Can you help?

I suppose one of the problems if you try and keep it accurate is that for most communications,especially long distance… in those days the Radio Officer would be using morse code for transmit/receive.Am not sure if they had a VHF set to use close to airfields etc but if they did it would have been fairly short range.

Hi Robert! Yes, Star Dust Falling is a good book – as much for the political wranglings over the discovery of the wreckage as for the events leading up to the crash. A documentary made in 2000 is also excellent and is still aired quite often on one of the Discovery channels under its Vanishings strand.

Many thanks!

Jan

Hi Jan,
There is a book out on this subject already: ‘Star Dust Falling: The Story Of The Plane That Vanished’, by Jay Rayner. May be of some help. Doesn’t solve STENDEC though, nothing does.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Jan.

Drop me a PM (Private Message) with an e-mail address. I may know somebody who could start to help you.

Have you a solution for STENDEC?

Moggy

There is an outfit based in Tx that you couldn’t pay me enough to fly with tho…

Unlike yourself, I’ve flown with the group and had no problems with safety. In these aircraft with unique maintenance and pilotong needs, safety is more of an indivdual responsibilty.

Why even some famous UK display pilots have had fatal mishaps in vintage aircraft…in planes of quality British design. :rolleyes:

Hardly a dime a dozen – I was quoted USD 1000 and upwards for a P-51 flight, while on a visit to the USA from Sweden,

I meant apart from the actaul cost of the flight, most US warbird owners are only too happy to take people up for jollies in return for a *donation* (cough) of 100LL etc.
There is an outfit based in Tx that you couldn’t pay me enough to fly with tho…

I’ll repeat what the others said..if he weren’t too picky, a B-17 flight in the USA is easy to get and fairly cheap.

Perhaps some “Make-a-Wish group” in the UK could arrange for him to fly over (courtsey Virgin Atlantic or BA) to a city wher a B-17 will be touring.
The EAA, CAF and Collings Foundation tour every summer.
Here’s info iontheir tour schedule: http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news.htm

Also, some indivdiual owner might be willing to take him up as well.

Good luck!

Hardly a dime a dozen – I was quoted USD 1000 and upwards for a P-51 flight, while on a visit to the USA from Sweden, and my Lancaster flight with CWH cost their standard price of 600 dollars Canadian. The cheapest offer I got was USD 50 for half an hour in a Stearman on a steaming hot day at Creve Coeur, St Louis – and I am still kicking myself for not taking it!

If he wasn’t too fussy about what aircraft he went up in, Warbird flights in the US are a dime a dozen (figuratively). I’ve turned down at least 5 Sea Fury jollies in the past few years & countless P51 & A26 flights. (that stack of chips is getting shorter….)

Not Impossible

The RAF sqn of which I am a part supports a charity for terminally ill children by taking them flying with their relatives and supporters. It’s the most rewarding flying I have been privileged to be a part of.

So it’s not an impossible request. It just depends on the passenger flying regulations pertaining to the organisation, and the consideration given to individual requests.

Good luck.

I would Try CWH

Yes I went for a flight in FM213 but depending on your friends illness you might not be able to carry out his wish. Stating that though, I would still email them or better yet give them a call and be as sincere about what you would liek to do.
Best of Luck.

The Canadian Lancaster is operated by Canadian Warplane Heritage at Hamilton , near Toronto.

There is a list of contacts for them here :-

http://www.warplane.com/pages/contactus.html

Good luck with it. I hope something can be arranged.

Bounce

I appreciate that it’s a tall order,but then again it’s not every day that a request like this is usually posted,but I’m hoping that someone somewhere will be able to help out,and I am appealing to those people who know people,if you get my meaning,who may be able to give someone a bit of joy.

Ken.

I work as an agency driver in transport,and my controller at the office,knows someone who has an interest in WW2 aircraft,his love being,yes you’ve guessed it,the Lancaster.

Now a bit of background on this guy……..

He is in his early 30’s,and when he was 18,he was involved in a car crash,which affected him to the degree that some time after,he had a stroke,and more recently as a result of this,he fell out of his upper floor window at home.

His injuries were such,that the hospital managed to relieve the pressure in his brain by way of an operation,but however,within the last week,his condition has deteriorated to the point,that his time on this earth,may be very short lived.

Hopefully,this is where you guys on the forum come in.

His wish is to have a flight in the mighty Lancaster,which,would probably fill the ambition of thousands of people in this country,me included!!!

I know the flight are undergoing winter maintenance at the moment,and are not due out yet for the public to see,but are there not test flights coming up,where this ambition could be realised?

I have suggested a taxi ride in the Panton Lancaster,but a flight is what he would like.Not very choosy is he? 😀

Failing that,what about a flight in the 2 seater Grace Spitfire?

I know this is a very long shot,but hopefully you guys on the forum can help a guy in,what could possibly be his final days.

If you think that you could genuinely help,then please either e.mail me,pm me,or ring me on 07900 563117.

Thank you.

Ken.

Ken,

I wish you all the luck in your quest, but to be realistic, I think you have an impossible task here.
The reason I say this is that I would find it doubtful that anyone would let someone, you describe as almost on his last legs, go for a ride.
One of the reasons is that he could actually become a liability and you may even find that for reasons of an authoratitive nature, will not allow it anyway.

The suggestion of the Panton Bros Lanc may not sound as bad an idea as he may think it is.

Bomberboy

Thanks for the quick reply.

I have already suggested that to her,and I think she is going to put that to the family,as she’s off to visit them,and him this evening.

Obviously,it would be nicer if the Lancaster was nearer home. 😉

Is there a contact in Canada I could e.mail?

Ken.

Best bet might to be to go over to Canada, someone on the forum (Peter I think it was) flew in the Lancaster there and looked like a great experience.