Many years ago at Manchester I'm taxying a 172 from the South side to the then freight apron (near where T3 is today) for fuel. As I approach 24 on the taxyway there's a BA 757 on final.
"Tango Sierra, hold at Foxtrot (or whatever it was back then)".
"Hold at Fox, Tango Sierra".
The 75 swept past and I was cleared to cross the main and continue to the Freight. The 75 vacated, turned onto the taxyway, and began taxying back towards the Domestic Terminal (now T3) at quite a rate. It became clear our paths would cross!
"Tower, Tango Sierra. Confirm we are cleared all the way to the Freight Apron?"
"Tango Sierra affirm. Break. Shuttle Two Sierra give way to the Cessna, right to left".
The 757's nose visibly dipped as the power came off and the brakes went on. Almost like it was bowing to me!
"Shuttle Two Sierra, Wilco. Sail before steam!"
Another occasion stands in my memory even more....
I was flying our Chipmunk down the Manchester Low Level Route southbound and working Manchester Approach, when the BBMF came on frequency northbound in the Route. Near Winsford they came into sight, over on my left, the lancaster with a Hurricane on its right wingtip and a Spitfire on its left, nearest me.
"Sierra Lima do you have the BBMF in sight?"
"Affirm. Spitfire, Lanc, and Hurricane, Sierra Lima"
"BBMF do you have Sierra Lima in sight?"
"Yes, we have the Chippy" came the laconic reply from the Lanc.
At that moment the Spitfire peeled off the Lanc's wingtip and saluted us with a lovely barrel roll before dropping straight back into his formation position.
It was superbly done and really made my day!
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 3rd Sep 2012 at 19:24.