Quote from: daffy on September 28, 2021, 08:55:56 PM

Lest we forget.

Per Ardua ad Astra

and

Per Ardua (Because they would have been busy as well!)

Excellent stuff, Mike.  Very many thanks.

Best wishes

John

  Mike. 

I'm taking a guess here John @Train Waiting, but I wonder if an example of your favourite 'type' might be residing just a few miles from Coningsby, and even closer to my home. It is in taxiing condition and it regularly makes runs along a grass runway beside its hanger. Another glorious sight and the sound once again of the Merlins of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce. I had the pleasure of witnessing it's runs on 7th August last.

Here it is in the sunshine in August 2020 at that location, East Kirkby Museum, home of 'the other UK Lancaster', Just Jane:



And thank you for your most kind comments. 

Mike, thanks for a fantastic thread which brought back many happy memories. I did a foster tour (pre trade training) and a full tour at Coningsby. Flew in the Lanc with the best seat in the house - bomb aimer's station. Also got to wash it more times than I care to remember too. 

Well @daffy can't say I am not jealous.

Even with my previous career and regular interaction with air assets the sound of Merlins roaring is something special to behold, even forgetting the historical context there is no confusing the sound and the engineering in them.

I remember the Dakota coming in to land at Barton airfield (Manchester) and my old house was just off the approach. I heard the engines and I had to go outside to watch it do a sighting flyover and then come in to land which was great to watch.
Also while I was based in Bulford we were under the Boscombe Down airfield flight paths and in preparation for RIAT 2 of the Spitfires and a Messerschmitt BF109? were practising their display and it was an awesome sight, I got caught up in the moment and wanted the "nasty german" to be downed so I could go and chase him down pitch fork in hand of course 

Thank you for a wonderful story and photographs, Mike. It brought a lot of pleasure to this guy at the Antipodes. 

Quote from: daffy on September 28, 2021, 09:26:22 PM
I'm taking a guess here John @Train Waiting, but I wonder if an example of your favourite 'type' might be residing just a few miles from Coningsby, and even closer to my home. It is in taxiing condition and it regularly makes runs along a grass runway beside its hanger. Another glorious sight and the sound once again of the Merlins of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce. I had the pleasure of witnessing it's runs on 7th August last.

Many thanks for splendid photograph, Mike.  Yes, if I had a favourite, I'm sure it would be the 'Wooden Wonder'.  What was initially thought of as Geoffrey de Havilland's lunatic project turned out to be amazingly successful in several roles.  When I decided I wanted a lightweight but strong baseboard for Portable Poppingham, my inspiration was the Mosquito's ply and balsa construction.  But I can assure you Portable Poppingham doesn't fly faster than a Spitfire!

Thanks again for a brilliant thread and I'm so glad you got your wonderful day out.

With all best wishes to you both.

John

Nice write up of the day, sounds like you had a good time. I've never been to a members day (was meant to go a few years ago but my mate who was driving was ill), but I've done a couple of hangar tours. They're pretty good, especially if they're flying that day as well.

The first one I went to was with my dad, and we saw PA474 outside being prepared then taking off for its displays elsewhere. Quick dash from Coningsby to East Kirkby and we managed to see PA474 fly over NX611!

The second one was when VeRA FM213 was over from Canada. Saw both of them outside the hangar on the tour, then managed to join the hoards on the mound for the take off. A very special day, especially the flying at sunset.