'Blue,
- Fire' by Michael Rondot
NB
The above has an example of a typical remarque. (This is my
own personal print)
On the right is a Buccaneer and on the left are 3 figures
from the unique
'Nose Art' applied to the 12 Buccaneers during the Gulf conflict
in 1991.
Buccaneer
aircraft in action, launching a co-ordinated attack with Sea
Eagle anti-ship sea-skimming missiles, the moment when the
leader of the first element (callsign 'Blue'), achieves his
firing solution and initiates the ripple launch of his formation's
missiles by breaking radio silence with the traditional 208
Squadron radio call of "Blue,-Fire!" Countersigned by Barry
Laight the Buccaneer Chief Designer and by Wg Cdr Bill Cope
the Commanding Officer of the Buccaneer Gulf War Detachment
Nightmare
scenario. Dusk over an empty sea. With lights out and in radio
silence, three Buccaneers, each armed with 4 Sea-Eagle missiles,
prepare to attack a Surface Action Group still beyond radar
range.
150 miles away, three more Buccaneers are approaching the
same target in a pincer attack timed to hit the target at
exactly the same time.
The first warning that the target will receive of the attack
is when all 24 missile radar seekers switch on at close range
for the final phase of the attack. Whilst the Buccaneers escape
unseen, the defenses will be swamped with their worst nightmare
- two volleys of missiles approaching without warning, at
wave-top height, at 180 degrees to each other.
Michael
Rondot's painting captures the moment when the leader of the
first element (callsign 'Blue'), achieves his firing solution
and initiates the ripple launch of his formation's missiles
by breaking radio silence with the traditional 208 Squadron
radio call of "Blue,-Fire!"
Designed
for high-speed, deep-penetration attacks at ultra low-level,
the Buccaneer has always been immensely popular with its aircrews.
The design may be old, but the concept was brilliant, and
the Buccaneer still retains a unique combination of range,
warload and speed, unmatched by any other aircraft in RAF
service. Pressed into service at short notice during The Gulf
War, Buccaneers finally proved in the most spectacular manner
what many had known for years - that the only suitable
replacement aircraft for the Buccaneer is another Buccaneer.
"BLUE,-
FIRE!" pays tribute to the 'Banana Bomber', now at the pinnacle
of its capabilities in front-line service.
Each print is signed and numbered by
the artist, and countersigned by Barry Laight, the Chief Designer
of the Buccaneer, and by The Commanding Officer of 208 Squadron,
Wing Commander (now Gp Cpt) Bill Cope, who led the Buccaneer
Gulf War detachment at Al-Muharraq, Bahrain.
Taken
from a single limited edition of 500, numbered and stamped
with the Collectair seal and individually signed by Michael
Rondot. A numbered and signed certificate is issued with every
print to guarantee the total edition size and authenticity.
Signatories
Barry
Laight
one of the Buccaneer Chief Designers
Wg Cdr Bill Cope
Commanding Officer of the Buccaneer Gulf War Detachment
|
Print size: 26x 20ins
Primary |
Edition
size: 500 |
Price: £75.00
|
Artist Proof |
Edition
size: 50 |
Price: SOLD
OUT |
Remarque |
Edition
size: |
Price: £235.00 |
PRINT
TERMINOLOGY
- see below |
|