According to UKAR ( impecible source!!?) the Pub Landlord, has walked away from the sorry tale with Bateson taking back possession of the aeroplane, plus a settlement of £4,000 for unpaid ground-rent- I do not know if he (landlord) got his £15K back as well.

If Mr Ollerenshaw is just £4k down, then he has probably had very good value for his money, having elevated himself to something of a minor celebrity, made countless news stories, and has in all liklihood had quite a jolly time.

Whether he was a misguided muppet, or a valient crusader for vintage aircraft preservation, who can say!

I try not to add it all up, hangarage now £300 per month (Divided by 4 thankfully)
medical now every 2 years at £120 each, or more and all the other costs that come along

Of course there is also now talk of compulsory radio usage, as well as mode C transponder, and pay -per -flight airspace charging. Fuel is not going to get any cheaper, and if it all kicks off regarding Iran/Israel and the nuclear issue, then watch fuel prices go through the roof.

The best solution to the gloomy introspection is haul out the aeroplane, and go flying, and remind yourself that it IS worthwhile. Even with all the hassle and costs, thirty hours or so a year is still coming in at around £2,000 per year. That is no more than average depreciation, on a very average car and I cannot think of a better way to spend that kind of sum right now.

Chocks away for 2006!!

Funny looking ‘still’ on that site, of the Nieuports in the mist/smoke. The middle one is quite ‘perky’ but the outer two have rather droopy wings. They are rigged completely differently. Probably John Day’s beautiful replica from Popham, and two film-unit scale flyers.

Robert W -That is a fascinating shot of all the Ansons.

I think that line -up was the retired fleet of Kemp’s Aerial Surveys, who also had the Desford G-AGOS. I suspect that some of the Ansons were originally from the disbanded unit at RAF Bovingdon (photo) which performed a final flypast in 1968, before being sold. One went off to the war in Biafra with some Red Cross missionaries, and one ended up at Halfpenny Green. These may be the others.

A friend had his Yak 52 re-painted at a well-known establishment in Northants and a very good job was done for £8,000. Perhaps a Spit would be similar.

Nigel the Goldfish- he’s a real character with a super personality.

Beaut shot BB- That would make the basis for a great painting, lovely highlights under the wing.
It would perhaps need the wheels tidied up, call it the TD version and leave them out!

June 21st 1987-
The Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (whoever they are) were holding a ‘Garden Party’ at Denham, and as the organisation seemed rather well-connected, I though it worth going along to this private event, and leering over the fence to see what might turn up. As I drove towards Denham, a mighty roaring shook the ground. It was just at the spot where the M25 neatly goes through the two large viaduct spans.

Without warning, a long white nose rose out of the trees, followed by the rest of a Concorde as it climbed a couple of hundred feet and cranked hard into a 60 degree bank, with the afterburners going. It carried on round over Chalfont St Peter at no more that 500 feet , and brought the town to a standstill. Then it went round and did it again. People still talk about it to this day!

The display content was quite exotic, as the Blenheim was making just its second display since restoration. My final view of it was staggering into the air on one engine, just before the left wing hit the ground, and it cart-wheeled onto the golf-course. A very sad end to a highly memorable afternoon.