Congratulations. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit during ther PFA Sywell Revival meeting. Talk about getting a gallon into a quart pot. Absolutely fascinating collection of relevant memorabilia.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
🙂

There are some awesome flights here – but don’t forget the Kiwi topdressing pilots who fly low for a living, sometimes for 10 to 12 hours a day.
See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63oL3DqklZc

The oldest pilot in the game, John Harding, recently passed his medical at the age of 71. He’s been doing this type of flying for 50 years and has amassed an astonishing 32000hrs in ag work.

It reminded me of my brief venture into crop spraying in the early 1960’s with Tiger Moth’s in East Anglia.

My first morning introduction was to observe another pilot spraying potatoes against blight in a field near the Snetterton motor racing circuit. Along one boundary there was an 11kv electricity power line on poles around 15 feet high above the 5 foot hedge. He approached at 90 degrees to the cables and I thought he would fly above them. No chance…!!

He tried to get under them and snagged both wires with the fuel tank vent pipe. Enormous flash. Cables held and the Tiger decelerated from around 70 knots to probably below stall speed before the stretched wires snapped. This simultaneously with the pilot pulling the dump lever. From a height of no more than 10 feet the Tiger shuddered and just managed to stagger away.

The aircraft flew back to the operations strip and the pilot then got into his car and disappeared muttering – “Thats the last crop spraying trip for me..!!”.

I then got into the aircraft after a careful inspection and carried on the days spraying commitment including the nearly fatal potato field.

Happy days,

Cheers,

Trapper 69
:diablo:

Here’s a nice shot by “MikeH” on the Fence Check forum of “Miss Velma” at RIAT. Take off or low pass? Great shot either way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/MikePix/RIAT/2007/13JL07/P51D-FairfordMissVelma-2.jpg

Superb. However I reckon the FDSC would not have been too impressed if this was a low pass on his validation flight. Serious debrief with no tea and biscuits……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Trapper 69
😎

It is a true dilemma.

In recent years the CAA has sanctioned a minimum number of photographers nominated by the airshow organiser to be forward of the crowd line in a position that limits the risk to the individual photographer, who is fully aware of the potential danger. This is to generate post display publicity which, hopefully, will increase awareness and attendances in future years. I do stress the words “minimum” and “nominated”.

Should the worst happen to one of these photographers then there is no doubt in my own mind that any coroner might well make such comment that it would be highly embarrassing and probably litigeous for all involved.

Remember, you might waive your own legal rights on a personal basis but you cannot do so on behalf of your families.

Airshows are inherently situations where the risk of an accident is increased and we have all seen the enormous media exposure given to accidents which have happened in the past. For over 50 years third party fatalities have been avoided at UK displays. I pray that fine record will continue. If it does not then it may well be the case of “apres moi, le deluge”.

Take great care all of you.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
:diablo:

My love affair with the Dora 9 variant started some 60 years ago when I was given a copy of “Flames in the Sky” by Pierre Clostermann. The superb dust jacket painting was of his Tempest V in combat with D9’s at the bitter end of WW2.

Such an elegant aeroplane. I would love to see it back in the sky but it all depends on the new owners wishes. Only the one who pays the piper can call the tune.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
🙂

Absolutely magic. It made my morning. The sound track did not bother me but it would have been better with the original score from the film which was unforgettable.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
🙂

Regarding the absence of the A26 Invader.

I spoke to Lars Ness, the SHF pilot who flew the P51 Old Crow. He said the Invader had a problem with the nose wheel shimmy damper which had grounded it until it could be fixed. Like a number of other nosewheel aircraft shimmy can cause enormous damage.

Hope this clears the picture.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
🙂