Today, on my way back up to Dishforth (can't believe they're sending me back; its cold up North!) I stopped off and visited Newark Air Museum. http://www.newarkairmuseum.org.
Although this isn't a particularly big museum, there is plenty to see. It was great to wander around all the aircraft, including; de Havilland Sea Vixen, English Electric Lightning T.5, Gloster Meteor T.7, Hunting Jet Provost T.3A, HS Gnat T.1, SAAB Draken, North American F-100 Super Sabre, and Avro Shackleton. I won't carry on, at the risk of sounding like an "enthusiast"....but I really fancy flying the Draken and I think I would enjoy some time with the Army Historic Flight, the Sioux looks quite roomy and on seeing it I couldn't help but burst into song; singing Suicide is Painless loudly and with gusto....much to the surprise of the visiting public!
There was a Sim there (50p a go!) and it proved a bit of a giggle listening to one chap (who obviously fancied himself as a good pilot), crash time after time. Terrain! Terrain! Pull up! Pull up! I hope I don't see him in the cockpit any time soon.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Friday, 7 November 2008
FO Bear Helier vists Popham
Popham Airfield in the North Hampshire downs is a great place. With two grass runways and a great atmosphere it is a very popular destination for weekend fliers and this bear was no exception. Because Popham attracts to many good people it was only natural that it would attract a top bear as well.
Among the great selection of very nice aeroplanes based at Popham is Melvyn Hiscock’s Rearwin Cloudster. This is unique in Europe and one of only about five flying anywhere in the world. It was completed on 12 October 1939 and was delivered to California by Ken Rearwin, son of the company founder Rae Rearwin, during November of 1939.
It spent many years flying in the US before being sold to England where it provided an engine for a World War One replica. The remains were bought by Melvyn and restored over a five year period with it’s first post restoration flight on 9 May 2005.
Since then it has been based at Popham and provided your favourite bear with a great flight out around the Isle of Wight, across Southampton water and the New Forest stopping for tea and buns at Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury and then back to Popham.
As Melvyn said “What a real pleasure it was to fly with such an accomplished and polite bear, it was a nice flight and I hope to introduce him to some more people at Popham, and some of the other airfields in the area, in the not too distant future!”
Among the great selection of very nice aeroplanes based at Popham is Melvyn Hiscock’s Rearwin Cloudster. This is unique in Europe and one of only about five flying anywhere in the world. It was completed on 12 October 1939 and was delivered to California by Ken Rearwin, son of the company founder Rae Rearwin, during November of 1939.
It spent many years flying in the US before being sold to England where it provided an engine for a World War One replica. The remains were bought by Melvyn and restored over a five year period with it’s first post restoration flight on 9 May 2005.
Since then it has been based at Popham and provided your favourite bear with a great flight out around the Isle of Wight, across Southampton water and the New Forest stopping for tea and buns at Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury and then back to Popham.
As Melvyn said “What a real pleasure it was to fly with such an accomplished and polite bear, it was a nice flight and I hope to introduce him to some more people at Popham, and some of the other airfields in the area, in the not too distant future!”
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Update from the AAC
The lack of updates for the Blog have been down to FO Bear Helier's busy flying tempo. His trips to date have included: two low level trips through the Lake District; he has flown down the Tyne; through the London Heli lanes twice; multiple low level training trips around the Yorkshire moors; and 2 aircraft pick ups from Fleetlands. He has completed his Lynx Mk7 and 9 conversions, and his list of airfields visited is growing......So far in the Lynx he has been to: RAF Cranwell, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Leeming, RAF Linton on Ouse, RAF Topcliffe, Fleetlands (Vector) and Fairoaks.
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