Memories
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:00 amThis 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.
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. 8-)
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.
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. 8-)
or maybe the Two Fat Ladies...oh how I miss them... 
