BOAC VC-10 Heathrow - Nairobi, 1969, no idea if we stopped anywhere en route.
Originally Posted by
hayessteph
Along with other members of the public, we got into a bi-plane which took off, and did a circuit, before coming back in to land. Must have taken about 15 minutes in all. I remember the flight cost 11 shillings per person.
That will have been an Island Airways Dragon Rapide operated by former Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Monique Agazarian - a few years ago, I got talking to a woman walking her dogs on rhe local common. She wondered why I was interested in the ongoing nearby Biggin Hill airshow and I professed a lifelong obsession with aeroplanes, particularly piston fighters such as Spitfires: "My mother loved flying Spitfires" she said quietly. "Who was your mother?" Turned out she was Monique's middle daughter, Mary; she was quite surprised that I knew something of her exploits and the Heathrow operation. Lovely lady, we must have chatted for an hour or more...