A sky background for a page about aeroplanes
Train-spotting and stamp-collecting.
Just two hobbies that fascinate some and bore others rigid!
If you are the sort of person easily bored by the pastimes of others,
LEAVE NOW!
From the time I joined the British Army and became an Aircraft Technician,
I have loved aeroplanes. I used to work on ordinary 'planes (fixed-wing) and helicopters (rotary-wing). Of the two I found helicopters the more exciting. A bit like the difference between a car and a motorcycle. One gets you around in comfort and style and the other makes the blood race and is pure excitement! That's helicopters!
Having tried, and failed, to get a job in the aircraft industry after I left
the Army the only way to indulge my passion is to go to air shows here
in England. Living as I do in London, in the South, I have quite a good
choice of places to go during the year. Biggin Hill is a very famous
World War II airfield and they have a great show every year. Further
North is Duxford near to where I first learned to parachute. To the West
are Farnborough and Yeovilton. Also to the North of London is another
World War II airfield, North Weald. There is a Fighter Meet here every year.
Farnborough has the biggest International show every other year and
alternates with Paris in France which also has a huge International show.
But my favourite has to be Middle Wallop where I did my training on
aircraft in the Army. This is still an active Army camp and houses the
Museum of Army Aviation as well as the Army Air Corps training
establishment. Army pilots learn to fly aeroplanes and helicopters here
and technicians learn to maintain them.
Here are pictures of a few aeroplanes that I saw at a variety of airshows.
Hurricane and Spitfire
Harrier VSTOL
Lancaster Heavy Bomber
'Ruslan' Antonov AN-124
'Sally B' B-17 Bomber
Corsair (Thanks Peter)
Oh, and this is me.