December 14, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Bit of a long shot, but the first time I ever flew was in a Rapide at a Coltishall air show. The Rapide was used for pleasure flips – must have been 1964 or 1965. First prize would be a picture of the aircraft but would be very happy to just know the registration. Where could I find this information?
If I remember correctly, there was also a choice of flipping in a Westland Whirlwind too.
By: cotteswold - 29th December 2009 at 12:16
Who, me?
No – ’twas at Turnhouse
By: Postfade - 29th December 2009 at 12:09
I never got to Coltishall until a few years later..here’s a thread about Coltishall in 1967. Were you at that one?
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88719&highlight=Coltishall
Dave T
By: cotteswold - 15th December 2009 at 16:54
Can only add that flying the Rapide/Dominie was like using a sewing machine!!
= Tim
PS Would it have been an 86 or 89 that used to take us to Jersey pre-war, landing in St Aubin’s Bay?
PPS Google suggests it might have been the 84?
By: Moreorless - 15th December 2009 at 07:37
Great head’s up T-21. I’ve been around aeroplanes most of my life and whilst it would have been nice to say my first flight was in Leicester Aero Club’s Cessna 150, G-AYPK, it was actually in the Rapide, when I was a sprog with my dad, who was in the RAF.
By: T-21 - 14th December 2009 at 23:47
Scillonia Airways were giving airshow joyrides around this time using two Rapides,as I remember them at Leicester East Airshow in 1967.
By: Moreorless - 14th December 2009 at 21:40
Thanks T-21. I’ll give that a try.
By: T-21 - 14th December 2009 at 21:13
The City of Norwich aviation museum at the airport have a lot of information on RAF Coltishall. Worth giving them a call.
By: Moreorless - 14th December 2009 at 19:16
Shucks! you right Ozplane. Will keep looking.
By: ozplane - 14th December 2009 at 17:15
If it was a Rapide then it isn’t if you see what I mean G-ADDI is a DH84 Dragon, i.e. no Rapide.
By: Moreorless - 14th December 2009 at 15:32
Thanks a stack T-21. No luck, although I see there was a Rapide, G-ADDI, doing flips at Yeolvilton in 1965. I wonder if this was the same aeroplane.
By: T-21 - 14th December 2009 at 14:12
Could try here http://www.scramble.nl/showreports.htm click on Europe show reports then United Kingdom.