Going back a bit and an unlikely aircraft....
Early 60's - We were picking up a Beverley from the Brough factory after heavy maintenance and it just happened to be 'Timber' Woods's last day as Chief test pilot. He was allowed a farewell flight and what a flight !! It would have been impressive in something smaller, lighter and more manoeuvrable but in the Bev... just spectacular.
Bangkok, Don Muang early 60's - (Jimmy Harrison??)Avro's company test pilot demonstrating the 748 to Thai Airways ... rotated and cut one engine on the rotation, turned INTO the dead engine and circuited (VERY)low level to come back down the ramp area, past the assembled dignitaries. Parking at DM was in a straight line along the apron in front of the Tower and he HAD to lift to clear the fin of a parked 707. As a spectator, I had a touch of the 'half crown /sixpence' syndrome and then he was past and around low level to land, greeted by a massive round of applause - and, I believe, they eventually bought the aircraft type.
Valley in the mid 60's - Jimmy Dell picked up a Lightning to take back to the factory. The RAF had already outlawed the 'rotate to the vertical' take-offs but he was a 'civvy'.... <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> His call crossing the airfield boundary at FL260 sticks in the mind !!
Late 60's - Gaydon air display. Nine ship Belgian 'Diables Rouges' Magisters. Three, three ship 'vics' for take-off. Lift-off, up maybe 25' then formation roll for the lead three to inverted for the climb out.. impressive: as was the arrival of the Reds for the start of their display. Low level run-in from all compass points for a join in the vertical. We were on SAR stand-by next to a USAF Husky and 'our man' came through between us, below our rotor heights.
70's - Akrotiri.. Standing outside the 84 ops block looking DOWN at our hangar - both end doors open and the 'Sparrows' doing their pre-season work-up. Red 7 (or 8) went past, in the break, low enough for us to see him THROUGH the hangar. Mind you, they were still mounted on Gnats then - a close second to the Hunter as the best of the aero display aircraft.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !!