As some of you may know the lovely Mrs Moggy bought me a taxi ride in Just Jane as part of my recent birthday celebrations.
Owing to a small administrative c*ck up we ended up not staying at Petwood, something I’ll save now for one of the night-time taxi runs.
The experience though is much to be recommended.
We arrived about 0940 as briefed and were met by the totally charming Louise Panton, who issued us with our badges for the day.
I was in the first batch for a ride, so after a briefing given by Louise and the equally (but in a different way) charming Sean, we were loaded onto the aircraft.
Being there was a small kid in the group, he was given the bomb-aimer’s position in the nose blister, others were allocated to the front of the aircraft.
Entering the aircraft is a bit of a disappointment. The characteristic smell of an operational Lancaster, the one we have all read about is missing. There is no all-pervading whiff from the Elsan, as it isn’t installed. Equally the lingering odour of cordite and sweaty fear does not attach to this airframe.
It does however smell delightfully alive with the metallic, paint and hot oil whiff of a real live aircraft.
Down the back all of us were free to move around from the main spar back as far as the tail turret. One guy grabbed the offer of the turret as his vantage point, but I chose to heed Sean’s advice and concentrate on looking inwards, not outwards. The best tip of the day.
The ride is all too brief, but then if it lasted for an hour it would still be too brief. You simply can’t get enough of this experience.
The engines start in turn, and even with the crew door open the noise level is surprisingly subdued. You actually have to work quite hard to discern the separate starts.
But the aircraft shakes and pitches and fidgets about on its oleos, far more than you would expect. More so when it actually starts moving.
After a short while I opted to stick my head up through the blister of the upper turret (The mechanism is non-existent, so three or four people can pop up here like demented meerkats). I soon realised this was a big mistake.
Outside it is a glorious summer day. People are wandering about, happy and relaxed. They are in brightly coloured sports and casual wear, digital cameras are everywhere. It is August 2008.
Drop back into the fuselage, focus on the aircraft’s skin, the formers, the stowed parachutes, even close your eyes. Suddenly you are in 1943.
OK, so I have a vivid imagination, but sitting there, trundling down what could have been the peri track on the way to my first mission over hostile territory I did genuinely get the prickles on the back of the neck. Suddenly I could experience one hundredth of the fear and foreboding every one of the 50,000 odd Bomber Command casualties must have felt on their first, and possibly their last missions.
For a long time I closed my eyes. This enables you to concentrate exclusively on the sounds, the movement and the smells. It may seem odd to spend a chunk of a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your eyes closed. Trust me, it isn’t.
Far too quickly the aircraft arrives back at the ramp outside its hangar. Now the Merlin’s are run-up, two at a time to cruise power. Suddenly you experience the true sound of a Lancaster on operations. It is deafening, even with half the engines still at idle. The sound is visceral, it reaches into your stomach, into your bloodstream, into your soul. No wonder the most frequent word in any conversation I have had with veterans of the campaign is ‘Pardon?’
After the run you have the freedom to explore the aircraft. The pilot, an RAF veteran from the Hastings remains behind to chat, answer what presumably are the same questions every time.
Eventually you disembark with regret, none of the relief that the crews must have felt dropping onto the welcoming ground at East Kirkby.
But the experience doesn’t end there.
In the ‘exclusive’ end of the main building you are served a lunch that is probably a good bit tastier than could be managed in wartime, but still has the hint of the past.
You watch the lucky sods in the afternoon group take their ride and remember what it was like for you.
Free to wander the museum, at every turn you catch sight of a wingtip, or a rudder. The airfield is so ‘forties’ because that Lancaster is sitting there.
And the best bit of all?
When the mood takes you (a VIP guest) it is permitted to hop over the ropes and explore again the inside of that wonderful aircraft. ‘Your’ Lancaster.
This time without the initial urgency, and with no restrictions.
And if you don’t truly feel the need to sit quietly in the little chapel on the airfield and just think about the sacrifice given so willingly, by so many, for us… then you genuinely have no concept of what it was all about and the experience was wasted on you.
Trust me.. if you have any feeling for the WW2 period – do it.
I’ve flown Tiger Moths and Stearman. I’ve ridden in Vikings, Shackleton, DC3 and DC6.
There is NOTHING that can grab you and haul you back into those dark days more efficiently than NX611.
I have no idea what it cost – being a present.
But it’s worth double. Or more.
Moggy
PS: I didn’t take a lot of pictures. Interposing a camera between myself and the real experience was unthinkable, and anyway a picture cannot capture the essence of the experience.
But here’s one I took late in the afternoon of the panel – surprisingly small and uncomplicated.
By: DocStirling - 12th August 2008 at 14:29
Hi
I uploaded some of the clips I took on my taxi ride a few years ago, to YouTube – I am sure you’ll find them if you search for Just Jane, NX611 etc.
DS
I was standing behind the chap standing behind the flight engineer – a bit of a squash, but well worth it!
By: Moggy C - 12th August 2008 at 14:03
That’s right, Wednesday it was. I wore a blue RAF shirt just to be a little more ‘in character’ for the day.
I’d love a copy of your video. Like I said I hardly took any myself.
Address on the way
Moggy
By: ME453 - 12th August 2008 at 13:19
A very vivid and clear description Moggy; if your VIP day was last Wednesday, I was there as well though I’d requested the flight engineer’s position to try to re-live what my namesake went through at start-up in 1945. I fully endorse all your comments, including it being over all too quickly, however I took quite a lot of video footage of the day which I’m putting together at the moment. If you want a copy of it, pm me with your address and I’ll send one as soon as it’s ready.
Regards
Max
By: Quinny - 11th August 2008 at 21:52
The wife was going to book me a taxi ride for my 40th,which was 4 years ago next Monday,(18th of August.) but I persuaded her not to.
A decison I now regret,after reading Moggy’s account.
Ah well,if she’s not going to fly,there’s always my 50th.
Ken.
By: Bruce - 11th August 2008 at 20:57
Nice piece Moggy.
You could almost qualify to be a ‘Dubious Dambuster relic on eBay’. 🙂
Mark
No, we’d either have to dig him up, or rescue him off a hillside for that…:rolleyes:
By: Auster Fan - 11th August 2008 at 20:52
Nice piece Moggy.
You could almost qualify to be a ‘Dubious Dambuster relic on eBay’. 🙂
Mark
Nah – he looks older than that……………:D
By: XH668 - 11th August 2008 at 16:41
I actully support moggy on this. It seems a great idea and an experience. We allready have a lanc and thats not very “Accessible ” like JJ is.
So i think a world war 2 experience centre place thing is a great idea. Im 100% behind and see now faults as of yet
Cheers
M
By: Moggy C - 11th August 2008 at 16:29
Oi! 😡
By: Mark12 - 11th August 2008 at 15:45
Nice piece Moggy.
You could almost qualify to be a ‘Dubious Dambuster relic on eBay’. 🙂
Mark
By: Mondariz - 11th August 2008 at 11:54
What a great account…
Now I simply have to go.
By: Moggy C - 11th August 2008 at 11:43
I don’t know what was hard to understand. It was just that the idea didn’t particularly excite me and I really couldn’t see much point. I have absolutely nothing against the idea if it is what the owners want.
Having experienced the taxi runs, which will be made more difficult if the aircraft was airworthy, and having heard Louise suggest that it might take three or four million to get her flying again, I’m still not excited by the idea.
Just think what else could be achieved at East Kirkby itself with that much money.
Moggy
This thread is intended to discuss the taxi experience. I’m happy to reopen the ‘Should she fly discussion’ if you think there is anywhere to go with that, but please can we dig out the original thread? Thanks.
By: DocStirling - 11th August 2008 at 11:35
Moggy, that was a wonderful posting, thank you very much.
I just wonder whether your experience has changed your mind about the prospect of a flying NX611 – as you may recall I found your opinion on this difficult to understand.
Regards
DS
By: Smith - 11th August 2008 at 11:21
If any reader has not yet visited East Kirkby, what are you waiting for? 😀
A trip to the UK!!! In 2010. Sadly Canada is not likely to be on the agenda. Hang on … what about flying via North America? Hmmm …
Great perspectives Moggy, thank you. And despite your words I will insist on riding in the back seat. I really have no choice in that! Perhaps a night trip?
And excellent pics as always Robbo, thank you.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 11th August 2008 at 10:58
Great stuff Moggy – when’s your autobiography coming out? There was talk of getting NX611 airworthy, but I thought it needed far too much work for that, possibly a very expensive re-sparring? Has anyone heard any more?
By: RPSmith - 11th August 2008 at 10:08
I don’t think I can improve on previous comments in this thread, just that I found it emotional. Thanks for writing it Moggy.
Roger Smith.
By: Peter - 11th August 2008 at 04:35
What a fascinating and thought provoking account Moggy! Now get over here and fly in our flying Lancaster!
By: Bruce McT - 11th August 2008 at 00:11
East Kirkby and Just Jane
I would like to share my great experience re a Taxi ride in Just Jane. In july 2002 my wife and I attended our second 57/630 Squadrons Reunion. I had booked the ride from home(Canada). July 6 , the day of, was our wedding anniversary and my Dad’s Pilot and Navigator attended the reunion. This was special as they had not met in 58 years and it was our first meeting with them. In July 2006 both the Pilot and Nav attended the reunion again and were able to get a short ride in Just Jane whilst she was put in the hangar. Even though the Merlins were silent the look on their faces is still with me. The emotions seen in the
faces of those that flew in Lancs is very overwhelming. EK and Just Jane are very special to many people. Thank you Fred and Harold!!
Bruce McT
By: critter592 - 10th August 2008 at 22:40
Thanks for sharing that, Moggy. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
A ride in NX611 is something that is on my list of things to do… I am approaching a “milestone” birthday, so who knows?! It may happen very soon!
Seriously though, East Kirkby is a place that is so full of atmosphere, and conjures up so many different emotions as you walk around.
The Watch Office is something else – This may sound strange – but that building has a “presence.”
A big “Thank You” also goes to the Panton Brothers.
If any reader has not yet visited East Kirkby, what are you waiting for? 😀
Don
By: Richard Smith - 10th August 2008 at 21:58
Moggy, I went with my son and Father in law three years back and we stayed at Petwood the night before. My son sat in the rear gunners position throughout the taxi run, I sat in it for a few minutes but started to get claustraphobic. I too stood/crouched in the blister of the upper turret as an elderly lady next to me sobbed her eyes out. I didn’t like to ask but she had obviously lost someone close during the war.
All I can say to those who haven’t yet done it is…add it to your Birthday or Christmas list. There is NOTHING like it. If the owners (the Panton brothers) are there make sure you introduce yourself, two wonderful gentlemen.
By: jasop - 10th August 2008 at 21:46
Sounds amazing, its something i hope to treat myself to one day when time and money allows,
Will be very special as my Grandfather was based at East Kirkby, He was shot down by flak in LL939 on the night of the 11/12 November 1944.
Certainly is a step back in time at East Kirkby
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August 10, 2008 at 7:28 pm