Had the absolute honour of meeting Pete Brothers at Brimpton yesterday. We talked for quite a while before he took a trip in the 108.
What a man, I think he must be late 80’s but he was out of his chair, over the rope barrier, up the wing walk and in the pilots seat before I’d finished the offer of “Would you like a trip?”. My nerves were not up to flying with such a precious cargo so James offered. As it happened Pete took control on the climb out and wouldn’t give it back until arriving back in the overhead. As soon as he got control he was off “on a mission” to beat up his daughters house, which he found no problem. A magical and truly touching afternoon for me and he even signed his name in the aircraft log book which I will treasure forever.
Does anyone know if Pete (as he insisted on being called every time I used the word Sir) has written a book? Do any forum members know any web pages where I might read more of this incredible mans past?
Modest, witty, razor sharp but above all else a gentlemen in the true sense of the word. His qualities outperform my ability to adequately describe them. Scientists stop messing about with sheep and get some of this mans DNA or whatever it is and reproduce, we honestly can’t breed people of this quality anymore…
Any help greatly appreciated.
By: Manonthefence - 26th June 2004 at 16:22
Cracking stuff Taifun 😀
By: Chipmunk Carol - 23rd June 2004 at 09:36
Like all good ideas, it just needs somebody to co-ordinate it all……….!
It’s been going on very successfully, and extremely enjoyably, for the past five years and will happen again on Saturday 3 July at North Weald. Click on the Calendar option at the top of the FlyPast forum’s website.
Here is a clip from the Project Propeller website.
The basic premise of the Project Propeller scheme is to match up WWII RAF air crew with current pilots and to gather together for a day at a significant location. The project arranges for Air Crew and Pilots to meet up at a convenient local airfield, fly to the venue for the reunion, and then fly back home once the event comes to an close.
The sad news is that this is the last year Dennis Ray will be co-ordinating it and I have heard nothing of a successor.
By: Chipmunk Carol - 21st June 2004 at 14:05
Thats a great idea. Does anyone on the forum have a relationship with Air Atlantique??
Try FL200.
By: Taifun - 21st June 2004 at 14:02
The DH Heron is parked at our local airport most day’s, they may be persuaded to help. I guess it would cost about £80 per veteran, but it maybe impractical to hop from airfield to airfield. We’d have to get them all in one place at the same time.
What about approaching Mike Collett and his people at Air Atlantique?
Thats a great idea. Does anyone on the forum have a relationship with Air Atlantique??
By: EN830 - 21st June 2004 at 13:47
The DH Heron is parked at our local airport most day’s, they may be persuaded to help. I guess it would cost about £80 per veteran, but it maybe impractical to hop from airfield to airfield. We’d have to get them all in one place at the same time.
What about approaching Mike Collett and his people at Air Atlantique?
By: Taifun - 21st June 2004 at 13:43
Well done, Taifun! Bet it’s the first time he’d flown an ‘enemy’ aircraft 😉
No actually he was telling us that during wartime he had flown a captured 109, but really didn’t rate it. Usual complaint – terrible view out and tricky to get on and off the ground…
By: RobAnt - 21st June 2004 at 13:39
those who would prefer not to have to negotiate a wingwalk
My guess is some of these gentlemen would prefer to go in something “historically familiar” even if they had to suffer the indignity of being lifted in and out by crane! A big Dakota might come in very useful, though.
🙂
By: Taifun - 21st June 2004 at 13:29
Sadly he won’t be at Legends as his wife has a hospital appointment. We offered to give him a lift so he could avoid all the traffic.
In fact it got me thinking that we could all get together and offer these guys trips to some of the bigger airshows. I don’t know if anyone wants to run a poll and see how many aircraft owners / operators there are on the Forum? Then the flyers would need some help to attack the logistics of it all. Cars to collect these gentlemen from home to get them to the departure airfield etc etc. Historic aircraft would obviously be of interest but I’m guessing not all of these chaps are as nimble as Pete is today so spamcans to big twins would help with those who would prefer not to have to negotiate a wingwalk.
We could do this if we wanted, it just takes us all to be motivated enough to want it to happen. We owe them 1,000,000 times more than this, but its a start.
Ideas guys and girls….
By: Chipmunk Carol - 21st June 2004 at 12:42
Taifun: Apart from yourself, James and Pete was there anything else interesting at Brimpton!
My plans to go were thwarted.
By: EN830 - 21st June 2004 at 12:41
I don’t think PB has written a book himself, but I have come across many references to him or by him in various books that I have read.
Do a search in Google, it turns up several web sites with a reference to PB.
Will he be at Leg-ends next month?
By: Firebird - 21st June 2004 at 12:39
Fab….. 😀 😀 😀
By: DazDaMan - 21st June 2004 at 12:38
Well done, Taifun! Bet it’s the first time he’d flown an ‘enemy’ aircraft 😉
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June 21, 2004 at 12:31 pm