The BBC2 documentary of 1991/92 called “Woomera” had some spectaular footage of a remote control Canberra doing its own thing when the joystick operator lost control of his “box”. The Canberra was performing a slow speed flypast, gear and flaps down when its nose reared up, started to climb, stalled, plummeted to the ground and exploded in a fireball.

Very funny, actually.

Wasn’t aware of Neville Shute’s involvement in the design of the Oxford although he was a key member of the team which built the R100 airship. I thought he was a Vickers man myself (as opposed to Airspeed, which became part of De Havilland).

His full name was Neville Shute Norway.

As far as I’m aware there are no flying Oxfords.

It just shows how difficult it is pinning down real “firsts” in aviation (or in any branch of technology for that matter).

There are so many “almost” first flights or lesser known claims (most not properly substantiated) that you can get into all sorts of wrangles over who is right and who is wrong. In the end, I’m pretty sure most of the important “firsts” have now been properly documented and anyone else making claims on behalf of alternative pioneers really has to work hard to substantiate their claims.

I can coinfirm that MiG 21 “503” is now parked outside FAST’s Farnborough HQ.

Having read those links, I suppose he doesn’t get a mention as his flights seem to have had very limited control, especially in the longtitudinal plane.

I think for “true” flight you have to demonstrate control about all the axes.

When did the Watkin’s monoplane fly? I remember seeing it on TV in 1983 when it was preserved at RAF St Athan.

Is that really true?

How come I’ve never come across this before.

All the authorative sources quote either Cody’s flight at Farnborough or Roe’s flight in his Triplane (both 1908) as the first heavier than air powered flights in Britain. Which one you support tends to be dependent on your loyalties. Northerners go for Roe and Southerners go for Cody.

Can we have a bit more background on the Phillips claim?

I bet she hasn’t been given any anti-salt water corrosion protection. Watch her disintegrate – rapidly.

I think the Battle is rather graceful. Don’t let its reputation mislead you into thinking it wasn’t particularly good looking.

Much the same goes for the 163 – I wouldn’t call it ugly either.

The Skyraider is a big beefy machine – but ugly? Maybe in it’s AEW version perhaps.