Thanks RichW_82, I’m not disrespecting a fellow enthusiast, just pointing out we are a minority interest group and what does it for us doesn’t necessarily do it for the general public who will only get behind something that significantly stirs their interest. To them we are no different to Steam Train enthusiasts or MG owners etc. As they say in “The Right Stuff”, “no bucks , no Buck Rogers”. I too have found myself the person people go to when curious about something in vintage aviation they don’t recognise and try to educate people to the best of my ability. They tend to be interested but not to the point of getting their wallets out.
Sadly as time goes on and the WW2, 50s & 60s period moves out of living history people will become even more unaware of our subject of interest. I was horrified at the Eastbourne airshow a few years ago as I stood next to to the BBMF stall I overheard one person saying to their companion something like “The Battle of Britain? who did we have that with? was it the Germans or the French?”, “Dun know, was it before or after the second world war?” came the reply.
Anyway I have a slightly different problem now with Merlins in that since Boultbee set up shop at Goodwood my youngsters aren’t impressed by Spitfires so much as they see one go over their playground most days, even more common than the resident Harvard ! I suppose it’s a nice problem to have.
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