Thomas Sopwith

[OldAirmail]

Only one word - Fascinating!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgxCioiN5pQ[/youtube]

[PhilipCWilson]

Thank you so very much.
I just finished watching (5 minutes ago) the documentary on the P-38 which consisted of many original WWII video clips.
Watching the video you posted really moved me as men like that are really the hero's people should be looking up to, not the likes of Justin Bieber.

Philip

[OldAirmail]

Thank you.

He wasn't just an authority on the subject, he lived it, day to day.





What surprised me was the fact that after WWI he, Harry Hawker, and a few others founded Hawker Aircraft.

Which led to the more than a few well recognized aircraft.





What a life. From under powered aircraft to the Harrier Jump Jet.

[Jetranger]

Thomas Sopwith // 18 January 1888 – 27 January 1989

Geee, you'd think, they could give the ol' boy a better headstone than this, at least ?

[papituwall]

Many thanks!

[Fozzer]

What a wonderful 30 minutes just spent!...

Such a grand old gentleman, with an amazing, lucid memory of a time long ago!

The best Video I have seen for a long time!

(Also nice to see Raymond Baxter, as well).

Paul..... ...!

[Flying Trucker]

Can not think of anything to add which has not been typed out in the above posts...

Wonderful video...

[Hawkeye07]

Thanks OAM! What a facinating video! For the last year or so I've concentrated my reading on the Europe of pre WWI and military aviation in the First World War itself.
This video has filled in some of the gaps in the history books rather nicely. At approx 22 minutes into the interview Mr. Sopwith talks about the production line and the aircraft builders themselves. Priceless. You rarely hear anything about the people who actually built the aircraft or the skills involved. I think I could have spent days talking to Mr. Sopwith.


Hawkeye