About 1957 from Coventry Civic Aerodrome – probably in a Derby Airways Dakota.
When I was at primary school a very enlightened Coventry City Council decided all(?) Coventry schoolchildren should experience flying. I don’t know if the cost was fully covered by the Council or if parents had to contribute and I remember absolutely nothing about the flight!
I remained grounded then until I joined the ATC and had the first of the very rare flights we got in Chipmunks.

Roger Smith.

I’m not a cockpit owner (other than being a member of MAM!) but would like to pose a question. What can/do cockpit owners/restorers do about the many tiny explosive devices often installed in ex-military cockpits?

I went to a BAPC “Stopping The Rot” seminar many years ago and was amazed when one of the speakers (H&S ??) talked about this and said something like “the Canberra cockpit, for example, has ** minute explosive devices in it”. ** was 50+ or 150+ – I wish I could remember the figure.

Can anyone comment?

Roger Smith.

I think ZRX61 is in the US of A, not Ukay.
James

You’re right, the third picture tells a lot, it is right next to a highway, in the UK this would have been seen and reported before now. Also in the same pic the road sign at the rear looks American.

Roger Smith (standing in for Hercules Poirot).

I, too, treasure the Putnams Harleyfords and Macdonalds in my own personal library and the Putnams particularly are still usually a first point of reference. For many years I hankered for a copy of J.M.Bruce’s British Aeroplanes 1914 – 18 and then some years ago was shocked at how much I would have to pay to get one – over £100. I was lucky to get one on ebay for £45 a couple of years ago.

Thanks for the link Tim will be going back for a better peruse when I have time.

Roger Smith.

Yes, more please.

Lot of backlight on that pic of the Mossie :p

Them’s was the days when ‘angars ‘ad ‘oles in ’em to look through!

Roger Smith.

The one pictured on airlinersnet is the example preserved in the Brussels Museum. It and the one at Duxford are the only two known survivors of about 4,400 built – mostly at five different factories in Coventry.

The MAM has a number of small RE8 parts (on loan from the RAFM) plus two RE8 propellors – one of which was the very first acquisition by the Midland A.P.S. in late May, 1967. When we were given it Mick Abbey and I carried it about two miles to my house taking it in turns to put it on a shoulder looking a bit like a re-enactment of the crucifixion. It must have been a Sunday morning as we passed a catholic church as some of the worshippers were exitting who probably thought we were a bit late for Easter!

Nostalgia time over – I’ll go now 🙂

Roger Smith.

Can anyone confirm the rumour that they planned to hang the TSR2 until they discovered the wing was only held on with 4 bolts?

Dennis Healey did that already

Roger Smith

I went to a class reunion (after 40 years) a couple of years ago.

I was worried about recognising people after all those years and for some people it was a challenge to remember who they were.

But not Marilyn the school beauty – considering her age she’s still a stunner! I wish the years had been as kind to me.

Oh, and the connection with historic aviation, is there one? Yes, actually, I ran the school model flying club out of which came the Midland Aircraft Preservation Society out of which came the Midland Air Museum.

Sadly Marilyn never expressed any interest in aeroplanes!

Roger Smith.