He was a much respected builder, and in 1978 completed the first UK 7/8 scale replica plans SE 5a, and what a beauty it was. Now there are perhaps eight or nine of them, and the great War Display Team have fielded up to four at a time.

Based at Booker for years, Mike’s attracted a lot of attention. Naturally, plenty of people fancied the idea of a quick go in it, and some acquaintance once enquired ”What would you need in your log book to get in the pilot’s seat of this? ” to which he replied ” the name Mike Beach ” 😉

He subsequentley built the Bleriot replica G-LOTI, now at Brooklands.

Just been watching The War Lover on Iplayer, how much of the footage was made for the film and how much is stock footage. Plus about halfway through the B17 beats up the airfield, did they really do this as it is very low and very impressive if real.

It was real, and the beat up at Bovingdon was by John Crewdson.

Some footage from ’12 O’clock high’ is stitched in, such as the Fortress landing on a badly placed tent and others sequences, I think.

The final cliff section was filmed in Kent, and also cost the life of parachutist Mike Reilly, who was drowned during a water-landing.

In answer to the unspoken question, ‘How was Bovingdon looking yesterday’, here is the answer!

Taken looking towards the prison. The snow-covered runway in the foreground may soon be available for low-key operation 🙂

Thanks for the clarification Iain, and welcome to the forum!

I was in Le Fertais after the accident. I asked one of the pilots if the Skyraider pilot was ok and he said he was, but seemed to put the blame with Rob Davies. I didn’t pursue the conversation.

They have a point.

If you play the film backwards, you can clearly see the Mustang reversing into the blameless Skyraider.

So this is a ‘new’ one?

Of course, it is quite old. I would not have expected that they could have got it up again so soon.

Made out of ‘porridge,’ flown by ‘dummies’- it’s got to be a winner !

Report now released by AAIB.

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Fokker%20DR1%20(Replica)%20SE-XXZ%2001-12.pdf

”The replica WWI fighter had landed after a display, when
the pilot lost control during the ground roll. He stated
that this was due to the propeller wash from a Hawker
Sea Fury starting up as he passed behind it.”