Forum Review of the Year 2005 and 'Awards'

Not been my best year for enjoying aviation. work and new partner kept me away!

But here goes…

1. Finally got to read Fighter Boys
2. Battle Of Britain (at last)
3. East Kirkby (worst was Hendon, always half closed)
4. Has to be the Halifax, would love to go visit
5. Vacher Hurricane
6. Ray Hanna and Charlie Brown at Duxford in October. (now all the more poignant)
7. The pilot of the Chipmonk on the Sunday at Duxford September show. Went up to do weather check then did quick display. Only thing that flew!
8. Ollie. A breath of fresh air. Leave the guy alone!
9. Steve Young and Ray Hanna threads. Wish they weren’t there but prove that we all have a common bond. (and make a change from all the bitching)
10. Sorry, going to have to be Legends as I missed it this year.
11. Buchon
12. None stick in mind which makes me question my subscription!
13. Has to be the ID thread. Remote controlled Melvyn scaring polar bears, Square pink elephants behind sheds, Norsemen’s Beavers, Elton John’s Bi-Huri… I laughed so much it hurt!!!!
14. Canadian Lanc coming over. I got so excited!!!!

Here’s to 2006
Peter

1. Best Aviation Book of 2005 Fortress Malta

2. Best Aviation DVD of 2005 Flying Legends 05, many reasons but keeps me going through the long cold winter

3. Museum of the Year 2005 Malta Aviation Museum, first trip to an overseas museum

4. Most meritorious restoration (static) Probably too many to mention, anyone who puts in this level of commitment deserves a medal in my book! Have enjoyed the TSR2 pictures though

5. Ditto airworthy Ive enjoyed watching the Vacher Hurricane this year

6. Favourite airshow act Merlins Over Malta, at Luqa Airshow. Jsut brilliant and looking at the reaction of the locals and the veterans you know it ment so much to them

7. Airshow personality of the year Ray Hanna, not just for his passing but the only time ive gone to an airshow to watch one particular display…yes Biggin Hill!

8. Forum personality of the year Crumbs, place is full of them. Thank you to those who provide the awesome airshow photos

9. Best thread 2005 Ray Hanna, Ive never been tearful whilst reading a thread

10. Most anticipated show 2006 (not Legends) Oh…erm…Spitfire show at Duxford should be good! Pray for the weather

11. Most anticipated new airshow act/aircraft 2006 Breightons buchon? Would be great! Im not fussy, just love seeing any Warbird

12. Best magazine article 2005. Ive loved the Flypast Malta coverage, great prelude to an awesome trip

13. Funniest thread 2005. Some of the ‘in-jokes’ go over my head as it were :p …

14. Best misinformation 2005. The weather should clear up on the Sunday of the Duxford September show! :p

Malta was awesome, I’ll never forget it. Ray Hanna, I’ll never forget him

Thank you to all those who help keep these aeroplanes in the air and those who make these airshows happen. Looking forward to a safe 2006 🙂

More of a avid reader of historic not a regular poster but here goes.
3.yorkshire air museum,where matthew saw his first lightnings and actually recognised them,running and shouting, look daddys lightnings(one proud farther)
7.the two grinning mig pilots at waddo. 😀
8.all of you cos your special.
9.the RIP steve young thread,sad, moving ,funny,but most of all it proved the above statement true.
10 ALL OF THEM,even the ones i dont make it to ,but god willing i can read and see the picks all on here.

Let’s make sure we see some of the less common aircraft types on the board in 2006.
Cheers

Cees

Less common? Is that aviation snobbery? 😀

Well it’s a fair comment but I think it illustrates what a grim business many people make out of enjoying aviation.

Well said Andy

Cheers

Cees

That’s because, in that company, it’s common. 😉 (For those sensitive Spitfire Flowers, subsitute the words ‘least rare’ .)

The Oxford is lucky as a type in that there are a good number in good ands – several in remarkably original condition. Here’s hoping for a flyer. As for the Vincent and Hawker Biplanes? Cool!

Cheers

Let’s make sure we see some of the less common aircraft types on the board in 2006.
Cheers

Cees

I found the Spitfire the least interesting thing in their collection, which seems amazing.

That’s because, in that company, it’s common. 😉 (For those sensitive Spitfire Flowers, subsitute the words ‘least rare’ .)

The Oxford is lucky as a type in that there are a good number in good ands – several in remarkably original condition. Here’s hoping for a flyer. As for the Vincent and Hawker Biplanes? Cool!

Cheers

That Oxford is a stunning thing. There are not many aircraft left in the world that original. Also stunning in their hangar is the Vincent, oh man I love that beast. it is a work of art. Then there are the Hinds too, and the P40.

I’m not usualy one to ignore a Spitfire, and though the Subritzky’s is a gorgeous machine, I found the Spitfire the least interesting thing in their collection, which seems amazing.

“8. Forum personality of the year

The late Steve Young.”

He was always late whenever I was to meet him. Not much, just fashionably so. Sounds daft but I treasure the memory of a phone conversation with Snapper at Legends. We were slagging Steve off for not being where he was supposed to be. Little did I know I was talking to Steve all the time.

Such a pity that he wasn’t that bit later on July 24th. Haydn wouldn’t have lost his Dad, Julie wouldn’t have lost her partner, Steve’s parents wouldn’t have lost a loving son, we wouldn’t have lost a dear friend and the world wouldn’t have lost one of its outstanding characters.

No awards from me, just to say I enjoyed everything I saw and everything I did, Steve taught me that. Though devastated by your passing, our lives have been forever enriched by the privelege of having you as a friend.

One thing I will give thanks for, and that’s friendship. Those whom I am proud to call friend know who they are. Thank you to them for encouraging me to rediscover the joy that is Old Warden.

Regards,

kev35

12. Best magazine article 2005.

Too many. Anything in Classic Wings is enjoyed, especially if it’s about the NZ warbird scene (which it rarely is these days…)

Second that Dave…. and i’m north of the equator !

Latest issue… Oxford on its feet & Baghdad Furies scattered around the desert… brilliant !! 😉

.

Just want to say that I think it’s sad that so far Ollie Holmes has been voted as the 2005 personality on this forum, Although funny, if a person who is ignorant and doesn’t seem to learn even when told several times, gets a lot of attention then what kind of satisfaction do we all get from frequenting the forum.

Something to make you think about doesn’t it? :dev2: 🙂

Cheers

Cees

Well it’s a fair comment but I think it illustrates what a grim business many people make out of enjoying aviation.

1. Best Aviation Book of 2005
New book – Hurricane Tim – The Story of Sir Tim Wallis by Neville Peat
Favourite reread book – Battle of Britain by Leonerd Mosley
Old book but new to me – currently reading ‘Venture The Far Horizons’ by Teddy Harvie

2. Best Aviation DVD of 2005

Best I’ve seen this year, 2004 Warbirds Over Wanaka DVD

3. Museum of the Year 2005

Best museum I’ve visited this year – Museum of Transport and Technology and Social History, Auckland, and Warbirds at Ardmore

Best news in museums this year – Aviation Heritage Centre nearly complete at Omaka, and new aviation museaum centre was/is being built at Wanaka by Ray Hanna and others.

4. Most meritorious restoration (static)

Halifax in Canada, three cheeers for that team!

Also two favourite I’ve seen as ongoing static restorations – Oxford and Vincent with Subritzky family. Gorgeous they both are.

5. Ditto airworthy

From photos I’ve seen I love Peter Vacher’s Hurricane Mk 1, and of course Melvyn’s model Rearwin. Under restoration to fly, the OS&RC Hawker Hind at the Subritzky workshops. Beautiful.

6. Favourite airshow act

I haven’t seen any in the flesh 🙁

7. Airshow personality of the year

The late Ray Hanna

8. Forum personality of the year

The late Steve Young

9. Best thread 2005

Difficult to say. At the moment Ray Hanna’s tribute thread is an amasing public outpouring of emotion. A wonderful man, and a great loss.

10. Most anticipated show 2006 (not Legends)

Warbirds Over Wanaka

11. Most anticipated new airshow act/aircraft 2006

Anything at Wanaka
Red Checkers “Spagetti Break” seems highly anticipated

12. Best magazine article 2005.

Too many. Anything in Classic Wings is enjoyed, especially if it’s about the NZ warbird scene (which it rarely is these days…)

13. Funniest thread 2005.

ID Please – hilarious

14. Best misinformation 2005.

Walrus to NZ,
Stirling from China,
Setter (basically anything he mentions, it’s brilliant!!)

Just want to say that I think it’s sad that so far Ollie Holmes has been voted as the 2005 personality on this forum, Although funny, if a person who is ignorant and doesn’t seem to learn even when told several times, gets a lot of attention then what kind of satisfaction do we all get from frequenting the forum.

Ouch…. 😮

What about ‘Most Meritorious Fight of a Vintage Aeroplane’ ?

Trans-Atlantic Vimy of course!

How about ‘Most unsuitable landing ground’?

7. Airshow personality of the year

Steve Y’s commentary and the chance to see Ray Hanna for one last time, unbeknown to those looking on

Last year, Snappers chaps from 609 Sqn especially Jimmy Stewart.

8. Forum personality of the year

Steve – Sadly Missed –
Robbo for giving us Planetalk
Snapper for giving me gin
Nick for giving me grief
Patty for not giving a f==k
Damien for being banned
Mark 12 for everything in moderation
AiB for not being here (FP) much
JDK for being in tweed
Kev for being in Jersey in May
Mike J for being in America

9. Best thread
Here, sorry can’t think of one that sticks out

10. Most anticipated show 2006 (not Legends)
Any I can get too

11. Most anticipated new airshow act/aircraft 2006
Any I can get to see

12. Best magazine article 2005
Stopped buying them

13. Funniest thread 2005.
On FP, nope can’t think of one

14. Best misinformation 2005
Chinese Stirling and the Croydon practice bombs on www.FlightForum.net.

Just want to say that I think it’s sad that so far Ollie Holmes has been voted as the 2005 personality on this forum, Although funny, if a person who is ignorant and doesn’t seem to learn even when told several times, gets a lot of attention then what kind of satisfaction do we all get from frequenting the forum.

Something to make you think about doesn’t it? :dev2: 🙂

Cheers

Cees

1. Best Aviation Book of 2005
Hurricane R4118 – Peter Vacher
Target Berlin – Jeff Ethel and Alfred Price

2. Best Aviation DVD of 2005
Tycoon Toys – Fighter jets

3. Museum of the Year 2005
Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Creve Coeur Mo – They key thing is all the aircraft fly!

4. Most meritorious restoration (static)
No point in a static resoration, if aircraft were meant to stay on the ground they would be called cars! But if I have to choose one it would be the IWM Swordfish

5. Ditto airworthy
R4118

6. Favourite airshow act
Andy Spehton in the Spitfire at the final Shuttleworth Airshow.

7. Airshow personality of the year
Its not about the people its about the aircraft!

8. Forum personality of the year
Steve Young. I bloody miss him!

10. Most anticipated show 2006 (not Legends)
Reno!

11. Most anticipated new airshow act/aircraft 2006
The Kennet Aviation Seafire

12. Best magazine article 2005.
Dont read them

14. Best misinformation 2005.
Someone said that the BAPC contributes to Historic Aviation Preservation.

Don’t forget
Il Flouce
…………………any relation to Mussolini ??

6. Favourite airshow act

Steve at legends – “P51 Caddilac of the SKY!!!!!!!!!!!!” routine.

7. Airshow personality of the year

Steve. Next year holds no attraction for me now.

8. Forum personality of the year

Steve. I just can’t be bothered to be here anymore.

**** I miss you mate. I’m welling up again – I’ll get my coat.

Je n’ais pas Flouncé mon ami!