Ahh the magnificanet Varsity!
I used to spend my childhood holidays at Mablethorpe, so I kinda grew up wth the sight and sound of Varsities chugging around, thanks to nearby Manby and Strubby. The big treat of the holiday was standing outside Strubby watching the Varsities come chugging down the taxiway, wheels squealing as usual - just magnificent.
I never managed to get airborne in one sadly - closest I got was a day when Don Selway had just displayed at Shuttleworth - we drove over to Duxford after the display only to find that Don had experienced some rather odd vibrations from the tail during the flight, so he was reluctant to fly her again without further investigation. But at least we managed to crank the old bird up and do a run down the runway. Poor old Don died of course and the Varsity never flew again.
I keep saying that when (hah hah) I win the Lottery, I'm getting a Varsity back into the air!