1955 to date. My Tales of Being Flown .......................



1955 The Anson .....................
Refer back to my blog of Oct or Nov 2006 about my first ever flight for picture and 'story'.


1955 The Auster ....................

We can forget the Anson and my first flight. That little tale has been told way back in the blog of sometime in Oct or Nov 2006. The picture here is "near enough" the Auster T8 that I seem to remember. The occasion? I was away to my only summer camp in the Air Training Corps. Probably 1955. The place, RAF Hucknall in Nottinghamshire. The event is now a confused jumble of memories.

We cadets travelled there by train. I remember being worried at the prospect of initiation ceremonies that in fact never happened. I was fifteen or sixteen and met my first girl. She was called June and was very beautiful, or so my memory tells me. Maybe I kissed my first girl too, back then - my memory won't tell me either way. I certainly didn't get any more than a kiss or I'm sure my memory would confive that. Surprised were weren't bounced by the local lads as we poached their patch in our blue uniforms. Nottingham then had the odd distinction of have a higher female than male population, so maybe out 'conquests' were easier than we imagined. The Auster T8 was a dual-control, trainer version of the Auster AOP 6 in case you were wondering.

1957 Chipmunk .......................

After the Air Force had turned me into an aircraft mechanic they posted me to RAF West Malling in Kent. On the day of my arrival somebody asked me if I fancied walking down to the visiting University Air Squadron to see if we could get a flight. I went, and got a flight. We flew out over the English Channel and I got a glimpse of France. "Ever done a loop?" asked the pilot from the front cockpit. I said I hadn't ... so we did, we looped, and I nearly lost my lunch. My "adventures" at West Malling will follow in due course.

The Chipmunk, de Havilland Canada's first design. A classic machine. 700+ were built. Two seat, tandem trainer. Much loved by pilots. Note the 'standard' DH eliptical fin/rudder.