Stefan Karwowski

Hello all

Its good to know that the Biggin video is still kicking about,i am glad to hear that it has been in good hands.You will not be supprised to learn that the video is infact a copy,i didn’t dare put the original out, not so much a case of not getting it back ,but the tape is twenty years old and has been played a lot.I lost the colour on one tape and decided to play safe and copy all my old archive video onto new tapes .Later i will transfer the originals to DVD format.
I was not slagging the forum members,ive caused enough trouble lately 😉
and i shouldn’t tar everyone with the same brush but i’ve lent stuff before and lost it.
I’ll find something else to put out to the members, see what i can find.

Steve

RE: The video of Biggin Hill.
I’ve been trying to get in touch with Eric Mc who is the next in line for the video, but after PMs and board messages – no reply. I apologise, i have been so busy over the last two months with University work that i havent had the chance to get on the board as much. I am going to send it on to the next person who i believe is Ashley. So if you could PM me your Address i will get it off to you ASAP. Alternatively, i will be at Flying Legends all weekend, so i could give it to you then?

Let me know…
And sorry again for the delay guys!
Steve, i really appreciate the fact you made it possible for me to see it. i was too young/not born at the time and it’s cracking video 😉

Has anyone gor a pic of Stefan?

And yes, give the video back to Steve; naughty, forgetful person… Chiz. Oik.

Stringbag you are quite correct,that was a video that i made available from my collection to whoever wanted to see it,shame it was never returned to me.Pity really ,you try and make archives available and then you don’t get them back .

Steve maybe you should start a “please return the Video” thread. I saw the video and was at Biggin for the displays all those years back and it was fantastic to be reminded of the wonderful displays that were flown. Thank you.

Okay people, WHO has Steve’s video?
I think to hear it has not been returned is dispicable considering his generosity in lending it out to people.
Whoever has it should be thoroughly asshamed with themselves!

missing video

The Biggin Hill video that went around a few of the members included that display and an interview with Stefan. It also shows Stephen Grey with a full beard too 🙂

Stringbag you are quite correct,that was a video that i made available from my collection to whoever wanted to see it,shame it was never returned to me.Pity really ,you try and make archives available and then you don’t get them back .

Stefan flew Hunters for the RAF & for the Sultan of Oman. I believe his Father was a Fighter Pilot in WW11.

My first memory of Stefan would be at one of the Great Warbird shows at West Malling in Stephev Grey’s Bearcat – awsome.

Speaking of West Malling, I dropped by there last weekend to see if the control tower was still there, well it is, although it looks a bit sad with building & development going on around it, it has been fenced off though, does anyone know anything ‘concrete’ about it?

Stefan’s displays in the Bearcat at Great Warbirds at West Malling stick in my mind….magicall stuff.
I do remember seeing him display Arnold Glass’s Gnat as well, but can’t remember where, and his Hunter solo’s were just awesome…. 😀
I seem to recall that Stafan had flown the Hunter operationally in Aden with the RAF….. :confused:

Re:

Wasnt he the hcap who built that lovely little helicopter in the Newark air museum?

Beginning of the eighties the Bearcat was flown by a RAF Air Vice Marshall, then, if I remember Commanding Officer of the 2nd ATAF in Germany, I met him at RAF Wildenrath but cannot trace my notes.
Would someone be kind enough to give the name of this gentleman.

John Allison possibly?!

Stefan flew the Bearcat like no other….I saw him at Mildenhall and was spell bound……this has made the Bearcat one of my fav aircraft and my hat is well and truly off to Mr Grey for keeping this beautiful type in our skies and keeping our imaginations and excitement fired with his other aircraft and fantastic Legends!

The Biggin Hill video that went around a few of the members included that display and an interview with Stefan. It also shows Stephen Grey with a full beard too 🙂

I remember Ray Hannah (1980 or 81 I think) in Spencer Flacks MkXIV coming into display at Biggin Hill with his usual from behind the right shoulder entrance, very fast and showing us the top surfaces of the spit before disappearing down the valley. Whilst we were all looking west to see Ray reappear, in flew Stephan in the Hunter, going very fast and very low, throttle off, so all we could hear was this swishing of the air. The commentator remarked, “ I thing that was a little of anything you can do I can do better” Very impressive and exciting.

From fuzzy memory I think Stephan came to grief in Wanaka practicing for a display. It was something to do with the difference in the altitude of the lake and the surrounding land. Its 24 years since I visited Wanaka and I have forgotten the layout, but I am sure something was changed in the rules or briefing for Pilots displaying in Wanaka after that.

Bearcat…….

Melv
nothing personal but I had a young woman with me at the time.
If my poor old memory serves me correctly even Stefan’s Bearcat display wasn’t top of my list of priorities at the time!!!
But I’m sure you were gorgeous too!!!! 😉 😉 😉 😉

…or flying Spencer Flack’s Hunter out of Elstree post restoration, pulling immediately hard left 180 on to ‘down wind’ and giving the spectators and well wishers a victory roll. 🙂

Melv
I saw that display too.

And you didn’t stop to say hello?
Had I offended you?

MH

Melv
I saw that display too.
I reckon it was 1982.
Absolutley stunning.
Andy

Probably was. I was, after all, very young then(!).

First show I had been to in years.

MH

Bearcat.

Melv
I saw that display too.
I reckon it was 1982.
Absolutley stunning.
Andy

I remember seeing Karwowski at Biggin in the early 1980s flying his second or third ever trip in Stephen Grey’s Bearcat. It was a hell of a display.

MH

I can remember Stefan Karwowski in a Gnat at a Biggin Hill Airshow. it was the most beautiful jet display I have ever seen. He looped round puff ball clouds and made it all look so effortless.
mmitch.

Beginning of the eighties the Bearcat was flown by a RAF Air Vice Marshall, then, if I remember Commanding Officer of the 2nd ATAF in Germany, I met him at RAF Wildenrath but cannot trace my notes.
Would someone be kind enough to give the name of this gentleman.