During my National Service with the Royal Air Force as an Instrument repairer when with Flying Training Command, I had the great pleasure of working one of the great aircraft of WW 2 ,the Vickers Wellington,and in so doing formed a great affection with this wonderful machine.
During my time (1948) they were used as sort of flying classrooms used to train U/T Navigators, Anson21s were also used,and believe it or not a wonderful Avro Anson Mk 1, sadly broken up whilst I was at the Station.
Later,transferred to Transport Command I serviced another work horse aircraft during the Berlin Airlift,the Handley Page Hastings,memories,memories of the wonderful camaraderie built up whilst engaged on this Aircraft.
Perhaps not vintage aircraft in the true meaning of that description,but worth remembering though.

I suppose my favourite is the Hawker Hurricane. Disappointed with the Hurricane Society, their website seems half dead - not good news. A contact in Bracknell, UK, is trying to set up a much more dynamic society (his father flew one during WW2), but lacks funds and contacts. PM me if you are interested, and I will pass on your e-mail address to him.

As a schoolboy, I lived in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK, and near the world famous Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), so during the latter half of the war, saw a lot of flying and a little Jerry bombing. At the end of the War, the RAE held an airshow, called Captured German Aircraft, and my father took me to it. Flown by RAF types. Entranced, never forget it, as at school, we had wall charts of enemy aircraft, and spotting them was a top sport!!

During training in electronics in the Fifties, I worked in a small team measuring jet noise at the National Gas Turbine Establishment. The Flying Bedstead was one aircraft . Turned me partially deaf too.

Vectis mike

Like this...... Blades & Vulcan

Hi,
I had the pleasure to meet Alex Hanshaw when he gave one of his talks at the Elvington Air Museum. His Mew Gull is of course at Brieghton, just a few miles from my home. I fly on a very regular basis based at Sherburn. My next flight is IFR to Biggin Hill and return on the 9/12/09.
All the best Jet Jockey.

The De Haviland museum at London Colney is worth a visit.
De Havilland

Shuttleworth museum near Bedford has some very old 'planes still airworthy.Shuttleworth

Walter W. So it's you I have to blame for sore knuckles trying to get some of those plugs out.

No knowledge of movements but I thought I might mention that my Dad fitted ejector seats to vampires.

Thanks for that I didn't think I was seeing or hearing things & I'm afraid although I'm of a certain age I wouldn't be able to distinguish betwen a Vampire and Venom. I was too far away to be sure of livery or markings. I'll have to check the direction he was headed there is a possibilty he was going toward Duxford of course, that's only 20 odd miles from us.

I've just checked on Google Earth and he was definitely on a heading for Debden. Is there any activity there nowadays? It's many years since i remember seeing a very impressive solo Lightning performance there, about 1968!

Strangely enough I now work at a company whose office and warehouse are built on the site of the De Havilland factory in Hatfield. There are still quite a few of my colleagues who worked there, not many of my age though!
We visited the De Havilland museum at London Colney last year, quite a pleasant little museum for a Sunday afternoon out with the grandson. On another occasion we went to Hendon without him and spent all afternoon saying "Josh would have like this"!