Has the Historic Forum changed your outlook on historic aviation?

i also discovered the tread a bit late..
this forum did alter the way(well very slightly the wife had more influence:dev2:)the places i visited on my holiday to the uk..though i did meet a couple of forum members(beermat and mk12 plus the other writer of “the book”(and had it signed)i also spent time at the redlion pub that i would never of heard of if it hadn’t been for this place.
i’m hoping to get back over there in around 3 years so i do hope to meet more members and visit more places from these pages(i don’t care what the wife says i’m visiting firebex and the whirlwind project!!!!)
oz jag as you dont live far from me i must visit you as well.:D

Don’t forget your torches….. 😀

Will be up ‘tother end of UK freezing my proverbials off outside Carlisle..

Learnt a fair bit in here, I now know that Jaguar Canopy Bungees are like rocking horse poo, especially in Oz :p
Hope I have returned the favour in helping others understand stuff as they have done to me..
Did manage to help open some leads up on a Pilot someone was asking for / researching on here by thinking laterally, just hope it works out and it is pleasing to do stuff like that, It is rather satisfying to help peeps out… 🙂

And judging by the 500 plus downloads of the RAF painting manual I put up, I helped a few 😀

its time we resurrected the forum getogethers….how about one at RAF Museum over Christmas?

That sounds good to me.

its time we resurrected the forum getogethers….how about one at RAF Museum over Christmas?

By all means, go to the UK and visit the smaller collections and individuals that make up the UK world of historic aviation. You won’t find a more knowledgeable bunch of aviation fans. The average voluntweer at a small museum would be glad to show you around.

One thing I love about the UK is the enthusiasm of aeroplane (and old autos, my other hobby) fans….we see examples of that daily on this forum.

No trip to the UK would be complete without seeing the “small guys”. They’re as important to historic aviation as the IWM Duxford or the larger collections.

The US has if share of enthusiasts, but they’re often harder to connect with. Unless you’re “in the know” you may not learn of the efforts of smaller groups or individuals. Luckily, the internet is hanging that. (I’ve had great experiences with volunteers at the Yanks Museum and The Air Museum at Chino. A volunteer at the latter even introduced me to Steve Hinton).

The best of both worlds would be to visit a larger collection with a local, someone who might be able to get you “behind the ropes” or just provide some context for what you’re seeing. I’d love to tour Duxford with a forum member on my next visit. I usually act as the tour guide for relatives and friends (and IMHO, do a pretty god job of it), but it would be great to be accompanied by some more knowledgeable during a visit.

A bit late…

Yes, Ive discovered this thread a little late and, having read it, I have to concur wholeheartedly with the last posting by pagen01 regarding Alertken.

I find Alertken’s postings absolutely riveting and I am utterly amazed at the man’s knowledge.

What I want to know is… does all this knowledge come straight off the top if his head or does he have to research his text before he posts it?

Care to tell us Ken?

Admiringly, Anon.

PS – I also have to agree with the general theme of the thread title. I have met many of the Forumites at various venues over many years. I can say with certainty that this Forum has as contributors many, if not most, of the best aero-brains in aircraft preservation today.

We can only be better off for that. Thank you.

Great post Ozjag Paul, in short,

Has the Historic Forum changed your outlook on historic aviation? Yes

Has anyone else experienced a change of priorities or interests because of this forum? No

Since coming to the forum it has made me look outside ‘my areas’ of aviation, there are some great experiences which I wouldn’t have thought likely before, such as being able to chat casually with a WWII fighter pilot (Cotteswold/Tim), and the likes of that guy from the ‘States with his outstanding Battle of Britain essay, and there’s JDK of course who always tries to get the grey cells working on all sorts of intrigueing subjects that I ordinarily wouldn’t have thought about.

I have never been into warbirds and the wars particularly so it is great to see some fascinating insight into operating these machines and the research on wartime aviation matter in general put in by some members – also their kindness in giving out their hard researched information on a forum is brilliant.
Even in the areas I particularly like there are the likes of Alertken, with his intstant oversight of British aviation industry and politics, which I find absolutely fascinating.

So I guess my outlook is much broader than it was, and my core interests/priorities are the same – but I have learnt alot more about them, and indeed made valuable like minded friends and contacts on the way.:)

It hasn’t changed my outlook on historic aviation – But it has made me realise how old I am!!! Aircraft I knew as a boy now being historic!!!

It hasn’t changed my outlook at all. Having never been involved in aviation as a living I have no technical knowledge to pass on but having been an aviation enthusist for 45+ years I have been able to pass on little bits of information now and then. As a result of someone contacting me through the forum I have also been involved in helping someone find out about his father (who he never met) who was involved in aircraft preservation in the early days.
I have also learnt about and attended some events that I wouldn’t have known about without reading the forum. I enjoy reading the posts and contributing my odd bits and pieces from time to time.

Yes, significantly!
The Vulcan nonsense told me there were people (not aficionados of airshows) who were simply making a profit/living out of the aforementioned.
And, whenever there is a prang most folk on this forum are more concerned with the damage to the airframe (although they may give weasel words for the occupants). Seen it time and time again. Not good!
Resmoroh.

On both counts, a little cynical………methinks !!!!

Planemike

Yes, significantly!
The Vulcan nonsense told me there were people (not aficionados of airshows) who were simply making a profit/living out of the aforementioned.
And, whenever there is a prang most folk on this forum are more concerned with the damage to the airframe (although they may give weasel words for the occupants). Seen it time and time again. Not good!
Resmoroh.

Yes, thankyou John….just posted a couple.

enthusiastic contributors who quietly go about it without announcing themselves to all and sundry.
???????????????????????????????

What I meant was all the people who go on to offer assistance behind the scenes; perhaps I should have been a bit clearer.

Have you got the photos back btw?

enthusiastic contributors who quietly go about it without announcing themselves to all and sundry.
???????????????????????????????

Thankyou Paul for including the Stirling Project in such illustrious company, I hope you won’t be disappointed when you make it over here:o

From my perspective, I’ve made some really good friends and contacts through this Forum and some more obscure items have been sourced by enthusiastic contributors who quietly go about it without announcing themselves to all and sundry.:)

John

Brilliant Thread

Kev35, you have encapsulated what most of us think.

I am an ex aircraft engineer of 39 yrs Royal Air Force experience. My father took me to Biggin Hill and Tangmere along with my air cadet mates and Farnborough from the age of terrible twos time of my life (John Derry onwards). I have been an avid reader and collector of Aeroplane, Flypast, Aircraft Illustrated, and lately Air Forces Monthly. That is until recently when I was made redundant. That makes this forum even more important.

What the Forum has done is consolidate and expand that knowledge. These members have such an expansive and bewildering knowledge. I stand in awe.

Most of all, it has been a conduit to connect me with a project I was forced (not too much) in 1979 to rebuild the last Piston Provost (WW397) flying in the RAF. Captain Bombay is now the proud owner in NZ. Mike Crymble its original owner after the RAF (I could not afford the deposit at the time with 4 kids and a mortgage) has just been reunited with his craft courtesy of this forum.

No matter your perceived experience or outlook, this Forum will teach and diversify. A brilliant place for all of us from starter to silver surfer to expand that which we think we know.

Thanks to you all
Bob

Initially, I came only for the “Wot Plane” thread… as I must confess to being a tad busy in RL during the Air Show season. Last week was first log-in since April, sadly.

However, I rather enjoy some of the folk here, and hope to speak with more of you, one-on-one, as time passes. Like Paul and Peter, there are many places that my next visit to the UK will include – one hopes with local chaps leading!

Some random musings:

Years ago (my first issue is Oct./86), I was an avid FlyPast reader – so I certainly appreciate Key’s massive support for our passion.

Being Canadian, one is somewhat amused at the differences in perspective ‘twixt our “Neighbours to the South” and “the Old Country”.

Being regularly around a plethora of turning Pratts, Merlins, etc., one sometimes forgets the schoolboy wonder that got us IN to this lifelong addiction…

The banter upon these pages refreshes that enthusiasm, especially after a busy season, where spectators’ annoying habits often are what one remembers, rather than the wonder of the “wains” and the quiet smiles of those frail, but bright-eyed octogenerian gentlemen.

Yeah, I do appreciate this Forum, all in all.

Cheers!

Jim

Well said Kev. The depth of knowledge on this forum is impressive to say the least and if theres anything interesting happening you hear about it here first. Long may it continue.

Couldn’t put it better myself – very nice response Kev 🙂

I came from a ‘working’ knowledge of some of the types now considerably ‘historic’ and an attachment to a certain Hunter having been given the chance to enjoy my free time helping out others in the same field. That coupled with the internet era and this forum has given me the chance to expand my knowledge and curiosity well beyond how I imagined it could.

I’m not an expert, just someone who has been around aircraft for so long that I think I even fall into the historic listing at times 😮 I’ve been incredibly lucky and priviliged to still be involved so long after my working time on them ceased (that was back in 1989), and this forum provides a good window to look back on some memorable times….

It’s a good question and one that deserves some thought.

When I first came to this forum which must be nigh on ten years ago now I was somewhat in awe at the depth of knowledge so freely shared. I realised that my knowledge and interests were both small and narrow. The forum has helped to expand my knowledge considerably, both in my own limited sphere of interest and in a much wider fashion. I read most of the threads on here, whether I comment or not, and have realised over time just what a magnificent repository of information this place is.

But on a personal level, it has been interesting and illuminating to get to know people and, in the early days, to enjoy the regular meets we used to arrange at airshows and musea. Some of us are still here, others have moved to pastures new and, sadly, one or two are no longer with us at all.

It has been my pleasure and great privelege to be able to learn the skills necessary, in a limited way, to research the lives of the people I have read about here and to some extent be able to share that knowledge with others. I suppose that for me this has been the biggest change as a result of my involvement here, the gradual move in my interest to the people rather than the events, the man rather than the machine. And I learn something new here every single day.

Not being sycophantic here but I think it’s important to acknowledge Key’s continued provision of this forum. We all find it easy to criticise when the forum has suffered a technical problem or a moderator has made a decision we disagree with, but without Key these hundreds of thousands of posts and the millions of little nuggets of information within them would be spread far and wide or, worse still, stuck in the depths of our PC’s or at the back of our minds. So I think it’s only fair to offer Key a huge vote of thanks for keeping this place going and to offer the same to the moderators for carrying out what has to be, at times, a thankless and unedifying task.

I hope this place continues and the knowledge sharing goes on. There are countless people here from whom I have learned so much. In turn, I hope I have been able to give a little back.

Regards,

kev35