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WW,
My first solo flight was in an old ‘all metal’ glider.
The glider was owned by one of the shopkeepers in the village where I lived, and because of costs etc, we used to attach the tug rope to the back of a really old 4×4 Landrover, which would drive as fast as it could towards the edge of the hill- just fast enough to get the glider airborne, and then at the last moment, the land rover would turn to the left and away from the edge.
The glider would be airborne by now, just , but not much higher than the land rover and it regularly took a bit of a stomach churning dip as it left the hill and we jettisoned the tug rope!
Even though it was now lower than the take off point, it was around 14-1500 feet high over the valley and when it reached the village, it was flying at about 2000 feet ?
Elf n safety – what’s that?
Sounds a bit like the gliding club at Whipsnade, but at least we got an aero-tow. Interesting sitting in an upcurrent looking down on the elephants in the zoo.
Just when I thought “It can’t get much worse”
I log on to find I must write stuff in verse.
So, Mike 700, I’ll answer your rhyme
With apologies that I just took so much time.I, also, was offered a Lightning flight
The medico’s said that that was allright.
But fate’s fickle finger then interposed
The mag I was writing it up for was closed!Now, I can’t afford a South African flit…
So I’ll save up me pennies and try for a Spit’.I’m proud to boast that the company I work (ed) for supplies the Infrared Search & Track Dome and Imaging Module for the Eurofighter.
? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
My childhood was spent in NZ, next to the RNZAF training runway at Wigwram. Used to see Bristol Freighters, the odd Vampire, Bell Iroquois, but the best was the regular formation flying and acrobatics/dogfights done by the Harvards, usually 5-6 at a time, right over our house. Regularly saw Skyhawks & the odd F-111 Aardvark from Australia
Wife No. 2 lived on the river in Pitlochry, often had fast jets skimming the river/dam, if you stood on the dam you felt the heat/wash as they came over then dropped down below you. Best thing there was a Hercules doing the same, looked enormous!
But loudest of all for me was a very low level flyby and full throttle climb of a B-52 at Aberdeen airport, my work was at the end of the runway, I sat looking straight at the beast as it came in & it came right over the building at a few hundred feet, shaking everything in it…Fabulous.
In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out.
Lots of air activity at Bournemouth (Hurn if you’re as old as me) today. Looks like aircraft are coming here to park up for the duration. Two Virgin Airbuses came from Prestwick and three BA flights from London and Cardiff. It’s a world problem – where to put aircraft that are normally mostly in the air.
Two more British Airways Airbuses en route to Bournemouth just now. If I was allowed out I’d pop down there to count the tail fins. Must be getting quite crowded by now.
Wigwam – where are they going to put ’em? I use Hurn whenever possible (really helpful staff, not Gatwick Zombies) and I know it’s pretty small. Will they move the Guppy? And if they want to dump that sad, red hunter, can I have it please?
They seem to be stacking them on the old North South runway- can’t be sure as Although I can see the approach from here, I can’t think of an excuse to drive that way!
Fourth of the day coming in now:
BA9255 from London to Bournemouth https://fr24.com/BAW9255/24454091
Nice to see yourself keeping occupied Wigwam. I wonder if the low flying MOD Jet that scared the life out of me whilst mowing the lawn was on a Ensential Journey.
Quite possibly not JS – reminds me of my nephew when in the army taking a 4 ton truck on a round trip from Boscombe Down to Bassingbourn because he’d left a pair of boots behind. Put it down as driver training.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Another BA Airbus just left Heathrow to park up at Bournemouth. The novelty has worn off now, so I’m going to have to find something else to do. Mrs W keeps mentioning decorating…</p>
Wigwam – forever in your debt: why had I not heard of FR site before? Marvellous place, will help keep me happier stuck at home!
BA A320 en route now. Over Pompey at this moment.
There’s Diamond DA 42 doing circuits at Hurn. Ought to get out of the 320’s path I reckon.
Stewth, that site is deadly. I do have other things I ought to do! lol
Diamond landed. A320 on long downwind leg.
I must stop this!
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