30 years ago today.......

[T6flyer]

....I had my first flight. Cessna 150 G-BFLM from Bodmin Airfield, Runway 03 with Dick Smerdon. Never thought I would be writing this today, as that one flight started a love for aviation and one that has opened so many doors. 1750 hours later and a lot of money, but loved every minute of it.

So many highlights......10 Harvards, 2 P-51s, TBM Avenger, Staggerwing, Piston and Jet Provost, T-34, T-28s, Stearmans (Stearmen?), Jungmann, Stampe, C-45, C-47....lots and lots of Austers, Broussard to France, Irish sea twice in an AOP9, Floatplanes in Canada, Martin 404 at Oshkosh, microlight to 10000ft, the list goes on and on. Very lucky indeed.

So today, trying to get up again, but what with this wonderful British weather, isn't looking that good. But its early, so perhaps try for this afternoon.

Best wishes,

Martin

[Jagdflieger]

A great anniversary to be sure! Isn't that something when you leave the ground for the first time in a small aeroplane or helo with widows all around you. To see that ground fall away from you is just breathtaking.

Please post some photos of your aerial adventures if possible.

[T6flyer]

Just got home from one of the coldest days that I have ever spent at the airfield. Due to the wonderful weather (not!) we are getting here in England at the moment, didn't get the chance to fly, so at least celebrated with Chocolate Cake, but for some strange reason, it didn't go to well with Soup!!!

Will bore you with some photos later in the week.

Cheers,

Martin

[hubbabubba]

A great anniversary to be sure! Isn't that something when you leave the ground for the first time in a small aeroplane or helo with widows all around you. To see that ground fall away from you is just breathtaking.

Please post some photos of your aerial adventures if possible.

I really hope that it is an unfortunate typo. If not, my sincere condolence to all your widows...

Mormon?

[Dev One]

Gerard Hoffnung had them in every room!
Keith

[Curtis P40]

Congradulations...and please, bore me to death.

[Jagdflieger]

Widow for window.

Ha, ha! Yes it was a typo from my dyslexic typing!

[hubbabubba]

Happy to know that you're still with us, Jagdflieger.

Boring us with pictures, T6flyer? You can try.

[T6flyer]

A little bit late, but here are a few photos....apologies for the quality, but had to pinch them from my Facebook page!!!

Cheers,

Martin

[Motormouse]

Those pics bring back some memories...I've met a couple of those aeroplanes in my 34 yrs of fixing them...if I'm not mistaken the P-51 is G-SUSY, in its' Memphis Belle movie scheme, while owned by the late Paul Morgan? Had formerly been owned by the late Charles Church.

Did you ever meet Gary's co-pilot (see photo ) during the 1992 season? IIRC the other T6 hidden by the company 'Landy' is Norman Lees' 'KT'

Attachment 81607

Awful lot of of pilots' I knew from back then are sadly no longer with us, Spencer Flack, 'Hoof' , Ray and Mark Hanna to name but a few.
Wonder if you recognise any of these aeroplanes?

Attachment 81608Attachment 81609

and in the background here... (the nice lady in foreground was an acquaintance of Mark Hanna's)

Attachment 81610


ttfn

Pete

[T6flyer]

Pete,

What wonderful photos. No, I never had the opportunity to meet with the 'co-pilot' - bit of a let down I suppose!!! But did fly with both Gary and Numan on a number of occasions over the years. It was Norman that gave me my Harvard flight at Dunkeswell in IIB G-CTKL.

Yes, it was Paul Morgan's Mustang which became my first (N51RR being the second). He was a lovely chap and is sorely missed. I did some work for him on his Chipmunk and then his ex-USAF, Haitian T-6G and then of course SUSY. After this, the F4U Corsair and the Sea Fury. Was down to have a ride in this, but sadly it was not to be.

The Avenger in the photo is the Old Flying Machine example, which I believe now is in New Zealand and in the photo of the Harvard Formation Team Beech C-45 (flown in lots of times), can be seen 'Super Slug' Tony Haig-Thomas' Harvard Mk.4 which was painted up to represent a Hurricane that flew from North Weald. Looks like those photos were taken at West Malling.

The two tone blue Harvard was G-BGOR which was owned by Martin Sargent who was later sadly killed in a Spitfire in France.

Thanks for posting them. Brings back a lot of good memories.

Cheers,

Martin

[Motormouse]

Hi Martin, yes West Malling @ 1987,88 , 89 ish.
I worked there as part of ground crew for Sally B, later helped out at bit during filming Memphis Belle.
I have a few more photos I post up, if you don't mind a bit of thread drift.

Pete

[Jagdflieger]

Seems like the best threads "drift around" a bit. I'd love to see those photos.

[Motormouse]

Seems like the best threads "drift around" a bit. I'd love to see those photos.

Ok, then here's a few more, all taken at West Malling, as long as Martin has no objections to the hijack.... think I've remembered most of the pertinent details correctly, but could be wrong after 25 odd years, and no doubt Martin will put me right!


First one is for Martin, think he'll know it for sure...

Attachment 81764

Then we have the late Spencer Flack's Mustang VF-S (my own personal favourite..soooo clean!), with Rod Dean driving, along with if memory serves right,
the Arnolds' Biggin-Hill based Mustang , wearing its' Memphis Belle movie colours.

Attachment 81765

2 B-25's, North Weald (as it was then) based 'Grumpy' to the right, and one from the Duke of Brabant's Air Force to the left.


Attachment 81766Attachment 81767

Stephen Grey's Hurricane, its first 'post restoration' public show

Attachment 81768


OFMC MH434, after we had moved aeroplanes outside on show day, lurking behind is the Grumman F7 Tigercat of Paul Warren-Wilson

Attachment 81769

and finally, "catch me if you can Dad!" the late Ray Hanna in Spitfire chasing son, the late Mark Hanna in the Buchon

Attachment 81770


Got more up in the attic somewhere ! Enjoy


ttfn

Pete

[T6flyer]

Superb stuff indeed. Brings back a lot of memories when out and about at the airshows with various warbird operators. Sadly now a thing of the past for me.

The T-6G in the first photo is G-BGHU, still based at Headcorn with Chris Bellhouse, who is now Chairman of the Tiger Club.

Will try and dig out some more photos myself, this weekend.

Cheers,

Martin