A very poor picture of a Macedonian DC3, hiding behind a BAF Viscount, in 1973. I’m in the photo, small lad with a bad haircut, having just returned from a short flight from Ostend. The flight to Ostend was on BAF Carvair G-ASKN.

Off topic (well, a bit anyhow) I flew back from Amsterdam in a Jetstream 31, owned by Netherlines back in the late 1980’s. Whilst hurrying onboard, trying to blag one of the front seats (Netherlines Pilots tended to fly with the dividing curtain pulled back) I forgot about the step in the cabin floor… with hilarious consequences! well, for the other passengers at least! The Flight Attendant gave me odd looks all the way back to Luton, too!

Watched it with my up to date, teccy 14 year old son, who thought it was brilliant! OK, in the time allowed it was a bit lightweight but fascinating all the same. The Maginot Line piece was particularly moving, as was the personal artifacts found on the Dunkirk beach.

Hopefully there is enough footage to make a much longer DVD out of it, especially the Stuka find. Father and son looking forward to the next programme.

I’m sure the very wonderful Castle Combe race circuit has been mentioned somewhere on this thread. In the mid 80’s, there was a very well preserved Ops board in a building which had been turned into a gents toilet, I wonder if it is still there? Some of the corner names reflect its original use – Tower, Camp etc.

Not too sure what was based there but my fading memory thinks Ansons?

I flew in a Dan-Air Ambassador in 1968 (ish) London Gatwick to Ostend, return. it was the first time I can remember flying, although I went to Jersey on a BMA Herald the year before. I cannot remember the interior colour, but i do remember clouds of smoke on starting, and a guage on the nacelle side, which my dad told my (I think jokingly) was the fuel guage!

The return flight was delayed by engine trouble at Ostend (6 hours I think) but the Ambassador has always been a favourite ever since. Happy days of seeing Autair ones flying at Luton too 🙂

The hanging Gannet ‘thingy’ could be a new exhibit as it does not seem to appear in the virtual tour on their website. Depending on how close it was to the camera, it could of course just be a large scale model! It is surprising how full a museum can look, but there is always space to squeeze ‘one more’ in.

The Fairey museum docent cannot take credit for the Fairy Gyrodyne as this was obtained from White Waltham by the nephew of the works manager and was displayed at 424(Southampton) ATC Sqn. for a long time. In fact this plane can be regarded as the genesis for the Southampton Hall of Aviation now called Solent Sky Museum and was rightly given to the ‘Fairey history museum’.

So it is the Gyrodyne which was displayed for many years near Southampton Civic centre? i remember it there in my youth, happy days and good to see it well looked after and in a fascinating Museum.

Aha – it looks as if we are now drawing out the NGRSies!

Erm, not me! but my house does back on to a narrow gauge line, so I suppose I am an honourary member! 😀