Last night I met Neil Armstrong - now incl pictures

[What Limits]

So it was that I found myself in the presence of greatness, not just the great and the good of aviation but legendary aviators like Neil Armstrong and Eric 'Winkle' Brown.

Where else could you meet these type of people but at the GAPAN Trophies and Awards Banquet, held at the Guildhall in the City of London.

What was truly humbling though were the citations of the recipients of the Awards given for exceptional acts of bravery and courage. These crews flew their helicopters, often with scant regard for their own safety and in impossible weather conditions, so that others may live.

Salute to 7 Flight Army Air Corps (and Chas Challis), 202 Squadron Royal Air Force and 771 Naval Air Squadron Royal Navy.

[topendtorque]

So it was that I found myself in the presence of greatness, not just the great and the good of aviation but legendary aviators like Neil Armstrong

Read an article once, many moons ago, that talked about his real time simulator for the LLM as being a Bell 47G5?

[What Limits]

Part of the citation suggested that the moon landing was done manually and after overshooting the initial LZ, he chose and landed at an alternate with 20 seconds of fuel remaining. So much for IFR minimums !!

[chuks]

Yeah, I seem to remember reading they had some kind of big, red button that would cause the LEM to blast off back into orbit before the landing engine flamed out and the whole shebang went ballistic. That must have focused the mind wonderfully.

Without the man in the loop they would have crashed on landing. Interesting, that.

[NickLappos]

I had the honor to spend two days with Neil Armstrong while he filmed a Discovery Channel show at Sikorsky back about 12 years ago. He was absolutely humble, but keenly intelligent and (of course) a fine pilot.

It is funny to see some folks "go Hollywood" like that fellow who is trying to get us to fund his "world record" and then you bump into a quiet, confident man who epitomizes the heroic virtues that we prize. Combat fighter pilot, 4,000mph X-15 pilot, Astronaut, world champion glider pilot, Master's in aerospace engineering, and regular guy - Neil Armstrong.

Here is one Neil Armstrong story (from a great bio in Wikipedia) to show the kind of things he has done:

"Armstrong would be involved in several incidents that would go down in Edwards's folklore or be written about by others in their memoirs. The first was an X-15 flight on April 20 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_20), 1962 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962) when Armstrong was testing a self-adjusting control system. He first rocketed to a height of 207,000 feet (63.2 km) (the highest he flew before Gemini 8). As he descended, he kept the nose of the craft up too long and literally bounced off the atmosphere back up to 140,000 feet (42.7 km) where the atmosphere is so thin that aerodynamic surfaces have no effect on the attitude of craft. He flew past the landing field at Mach 3 and over 100,000 feet in the air. He ended up 45 miles south of Edwards (folklore at the base has that he flew as far as the Rose Bowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bowl_%28stadium%29)). Descending enough he turned and headed back to the dry lake beds, just managing to land without crashing into Joshua trees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_tree) at the south end. It was the longest X-15 flight in both time and distance of the ground track"

[Darren999]

Had the pleasure to meet William Anders of the gemini flights. Very nice man. believe it or not we had to check him out on a bell 47! straight up! he was going to buy one. Very quite, great to talk too.:ok:

[ShyTorque]

I was also privileged to listen to Neil Armstrong's speech on Thursday (at least two other PPRuNe members were also present). I found it quite incredible that the man on the moon we schoolboys dreamed to emulate back in the 1960s was actually there, talking to us about it.

Most amazing thing for me and a measure of his great modesty was that he made it sound as if anyone could have done what he did.

On my return home my daughter, aged 9, asked me who else went along. As soon as I mentioned his name she exclaimed: "Wow! Neil Armstrong - the first man on the moon - cool!" She knew.

So, Captain Neil Armstrong - even the girls of today think you are cool! :ok:

[Graviman]

I have a serious respect for all the astronauts involved in the Apollo program, and indeed the whole US and USSR spacerace. The more i learn about the actual missions, the more i realise just how risky the whole business really was. I'm always impressed how down-to-earth these guys actually are.

Mart

[Brian Abraham]

talked about his real time simulator for the LLM as being a Bell 47G5?

When at Ellyson Field (Pensacola - US Navy helo training) in 1967 and 68 the astronauts used to come to work out on the TH13M aka Bell 47. The word was that they used to practice hovering autos from some unholy height to simulate the LLM landing. For the life of me I cant recall who the individual astronauts were that we came across as at the time they didnt quite have the cachet of glamor that they later gained. We were more imbued with the tales of daring do of our instructors who had seen Vietnam service. Maybe Eagle86 can recall names.

[MOSTAFA]

Surely the greatest aviation feat ever. I would consider it an honour to be in the same room as the man.

I also have a signed copy (one of only 3) "First on the moon" original transcripts of the Apollo 11 moon landing, signed at a talk he gave to the Royal Geographical Society in 1970.

[TukTuk BoomBoom]

A friend of mine tells a great story of being on a ship involved in the tourist sub dives to the titanic and one night in the bar a few guys were trying to out do each other with tales of their exploits..."1972 yeah that was the year i walked to the north pole" "1972 i walked to the north pole and flew to the south pole" etc etc. After a bit of this they turned to a guy at the bar quietly drinking his beer and said "so what did you do in 1972" There was a pause and the man relpied "1972..oh yeah that was the year i went to the moon.." and went back to drinking his beer.
Turned out he was actually one of the apollo astronauts.

[bondu]

I was extremely lucky to be at the Wright Brothers Centenary at Kitty Hawk in December 2003, where I was in the same room as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, John Glenn and my personal hero, Chuck Yeager. Actually got to speak to Yeager and shook his hand!

Nick, you are so right when you describe Armstrong as humble. He came across as 'just another regular guy', which of course he isn't! He came across as a calm, quiet sort of guy, who didn't enjoy all the publicity.

If anyone is interested, his official biography (the first fully authorised one), was published last year. It is called "First Man" and was written by James R Hansen (Simon & Schuster; ISBN 0-7432-5963-7). It is quite long, but well worth the effort to read.

bondu :ok: :ok:

[NickLappos]

bondu,
In the past I have been lucky to meet many of the aviation greats (wouldn't that be a good thread - describe meeting a personal hero!)

I also worked for Frank "Pete" Everest, Chuck Yeager's #2 guy, and the first person to fly Mach 2.3 and then 2.9 Somehow in his career he ended up as Sikorsky's Chief Pilot! He was an interesting guy.

[Um... lifting...]

When at Ellyson Field (Pensacola - US Navy helo training) in 1967 and 68 the astronauts used to come to work out on the TH13M aka Bell 47.

Brian-
I was in HT-8 a good bit after you (I bracketed both ends of my career there), and it's no longer at Ellyson (now an industrial park) but at Whiting Field in Milton. The photos of the astronauts (though a bit faded) were still prominently in place in the squadron building when I left a year ago. According to the squadron history link below, 14 of 15 of the original astronauts trained there.
As far as Vietnam exploits, I wonder if you might have known Clyde Lassen. Would have probably been there around that time, went on to win the Medal of Honor. He later commanded the squadron. More recently, an academic building at Whiting was named for him. Lot of history in P-cola... and we've got great shrimp too!
https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw5/ht8/history.asp

[Brian Abraham]

Um... lifting... - Paid a visit back there in December 01 and visited all the bases with mandatory refreshment taken at Traders. Noted the hangars were still at Ellyson and the BOQ I was in - brand spanking new at the time and absolutely luxurious compared to mainside, Saufley (now state prison) and Whiting. Pal I went through course with still in real estate at Pensacola. I was one of about 40 or so Aussies who went through the system, half went to helos and half to Trackers. Still lust for the T-28.

[eagle 86]

Just been guided to this thread - yes do remember baby astronauts being trained to hover in THI3M at Ellyson - also Day 1 at Pensacola (I was in the first group) I was handed an application form for the Astronaut program with the comment "Oh you're an Ossie - oh well fill it, in you never know...". Forty years later I'm still waiting - if it's good enough for Glenn it's good enough for me!!
A sad day was 27 Jan '67 when Grissom/White/Chaffee died - I was in the Whiting O Club Bar for the wake that afternoon.
GAGS
E86

[22clipper]

There's been a really good doco running here in Oz re the rivarly between the USSRs Korolev & the USAs von Braun. Fascinating stuff for us baby boomers that grew up in that period of history.

That Saturn 5 rocket engine must really have been somethin'! One of these years I'm gonna have to do Oshkosh & see if I can't link it in with a visit to a test firing of a half decent sized rocket motor.

[eagle 86]

7.5 million pounds of thrust if I remember!
GAGS
E86

[Hilife]

Saturn 5 was filled with 12 million gallons of liquid hydrogen, helium and oxygen taking her empty weight up from 189 to 3,000 tons.

Once ignited, the 160 million hp 1st stage section consumed around 15 tons of liquid fuel per second - mind boggling by any standards.

Perched on top, the levels of vibration and thrust experienced by the crew must have been quite something.

[MightyGem]

Actually got to speak to Yeager and shook his hand!

Hey, Bondu, I don't think he had much choice in the shaking hands bit, from what I saw. ;)

[Flying Lawyer]

Well said What Limits. :ok:

http://www.elsindical.com.ar/notas/var/www/html/notas/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Neil-Armstrong-2.jpg

There are people it’s enjoyable to meet, people who are interesting to meet, and a very small number whom it’s an honour to meet. Only very rarely does someone fall into all three categories: Neil Armstrong is one of the few. Even to shake the hand of the first man to walk on the moon is truly an honour IMHO.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/Armstrong_2proof.jpg
A privilege I won't forgetDave Singleton, Tudor Owen, Neil Armstrong

What a delightful, charming and unassuming man. A genuine celebrity in an age when so many nobodies are regarded, for reasons beyond my comprehension, as 'celebrities'.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/Armstrong_1_proof.jpg............http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k510/AirPilots/Guild5_proof%20copy_zpstyow4lvc.jpg
Captain Dave Singleton & Tudor Owen with Neil Armstrong


The Guild of Air Pilots has numerous distinguished members who are ‘household names’ in different spheres of aviation but, even by those high standards, the presence of Neil Armstrong made the always magnificent Trophies and Awards Banquet even more special than usual.

ShyTorque says "I found it quite incredible that the man on the moon we schoolboys dreamed to emulate back in the 1960s was actually there, talking to us about it." That sums up very well how I, and clearly everyone else, felt.
The respect and awe in which Neil Armstrong is held was obvious not only from the enthusiasm of the longest standing ovation of the evening but throughout the entire event.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/NeilArmstrong3_ps.jpg _ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/NeilArmstrong2_ps.jpg



Neil Armstrong and Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown both received the Guild Award of Honour – awarded on rare occasions "to individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/Winkle_ps.jpg
Lord Stevens, Eric 'Winkle' Brown, Capt Jock Lowe (this year's Master of the Guild)

I felt a little sorry for ‘Winkle’ Brown. In normal circumstances, one of the few remaining aviation legends who was regarded by many as the ‘best of the best’ in an era of outstanding test pilots, and who contributed so much to the development of British Naval aviation, would have been the star attraction. But, even his outstanding achievements couldn’t compete with the everyone’s obvious excitement at the presence of the first man to walk on the moon.


‘Where else could you meet these type of people but at the GAPAN Trophies and Awards Banquet?'What limits sums it up perfectly.
So many aviation legends in the same place at the same time?
And the opportunity to chat with them?
Probably nowhere else in the world.


Link: Guild of Air Pilots (http://www.gapan.org/)

All pictures copyright Gerald Sharp Photography.

[bondu]

Hi MightyGem!

Yes, but we did have a great time, didn't we? I don't think either of us would have missed that Tuesday afternoon for anything! A fantastic day!

bondu :ok: :ok:

[IrishSarBoy]

Is there a web site? I tried to google but the sites weren't working :confused:

[Brian Abraham]

I felt a little sorry for ‘Winkle’. In normal circumstances, one of the few remaining aviation legends who was regarded by many as the ‘best of the best’ in an era of outstanding test pilots

Flying Lawyer - great photos.

I'm betting just maybe, just maybe, Neil Armstrong grew up with "Winkle" Brown as one of his heros. If I were given the choice as to who's career I would liked to have lived I would probably come down on the side of "Winkle" - hard choice tho. Had "First Man" on the book shelf as soon as it came off the press and only wish that all humanity was imbued with Neils personal qualities.

A genuine celebrity in an age when so many nobodies are regarded, for reasons beyond my comprehension, as 'celebrities'

Aint that the truth. Madonna, et al what price?

[Robino]

GR8 Pics well done:ok:

[Dop]

Must have been a fantastic evening!
(is green with envy)

[Whirlygig]

It was! :ok:

Be green! :}

One now has the "Loving Cup" ritual sussed as well!

Cheers

Whirls

[ANOrak]

On 29th September 1985 (yes in the last century!) I flew Neil Armstrong and his wife plus others from the Turnberry Hotel to Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran (Scotland for those who might not know). I was flying a Twin Squirrel (Twin Star) and although it was a (rare) warm day with a clear sky, the visibility was appauling with a typical high pressure haze. As a result and as we launched accros the Firth of Clyde, there was suddenly very little to see. However I had put the weather radar into search mode and there in front about 10 miles away was a magenta object which we flew towards. I had already seen the same object for real as I passed on my way to Turnberry and so I was able to tell Neil that it was in fact an American aircraft carrier that was on exercise in the Firth. He was absolutely fascinated and even more amazed when the carrier suddenly came into view in front of us and we passed close by. I was more amazed by his amazement because there was a man who had walked on the moon and here he was in awe of some fairly old earthly technology. Then perhaps he only did the walking - it was the boys on the ground who arranged and controlled the unbelieveable.

I am glad that those of you who attended the dinner enjoyed meeting Neil Armstrong as much as I did (my gosh was it 21 years ago!).
ANOrak

[John Eacott]

Is there a web site? I tried to google but the sites weren't working :confused:

The site appeared to be down yesterday, but you will find it at GAPAN. (http://www.gapan.org/) :ok:

[Brian Abraham]

Then perhaps he only did the walking - it was the boys on the ground who arranged and controlled the unbelieveable

ANOrak - not only did he do the walking but also the flying. Get a copy of "First Man" and read about the landing. Absolutly gripping stuff - emergency (computer, and they had not trained for these particular alarms) on short final, and unknown to ground control
"Once I got below fifty feet, even though we were running out of fuel, I thought we would be alright. I felt the lander could stand the impact (freefall from fifty feet) because of the collapsible foam inside of the landing legs. I didn't want to drop from that height, but once I got below fifty feet I felt pretty confident we would be alright."
Post flight analysis found they had fifty seconds (670 lbs) worth of hovering flight left.

I was more amazed by his amazement because there was a man who had walked on the moon and here he was in awe of some fairly old earthly technology

Some of their gear was very low tech. How about determining altitude on the approach to landing with a line on the window and a stopwatch and referring to a chart. You'll have to read the book.

[tottigol]

I was also privileged to listen to Neil Armstrong's speech on Thursday (at least two other PPRuNe members were also present). I found it quite incredible that the man on the moon we schoolboys dreamed to emulate back in the 1960s was actually there, talking to us about it.
Most amazing thing for me and a measure of his great modesty was that he made it sound as if anyone could have done what he did.
On my return home my daughter, aged 9, asked me who else went along. As soon as I mentioned his name she exclaimed: "Wow! Neil Armstrong - the first man on the moon - cool!" She knew.
So, Captain Neil Armstrong - even the girls of today think you are cool! :ok:

That's an event I would have been proud to attend (a little envy there) and more honor to you ShyTQ for keeping your daughter well educated.
Unfortunately for all of us, I doubt that most nine year olds of today would even know we were on the moon back in '69 and even less they may know who Neil Armstrong is.

[ShyTorque]

Thanks for the compliment - but it was actually mainly taught to her at her school! They did a project on "space" a while back, so the most credit is due to her teachers.

Mind you, she and I often look up into the night sky together as she has a real natural interest. I taught her to find the Great Bear and the Pole star and a few others, although she still prefers to call Ursa Major "the saucepan", LOL.

Shame there is nothing comparable to the "space race" for today's youngsters to follow. Today's so-called rolemodels are mainly just "fly by night" popsingers with not much to recommend them. :bored:

[Graviman]

Shame there is nothing comparable to the "space race" for today's youngsters to follow.

ISS, Mars missions, Return to Moon. Besides all the STS missions are on live webcast now - makes fascinating viewing.

Spacerace was about USA vs USSR. True the stakes are different, but the void still beckons... ;)

Mart

[Sgt.Peppeh]

I was told,they had boxes of the finest Biscuits loaded in the oxegen bays bottom cavity of the hydrulic bays,should the module have crash landed on the moon as they(the Americans) had never ruled out that the moon was indeed made of cheese. :ugh:

[Sgt.Peppeh]

Absoluty fantastic. To be in the company of such men,is not only a priviledge but a Blessing.:ok:

[Gridnorth]

DARREN999

William (Bill) Anders was never on a Gemini flight.
He flew only once as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8 in Decenber 1968 with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.
Lovell credits him with taking the famous 'Earthrise' photo that you see so often.

Not sure why he never flew again as Deke Slaytons rotation would have had Anders on Apollo 11. Usually they were dropped for motion sickness (Borman, Rusty Swieckart suffered so) or for political reasons (Dave Scott suffered this fate).:ok:

[Gridnorth]

DARREN999

Bill Anders was never on a Gemini flight.

He flew as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8 in December 1968, with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.

Lovell credits Anders with taking the famous 'Earthrise' photograph of the Earth over the Moon.

Not sure why he did not fly again as Deke Slayton's rotation should have seen him on Apollo 11.

Usually crew were dropped from the programme due to motion sickness (Rusty Sweickart on Apollo 9 and Borman on Apollo 8 suffered so) or political reasons (Dave Scott suffered this fate).

MY hero to meet would be John Young. Check out what he managed to do whilst maintaing a very low profile:
Pilot Gemini 3. Commander Gemini 10. CMP Apollo 10. CDR Apollo 16 (8th man on the Moon). CDR STS-1 (first Shuttle flight). CDR STS-9 (first Spacelab flight) & Chief of the Astronaut Office.....:D

[Darren999]

Gridnorth.
Thank you for correcting me..
I remember that picture..
A very nice man....:ok:

[Brian Abraham]

Photos of the great man's burial at sea ceremony.
(Authorized by the Armstrong family.)

BARNSTORMERS.COM eFLYER - Neil Armstrong Buried at Sea (http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2012/240-eFLYER-FA01-armstrong.html)