I haven’t paid a “proper” visit to Hendon for a long time. There was a fleeting visit with a couple of ex-RAF erks approaching two years ago. We intended to return this year and two of us still will. The other sadly died just before the new year but I have a wonderful memory of his face as he looked down the length of the main building. Gobsmacked doesn’t come close. Until a few weeks beforehand he hadn’t realised there were any aircraft at Hendon.
I went several times over a period of around ten years, starting mid-seventies I would think. I don’t remember it being particularly dark then. Is this a recent thing?
I have only eaten once in the restaurant, late seventies I guess, and I really don’t recall whether it was good, bad or expensive.
I did intend to the last time I went for the day but, fortunately, was warned of the prices by the very nice lady on the till before we had chance to pay. Next time I shan’t bother. I saw a couple of cafes near Apex Corner so I’ll head back that way.

I thought it had been on here before…

http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10938&highlight=lightning+and+aird

Originally posted by Dave Homewood
We used to have a photo on the wall at work when i was in the RNZAF, it was a classic once-in-a-lifetime shot. A man on a tractor is looking behind him as just behind a Lighting flies vertically towards the ground, just a few feet off and a few milliseconds from impact, and the pilot is ejecting. Has anyone seen or got this? I think it was the man on the tractor who was supposed to be photographed but a crashing Lightning butted in! I’d love to see it again.

If it’s the shot I’m thinking of, and there can’t be too many like that, it was George Aird at Hatfield. The Lightning’s heading for some large greenhouses. Don’t know what a Lightning was doing flying from Hatfield. Firestreak fittings?
No doubt one of the Frightening experts will have chapter and verse.

I think Hand may have put his finger on it.
I was born and grew up in south-east England. If we went to the coast, out there across the sea were other countries, foreigners and “things”.
The first international land boundary I ever saw was France/ Belgium and the first I crossed was Germany/Austria. It came as quite a shock to think that the other side of that hedge, for example, was a different country. Not something my experiences had prepared me for. Shock isn’t the right word but I can’t think of a better one at the moment.
We are often described as an island race. As I’m a member of the race I don’t know what difference it makes, and equally, somebody who isn’t wouldn’t know either, but I suppose it’s possible that there is something in the national psyche of an island race that’s “different”.

I’m English, not British and definitely not European.

Ant started all this and seems to have legged it.
I wasn’t taught that phrase at school.

James, I was impressed by your last post. Your spelling, as you freely admit, can use some help at times. The only error I spotted was acceptible (should be acceptable) but that brings me on to something that really puzzles/irritates me.
Where the **** did “collectible” come from. It seems to be in universal use but the word is collectable.

Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble, grumble, grumble, grumble.

O level English passed. So long ago I prefer not remember when, which is just as well as your memory fades with increasing age.

I must admit if I see errors with the wrong words, spelled correctly, it gets up my nose. They’ve obviously relied on a spell-checker without somebody that knows what they’re reading about checking it.
Even worse than a magazine is the new edition of “Spitfire – the History”. It’s appalling.