Woomera. Just the excuse I needed. And how about Lucero homings in Lincolns (betcha don't know about those!) And Convair Metropolitans with big exhaust mufflers and frightening exhaust fires with over-priming. Asymetric, limited panel aural null NDB let downs in Dakotas. Four Rolls Royce Merlins in a Lincoln at plus 18 boost and 3000RPM on take-off. So they stuffed my hearing 50 years later - but what the hell. First solo in a single seat Vampire with no dual beforehand - whistling down the Williamtown runway like a runaway Formula One - no ejection seat -and pneumatic brakes. Flicking violently off a roll-of-the top in a Wirraway with a screaming instructor in the back seat. I could go on, but modesty and sanity forbids...