On the theme of Admiral’s Barges, there was a side view in Spitfire – the History Mk1 of what looked to me like a MkVc Trop in all-over blue. Looked great, in fact I bought an extra Pioneer Vc to do one that colour.
Don’t know if it’s still there in the disappointing 2nd edition. Must look one day and see what mark it really is.

I’m also fairly confident it was Corn Flakes. I had a couple kicking about somewhere but I think I gave them to my cousin’s kids (mine weren’t interested.. furry, tail, leg at each corner).
Haven’t seen them for years, (planes not cats), but I’m pretty sure it did say Tonka on the box.

Panshanger Aerodrome in the mid fifties, knee high to a daisy, my Dad learning to fly a Tiger Moth. The aircraft weren’t historic then, they were current. The place was full of Tiger Moths, Austers, a couple of Miles Messengers and at least one Gemini. There was a Piper Tri-Pacer as well, looked very modern. Seeing what I now know was the prototype Mossie in bits in one of the hangars there. Dad telling me of leaning on the fence at Leavesden during the war and seeing Mosquitos, still secret, pouring out of the factory.
Passing Hatfield (and the Comet hotel) and Radlett weekly on the way to visit grandparents. First airshow at Bassingbourn in 1958. Seeing a Vampire arrive in the ATC compound in Hertford, can’t remember what it replaced. Later, living in Welwyn Garden City with aircraft from Hatfield visible from the back garden and Panshanger from the front. Visits to IWM, Science Museum and Shuttleworth with my parents in the sixties. Shuttleworth and Duxford myself later.

Aerobatics (very clever), modern jets, egg-beaters, and airliners leave me cold.
I’ve flown in a spam-can once, from Hatfield after an airshow, other than that I’ve only ever been in an airliner.

Stone-age Motorola and a Nokia 3410.
Motorola’s better. Phones are getting smaller but I haven’t noticed the distance between my mouth and my ear shrinking.

I make (and receive) phone calls with them.

To take pictures I use a camera.
To browse the internet I use a computer.

Phantom II
There were also 3 legendary Sea Gladiators, nicknamed Faith, Hope and Charity, based in Malta and flown by RAF pilots.

Basically, despite being obsolete, they were the only fighters they had.
I must have something in a book about them somewhere, it’s just finding which one!

Would seem a bit daft but the CAA does move in mysterious ways at times.

There’s half a Merlin crankshaft forging tool in the Sheffield Industrial Museum. I wonder if they’ve got the other half.

In a similar vein, anybody see the programme where they built Leonardo da Vinci’s glider?

I didn’t see the Pilcher prog, but it seems there was a lot more knowledge and experience applied to da Vinci’s. Having said that, considering it was 500 years ago, it appears he wasn’t a mile out and could have cracked gliding if he’d worked at it.
Met the woman that flew it a couple of weeks ago, Judy Leden, and she said it hurt!