Ken Wallis and his Autogyros on BBC 1 at 7.30pm Monday 9 Oct 06

It was twenty years ago…

Ken Wallis and little Nellie at Old Warden, Summer 1986. Note Ken’s Roller, and the ‘old’ Warden ‘tower’ which certainly had come off the back of a lorry, and is now at Breighton…

Not digital technology or quality, but you can almost hear the blades scythe past…

I’ve only seen Ken Wallis once, and that was with little Nellie at UEA Norwich during an event that the local RAF stations ran for an ITV Telephon in 1988. I was on security dutys on the VIP gate when Ken turns up in the Roller, towing LN behind. Guy with me (Not being a Bond fan and only joined the RAF for a job) asked If we should check his ID. Needless to say, my reply was ‘NOPE’.

That’s why they invented VCR’s! 😀

VCR?

PVR you mean, surely?

Moggy

i think that they are just rehashing old foootage they have on this series, they’ve featured ken wallis before on this program, and they did a similar thing last week on archie scott-brown (the racing driver), having previously featured him on the program.
on both of these occasions though there was a bit of new footage mixed in with the previous stuff.

he seemed to have a hell of a life, and the incident with the barrage ballon and the wellington looked pretty scary! i bet his life would make a fabulous read in a book.

It was twenty years ago…

Ken Wallis and little Nellie at Old Warden, Summer 1986. Note Ken’s Roller, and the ‘old’ Warden ‘tower’ which certainly had come off the back of a lorry, and is now at Breighton…

Not digital technology or quality, but you can almost hear the blades scythe past…

Can anyone recommend a book about Ken Wallis?

Doubt it will be shown again as it was part of a regional bits and pieces show (only about ten minutes of the thirty. However he is still flying (I though the CAA were going to revoke his licence due to his age, there was a bit about it in the papers a few years back). He flew the Autogyro from the Martian chronicles and the Army cammo version of Little Nelly (the were two real ones for the film, bot hare show on the program, plus other incidents were covered about him including his WWII career, his short stint as a B-36 pilot and some of the other things he has built including a range of working miniature pistols and a WWII Scalelectics type electric car racing set (still working) made out of Wellington bits and other stuff he scrounged at the time.

That’s why they invented VCR’s! 😀

Dont have one. Only got a tv last year.

Had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Ken at a Farnborough show a few years back when we took our Museum’s Fairey Ultralight to display there (can’t remember the year). Thoroughly nice chap and his knowledge of all things rotary winged was fascinating. He was there with his real “Little Nellie” in the Historic display hanger along with our Ultralight, so had plenty of time to chat with him…
One of our great Aviators I’m sure you’ll agree, and I hope the BBC show this programme again some time in all regions.

Missed it. I was watching the gadget show playing with radio control models.

That’s why they invented VCR’s! 😀

Missed it. I was watching the gadget show playing with radio control models.

Eastern region.

Brilliant.

Mark

Sorry, forgot to say BBC 1 East. As Mark 12 stated was very good.

Eastern region.

Brilliant.

Mark

Or mine

not on my tv !