I just cried…..

Sir

The use of ‘sir’ is very different to service personnel as any of the ex-services people on here will tell you. Let’s just say its meaning can become somewhat reversed on the ‘respect’ side

Q8103449 SAC Anthony, RP reporting – Sir.

I think what you’re referring to is tone and inflection, Damien – not honest, genuine, use of the word.

In print, I agree, it can often look disingenuous – but face to face, most will know when it is being used sarcastically.

Anyway, this is a topic not worthy of further discussion in this thread imho.

Help!!! – I missed the last two episodes!! – been on hols and the video recorder didn’t work (or was it me not setting it right??!) – Does anyone have a copy on video – I will happily pay costs?

Cheers
RichB

Originally posted by John Cooper
Can I just ask this question if you owned one Spit worth £1-2 million weather it was a dual or single seater would you really like someone with under 10 hours flying on type on an extremely rare kite to fly your aircraft by taking off and landing? Somehow I don’t think I would, and how realistic was the proposed documentary when there isn’t too many Luftwaffe kites to dog fight against.

Well I quite agree, but that wasn’t my point. I wasn’t suggesting they allow an inexperienced pilot to bounce an expensive Spitfire off the ground. The advertised purpose of the programme was to give a modern young pilot the same training as a BoB pilot received before being expected to go into battle. That was clearly never going to be achievable.

I was just pointing out that what was expected of those pilots back in 1940 is almost unimaginable to those of us whose future they safeguarded.

Just got this response from Channel 4 – thought it would be of interest and answers an earlier question:

“Glad to hear you enjoyed the programme.

Firstly the music played at the end of the programme was Humming Chorus from MADAME BUTTERFLY – Puccini.

As for a video/dvd release, I believe we may in negotiation to do this, but no confirmed detail as yet, sorry.”

Regards Lucy Brooks Information Officer

See my seperate thread for more info on this music.

For Swapheads the first thing the crew said to me when they arrived at Knettishall was “We can’t actually go flying. Insurance.”

Didn’t stop the cameraman though 😉

Moggy

Interestingly, on the PPrune forum, a thread recently had a point about Shuttleworth offering a flight in the Tiger to a BBC journo. “No, no” sa the BBC – “insurence!” Despite some of the highest qualified pilots in the world on hand and certainly safer than her journey TO Old Warden.:rolleyes:

The thread is http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116912&perpage=15&pagenumber=3
Cheers

Originally posted by MarkG
But wasn’t the point of the series to give a bloke the same amount of training on Spits as real BoB would have received? In the 9 hours (or whatever it was) they received they were expected to fight the might of the Luftwaffe AND take off and land!

At the time there were in existence, or about to come into existence, some 22,000 Spitfires.

Today they are a slightly rarer commodity.

I would guess the programme company’s insurers wouldn’t hear of it. And who’d blame them? I wouldn’t underwrite a risk like that.

Moggy

Can I just ask this question if you owned one Spit worth £1-2 million weather it was a dual or single seater would you really like someone with under 10 hours flying on type on an extremely rare kite to fly your aircraft by taking off and landing? Somehow I don’t think I would, and how realistic was the proposed documentary when there isn’t too many Luftwaffe kites to dog fight against.

The docu gave an insight into what life was like for a young man in 1940, with a fair bit of the ‘trainee’ being shown the ropes without the ‘ring twittering’ (ie facing the enemy!). The whole programme was a masterly mix of nostalgia and giving one out of the four contestants a chance to see what life would have been like for a young wannabee, I think it achieved that and more.

Wow what an experience !

Lest we forget!

But wasn’t the point of the series to give a bloke the same amount of training on Spits as real BoB would have received? In the 9 hours (or whatever it was) they received they were expected to fight the might of the Luftwaffe AND take off and land!

Not entirely, I would have thought. After all, he was only getting a “taste” of what wartime Spitfire flying was like – doesn’t necessarily mean take-off or landing the beast.

Moggy,
That rather defeats the object of the programme then?
Steve:(

Originally posted by viper02

Would he now be trusted to go solo?

Since he was never allowed to attempt either a take-off or a landing I, for one, wouldn’t be too keen to see him go solo 🙁

Moggy

Already have Steve – it’s your round!

Nothing is certain as regards times yet, but am looking at around 10am. Various reasons – checking out from our hotel and eating breakfast (there will be some less energetic people present), possible arrival from Belgium of someone I very much want to be there, and a desire for same to miss the heavy traffic to the show. Should be done in 30 minutes or so, then a nice cuppa before heading over to Duxford for around 11 am.

Not confirmed or decided as yet – there are many factors to sort out first. But, it will be there, and on that day. Will post properly when everything is decided.

Originally posted by Snapper
A certain Sunday in July…..

Well done that man! Aeroplanes, beer, Moggy’s roadkill platters, and a ceremony to mark the memory of one of Belgium’s finest. Book me a place. 😀

This makes me think of a line from a song called Eiledon by Big Country (1986) which contains the line

” So let me fill my childrens hearts with heroes tales and hope it starts a fire in them”

Not quite as cultured as Snappers poem but a good line all the same.

Neal

We buzz about our modern world at great speed, with our digital technology, mobile phones and our modern day false heroes, worshipping them just because they’re famous, and not because they’ve actually done anything that matters.
We forget who the real heroes are and were. One of the blokes on that programme said they only want to be remembered. Those words hit home.
Future generations must not forget them.

I have to agree with Mark G`s comments. While it was fascinating to hear from the veterans.
I for one was hoping to see a programme about a youngster learning to fly a Spitfire.
Would he now be trusted to go solo?
Are there any plans for him to fly a Spitfire again?
Is this the start of a fascinating career?
Once again I mean no disrespect to any of the veterans interviewed. Without them………………………………
Steve:)

A certain Sunday in July…..

Originally posted by Moggy C
When’s the ceremony?

Moggy

Typical, any excuse.

PS. When’s the ceremony?

Originally posted by Snapper
Speaking of the Red Lion at Whittlesford, they get even more ‘thumbs up’. They’re letting me put a memorial there to a Belgian pilot from 609.

When’s the ceremony?

Moggy