This noble Thread can be likened to a volcano, which interrupts periods of relative quiet (when the stove in our cybercrewroom is "banked-down" and "
exeunt omnes"), with periods of furious activity (rather like a war, in fact), in which your patient scribe is fair swept away in a flood of Posts, all of which are worthy of remark (and is this "
craic" not what a Forum is for ?)
This is complicated by the fact that it has a stablemate Thread now, running very close, which has very strong connections to your Scribe, who has to share his time with this and others. I refer, of course, to "Wing Commander Gill OBE DFC". He (RIP) gained his RAF Pilot's Brevet even before WWII, and his gripping story is being told admirably to us by his son (
NigG), as many of us know already.
I do not suggest that the Threads be merged - it is not for me to suggest it in any case - but I have to be careful to reply in strict chrononlgical order and Not Get Mixed Up (which has happened at times), and have devised a Wizard Scheme to that end.
Cut the cackle, Scribe, and get on with it !
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Stanwell (#8949),
Thanks for introducing the subject of the GAVA site (and setting the Thread off on another of its wandering byways). But (as Chugalug reminds us): " We know nothing about Painting - but we know what we like !"
...I did spend a while on there without realising that I was drooling over my keypad...
Drool on, friend, it happens increasingly as the years mount up !
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Chugalug (#8950 and #8951),
As for the VV is concerned, I've given my opinion already !
Now the others:
1. "Thermal Hunters" - Gliders: I'm sure Stanwell would agree with me that this is a case where a soaring Eagle (or even a Vulture) would not be out of place in the picture !
2. "D-Day - Pegasus Bridge" reflects the extra hazards of glider ops - multiple pile-ups in the landing area ! Note the "bent" tree in the background - no guesses needed about what happened here. There was a TV of an anniversary celebration there some years ago, still remember the affecting picture of an old Paratroop Major (the leader ?) being pushed across the bridge in a wheelchair by his old driver on the day !
3. "High in the sunlit silence" - smooth gliders. At first glance, thought I was seeing the fabled "sky hooks" on the far glider - but they were just angled wingtips !
4. "Looking for Lift": Hard to tell altitude without scale - but if I were in the lower glider, I would be seriously worried - unless I was sure of "orographic lift" (wasn't it) pretty soon !
5. "Spot Landings par excellence". Again, the first glider couldn't have got closer - but the others were piling in behind. And there's no: "Give it the gun and go around !" now, Agree with Stanwell (#8958) - this is going to be a bit "hairy" soon (hope Hoskins gets the "round-up" right this time).
Rather liked it - till I saw the price !
Danny.