Apart from some forward movement (about six inches) he is pretty much strapped in for the duration of the flight.

The front seat is not a wonderfull environment to be in, the pilot only has the heating controls so you are at the mercy of his decision, even so with the heating on some front seaters have reported that the temperatures at the feet are still near freezing (not forgetting these planes operate at high altitude).

All the front seaters controls are situated on the front, port and starboard panels, all within arms reach, there is also only two windows by either side of his head measuring about 6″ x 8″ and are commonly refered to as ‘day and night’ indicators as that is all they do.

I have been sat in the front of a PR.9 and the nose was shut, I am 6’3″ and I kid you not there was NO room to move and I take my hat off to those who spent their time in there on operational sorties.

Regards,

John.

At the stand at Fairford I was told first hand that she will be ‘rolled out’ in the first week in September, I’m with Papa Lima on this one, lets just wait till then and let the tin delta do the talking (I hope!).

Regards,

John.

Magnum P.I. had that sporty little helicopter that they sometimes used to get the bad guys.

Forget what it was now……Bell something or other!.

Regards,

John.

METEOR, first jet flown operationally by normal squadron pilots in a normal squadron (plus first jet v jet kill (V-1 was jet powered was it not)). 😀

Thought the V1 was rocket powered?.

OOOOOHHHHHH Niiiiiiice!!!!!

One small problem, for the purists it is painted up as a 5 squadron F.6 so to be correct it would need a re-paint and the interior is somewhat ‘worn’.

This particular cockpit has been used as a recruitment aid so all the interior switches have have had a bloody good tug and twist in the way that someone with little respect for delacacy has, it has also been painted over several times with thick black paint and those horrid yellow and orange bits along with the obligatory missing bits that have been torn of in a very brutal manor.

It’s not all bad of course, the exterior is in fantastic condition and the interior is 80% completed and would need a full strip down, clean and re-paint to make a realy good F.1A, as far as I know there are only two others and one of them is abroad so this is a chance to own a rare bit!.

Right where did I put me sawn off and mask, the post office opens soon 😀 😀

Regards,

John.

Personally I would like to see E E Lightning P1.B XA847 (reportedly the only full P1.B airframe in exsistance) in the line up with the Shorts SB5 and the P1 at Cosford.

Last I heard it was languishing in a yard in bits for a long time and now it is somewhere in Sufolk, Anyone with info on it’s whereabouts please get in touch as I would like to know her fate.

Regards,

John.

Only dangerous if the fuses are in place and that wasn’t done untill the bombs were either attached to underwing stores or just prior to loading into the bomb bay by the armourers.

Brown shorts moment if one started ticking inside the crate!!!

Regards

John.

I had one of the best days of my life today……..

Met Jimmy Dell and John Spencer, strolled around the best collection of cold war jets that has ever been preserved in one place.

Saw the finest example of a Buccaneer on jacks demonstrating gear, flaps, bomb bay and bits, Hunters, Provosts, Wasp helicopter, and loads more stuff that my mind has still to get round.

I witnessed the best afterburner runs of not one but two of Britains finest mach two rocket ships and a formula one style tyre change that would put the best spotty herbert at kwik fit to shame!!.

My heart goes out to the LPG and I thank every one of them from the deepest darkest depths of wherever and plead…..keep it up guys!!!!.

Grinning wildly,

John.