How about the 28/09/1968 episode of Get Smart (case #1173)where Seigfried as the ‘Red Baron’ is planning to destroy the entire potato crop in the U.S. to be followed by broccoli, rhubarb, squash and kumquats unless a large ransom is paid. The episode ends up in a dogfight between Maxwell Smart and Siegfried in a Nieuport 28 and a Fokker D7 respectively. The D7 was painted as Ernst Udet’s plane.

I thought my simile with the Brough Superior was rather good……..:(

I’m not happy with you quoting that accident Frazer, in the same post as describing ‘damn fool antics’.

Yes, a fair comment, I must apologise sincerely for that unintended aspect.

I most certainly wasn’t referring to the P38 accident as damn fool antics ( I may be a dill, but I’m not an insensitive dill….). I was hoping to point out that the question of aerobatics in vintage aircraft has already been brought into question with regards to suitability, reason and the need for them at all. If the DC3 had come unstuck, then I suspect the same debate would rage again, but maybe this time in the hands of litigation lawyers and regulating bureaucrats. (We’d never see another plane fly again!)

“Damn fool antics” = rolling a DC3. I don’t believe it needs to be done, I don’t question it can be done, I really wouldn’t want to see it repeated. Display the DC3 as we all know it: a stately lady of the skies.

It’s a bit like restoring a 1939 Brough Superior and then using it to jump 13 buses. On paper it can be done…but why do it?

I should point out here too that I am not a pilot, nor even a member of aircrew, merely an enthusiast.

Again, I wasn’t comparing the terrible P38 accident with the DC3, just drawing attention to the attitude that has already been expressed regarding aerobatics at airshows. I sincerely apologise for it being such a clumsy post, and hope I have not upset too many folks on this excellent forum.

Best regards, Matt

Andy and JDK are spot on about the problems in translating any book from one language to another.
MP

I am reminded of a quote from Charles Berlitz in one of his many novels where he demonstrated the difficulty of interpreting and verifying second, third even sixth-hand anecdotes.

The term ‘out of sight, out of mind’ was translated into Chinese and from there to Japanese into English and had morphed into ‘invisible and insane’.

Interesting if true, and interesting anyway! (Mark Twain)

In regard of how long it takes to publish a book, well all I can say is that we take as long as is necessary to get things right, other publishers may not apply such high standards…!

Mark Postlethwaite
co-publisher Red Kite

I agree wholeheartedly. Red Kite is peopled by 2 chaps dedicated to providing enthusiasts such as all of us here on this forum with high-quality, accurate and deeply enjoyable reading. I had the pleasure of speaking with Simon on Mr. Bell’s invention on a number of occasions when they were calling for contributions from would-be authors. Thoroughly pleasant and enthusiastic!

(PS: Mark, if you’re still wanting contributions…………….)

Cheers,

Matt Morgan
Melbourne, Australia.

Pretty darn good effort for mine! The chap must have an enormous amount of respect for the Lancaster and its young crews to start such a project in the first place.

Goshawk Squadron by Derek Robinson. No contest!

Quite a few drones on this thread………..:p