Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:05 pm
It's the little things in life...
...that really do make me smile.
Driving home from work today. on a nice warm late summer evening. Probably one of the last times I'll be able to have the roof down, so as I'm driving along I'm glancing left, right, behind, up - just savouring the varying shades of blue, and glancing wistfully at the high wispy strands of cirrus.
My mind starts to wander... the contrails of today's EasyJet 737's begin to mix in with the cirrus, patterns start to emerge, and with the memories of this weeks forum postings stirring gently, I'm gazing at a 1940 sky. The white swirls high above are no longer the peaceful ceiling of a 21st century life, they are now the stark traces of a lethal game, where Hurricanes and Spitfires defend their homeland, where Merlins roar in defiance.
Blimey - I'm driving! Mustn't get too carried away, I really do need to concentrate. I mean, for a moment there I could almost see and hear them.
And then as I glance back up, I realise that I wasn't imagining it. For there in the evening sunshine, heading north and crossing from right to left a mile or so ahead of me, are the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. I'm on an empty country lane, so I just stop and watch them chug away homewards.
Two hours later, I'm still grinning as I type this. I'm sure the BBMF boys are fully aware of how much they are appreciated, but for me, this little encounter was even better than any display I've ever seen, because it was completely unexpected, but completely right for that moment. It was just perfect.
If any of the BBMF boys are reading this, I'd just like to say Thank You. You've made my day.![]()
As a kid, many years ago now, I was at Brounton Burrows (North Devon) in some massive dunes looking out to sea, when RR299 the Mosquito came howling in from the sea and overhead inland. I’ve seen this mossie on countless occasions and the tragic loss of her crew is still difficult to accept, but for me that’s what flying, not static aviation is all about. It was about 10sec total, but it’s unforgettable. I was suddenly like a small boy in Holland, 1942. Ave atque vale. Thanks for the memories.
To stand with a group of veterans and see the Lanc, that's rather special too.
Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:07 pm
Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:32 pm
Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:25 pm
Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:46 pm
Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:26 pm
Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:38 pm
Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:45 am
Second Air Force wrote:As a good many of you know, I have been researching the training airfields in the CONUS (especially the Midwest) for many years. I've been fortunate to actually fly the pattern and land on some of the same airbases that thousands of WWII veterans did six decades ago.
Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:03 am
Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:50 am
Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:29 am
Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:47 am
Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:48 am
RickH wrote:
Dan, I got you beat by a few years with Great American Fighter Pilot, can't tell you how many times I've read that one. I lost my original copy that I got around the 3rd-4th grade but found another when my son was about the same age. I think I read it again. It's still on the shelf !
Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:01 am
Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:50 am