If your that alarmed/ashamed (as I guess that by your liberal use of :mad::mad::mad:) because your Great-Grandfather held a honest position for a firm that made arms for a nation to have on hand to defend itself…

I’d politely suggest that you never read FlyPast, the Historic Aviation forum, and satisfy all your aviation interests by readling about Piper Tri-Pacers and sport sailplanes.
PS. try to ignore the fact that the French Army used Tri-Pacers as liaison aircraft in the 50s.

:D:D:D

I’m not annoyed, nor ashamed, it’s just that it was something that surprised me. I merely use it as an example to point out that we aren’t responsible for our family’s past.
As to the rest of your statement about only looking at boring pipers, no, why the hell should I? Some of my favourite aircraft are military ones, the Seafire and the Sea Fury to name a few. I also like the Hawker Hunter, and I admire the Lanc, Halibag and the like for being superb pieces of engineering.
I have no quarrel with history, and with wars which have already been faught, as nothing can be done about it. It’s just that now, in the 21st century we should try to resolve differences over a conference table and come to a mutual agreement, rather than at the end of a gun/nuke/torpedo/whatever.

I once worked with somebody who was called I.Hitler they refused to change it explaining that just because one person of evil had that surname why should they be ashamed. Big credit to them I say.

As to there being 39 living relatives of Hitler who gives a toss and what good does it do anybody knowing this? I am sure there are loads of living relatives to every evil person that has ever walked this earth and I think the last thing they need reminding of is that some distant relation was such a nasty piece of work, We can’t be blamed for our family historys can we?.

I know what you mean. I am a pacifist, simply as I feel war isn’t the answer to things, esp Afgh., and Iq., yet earlier on today I discovered my Great-Grandfather was not only a managing-director of an arms manufacturer, but also discovered he was a director general of munitions supply for the Govt.:mad::mad::mad:

Would you believe a lack of sleep?

Dropping one of my favourite vintage wristwatches, onto a stone floor, and being told that it would cost in the region of £60 to repair, money which as a student I haven’t got.

T-33 Shooting star

Canadair CL-44?

Not quite but nearly there

Bra Bassoon, not oboe. But yes, it is the Brabazon.

A very easy one