On cloud nine in a 1940 fighter plane...

[PADDY]

I got to sit in the cockpit of this Battle of Britain veteran 2 days ago down at the Shuttleworth Collection (near Bedford, UK). I just happend to be wearing my Irvin sheepskin and got chatting to the mechanic who was getting this beaut ready to fly at shows..etc. He asked "Fancy a sit in her," to which I replied, "Is the Pope really Catholic?!" A great experience, but no, I didn't get to pilot her :-(
But sitting in her was enough, how often does a young man like me get to sit in the lap of a silver screen goddess like Miss Hurricane!!

 

[PADDY]

Mr Irvin flies back in time...

If you have the chance, go to the Shuttleworth Collection, the hangers and grass strip are right out of the 30's..it's a lovely time warp!!



Tally-ho Red Leada!!

 

[MikeyB17]

Paddy, you jammy sod, how do you manage to talk your way into these places? Must be the old Irish charm! Nip round to the Smithsonian, I bet they'd let you sit in 'Enola Gay'! BTW, did you get my Email with the address? I couldn't PM you (too many messages in your PM inbox!), and I have two Email addresses for you-I sent one, not sure if it got there!

MikeyB17

 

[BellyTank]

Wood and canvas like any GOOD canoe.

B
T

 

[MikeyB17]

Wood and Irish linen-a darn sight easier to repair than the metal skin of a Spit.

MB17

 

[BellyTank]

But...

...what about the Mosquito?
http://www.aviation-history.com/theory/plywood.htm

...maybe the Spruce Goose was a similar construction of stressed ply-

B
T

 

[PADDY]

Truely a special experience in the 1940 RAF Hurricane

The mechanic was explaining to me (as I salivated all over the cockpit, yuck!) that the wings are metal, but the tail structure behind the cockpit is fabric. The stick, is the 'ring' style, with a button on the ring for firing the weapons.
I'm pretty sure they have a Sopwith PuP or a Sopwith Camel in the collection too. Now one of those, I'd love to sit in, with my white silk scarf and barnstormer jacket!! chocks away chaps.

I just love this old airfield as it is something locked in the 30s. The old grass airstrip and the hangers with De Haviland painted on them! A must for any vintage aviation enthusiast. They also have a few motorbikes and cars from the 20s and 30s.

 

[Jake]

old airfields

Sounds like my favorite kind of airport. Back here in the U.S., I like to fly to smaller rural grass airstrips and imagine that I'm flying from a strip somewhere in the U.K. back in WWII. You get to visit the actual sites, how cool. I am fortunate however, in that I live only 25 min. by air from a place called Oskosh. Ouite the airplane heaven in late July.