whaleboneRE: What’s the gem for Flying Legends then?
Nothing but loads of speculation, rumours of secrets and a few pipe dreams. My bet is it’s Bill Hayley and his Comet’s. 😛
whaleboneRE: Airshow Irritations!
MUSIC.
It can be put to good effect, remember those gliders a few years back all smoke trials and Pink Floyd it worked really well.
It can set the tone, perhaps a touch of Glenn Miller (quietly and in the background) to get us “In the Mood” as Sally B and some little friends taxi out prior to take off or The RAF march as we wait for the BoBMF to run in.
It can trigger emotion, many a lump in the throat as XH558 touched down for the last time to the strains of “Sunset” but….. THATS IT.
Once the action starts the only music required should be heard coming from an exhaust pipe (petrol or paraffin) and not a loudspeaker.
I have not been to Legends for several years thanks to Land of Hope and Glory ruining the end of an otherwise perfect day.
Knowing that the dreaded moment is getting closer just serves to progressively crank up my blood pressure as the clock ticks down to the grand finale, it sounds daft I know but the last time I went it wound me up so much I actually felt quite ill so I’ve given it up.
I enjoy music it has it’s uses, drowning the sound of throbbing pistons isn’t one of them !!!!!!!
Of course then theres the stepladder and windbreak merchants, corporate hospitality tents filled with disinterested freeloaders blocking half the view at display centreline, funfairs and Sunday markets, not enough grubby loos, traffic congestion, litter, poorly parked aircraft, bored unruly children and their equally disagreeable parents, the advertised twelve minute slot for the F15 turning out to be eleven and a half waiting for it to arrive (whilst listening to drivel from commentators better suited to hospital radio) followed by a single slow flyby in the distance at 2000ft, etc etc etc. I could go on………………..but above all MUSIC in the wrong place i.e. noise polluton, if I had a goat it would really get it, Ggrrr x(.
whaleboneRE: Everton_1878 – Let’s Mass Email MGM for BofB DVD!
The last reliable “guestimate” that I saw in September 2002 for the number of BoB aircrew survivors was around 350 allied and slightly less axis.
whaleboneRE: That ship in the Channel has been hit again!
You couldn’t make it up could you,what a farce ! Mind you the Tricolor did sink in the French controlled bit of the Channel in the first place, need we say anymore 😛
whaleboneRE: That ship in the Channel has been hit again!
You couldn’t make it up could you,what a farce ! Mind you the Tricolor did sink in the French controlled bit of the Channel in the first place, need we say anymore 😛
whaleboneRE: New 109 flies in formation with P51
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 31-12-02 AT 08:46Â PM (GMT)]Hang on a minute…..tomorrows the 1st of January not April !!
I’d say the whole thing was a screen capture from a flight sim, that’s a smoke trail to the right. Could well be Olegs handywork though, with a good graphics card in your fast PC IL-2 is that good.
Nice one munnst.
whaleboneRE: 558 hopes dashed ?
Many of us may of already put a few quid in a bucket or collecting box towards the dream but considering the dire straits that the project now finds itself perhaps drastic times call for drastic measures so how does this sound ?
Considering that we can probably be agreed that the majority of airshow goers, be they dedicated enthusiasts or casual visitors, would love to see 558 airbourne again how’s about a £1 optional levy per car/per person on admission prices. Before you all howl in anguish the conversation might go along these lines “Good morning that will be £15 sir or £16 if you would like to support the 558 appeal”. As long as it was well announced that the scheme would be in operation at the event I wouldn’t think you would get too many arguments at the pay kiosks or have a detrimental effect on attendances the scheme being voluntary and completely optional.
It would of course require a bit of effort on the part of the display organisers but if someone got them all together and dangled the carrot of a reduced price 558 display in the future as a sweetener who knows. In reality all they would have to do would be issue an extra ticket per £1 donated (to make the accounting easier and secure) and hand out a piece of paper to every customer going through the gate in the form of a flier showing the status of the project, the reason for the appeal and an indication of how near or far it was from target.
There would also have to be a suitable stated option should the final effort fail, perhaps all funds remaining that had been collected by this means and went unused be donated to the RAF benevolent fund or equally among all the major service charities I don’t think people would baulk too much at that.
Yes you are giving a pound toward just the possibility of seeing the bird fly but even if the project fails then your quid still goes to a good cause (and a slightly narrower understanding of the words “good cause” than that held by the lottery fund commisioners).
I don’t know what the total annual attendance figures for UK airshows is but if you took Waddington,Duxford,RIAT,Mildenhall,Farnborough etc plus all the other events big and small together it must be approaching the 2million + mark per year. If only half the people dipped that little bit deeper it would only take a couple of seasons to raise the money and, if big business could see that the airshow going public were serious about the project perhaps they might be more encouraged to participate more in hitting the target.
The bottom line is it would be a tradegy to come this far and fall at almost the last hurdle and if it has to come down to being painted anti flash white with a big red V on the tail I dont really care as long a she gets back in the air.
C’mon Richard cometh the hour cometh the man. The “Virgin Vulcan” has got quite a ring to it and you wouldn’t half be poking one at the lottery board 😛 (and we all know how much you love them !!)
Regards to all,
Phil. A.
whaleboneRE: Pathe News Footage
There is stacks of stuff on the site and oh for a broadband connection. Just gave it a go, typed “Lightning Aerobatics” in the search engine and ……..BINGO ! several minutes of a Firebirds practice session.
Picture a very small boy and his father at the grash gate both with mile wide grins. I’m back there all over again.
Phil.A. 😀
whaleboneRE: Radio Times ‘Dambusters’ letter…
Spot on Damien, my sentiments exactly !
whaleboneRE: Duxford this weekend
I agree whole heartedly with everything you say David but I feel that it must be remembered that the Greek Judicary was put in a very difficult situation. The exposed lack of security was a huge embarrasment to the Greek Government and Military. I think that the law teams on both sides of the case at the time could see that the whole thing was really a farce and had become an issue of face saving but, the Judges were given the task of implementing the law of the land to the letter.
With the problems that could lay ahead for “the group”, to be seen to be enjoying a very public and heavily advertised jolly could well be seen in Greece as be-littling the decision of the Judges in letting them home on bail. The Judicacry in what ever country, are not to be trifled with unless your raise the metaforical finger from a very great and politically safe distance.
Even here in the U.K. if you are hauled up in front of “The Beak” it doesn’t matter if you were in the wrong or in the right, if you get off lightly you don’t argue. You should respectfully tug your forelock and retire into the protection of obscurity i.e. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN
whaleboneRE: Duxford this weekend
Considering that some of the group still face imprisonment over the affair and could face extradition to Greece to serve scentence I would think that to say this announcement is ill advised would be a bit of an understatement. I would imagine that there are some pretty frantic phone calls being made today between the various legal councils and the IWM.
Either the folk involved are more stupid than we ever thought possible by accepting the invitation or, the invitation has been made without consulting them first.
The original charges, true, false,trumped up or whatever is not the issue. The bottom line is that they are presently at home on British soil with their families and the whole sorry business WAS in the process of quietly being forgotten about by both sides.
I doubt if any of the group volunteered their services so what clot at the IWM thought “Hmm, weathers looking a bit iffy at the weekend, how can we get a bit of free advertising to boost the attendance….I know lets stick two fingers on both hands up at the Greek Judicary”
As a result some poor unfortunate could see Christmas from behind bars in a foreign prison.
If it was me and this had been made public without my knowledge I would be considering legal action on the grounds that they were seriously endangering my liberty.
Two words sum it up…..Ruddy Idiots !!
whaleboneRE: Hendon
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-10-02 AT 00:51Â AM (GMT)]Once upon a time there was a young Camel. He was a good looking fellow and all the other Camel’s remarked that he had the biggest and bestest hump of any Camel that anyone had ever seen. Many years later that Camel with the finest hump found himself retired. He took up residence in a museum where all the public could come along and gaze in wonderment at his magnificent hump
One day the Camel with the magnificent hump heard tell of a big bird that had got stuck on a perch. Worried over the plight of a fellow resident of the museum it rushed across to the home of the big bird, a place called “The Bomber Hall” in order to lend moral support only to find Lancman already there surveying the situation.
What he saw made him very embarrased and sad. His title of the finest ever pacoderm was gone and he decided to hide under the big bird in shame.
What had upset our friend the ship of the desert??,
It was the sight of the big bird stuck on the perch…….It had given Lancman an even bigger “HUMP” than the CAMEL !!!!!!!!!!!!! 😉
whaleboneRE: Home build G-MJZP
Looks like some kind of cockpit roof from something or other propped up against the wall behind this rare find. Any ideas as to what it may be from ??
whaleboneRE: Bruntingthorpe
Many thanks for those pictures Damien, all up to your usual brilliant standard. I like the little and large Victor composition but even the real thing looks tiny in front of that 747, makes you realise just how huge those things are. Daughter Rosie declined a few days off school prefering I suspect to milk the sympathy vote for all it’s worth so she must be on the mend, thanks for your concern.
Fingers crossed for better luck for me and Joe next year, at the moment he is convinced that a Tornado is the loudest thing with two engines in the world….Oh is he in for a shock/treat !
Thanks again.
Phil.A.
whaleboneRE: TE566 and images in poor taste
Steve, Glad we speak the same language (so to speak).
In that case you owe the landlord of The Walnut Tree in Rowhedge £1.90 for a pint of Mighty Oak “Maldon Gold”.:9 I’ll have it at luchtime on Sunday and send you the bill 😀
Cheers and good health…!
Phil.A.
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