I've only just picked up on this thread.
I did Project Propeller for the first time this year 2008, due to the fact that I availed myself a bit late in the day, so I was offered a short straw.
They needed help in the West country. 2 from Dunkewell and 1 from Exeter (Rufus Heald, who helped out by driving to Dunkeswell to join with the others going)
Enthusiastically I said yes, so it was going to be Elstree to Dunkeswell to Old Warden back to Dunkeswell and finally home Elstree. It was going to be a long day.
A bad start was leaving my A/C keys at home, fortunately my Wife got out of bed and came out with my keys and met me half way so that I could keep to my tight schedule.
I arrived on time having run the gauntlet of a fog bank which finished just short of Dunkeswell.
It was a pleasure to meet up with Rufus Heald, not only was it his magazine articles that I used to follow but the fact that in my first year of flying, when I was with friends over a Christmas holiday in Devon I made the arrangements to be checked out at Exeter in an Aerobat to be able to do some local flying there. I'll give you one guess who checked me out.
On our return to the airfield due departing Heavy ahead of us I ended up too high on the approach. Rather than do an orbit Rufus suggested a side slip to lose 1000ft. During my training days I was never taught to sideslip, I knew the basics, so with Rufus's encouragement I did it. It was the best elevator ride I've ever had, Rufus's inspiration made it a doddle, I had control all the way down as I levelled off 20ft over the threshold. It seemed so natural and easy following Rufus's instructions.
We both sat there with a big grin across both our faces as I rolled out to a satisfactory landing.
The thing is that I never knew then who it was that I was with, just an old bugger of a CFI I thought. It wasn't until years later when I saw him writing in Pilot mag. that I realized who it was that I was with.
I took my first log book with me when we met again to show him his entry with me in my log book all those years ago. I felt privileged to have received some of the inspiration of such an experienced veteran. It was likewise going to be a privilege to have Rufus on board as my P2.
The others with us, one hadn't flown since the war. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the flying, for them it was over 2hrs, myself twice that, it gave plenty of time to hear many exciting stories of their war years. The event at Old Warden that day was a brilliant, my three were overwhelmed by number of old colleagues they met up with there and what they had in store for them.
I felt very privileged and pleased to have been part of this magnificent reunion experience.
I would certainly like to do it all again, alas ! for the time being I'm without an aircraft, as I carelessly parked mine in lake recently.
