I have the P51D ‘Old Crow’ and a Spitfire V (?) from one of the SAR squadrons (AQC Sqn markings, airframe P8131).

Anyone know of a good source for these models in the States? I want to get a Hurricane and maybe a Lanc.

The one thing that would improve Flying Legends in my opinion, and please don’t laugh, would be to turn the volume of the music down which is played on the PA system for certain displays (or just turn it off completely). I know it is supposed to be stirring music, but frankly I want to hear the beautiful roar of Merlins as the BBMF does it’s stuff rather than ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. Just an observation from the Legends I have been to (2000/2001/2002). Other than that, Legends is an amazing airshow. I have to say that I am glad I missed the last one though (and if I had still been in the UK last summer I would almost certainly have been there).

For ‘Chuck Yeager’

Mark Berent’s series are indeed great books. Very realistic fiction I guess you could call them.

Amazon.com has Steel Tiger listed:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0515104671/qid=1077943813//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl14/002-4488831-9532001?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Of course, I imagine the shipping would cost a bit from the States, but the exchange rate is really good right now :).

Just searched Amazon.co.uk and found Steel Tiger there too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0515104671/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-4705422-0088667

I think you will find the ‘Dodgy CGI’ was actually “performed” by a group of Warbirds III players who volunteered to re-enact the engagements. Warbirds III is a so called “Massively Multiplayer Online Game” ie you can fly against or with many other players on the same server. It is an enjoyable passtime. The website where you can download the sim is:

http://www.warbirdsiii.com

Download is free, but there is a monthly subscription to fly online.

Hopefully this programme will find it’s way over to Discovery Wings or he History channel. Then I will be able to watch it.

I think we are close to hearing an official report. The families of the crew will be informed (at least that is what my family has been told by the RNHF and the Navy). I am sure the report will help, at least the cause will be known. No matter what the cause, it will not bring Neil and Bill back. I have my own suspicions as to what the conclusion will be, but until I see the report it is merely speculation.

It has been suggested that the Firefly could be restored again, to which I would have to say no. I would rather remember it as Neil and Bill’s aircraft. Of course, I would have no say in the matter if the RNHF did decide to rebuild it, but it would be disrespectful in my opinion.

I think there is a lot to be learned from this terrible accident that will hopefully change how things are done. For example the terrible way the media behaved.. there should be laws against how they handled that. My father was informed of the accident by a friend who watched the news (thankfully he didn’t find out by switching on the TV). The Navy informed my mother by sending a duty officer from Yeovilton, but no attempt was made to contact my father by the Navy.. which is pretty disgraceful really.

As a side note (and please indulge me for going off topic a little here), one year ago today I took Neil up for our only flight together. He was over here in Ohio to stay with us. The weather was marginal but, as it was his last day over here we decided to give it a go. We had a great flight over the snow covered countryside, and I even managed a passable landing on the Icy runway. I am very glad we made that flight even though the weather was not perfect. It was the last thing we really did together as that night we had to drive him back to the airport to fly home.

When my family visited the RNHF flight recently the Sea Hawk was in the hangar being worked on. Looked very nice too. Can’t say how much more work is needed (I am not an aircraft engineer and I was not there to ask questions about it).

I would say it will be ready by next season though judging from what I saw.

Can anyone answer the question ‘Why was a Royal Navy fitter flying in the Firefly during a five-minute display?’.

Answer: It was part of his job. Neil had been employed by the RNHF for 5 years and had taken part in numerous airshows during that time (he was an AEM in the RN FAA before that). Most of his “crew time” was in the Fairey Swordfish. This year though, the Firefly came back on line. He flew a lot with Bill Murton, and I have been told that Bill used to ask for Neil to fly with him. They even flew in a navigation competition a while ago in a Chipmunk and won (Neil was the navigator), something Neil was very proud of.

As for the Firefly, you could tell that Neil loved it. Every time I talked with him he had something to say about it, and there was always that sparkle of excitement in the way he described it.

I read his logbook entry that describes his first Firefly flight which took place sometime last year.. the remarks column just has one word “WOW!”. There was a break in flying the Firefly after that of some months (I think they had some problems with the Engine mounting and prop vibration which needed to be sorted out). He flew on most of the test flights and practice display flights working up for the display season.

Anyway, he loved what he was doing, and he earned his crew status on the Firefly. I draw great comfort from the fact that a number of people at the show report that Neil was waving and smiling to the people in the crowd as they taxied out that day. He was having a ball.

As to the cause of the accident, well, at the end of the day the result is the same whatever conclusion the enquiry comes to. We all have our own theories though, and I see no harm or disrespect in discussing them. In fact, anyone that was there and saw it or was connected to it probably should talk about it (I have found it helps).

Neil was very aware of the risks involved (I know because we had talked about it when he visited us in Ohio earlier this year). He grinned and said that it was worth it though.

Neil was my brother (younger by a couple of years) and my close friend. I miss him terribly.

Just so you can put a face to his name:

This is a shot taken in April of Neil in the Firefly.

This one was taken back in January. He liked his beer too 🙂 along with Single Malt Whiskey.

Sorry to bump this long thread to the top again, but I felt I had to say a few words here.

Paul Rix