I’ve only just stumbled across this sad news; I don’t visit here much anymore.

I never met Jim but we spent many happy hours discussing (arguing) about what was going on in the world; we disagreed about much, and agreed about more, but he was always good natured in his point of view and always ready to listen to mine.

We shared a common interest in collecting components from aero-engines; Jim was trying to collect a piston from every type of aircraft he had ever flown-in (a task which I envied him for, as the list of types seemed long and distinguished)!

It was my pleasure to help him positively identify pistons that he had been offered (or that he had already collected) and it was also my pleasure to send him some small components, missing from his collection.

On one memorable occasion Jim questioned the price of having a master-rod air-freighted over from the USA; despite my assurances of how reasonable I thought it was he was still scandalised. When the rod turned-up Jim finally saw the funny-side; he said he could hardly lift it it was so heavy!

It would be nice if Jim’s collection had made it into a local museum; I think he would have liked that.

(Back into the) ‘blue skies’ Jim, and thank you for being there when I just needed the kind words of a kindred spirit with interests as obscure as mine!