Bell chopper

I’m pretty sure Warbird Adventures have sold their Bell helicopter, although it’s worth checking their own website. I think that they now just operate the SNJ’s.

They have ploughed a lot of money into their new facilities over the last three years and I believe the sale of the Bell went towards this.

They do have a rebuilt Focke Wulf 190 Dora 9 on site which should be well worth seeing.

Flying the Harvard

I did a one hour flight with Chuck G, back in May 2005. It’s a wonderful experience, flying in a genuine WW2 trainer. Because of cloud and turbulence I chickened out on the aerobatics, apart from a 360 roll and a lazy 8, (Mr Gardener was willing to go through the whole programme).

Check out Youtube videos to see what these pilots and their aircraft can REALLY do. I loved it and wish that I could have another go. Prices and options are tailored to what you want. I would thoroughly recommend it. Do it while you are there ’cause you don’t know when you’ll get another chance.

P.S I didn’t know that you could back seat in a P-51 either here or in Florida, how fantastic must that be! I can’t run to the price of a flight in the U.K SNJ at present, but I would be interested to know whether they run the same ‘souvenir’ DVD option as Warbird Adventures?

Berlin Flak Towers

If these structures were as much of a threat to allied bombers as the programme suggested, I’m surprised that 617 squadron wasn’t instructed to go after them with Tallboys…

Interesting Merlin posts

I found the last postings, particularly the one from Merlin Pete, most informative. My Father worked on Merlins during the war (seafires) so I’ve always had a particular interest in the type.
Unfortunately, I missed the engine runs at Flying Legends on Sunday, although I heard them as we were walking the flight line.

Spitfire loop

Nice continuous footage of the looping Spitfire, it’s interesting to see the classic puff of black smoke at the top of the loop as the G forces act on the petrol in the carburetor, starving the engine momentarily of fuel.

Just Jane airworthy?

After so long on the ground would it be wise to put Just Jane back in the air?

Even if she was declared fit to fly I would have thought that the risk of losing her due to an undetected age related fault outweighed the delight of seeing a third Lancaster back in the sky.

Perhaps it’s better to enjoy the atmosphere of her taxi performances as she is now.

I was lucky enough to see the last flying Mosquito before her fatal crash, I wouldn’t like to see a living, breathing Lanc like Just Jane go the same way.

Wing walkers

Lovely atmospheric shot of the wing walkers with the clouds boiling up behind the formation, and a nice clear profile of the French marked Curtiss as well

Flying Legends ’08 video release

A wonderful day out yesterday at my first flying legends. It was great seeing so many different marks of Spitfire in the air together. I was particularly impressed by the power diving and immelmann turning P51’s. What a shame Sally B didn’t fly to make up the B-17 trio due to it’s US engine.
Question: As my own efforts were so poor, does anyone know when the annual Flying Legends DVD is released? I assume it will later on this year, but when?

Also, I didn’t quiet understand why Pink Lady is being retired, surely (as long as she’s airworthy) someone can be found to continue operating her?

Out of interest for the future, what was the cost of a flight in the DH TigerMoths? I saw a tariff board for the Rapide but not for the Moth (I was skint and didn’t want to ask at the desk).