They were the re-enactors who were sitting around those tents. They went haring off past the Spits, and we joked they were heading for the shelters!

YR

MarkXVIII Cockpit

Charlie Brown taxis back after his lyrical display

A smokey start by the Mark XIV

G-AIYS

Sorry you didn’t get a flight. We were on the list as well – down towards the bottom. Still, as you say hopefully there’s another chance next year.

You might have seen us helping to stop the green tent blow away when that squall came through.

Shame that G-AMTV got caught by the wind and nosed over. Noone hurt, fortunately. The two fire engines, police cars and ambulance were a bit over the top, as the OW fire crew soon got it back on an even keel. Looking at it in the hangar later, the prop was bent – hopefully the engine will be OK.

The pic shows it on an earlier flight

‘Tis done. I probably saw you at the Aerofair as well and didn’t know it – that’s where I got my hat as a freebie.

YR

A school trip to Rolls Royce at Filton. We are shown around the factory and are about to go down to the canteen for lunch.

Then someone says that the Concorde prototype is about to make its first flight, do we want to watch? Out onto the airflied in time to see that beautiful aircraft take to the air for the first time in the UK. Lucky or what?

Another time. Out in the fields of the farm where I lived about 10 miles west of Salisbury. Loud noise. Look up and see TSR2 with several chase planes flying overhead.

Those were the days.

YR