Do you laugh or cry ?
Thought this might raise a smile or a tear of despair ! Many of you guys will remember Wroughton airfield (now used for storage by the Science Museum) from its RAF, RN or PM hospital days.
I was model flying there when a glider (from Dunstable) landed after running out of lift.
The pilot requested permission from the site manager to carry out an Aerotow back to base. The runway was smooth, over 3000 feet long with 10 knots right down the middle, perfect. No problem at all, BUT he was refused permission. The site manager declined for "safety reasons".
Turns out the pilot was retired Army bomb disposal (IED) specialist.
Can you imagine it, a bomb disposal officer being refused permission for a simple aerotow retrieve on SAFETY ground. You couldn't make it up !