces too ,
The containers are a mock air traffic control tower .
Its a bit concerning they were not picked up by the base security as that is one of the most sensitive bases in the uk .
I've been this site when I served in the army....we done monouvers there...good episode lads
Is there any chance you privately message me the location plz mate as I do abit of exploring myself
Could u send me the location privately or publicly I used to do exploring but stopped due to not feeling it anymore however this makes me want to go back to it!
You may find those “missiles” are additional fuel tanks for long range missions.
yip, easy to ID really
@@chrisg1234fly Theyre easy to ID with people with interest in aviation/military history. But for an average joe like these two they may appear to be AAM, AGM and ASMs.
@@ryangoslingIRL Well to that point, it's silly to speak on a subject which you know nothing about, in a video with over 600k views now lol
@@ryangoslingIRL yeah but they could identify these rather unique aircraft and their country of origin even knowing the su22 was flying under the ddr
@@Its_Me_Romano I mean yeah, they had east german markings, not to mention the fact that most people who lived during the cold war can identify a plane from that era. What im talking about is not everyone knows that planes could use external fuel tanks, and may assume they are bombs, missiles, etc.
The Bedford fuel tanker lorry looks like it should be saved and restored. A great old classic vehicle
Hi
The place served as a model for a military base.
Pilots can detect from the air and practice identifying.
The two planes you saw first
Stand ready to take off.
This is very common to practice.
Even the planes that stand on the side.
Practice parking before taking off.
A very beautiful film
Enjoy seeing you traveling and taking pictures
I love the clean editing, the calm talking and of course the great finds! Keep it up!
Chaps this was absolutely fantastic ! I love all your explores, but the last 2 months have been my favourite. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
We're glad you enjoyed it so much. Hopefully, we will keep up the video performance levels this Summer :)
Huge respect fellas, great video you should definitely do these mission documentaries more often as they're really immersive. After spending a good while scoping out this place pre pandemic it's great to see it up close nice work 👍
Happened across this today, great to see some older vehicles. The quad gun that loos like a tank is a ZSU23-4, 23mm x4 anti-aircraft weapon. Great find.
Er no! the "Model of a Tank that never saw action" is actually a Russian ZSU 23/4 anti aircraft system the dish on the turret is the targeting RADAR, this weapon system has been used in action across the globe for decades, the only unusual feature is this one carries a British Military Registration number.
Commonly called ''Shilka''
Is it possible they got it from covert operation?
@@arganelichens1713 no there would have been no need to steal one the East German Army had hundreds of them and they would have been removed from service between 1989 and 1991 as the equipment was stored and sold off to other 3ed world countries.
calm down rambo
@@discobriscoe5880 😂🤣🤣🤣
It's sad to see these war birds sitting out in the middle of nowhere. It would be nice to see someone restore these plains or paint them up and put them in a museum.
Bloody hell think this is your best video yet lads. Loved seeing the behind the scenes stuff too with your getting to the place. Can't believe they had a Sukhoi just sat there and surely that Helicopter belongs in a military museum. Seems like a peaceful spot for those beautiful aircraft and I loved the pine tree that was growing next to one of them. Really great work and I bet you got some incredible pictures!
Thank you, we will totally include more behind the scenes in the future. A lot of these items belong in a museum for sure. Our pictures did come out well but I think it would have been hard for them not to - the place was very photogenic!
Great video guys,by co-incidence a few years ago on my way to Carlisle I was stuck behind
the low loader carrying the Shilka for miles till it turned off the main road for the base!
Thank you good sir! I've been trying to find this on maps for a good 40 minutes (for shits and giggles, I'm US based) and you assisted GREATLY!
The tank is a ZSU-23-4 Shilka, a radar guided anti-aircraft gun.
Thank you for the correction
And it is not a mock-up, it looks to be the real deal.
@@Urbandoned Watch the movie 'Flight of the Intruder' and you'll see one shooting down an aircraft.
@@WOTArtyNoobs a real one?
@@kyleborboranmain8295 I suspect it was a real Shilka in the movie. They needed it to move about and it sure looked like the real thing.
I'm glad I found you guys! love the way you produce the videos with relaxing music and not screaming and shouting every few minutes like some guys do. Keep up the good work!
That Mi-24 hind is a beautiful helicopter. It SHOULD be restored and place in a museum. Its an iconic piece of engineering.
I agree but because it’s Russian it is not going to happened unfortunately
@@gpscrapper7028 why ?
In Afghanistan they restore them . They have a lot of part there .
that hind came into the UK in 1993, i know because it used to be in a shed right next to where i live, it also came with 2 other hinds and a host full of other soviet aircraft which are still in sheds.
Absolutely epic video. One of, if not the best you've done. The narration, cinematics, editing - everything! Showcased everything brilliantly.
Appreciate it matey, means a lot
Gents, admirable determination, great video, compelling composition. Took some guts that. Well done!
The training aircraft were Lockheed T-33's from the Luftwaffe looking at the colour scheme, I use to be an engineer on one of these back in the 80's.
I give these two Military Archeologists great credit in pursuing history. I enjoyed your video very much. God Bless.
Very enjoyable video. Thank you!
Great docu
Thank you!
What makes me feel sad is that we as a specie have wasted not millions or billions , but countless trillions over the past decades on war machinery....look at abandoned ships and whole fleets.....when we could have done so much good for our sisters and brothers world wide in desperate need!
And I'm an atheist....not a goody goody dreamer!
Cheers
From Germany
Ha!
I'll write in English...
I live in Germany too.
My Grandfather had to flee to Argentina befor Adolf took control....
And, surprisingly, your comment has only 8-9 likes....
Well, let me make you notice, you are not the only one thinking that way....
But so are our brothers, they love killing, and war, and war machinery that cost so much, no one talks about.....
Sad but true....
Bleib gesund!!
@@horsthinze4048
Danke!
Du auch!
Really nice! Glad to see and know that these aircraft were not vandalized and are pretty much respected
those “missiles” attached under the wings aren’t “missiles”, they’re droppable/jettisonable fuel tanks to extend the range of the plane. such fuel tanks are still used to this day…
Awesome video. Thumbs up from the USA.
I used to regularly visit a friends farm up there on the range and it may still be in place but there was a shoot first ask later policy but that was over the base side.
As for aircraft, i used to sit for hours watching the planes come overhead at tree level on practice runs.
Hi I'm gonna be so thankful if you can send me the location .
Lovely place for pictures 😁📷📷📸
Thanks for the very interesting video, those "big bombs" scattered around the planes are called "Drop Tanks" which are extra fuel tanks that can be fitted outside the aircraft for more long range, when empty, the pilot just discharge/drop the fuel tanks from the wings or from under the belly fuselage in order to reduce drag and fuel consumption and gain speed. That armoured car is a stand alone anti aircraft cover/protection with four canons and that dish is a certain type of radar for detecting/homing incoming enemy aircraft or missiles to shoot down, almost all military airstrips have a set or 'protection system' installed around the field.
The "tank" you found is a ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". It is a radar guided anti-aircraft weapons system. Developed by the Soviets and place into service in 1960. Has been updated several times and is still in use by the Russians and has been sold/donated to numerous countries around the world. Besides being an effective weapon against low flying planes and helo's, it has become a very deadly anti personnel ground weapon, abet only able to aim at targets via visual aiming. The guns are 23mm and spit out an impressive 1000 rounds per minute per gun, so that would be 4000 rounds per minute for all four guns(vehicle is limited to 2000 rounds loaded due to the size of the round.)
Thanks for typing that, was about to do the same but you handled it for me,
There's a few videos of them being used by the Syrian Army during the recent civil war, plus lots of T-72 action. Tanks in Space is probably the best Go Pro channel.
I bet they are good against drones. Both effectively destroying them and being very cost effective instead of using high priced missiles.
Fun time! Thanks! Like having a military aviation time machine!
Epic video guys! Loved the helicopter! Those were always so intimidating when you'd see them in movies in the 80's! Still remember the one from Red Dawn. They're huge!
Ironically, the ones in Red Dawn weren't Mil Hind helicopters, they were HEAVILY modified Puma helicopters, with front cabins fabricated to replicate the Hind A (the first version flown).
If I remember correctly (I'm happy to be corrected) this is a mock (training) airfield previously used by RAF spadeadam, hence the aircraft being from other nations, the fuel trucks windows being covered, cockpit windows metal framing and model of the AA vehicle etc, interesting the veiw as these aircraft will have flown and are not replicas but the site used to be used as a training aid
You’re correct. It is known as Colinsky airfield, obviously never been active. It is still used to replicate an enemy airfield so that various types of training serials can be conducted, anything from Fighter ground attack to dismounted ground based missions.
BBC need to employ you with this kinda production quality, its like watching David Attenborough but with abandoned planes instead of Siberian Tigers
Haha, that's much appreciated pal. Need to meet up again, soon
Attenborough WAS good but he then became a green lefty seriously corrupt loony narating videos about climate change with falling ice from other places hundreds of miles away.
The Black Bstard Corruption outfit WERE good but the rot is well overdue for the crematorium.
These guys are on the way up, dont thwart their progress while they have something good to offer.
To be fair, I suppose your comment is right. The bbc DO need to employ such talent but the bbc would instantly destroy that talent so the guys should look down on the globalist NWO directed bbc and laugh at them.
Great video!!
Another friendly comment as you said their welcome: the "heed" in "Lockheed" is pronounced like the heed in "heed way!" As opposed to the "head" in "headache".
Keep making videos mate! This is lovely
That sattelite dish was actually radar for the shilka air defense system to track down enemy aircrafts
Complete with the odd Chemtrail and frequencies, to round off a great video. Many thanks, guys :)
The items you called torpedos are actually fuel tank drop tanks that are used to extend the flight time and range of the aircraft and they can be ejected by the pilot for improved and faster flight
Excellent that was - thanks ! Mark.
The Missile looking thing is a Drop Tank (External Fuel Tank) that's used to extend the range of aircraft. The parabolic directional antenna looking thing is not a Dish antenna, it's a Radar used to detect air targets and by the way this Tank thing is an Anti Aircraft Artillery (AAA) used to engage close proximity Air targets usually in the range of 4 to 6 km.
Guys, learn the equipment!
15:30 This is an anti-aircraft gun. ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". This is not a model!
This airfield was used for training combat operations with a potential enemy. Imitation of a Soviet airfield. For potential bombing or capture or sabotage. This is evidenced by the Soviet identification marks on French and American aircraft. They are very similar to Soviet planes 1950-1960.
That ZSU looks pretty real to me.
Yeah that ZSU 23-4 Shilka looks real to me.
That MIL MI-24 Hind D to me is the scariest yet best abandoned aircraft in this video
This is a fabulous video guys. I’m an aero plane and even more of a helicopter geek. I live in Chester and work by Airbus, that Mil-Mi24 helicopter used to live there so mad how it’s ended up where you were today. New subscriber - love your calm narrative and the places you are going to. Some of the abandoned places you have visited are incredible, it’s scary how many abandoned places there are yet we have such a shortage of places to live and the cost of everything is so high.
Where is it pls i love abandoned places like that
@@ArsxnT Hawarden airport in North Wales. There's loads of ex soviet planes there too, it's not an abandoned airport though, quite the opposite. All airbus wings are made there and it's where the Belugas come and go from.
that is super cool im glad you can have these adventures as a young man its something you will cherish for the rest of your life i live in the us so there was never anything cool like this for us mostly old buildings etc but i still remember them to this day and its been a few years lol
The fact that you can just walk up to a HIND is absolutely amazing.
great coverage of MIg fix wing jets and MI24 rotary wing aircraft , i enjoyed it. thanks
Not a single MiG in this video ;)
The tank is a ZSU-23-4, anti aircraft gun system, the satellite dish is part of the radar tracking system
You'll see one in operation in the movie 'Flight of the Intruder'.
Those jets of the same make seem to be repainted with Soviet stars to be used as Aggressors for training, very cool!
the "one of the coolest things ive ever seen" is a ZSU-23-4 shilka and is not a tank but a SPAAA (Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Artillery) and the radar dish if for more accurate firing also i doubt its a replica
Former East German I guess.
@@nightbird7075 yea
I was expecting everything but those old "Mystere IVA" with the original FAF markings. Dear RAF I've been a good Frenchman and since you don't use those, I would appreciate one for Christmas. Also thank you for the video, it was very enjoyable to watch.
This video, like your others, is brilliant. Beautifully shot and excellent use of mood-provoking and atmospheric music, specifically 'We were warned' by Walt Adams. I understand how easy it would be to misidentify some of the military hardware, considering these snippets of dialogue were caught 'in the moment' where your excitement was understandably evident. I like your honesty and willingness to be corrected. Would be great to see you film in some of the ex-British Military locations in Germany. Looking forward to your next vid.
Sadly a lot of the ex Brit locations in Germany are under modern concrete.
Great Video Lads, The Containers you discover at 07:00 are for the missiles ( firing tubes) for the Milan ATGW, they are the K115 with the stand off charge, Any Milanier would have had the ZSU 23/4 as a Prioritive target back in the day..
16:12 is a Lockheed T33 which is the two seat version basically of the F80 Shooting Star.
I recommend, if you havent done so already, get little pop covers/wind shields for your microphones, it will add hugely to the viewing experience not have this loud audio of the wind noise on your camera mics
Love it. Bit of a stroll to get there, eh? When I was in USAF in the 80's, adjoining our training area for DLI was the military dog school which had, for training, a small piece of runway with some fine old aircraft, a Canberra included, I recall. And Security Forces had a few areas with runways and old aircraft on which to train. Kinda cool for a plane buff, like me. Do you have a vet friend you could bring along on some of these?
Were you near RAF Newton?
I think Canberra’s are rare, especially in the USA. That is the only foreign jet bomber the USA ever bought that was a foreign design and manufactured in a foreign country.
Great job. Old guy, 74, from the U.S. Maybe consider backpacking, a tent, spend the night for more time "on the job"
Absolutely amazing, loved this..surprised how relatively easy you got in..really thought there would of been more security..this is an amazing find..one of your finest I would say..throughly enjoyed it..the aspect of you being able to explore and document is very appealing..loved it
It is so isolated that there is way too much ground for a security team to cover. Thank you for the support though, it truly means a great deal to us
most training areas in the UK are open to the public as public land. many strange moments of laying in ambush during training and a jogger going past
@@Urbandoned This is not true. Another youtuber got arrested on this very same site, he posted a pic of himself in the cockpit of one of the aircraft. THey are quite fed up with youtube urbexers ilegally coming on what is an extremely dangerous property. Its active MoD land so its not just slap on the wrist you've been a naughty boy trespassing if you are caught, its serious trouble. Its location is not a big secret either, its RAF Spadeadam, you'll find many videos on it on here, most with permission. But I would advise anyone watching this video not to trespass on this property. I grew up near by so know it well. I appreciate you don't vandalize anything, you are respectful of the places you explore, and I do enjoy your channel, but you guys need to be very careful in places like this, unless of course in reality you got permission to film and want to create the illusion of trespassing because who needs a black car arriving outside their house for the sake of a youtube video? You must know this place is still a very active firing and electronic warfare range and those planes and the airstrip are certainly not abandoned, its a mock up airfield and the planes are part of it for low flying electronic 'practice'.Just be happy a Eurofighter didn't pass over you at 50 ft while you were there :)
It is also the only current UK location where NATO strike fighters and bombers can actually discharge live ammunition i.e real freaking bombs and missiles !!!!
Where is this place please?
Changed a lot, spent later part of 70 s draining, pulling hill ploughs and building roads in prep for tree planting all over that moor.Iron age and Roman fortlets and old battlegrounds all ploughed over.
When we were there it wasn't unusual for the US and RAF jets to turn around and fly right over us.. or worse jump us.
The bluestreak rocket test site was just over the hill.
Very interesting video. It's amazing how much equipment is abandoned around the world, just waiting to be rediscovered.
Awesome vid guys. More of these please!
Will do!
Great episode! I’ve really enjoyed the new more in-depth style of this one.
Appreciate it mate
As most of the aircraft are Russian, I’m guessing this was used as training by pilots to spot and identify ground targets during the Cold War ?
I saw only one aircraft of russian design
@@mitri5389 2 soviet planes + heli:)
@@Andrew-stay + 1 russian SPAAG(Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun)
@@jaehyung2737 bro, answering the comments about aircrafts, I spoke only about aircrafts. Zsu 23-4 "Shilka" I saw a couple live. + I live near the factory where they were produced)
It's an electronic warfare range, the still working SA6 and SA8 surface to air missile tanks on the station are set up around the fake runway and "defend" it to provide training for pilots.
You boys are top.... love your films,this one is one of the best.
Just a quick note, The Dassault Mystere. The maufacturers name is pronounced 'Dassoh' simliar to the car manufacturer Renault. Really interesting vid!!
True though no matter how an English person pronounces a french word - even if it’s perfect will be called wrong by the french 😂
I'm so happy I found your channel. Keep on exploring.
I love your videos. Yes, I prefer the more ‘documentary style’ work. It’s related to historical sits and their history. Well done lads 🤗
They are T-33, great video, I work at an air museum in America restoring airplanes, I was thrilled at your find!
Blimey ...the bearded explorer...you...everyone seems to be visiting this place! But gotta say yours is better with actual info about the planes.
Thank you so much guys we enjoyed the video it is so un usual to see this
Next time try to enter the anti-aircraft tank and the chopper bro’s. The Inside must be very cool..thanks for the video.
Excellent documentary well done
Matatan,. Ribirin H-S,
Cockpit windows made of organic glass. It has an amazing and unusual property of burning. I had the opportunity to check it out as a child. There was an Aircraft Graveyard near my house. And I sawed off the glass for subsequent burning. The glass bubbles and crunches loudly when burning. It was funny then. Hello from Russia✌️
I hope our counties (USA & Russia) can develop better relations soon . Our combined forces could do a lot of good.
Huge Respect for u guys, from Bharat(India )🇮🇳.U r great team
I know all these vehicles from playing Operation Flashpoint, a shilka, hind and migs, amazing!
where migs?
@@mitri5389 The Su 22 and MiG 21 look pretty similar
the memories :) .....
Oh man I want that Su-22M3. Is there a way to get the abandoned one?
It is a problem for both planes in museums and abandoned that the hydraulic seals on the undercarriage legs fail and as the fluid leaks out, the plane sags closer to the ground.
Also, flat tyres and soft ground makes thing much worse...!
Great video guys, its really interesting to see old military equipment left behind.
Maybe try to use a wind defuser microphone next time.
You really made the atmosphere of this kind of place come to life----all the wondering what it is for and incredulity at why this stuff would be in Britain on a disused RAF base----well done boys.--Anyway how the hell did you get back in the dark?
Very good indeed. Thank you for your work.
Such a fab find guys. A little different from your usual videos but still very enjoyable 😀
Hopefully it was a good difference, glad you liked it :)
now why is it that every urban explorer that i ever watched without fail has a hard time understanding the good use of wind sound reducing equipment for their cameras ,sighs, or do you think that it is a romantic authentic sound effect that is enjoyed by viewers ?
I'm guessing the French and older US jets were used as part of an "aggressor" squadron used to teach RAF and NATO pilots how to deal with Soviet and Warsaw Pact tactics. That would explain the red stars on all the tail sections and later regulated to simulation ground attacks. The ZSU 23/4, Hind attack chopper and SU attack bomber may also have been ground targets for mock attack runs (non-live fire).
The red stars are just additons when they were positioned on the mock airfield/range. The Lockheed T-33s are ex-Belgian air force and were flown into Prestwick airport in 1979 after retirement. They were then transported to the range for use on the mock airfield. The Dassault Mystere were supplied to the French air force under the US military assistance program. When retired they were still US property and flown into the UK pending disposal in the 1970s. They were later assigned to the range/mock airfield. The red stars are just later additions and applied on the range over the years.
I love this video and keep up all the videos and keep making them video
Did it cross your mind that you may have been walking thru a "firing range" either past and/or current? When former planes are set out like that, they are normally used as "ground targets" during live firing, from airbourne aircraft. The fact that most are former Soviet aircraft, suggests that RAF brought them back from East Germany, for that intent.
@@dennistemple4383 It's an electronic warfare training range.
@@tomstickland also a lot of ground training, good bit of trespassing going on there
They may have received permission
Well spoken young man thank u
Urbandoned! Chegando para prestigiar seu trabalho... Que lugar sinistro e assustador... Imagens incríveis parabéns... Estes aviões são um marco da guerra... Quanto investimento e depois deixados para ser consumido pelo tempo... Excelente vídeo sucesso sempre... Tmj... Abração do AVENTUREIRO PAULEK!
I got caught on a Army base in the 80s when I was 17...... Bastard came outta now where. I was eventually let go with no charges....Peace!
Is that RAF Spadeadam?
Yes.
Really well shot documentary but its sad that all those vehicles were abandoned =(
The 'torpedo's' are fuel tanks
Thanks for letting us know
Weird to see this, i've stood next to that very shilka, This is RAF Spadeadam - the Electronic warfare training airbase.
👍👍Lucky the area cameras and sensors didn't pick you up.