We have just lost a true great – a one off. RIP Ken Wallis.

The low life who committed this crime are not worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as Ken Wallis. What a contrast, the best of Britain and the worst of Britain.

Lobster

no class scumbags, I hope the full force and wrath of bad karma to descend upon the thieves.

Very sad.
Hopefully they’ll be caught…..

Not a year gone by and Bar stewards are nicking his antiques. 😡

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/antique_weaponry_stolen_from_the_late_ken_wallis_house_in_norfolk_1_3679643

Wing Commander Ken Wallace was remembered today on BBC Radio 4 as part of their obituaries programme Last Word. It was very interesting to hear his daughter reminiscing about some of the scrapes he got into during his years at the controls of aircraft and it was a really good light-hearted look back at some of his achievements and experiences.

UK-based people can find it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039rwcy, Ken’s bit starts about 7 minutes in but actually the first bit is very interesting as well – about Ray Dolby: he of noise reduction and cinema sound fame.

Reading this thread has brought a lump to my throat. So many fine memories of a truly great man. RIP.

I discovered KW ‘late’ i.e. through Steve Hatton’s wonderful Into The Wind. My outstanding memory (need to watch it again in his honour) was of a sprightly chap with a twinkle in his eye living a life that people a quarter of his age would marvel at.

Kevin Mears, I hadn’t made the connection until Moggy put that photo of KW and your book up. Love your work.

Very sorry to hear that this wonderful gentleman had passed away but reckon he had a very full life and achieved a great deal.

I had the privledge of meeting him on a couple of occasions. The first time was at Thruxton Air Races on 16 Sept 1962. Chatted to him for a while, he then asked me if I would “stand guard” over G-ARRT while he went off to attend to a call a of nature!!! Second was when I and a friend visited him at Reymerston Hall, he spent over an hour with us showing us his aircraft, autogyros and Austers. Mentioned we were going to Business Aviation show at North Weald the next day. He gave us a ticket that got us both in.

A true enthusiast and a gentleman…………. RIP Ken……….

Planemike

A truly remarkable man to whom a nice tribute was also made by the commentator at the Victory Show at Foxlands Farm, Cosby, Leics today.

I first met Ken Wallis back in 1959/1960 when he was building his first gyro, Bensen Gyrocopter G-APUD, at his house barely a mile away from where I still live.

He always seemed to be indestructible so very sad to hear that he has passed away. There cannot be many people so active at the grand age of 97.

Wicked Willip

Nice comment before Duxford display yesterday by Ben Dunnell

Re Ken Wallis

Well, there is nothing I can say except to echo all the tributes on this thread. I had the great pleasure to meet Ken several times and when I was in the RAF at Eastern Radar, RAF Watton, I got invited to his house at nearby Reymerston one Sunday morning, where we pushed Ken’s entire Autogyro collection outside and arranged them in production order for my cameras. Ken also gave me an original (then rare) Airfix kit, which I converted and fashioned the ‘James Bond’ pilot in his image as a tribute to this kind and generous man – here is that model and my tribute to Ken

RIP Ken and thanks for all the pleasure you have given us aviation enthusiasts.

Surprised and pleased Kens passing made the Local Cannock edition of the Express and Star

Well you can refer to the DVD ‘Born to Bond’ or KW’s bio (both available from Flixton Museum) but basically he entered an agreement with Vintens to market his gyro for obs applications with Vintens manufacturing the gyro and adding their recce kit. But for whatever reason (probably military ‘ruggedisation’) the Vinten gyro was agricultural and flew badly. KW provided a report after test flying the Vinten built machine but the Vinten management ignored his recommendations and went ahead and marketed the plane as was. An order of 120 machines was received from the West Germans but KW refused to sanction so that was that.

As a schoolkid in Bury St. Edmunds I remember watching KW flying the craft over the Vinten factory in the early 80s.

Oh, I see.

Well you can refer to the DVD ‘Born to Bond’ or KW’s bio (both available from Flixton Museum) but basically he entered an agreement with Vintens to market his gyro for obs applications with Vintens manufacturing the gyro and adding their recce kit. But for whatever reason (probably military ‘ruggedisation’) the Vinten gyro was agricultural and flew badly. KW provided a report after test flying the Vinten built machine but the Vinten management ignored his recommendations and went ahead and marketed the plane as was. An order of 120 machines was received from the West Germans but KW refused to sanction so that was that.

As a schoolkid in Bury St. Edmunds I remember watching KW flying the craft over the Vinten factory in the early 80s.

The Vinten German Military Autogyro

Such a shame that Vintens made a hash of his aircraft and hence threw away a firm order for 120 aircraft in the 1980s (from the German military) as Wallis would not sanction the supply of what he regarded as a highly substandard product.

Fascinating

Do tell us more.

RIP

Ken Wallis was one of those who I thought would go on for ever.

RIP Ken a great man and a very long life clearly well lived so no real need for sadness.

That is of course true but a degree of sadness is unavoidable when men or women who have contributed so much to the enrichment of our lives finally reach the end of theirs. I know I will feel the same when Eric “Winkle” Brown’s time is up.

Such a shame that Vintens made a hash of his aircraft and hence threw away a firm order for 120 aircraft in the 1980s (from the German military) as Wallis would not sanction the supply of what he regarded as a highly substandard product.

Ironically some very nice advanced autogyros now made in Germany (www.auto-gyro.com).

In the UK – of course – not a sausage.

RIP Ken a great man and a very long life clearly well lived so no real need for sadness.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10286869/Wing-Commander-Kenneth-Wallis.html

I had never known or perhaps had forgotten with the pasaage of time that he flew with USAFSAC B36s! What a life!

i met Ken a few times at the Waddington airshow he was always willing to chat and when i once asked him if he flew his autogyros every day he said he flew most days when he could but he then added with a twinkle in his eye but i dont do airshows anymore after all i am 89 what a character.
He signed a coloured photo of LITTLE NELLIE for me and autographed it i shall raise a glass to you to night sir
Brian

Lovely video Steve, thanks for sharing.