Sqn Ldr Neville Duke DSO, OBE, DFC**, AFC
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"...One of the thrills of flying is to take up the Hunter to over 40,000 feet, up into the clear deep, sapphire blue. Down below, you can see the earth, far away - it is best to pick clear days for vertical dives in the Hunter. Now ... at full-throttle you half roll over and pull through. The nose of the Hunter is pointing straight down at the earth; and you are hanging forward in the straps, feeling as though you may slip out of them and fall forward at any moment. Now you are really beginning to move. The indicated speed begins to build up and so does the Mach number. Soon you are going straight down at the earth at supersonic speed. You can see the earth rushing up towards you. The needle on the altimeter is whirling madly round, reeling off thousands of feet as you go down, straight as an arrow. It's a wonderful thrill. When the Hunter is going down flat out you are falling at much more than 50,000 feet a minute.
Now the ground seems to be getting a little close. You ease back on the throttle, and at something below 20,000 feet begin to start easing back on the control column. The earth still seems to be rushing madly at you. But gradually the nose of the Hunter comes up above the horizon. You take a glance down; the earth is not far away but you are now flying parallel to it, straight and level. And now into a zoom?
Back with the control column, until the Hunter is pointing directly at the sky from which you have just ripped down. Now you are lying flat on your back in the cockpit. And this time it seems as though you are going to fall over backwards. Up you go, with the altimeter whirling again. You can easily shoot straight up for over 20,000 feet in the Hunter in a zoom from ground level, flying straight into space, into the blue, with very little sense of speed this time. Then you level off by pulling the Hunter on to its back and rolling out to level flight. Who would miss the thrill of flying?..." (from "Test Pilot" Neville Duke)
I have fond memories - sight and sound of the great Neville Duke. Firstly, in my primary school playground in Sussex. The sonic bangs that reached us were always "Neville Duke in his Hunter". Then in the early seventies, I watched him fly a very low, very slow, roll in a Miles Student at Shoreham. Wonderfull!
There is going to be one hell(?!) of a display up there with Duke, Hanna, Trubshaw et al. Bedford is there too so it will be a good party and after dinner speech as well! I don't want to see it all just yet though...
By the way, I disagree that they don't make them like that any more. Just go to any good flying display. There is some amazing young talent out there. Nowadays, they just don't get the pioneering opportunities that the likes of the great Neville Duke did, thats all.
Cheers all. BS
Now the ground seems to be getting a little close. You ease back on the throttle, and at something below 20,000 feet begin to start easing back on the control column. The earth still seems to be rushing madly at you. But gradually the nose of the Hunter comes up above the horizon. You take a glance down; the earth is not far away but you are now flying parallel to it, straight and level. And now into a zoom?
Back with the control column, until the Hunter is pointing directly at the sky from which you have just ripped down. Now you are lying flat on your back in the cockpit. And this time it seems as though you are going to fall over backwards. Up you go, with the altimeter whirling again. You can easily shoot straight up for over 20,000 feet in the Hunter in a zoom from ground level, flying straight into space, into the blue, with very little sense of speed this time. Then you level off by pulling the Hunter on to its back and rolling out to level flight. Who would miss the thrill of flying?..." (from "Test Pilot" Neville Duke)
I have fond memories - sight and sound of the great Neville Duke. Firstly, in my primary school playground in Sussex. The sonic bangs that reached us were always "Neville Duke in his Hunter". Then in the early seventies, I watched him fly a very low, very slow, roll in a Miles Student at Shoreham. Wonderfull!
There is going to be one hell(?!) of a display up there with Duke, Hanna, Trubshaw et al. Bedford is there too so it will be a good party and after dinner speech as well! I don't want to see it all just yet though...
By the way, I disagree that they don't make them like that any more. Just go to any good flying display. There is some amazing young talent out there. Nowadays, they just don't get the pioneering opportunities that the likes of the great Neville Duke did, thats all.
Cheers all. BS
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sale, Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fly to the angels
Do not land
God has taken hold your hand
Many flights you have made
Memories will never fade
Take to the skies a final time
Far above the clouds to climb
Do not stop
The skies deep blue
Keep on climbing
You must do
You’ve landed now
In heaven’s field
Your journey’s done
You’ve found such peace
On this sweet flight
Goodbye, God bless
Sleep tight
Do not land
God has taken hold your hand
Many flights you have made
Memories will never fade
Take to the skies a final time
Far above the clouds to climb
Do not stop
The skies deep blue
Keep on climbing
You must do
You’ve landed now
In heaven’s field
Your journey’s done
You’ve found such peace
On this sweet flight
Goodbye, God bless
Sleep tight
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just noticed the Guardian had an obituary on Saturday.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/s...057114,00.html
Moving poem, Brian.
FL
http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/s...057114,00.html
Moving poem, Brian.
FL
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Farnham
Age: 91
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess the Telegraph was quickest of the mark, with the death when it happened, and an obituary on Friday 13th.
The funeral went off well on May 1st at Tangmere church, which holds a lot of Germans. A good churchfull of the great and good; I was pleased, as a nobody, to get in, and to have an Order of Service to add to my memorabilia, including a copy of his 1952 letter from Churchill, printed by Sothebys when they sold it for him, and his reply to my letter when I worried he was falling on hard times.
Does Mr Lovegrove post here? It was good to meet him, three years younger than ND, and still flying.
There was a spectacular flight over the church after the ceremony, a Hunter I think. Was it flown by anyone in particular?
The funeral went off well on May 1st at Tangmere church, which holds a lot of Germans. A good churchfull of the great and good; I was pleased, as a nobody, to get in, and to have an Order of Service to add to my memorabilia, including a copy of his 1952 letter from Churchill, printed by Sothebys when they sold it for him, and his reply to my letter when I worried he was falling on hard times.
Does Mr Lovegrove post here? It was good to meet him, three years younger than ND, and still flying.
There was a spectacular flight over the church after the ceremony, a Hunter I think. Was it flown by anyone in particular?
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advance Notice
PPRuNe has been informed that the Memorial Service for Sqn Ldr Duke will be:
We don't yet know if it will be open or tickets only.
Further details will be posted when they become available.
Date : Thursday 11 October 2007
Time : 12:00
Venue : RAF St Clement Danes, Strand, London WC2
We don't yet know if it will be open or tickets only.
Further details will be posted when they become available.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In about 1950-something, I saved all the money I could make from selling newspapers to the butcher and taking empty beer and soft drink bottles to the pub and corner store to put a layby on Neville Duke's Complete Book of Flying (or whater the title was - the cover had ND in helmet looking up from Hunter cockpit).
When I'd at last paid for it, I brought it home and had my Mum carefully cover it with plastic.
I'd hate to say how many hours I spent reading and re-reading (and re-reading!) that book. I can still remember the first chaper's title: "Nutshell Navigation", and the b&w pics of Vampires with the yellow stripes ("The 'L' Plates of the air") on their wings - (the very aeroplane I was to get my wings in some 10 or 12 years later).
I think the same book had a pic of the X3 towards the back of it, which had to be the spoofiest flying machine I had ever seen, (and to this day, still rates pretty highly as a mean looking piece of kit).
Never had the privilege of meeting the man, but that book he wrote for kids like me back then certainly had the desired effect on this then very much aspiring young aviator.
When I'd at last paid for it, I brought it home and had my Mum carefully cover it with plastic.
I'd hate to say how many hours I spent reading and re-reading (and re-reading!) that book. I can still remember the first chaper's title: "Nutshell Navigation", and the b&w pics of Vampires with the yellow stripes ("The 'L' Plates of the air") on their wings - (the very aeroplane I was to get my wings in some 10 or 12 years later).
I think the same book had a pic of the X3 towards the back of it, which had to be the spoofiest flying machine I had ever seen, (and to this day, still rates pretty highly as a mean looking piece of kit).
Never had the privilege of meeting the man, but that book he wrote for kids like me back then certainly had the desired effect on this then very much aspiring young aviator.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: South of Beirut, North of Aden
Age: 46
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had the honour of dealing with Neville and his wife in the late nineties whilst working at Bournemouth airport where their aircraft was based.
They were a warm, friendly, modest couple whose contribution to aviation was immeasurable.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
A great loss to the world but a life well led and to be celebrated.
Sweet dreams Neville.
CR.
They were a warm, friendly, modest couple whose contribution to aviation was immeasurable.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
A great loss to the world but a life well led and to be celebrated.
Sweet dreams Neville.
CR.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We've now been told the Memorial Service is open to all.
No tickets required.
The Address will be given by ACM Sir Michael Graydon, former Hunter pilot, Chief of the Air Staff 1992-1997 and a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.
No tickets required.
The Address will be given by ACM Sir Michael Graydon, former Hunter pilot, Chief of the Air Staff 1992-1997 and a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.
