Simviation Forum - Memories

Mar 14^th, 2011 at 6:00am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

This year is the 70th anniversary of the formation of my old ATC (Air Training Corps) Squadron. On Saturday I attended a reunion which brought back a lot of wonderful memories. Like most of the cadets the main reason I joined was for the opportunity to fly.

My first flight was during summer camp at RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire in August 1957. The aircraft was a Marathon T.11 used as a navigational trainer by the RAF. It was designed by George Miles of FG Miles Ltd which was based at my local airport at the time. The flight lasted about 4 1/2 hours & I sat up front after take-off. I vividly recall flying over Blackpool Tower.

After a long search I found an FS9 Marathon by Peter Larkham. No suitable livery so I had a go at painting it myself. I've lost all my records so I chose XA261 which was based at Topcliffe at the time of my flight. Ironically I helped break it up at Shoreham Airport in 1962. Cry

My next flight was at RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire in 1958. The first of many in the lovely old Chipmunk & my first experience of aerobatics. I took to it like a duck to water. This example is Rick Piper's FS9 Chippie in typical markings of the ones we flew in.

The following year was a dream come true for me. A flight in a Hunter T.7 at RAF Chivenor, Devon. At 16 I must have been one of the youngest people in the world to have "broken the Sound Barrier" at that time. This is Dave Garwood's FSX model in typical markings of the period. I still think the Hunter is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built. A jet Spitfire. Cool

« Last Edit: Mar 14^th, 2011 at 11:53am by Hagar »

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Mar 14^th, 2011 at 9:01am

Skunkworks Offline
Colonel
Frazzle Dazzle!
Central California

Gender:
Posts: 2102

At 16 you must have felt on top of the world! No pun intended.
Thanks for sharing your exciting memories.
I especially like the Hunter T.7

FSX, we've come a long way baby! Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor. Its largest current project is the F-35 Lightning II

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Mar 14^th, 2011 at 1:13pm

patchz Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender:
Posts: 10589

I have to admit I was surprised when I saw Hagar as the author of this thread. Great shots Doug, and a good job on the painting. And like our 'other' Doug,

your memories are worth reading. You should do this more often.

Don't wait for some anniversary, just post something based on a memory and tell us what you feel comfortable with as to the event.

Cheers,
Larry

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Mar 14^th, 2011 at 3:52pm

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

Wonderful Doug...just awesome...

Oh to be young again and know what we know now... Wink

I don't think I would do it all over again...if I got another chance I would be a "Chef"...a rival to Jamie... Grin

or maybe the Two Fat Ladies...oh how I miss them... Wink

Thanks for taking us down Memory Lane... Wink

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Mar 14^th, 2011 at 4:39pm

yancovitch Offline
Colonel
effortless effort
born montreal, live vancouver

Gender:
Posts: 1897

wonderful!...i too think that memorabilia should be inserted more often....thanks!

intel i7 950.....asus p6t delux v2....asus gtx 285......raptor 150g...raptor300g (fsx)......liquid cooled cpu cooler.....6gb corsair 1600-777........windows 7......antec 900 case.....

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Mar 14^th, 2011 at 5:24pm

patchz Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender:
Posts: 10589

Flying Trucker wrote on Mar 14^th, 2011 at 3:52pm:

Oh to be young again and know what we know now... Wink

I don't know about you Doug, but that would make me dangerous. Roll Eyes

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Mar 15^th, 2011 at 12:58am

CHUCK79 Offline
Global Moderator
"Good grief"
KOMK

Gender:
Posts: 4998

Very cool Doug......love the history Cool

Great shots too Wink

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings. Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds.....and done a hundred things you have never dreamed of.....wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delerious, burning blue I've topped the wind swept heights with easy grace where never Lark, nor even Eagle flew. While with silent lifting of mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of god"

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Mar 15^th, 2011 at 6:24am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Thanks for the comments chaps. This is my first topic in the Screenshots forum but it won't be the last.

The Marathon is very much a WIP. It's my first attempt at repainting an aircraft since the days of CFS2 & taking longer than I expected. I've had a job getting the silver finish to display properly. I'm quite pleased with my latest effort. It looks much more realistic to me.

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Mar 15^th, 2011 at 8:37am

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

Gender:
Posts: 37122

I learned my real world aerobatic skills on a Chippie as a cadet as well Doug. Great little plane that'll always have a special place in my heart.
One of my friends dads was a Hunter driver, lots of funny stories Grin

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #9 - Mar 20^th, 2011 at 12:07pm

Jake Bourdon Offline
Colonel
If You're Not Flying,
You're Not Living.
KASH/Boire(Nashua) Airport

Gender:
Posts: 831

Great work

- Jake

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: