“…the cumbersome Firebrand one of those machines which make test pilots shake their heads in disgust. Here was a machine supposedly designed from scratch for desk landing. Yet, with all the experience of landing the long-nosed Spitfires and Hurricanes which we now had, she had been given an even longer nose. The for’ard view was nothing short of terrible and the angular view for deck landing not much better. ” – Eric “Winkle” Brown

I think the picture pretty much proves that!

*looks for skateboard underneath*

Not just civvies – the A400M Atlas has one by the ladder up to the flightdeck.

Of all the luck to find Hoy when they’d have just sailed over the rest of Orkney. RIP, and trhank you Snapper for bringing them to our attention. Hope you are having a good trip – Orkney is wonderful!

A busy spotting day at Horspath yesterday!

Off the top of my head – an Isaacs Fury, a Stearman, clipped-wing Spitfire, both military and civilian Austers, something that looked like a Supermunk, Fairchild Argus, Luscombe, Piper Cub…

I think I saw more different types than at Abingdon Airshow the day before!

Tiger Moth over Kidlington yesterday. There’s also a Pitts Special been putting in appearances lately.

No sign of the shed-with-wings for a while, I’m missing it!

Last  Sunday a Mustang with a blue tail in the far distance near Oxford about 7pm – I had to use 600mms of lens to even see it was a Mustang!

Yeaterday some interesting roadrunning going on – the fuselage of an Air Atlantique Dak on the back of a low loader was heading South down the M6 yesterday, followed closely by what I think must be the centre section of G-APSA – certainly a four-engined aircraft in British Eagle colours. Then an hour or so later, a DH Dove/Devon fuselage with the winds following behind.

No the Pup’s rudder was another shape entirely!

(I’ll get me coat)