Hawker. Where would the RAF have been between the wars without all those biplanes (maybe we should have had the Fairey Fox instead of some though) Or in the BoB withouth the Hurricane? Or postwar without the Hunter, Seahawk & Harrier?

de Havilland. Almost single-handedly founded the light aircraft movement worldwide with the Moth. So many classic types and so much innovation in airframes, engines, propellors and missiles.

Bristol. Like DH, so many important aircraft, engines and missiles for so many years, although not nearly as “glamorous” as DH.

Handley Page. As Cees so rightly points out, the RAF was never without an HP type until the demise of the Victor (or maybe Jetstream)

Shorts. First registered a/c company in the world I think, and still operating.

The thing that annoys me most about obits, is that it won’t be long before someone is writing mine, although it won’t take them long

Give over, Jose. If I can be allowed to mix metaphors (it’s Christmas, after all) you may be no spring chicken, but there’s life in the old dog yet. 😀 Plenty to look back on when the time finally comes too.

Hope Jim Royle didn’t say anything unfortunate last night.

Got to be a spoof? Having said that, I remember a spate of stories several years ago about what were termed “Ooparts” or “Out Of Place Artefacts” Such things as machined blocks of steel embedded in coal and suchlike, and all supposedly genuine, if inexplicable.

That’s a shame. Much under-rated actress IMHO.:(