Just caught up with this thread. Came across this YouTube clip from the film – pretty good quality – shame the full movie is not yet available on a legit DVD, but we live in hope:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zKlG_lrCVX4

Now complete and delivered to Manching – look forward to seeing her back in the air this year!

http://shop.me-air-company.de/index.php?cPath=2_4_65&XTCsid=9be9111e21f3334b93be3f260fb3e30c

I’m signed up.

Done.
Any news of whether or not the Red Arrows at the Olympics petition has had any effect?

From the No. 10 website:

“The e-petition asking the Prime Minister to “to Allow the Red Arrows to Fly at the 2012 Olympics” is ongoing. This is a response in advance of the closing date from the Government

This allegation is not true. The Government has not banned the Red Arrows from the London 2012 Olympic Games. The organising committee of London 2012 will decide what to include in the Opening Ceremony and other celebrations – but with almost five years to go, decisions are yet to be made on what these will look like.

And of course the Red Arrows played a memorable role in the celebrations for 2012, when they flew over Trafalgar Square to mark London winning the Games.”

The Wickipedia reference you mention quotes Stapleton himself describing the action in which von Werra was shot down on 5th September – seems fairly conclusive?:

“…….During my dive from altitude I spotted a Spitfire at about 6,000′ diving vertically, half inverted, towards the ground, it’s tail shot away. I then spotted a lone 109 in the same airspace as an RAF pilot descending by parachute. I latched onto the German and pursued him at low-level over the Kent countryside. As I fired short bursts he attempted to shake me off but I could see my tracer striking his aircraft and I closed in. I remember at one stage being concerned that there was a village in my line of fire. He had nowhere to go but down and eventually force-landed in a field. I flew low over the site. The German was soon apprehended, initially by the unarmed cook from the local searchlight battery!”

Excellent photos on the site, thanks Mark. Now, not bein a 109 expert, is this a proper 109 with german engine, Buchon type 109 or 109 with a modern / new engine? TIA, Bex

This is a converted Hispano Buchon – a ‘Battle of Britain’ film veteran, I believe, appearing both as ‘Yellow 11’ and ‘Red 14’.

When you consider the extent of the damage in the most recent crash (it suffered severe damage in at least two previous incidents) it is astonishing that the restoration team reached this point so quickly. Here are the ‘before’ pictures:

http://www.me-air-company.de/bildergalerie.html

Looks like they are only a few months away from getting it back in the air – it would be great to see a DB engined ‘109 flying in the UK again, let’s hope they bring it over for a visit!

Yes, the Cat flew over our house yesterday evening, making stately progress towards SEN. I’m heading off to the seafront now to have a look at the stalls, armed with waterproofs & golfing umbrella, & will go on to the airport later this afternoon – but the whole thing looks to be a total washout for today at least, let’s hope for a break in the weather for tomorrow. Agree it’s a real shame for the organisers after all their effort in pulling the show together.

QANTAS 707

Some pics here on UKAR:

http://www.ukar.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=1;t=22673;st=80

Try this company:

http://www.aircraftrecords.com/products_frame.html

I can recommend ‘Checkflight Gustav’, digital recording of Bf109 G-2 ‘Black 6’ made at Duxford in the early 90s (I was actually there during one of the recording sessions – absolutely stunning, never to be repeated!), includes start up, taxi, take off, fly-by, etc., etc. and a separate in-cockpit recording from start up, take-off and landing.