Unseen Helicopter Footage of QE2 coming into Dubai

[Rob Lightbody]

I have in my possession, incredible raw helicopter footage of QE2 coming into Dubai at the end of the final voyage.

I thought I'd share some screenshots here.

[Rob Lightbody]

Four more images, as the helicopter swoops round the bow of the ship, amazingly close to her.

[Rob Lightbody]

Four more as the helicopter approaches from the stern, and zooms along the port side,

[Rob Lightbody]

After approaching the stern, the helicopter flies low over the decks, and right over the top of the funnel.

[QE2forever]

Thanks for sharing these fantastic views!

[Bob van Leeuwen]

That is some nice footage indeed, they got really close, or they did zoom in a lot.

[Rob Lightbody]

6 more attached.

The video looks clear when playing, but less clear when I freeze it to get a screen-grab... have asked an expert for help with this.

They get very close indeed at times.

These screenshots take me to 7 minutes into the video, which is nearly an hour long.... and includes close-ups of the yacht Dubai and the Royal Navy Salute.

[Rob Lightbody]

Some more.

[Rob Lightbody]

They fly very close, then zoom too.

I'm now using a deinterlace option on my video software which is helping the clarity immensely.

[Rob Lightbody]

More.

Can you see yourself!?

[Michael Gallagher]

I can see myself on the port bridge wing in several of the shots Rob!

[Cunarder Man]

I was on the forward look out area under the bridge, but not at this point. However, you can see the lion rampant flags I had hanging from the sun deck aft port side. Well done.

[Cunarder Man]

I'm sure this would be the guy filming!

[Bob van Leeuwen]

Rob, did they also make photographs, ore just only video?

[Brandon Sterkel]

These are amazing photographs, Rob! Thanks for sharing them!

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm sure this would be the guy filming!

Yes, that's the helicopter I see in the video, I recognise the guys shoes too!  Amazing!

6 more attached.

[Cunarder Man]

The Royal Navy must have them, this was a helicopter from HMS Lancaster I think. Even if not The RN must have great pics too.

[Twynkle]

Hey Cunarder Man- You are in Capture #36 onward, and video-ing - clear as a bell!

These are Fantastic, Rob
Thank you so much for showing us these in such great detail.
Did they come with sound too...
(Not for the first time, there are tears - for QE2  )

Now - a question for either Rob, Holy Nougat and or Flagship!
Please - in Capture #46 - the last one, and Capture 33,  immediately aft of GBTT, it looks as if there are two 'greenhouse-like' areas of glass panes either side of the base of the great Mast, enclosing something, one on portside the other starb'd - with an entry in between the two... 
Please can you say something about the enclosures etc?
Thank You
Rosie

Moderator's comment : Please turn here for the answer and a continuation of the discussion on the "greenhouse-like" areas :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7531.0.html

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

The Royal Navy must have them, this was a helicopter from HMS Lancaster I think. Even if not The RN must have great pics too.

The helicopter is marked DU-325, which at a guess is a Dubai registration? I could not find it during an internet search.

Amazing to see the film-maker sitting in the open door, his legs dangling! And someone behind him waving to the ship . Little did they know...

Wonderful captures, Rob -- thank you for letting us see them!

[Peter Mugridge]

The Royal Navy must have them, this was a helicopter from HMS Lancaster I think. Even if not The RN must have great pics too.

Not sure about that; the helicopter in that picture is registered DU-325.  That's not a UK military serial but it is a current Dubai military serial.

It's a Bell 412:

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/779083/du-325-heli-dubai-bell-412/

The UAE air force has six of them and they are mainly used for search and rescue work.

[June Ingram]

Rob, all of these photos are wonderful, amazing, and now extremely poignant, since our girl has been languishing for so long.  The close up shots of the bridge are breathtaking along with QE2's call letters up on top.  How many aboard her at this time thought that QE2's triumphal arrival would be the start of her imprisonment. 

[Clydebuilt1971]

Four more images, as the helicopter swoops round the bow of the ship, amazingly close to her.

"Capture 7" is awesome - love shots of ships heading towards the camera!

Gav

[Rob Lightbody]

I've got a day off work on Friday, I'll post some more screen captures then!

[pete cain]

As Ever late to the table, but what a find , thank you so much Rob, keep em coming please, her last moments , but hell such moments eh!!

[Rob Lightbody]

6 more for you.

[Rob Lightbody]

The helicopter cameraman zooms in for a look at who's on the bridge wing.

Someone we know is there...

[June Ingram]

Thanks very much, Rob, for posting these amazing photos !  To have these is such a treasure !

[Rob Lightbody]

6 more, the last for tonight.

[June Ingram]

Captures 48, 49, and 50 show so many people on deck, QE2 almost looks like a troop ship again !

[Michael Gallagher]

I am standing to the right of the door in hello the  next to female officer and behind Captans wife....

[Rob Lightbody]

I am standing to the right of the door in hello the  next to female officer and behind Captans wife....

I spotted you a mile off on the video!  Can you remember what you were discussing, and how you were feeling?

[Clydebuilt1971]

Brilliant captures Rob,

Just marvelling at the size of QE2's bridge wings!

Gav

[Michael Gallagher]

Frustrated and annoyed.

And you wouldn't believe the main subject being discussed!

[Peter Mugridge]

And you wouldn't believe the main subject being discussed!

At a guess... nothing to do with the event or QE2 at all... being English, I would have to ask if the subject was "The weather"?

[Rob Lightbody]

Frustrated and annoyed.

And you wouldn't believe the main subject being discussed!

Those really were her last ever moments of moving under her own power.  Incredible to think of it, even now.

[Rob Lightbody]

Continued.

[June Ingram]

Frustrated and annoyed.

And you wouldn't believe the main subject being discussed!

Those really were her last ever moments of moving under her own power.  Incredible to think of it, even now.

Yes, incredible to think of it.  And what wonderful photos to have of QE2 during her last voyage.  She is viewed from every possible angle, and she looks incredibly beautiful, powerful, dignified, and so very sure of herself ! 

The photos bring even more meaning to what has been said about QE2 right along, that she is absolutely beautiful from every angle - perfection !

[Rob Lightbody]

Some more.

[pete cain]

You know what Rob, as sad - really sad as these images are, the detail enclosed must be a minefield for the likes of Lachlan.
To look at her she could've done her bit for a few years more, curse forever the beancounters with no soul

[Lynda Bradford]

Amazing photo clips from the video.

 The number of people out on the decks bring back many memories of what it was like to sail on QE2.  People did not sit in their cabins they were on deck and enjoying the occasion and there were many occasions, maybe not as grand as this sail in to Dubai but special just the same. 

[Rob Lightbody]

Some more of HMS Lancaster astern of QE2, but catching up quickly, just before her sail by salute.

[Rob Lightbody]

Some more as HMS Lancaster approaches.

[pete cain]

Stunning !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rob Lightbody]

Information here about the incredible planning that went into getting this video footage, including testing the A380 in a flight simulator the week before!

http://www.tirelesseventmanagement.com/index_files/QE2.pdf

[Clydebuilt1971]

Some more as HMS Lancaster approaches.

One Clydebuilt ship salutes another!! (HMS Lancaster - Duke class T23 Frigate launched from Yarrows, Scotstoun, River Clyde 24/05/90)

The Duke of Lancaster is an ancient title currently held by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Class shots - although if QE2 was "giving it the berries" Lancaster wouldn't have a look in - her top speed is given as 28knts on the RN website.

Unfortunately - like QE2 she is now laid up - except shes still in the UK - at Portsmouth - apparently due to manpower shortages in the RN.

Gav

[cunardqueen]

Amazing stills from the footage.
Given that that was then and this is now, is there a reason other than the many hours of footage filmed as to why some real footage might not be shown on here. It does seem a shame .

Perhaps it might be featured in their PR when the new QE2 in Dubai is relaunched or whatever it is they intend doing with her.. When or IF  that day ever happens 

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Rob, for making these captures available to us.  There is something very moving about the stills made from this video footage; perhaps because nothing is posed and taken from a particular angle on purpose.  These are true "action" photos ! 

[Michael Gallagher]

QE2 and HMS Lancaster both launched by The Queen

[Twynkle]

QE2 and HMS Lancaster both launched by The Queen

 "This was the first time in history a UK military vessel had saluted a civilian ship" is mentioned in HQ Creative's document.
Do you think this may have been because of QE2's voluntary 'trip' to the Falklands,
as well as sharing the privilege of each ship being launched by The Queen ?
(Although it is unusual, there must have been other times when RN ships saluted MN / commercial ships, mustn't there?)

[Pete Hamill]

In July 2003 while passing Gibraltar, HMS Coventry came out and escorted us for a while and carried out some exercises.

Exchanges of whistles and a couple of shots from Coventry.

I guess this counts as some sort of salute.

[Malcolm]

HMS Coventry came out and escorted us

What ship were you on?

[Pete Hamill]

QE2 of course!

[Michael Gallagher]

HMS Cornwall met QE2 off Gibraltar on Sunday 13 July 2003...

[Louis De Sousa]

A couple of years ago I managed a tour onboard HMS Lancaster while she was in Hamburg.
Got from onboard the following photo

[Michael Gallagher]

The chap who now runs the Liverpool Cruise Terminal was on HMS Lancaster saluting QE2 that day...

[Kevin Jackson]

Hi
Its Kevin Jackson.

Many thanks for the fantastic photographs of the QE2 arriving in Dubai.

It is very sad to see these pictures, it is very strange to think that I was at the quay side the night the QE2 left Southampton on November 11th 2008.

I sang the Royal National Anthem to the ship.

As a member of staff on QE2 in the 1980's it upset me very much.

The pictures of the Royal Navy stood on the deck of their ship brings back a memory I have on a transatlantic crossing, first day out of Newyork
the QE2 past a Royal Navy ship and the crew were stood on the deck just like they were in Dubai, saluting the QE2.

Many thanks again.

Kevin

[Rob Lightbody]

Amazing stills from the footage.
Given that that was then and this is now, is there a reason other than the many hours of footage filmed as to why some real footage might not be shown on here. It does seem a shame .

I didn't forget.  Its premiering on Youtube in around 50 minutes - you can join the premier build up now (click on the title of the video to go to its youtube page where there is a live chat available)

Higher Quality Version (select 480p)

[cunardqueen]

Pretty awesome footage . Was this effort by Cunard or the new owners ?

[Rob Lightbody]

Pretty awesome footage . Was this effort by Cunard or the new owners ?

It was by the new owners

[Thomas Hypher]

Pretty awesome footage . Was this effort by Cunard or the new owners ?

Some of this footage was used in the official arrival into Dubai video by Nakheel that also used "Time to say Goodbye" and featured an Emirates A380 among other footage. Rob linked to said video here on the forum a few months ago, but I can't remember where exactly on the forum?

Thank you for uploading the raw footage Rob, particularly given the previously unseen, great angles but also showing more of an end of an era.

[Brandon Sterkel]

Some of this footage was used in the official arrival into Dubai video by Nakheel that also used "Time to say Goodbye" and featured an Emirates A380 among other footage. Rob linked to said video here on the forum a few months ago, but I can't remember where exactly on the forum?

Hi Thomas, I believe the video you are looking for is on this topic:
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7854.0

[Thomas Hypher]

Hi Thomas, I believe the video you are looking for is on this topic:
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7854.0

I can't view the video anymore in Rob's post for some reason but I'm pretty sure that's the video...thank you for finding it again. I downloaded it around the time of Rob's post to keep an offline copy for posterity.