Ben's "What do you see over your house?" thread in the General forum brought back some fond memories for me. I got to thinking about the types of aircraft I saw over my house back in the 1950s when I was about his age. Things were certainly very different in those days.

Apart from the variety of what are now called GA types from Shoreham there was plenty of military activity from the three nearby air bases - RAF Tangmere, RAF Thorney Island & the naval base at RNAS Ford. On a typical day in 1955 (when I was 12 years old) I could expect to see flights of

Canberras, Meteors, Hunters & the occasional Harvard, Mosquito & Spitfire from Tangmere
Sycamore & Whirlwind helicopters from Thorney Island
Gannets, Hunters, Sea Hawks, Sea Vampires, Wyverns plus the odd Firefly & Sea Fury from Ford

A couple of years later I remember flights of Gloster Javelins flying over, almost out of sight with their unmistakable warbling sound. Not sure where they were based. Also the new Supermarine Scimitars & Sea Vixens from Ford & the old Vickers Varsity (flying pigs) at Thorney.

I can't think of a more exciting time for any young person mad keen about aircraft to be growing up. Possibly this was the reason for my obsession with anything that flew. Unfortunately I didn't realise how lucky I was & didn't appreciate that most of these everyday sights would soon become very rare indeed, if not extinct. I often wish I'd had a camera to record it.

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To quote the genial Python boys (Lif eof Brian I think - Michael Palin?)...

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Interestingly enough my first memory of seeing an aircraft was a Hunter, sometime in the mid 80s, probably at Coningsby of Mildenhall. Other than that I grew up on a diet of Hawks, Harriers (proper ones - Gr3s and the FRS 1), Jaguars and Tornados, the odd Canberra here and there, F-111s and A-10s. I can just remember having pictures of the vintage pair (CFS Meteor and Vampire), before their sad demise too. I remember see the Lightning as well...

Still, its the old aircraft that do it for me....

Charlie

i would have given my left leg to see all of those. Dang what a selection.

My first visit to a civil airport was Stansted - the old terminal on the western side of the airport. Air UK HP Heralds were the order of the day then...

Charlie

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Don't be sad Ben. I'm just being wistful & reminiscing. That's what us old codgers do, thinking back to when we were young whippersnappers with our whole lives ahead of us. 8)

You will be able to do the same when you're my age but don't wish your life away.

My first aircraft memories are of fighter jets practicing dog fights and such near Edwards AFB in California. I was very small, my mom tells me that I used to call them rockets, because the contrails and the loud roar of the engines. We always lived close to an airbase as my dad was in the USAF at the time. Another fond memory is watching RC-135, KC-135s, C-5s and Starlifters (dont remember the letter-number designation), and B-52s (I think) at Helenikon AFB in Athens, Greece. My mom and I would go to pick my dad up from work, and we always got there early so I could watch the planes. This all took place between 1985 and 1989.

That's it, Hagar, rub it in...  . You are a lucky guy, and from the circle of friends you seem to have, you're still gathering up some beautiful aviation memories. Thanks for sharing them! Love that Miles (thought for sure it was a Ryan at first)... I'll bet people are reticent to fly it for him  'cuz they don't want to risk dinging it. I, however, am not. I'll fly that baby across the Atlantic for him, if he wants (can't guarantee I'll want to bring it back, but...)!

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Indeed. I plan to spend a lot of time there this season.

Here's some aerial shots I took there last year. First - Peter Holloway's collection. The Maggie in my previous shot, obviously flown by one of his arm-twist victims.



The Miles Falcon Major. Only airworthy example of its type in the world.


One of my favourite shots of Peter H in his PT-22.


Here's Peter Teichman in his Staggerwing.

Watch this space for some nice aerial shots of his P-51D & Spitfire. Not taken yet though. With a bit of luck I'll get some soon. 8)

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Ah well. Never mind. Maybe he will look round for something else - something a little rarer perhaps.

"Loverly" shots, Hagar. I really like those "Golden Age" birds...