Stearmen
Brief glowing report on the Stearman bash at Tibbenham (Norfolk) today. Around 15 Stearman aircraft (max 12 at any time) turned up for a great day out organised by a guy who rebuilds these great Amerian trainers at a farm strip just a few hunder yards from the main Tibbenham airfield (Thanks Paul).
A great flowing three ship formation led by Gerry Honey from Old Buckenham (with whom you can fly in a Stearman if you want).
Also short display from Maurice Hammond in his P51 and the noisy arrival and departure of an AN2.
Managed to swap some time in the Tiger Moth for half an hour of lazy aeros in the Stearman and I am hooked. Love the Tiger but the Stearman just goes round the loop with more authority and grunt.
Only downside for me was a guy who came up to me and forcefully told me that he didn't like my flying and how he was going to ensure that I never flew again if I repeated the incident he didn't like.
I'm honest enough to admit that he had a point and I've learnt something from the exchange. Always try to be helpful and considerate to others and in this case I got it wrong. Unfortunately my apologies (many) were not enough to diminish the agressive reaction i caused.
If the complainant happens to be reading this post let me again say that I accept I got it wrong, that I normally try to do better, and your input has caused me to think long and hard about similar situations in the future. If I can do anything to try and prove to you that your current impression of me is not 100% correct please reply and I will do what I can.
For others on this post I have deliberately not identified the individual nor the incident and nor will I be drawn on this but I am hoping that he reads this and allows me to talk to him in a cooled down state.