Aviation Heroes for poss TV
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Aviation Heroes for poss TV
Dear all
Allow me to introduce myself, I am one of the specialist presenters on BBCs The One Show, working as their astronomy presenter. I am also a qualified pilot (very nearly fATPL but economy dah dah dah).
I have been discussing a possible series of films where we meet some aviation hero's that live in the UK. Not having a great knowledge of aviation history, can any of you folks recommend some pilot's still alive today who have done some amazing stuff?
Cheers
Mark
Allow me to introduce myself, I am one of the specialist presenters on BBCs The One Show, working as their astronomy presenter. I am also a qualified pilot (very nearly fATPL but economy dah dah dah).
I have been discussing a possible series of films where we meet some aviation hero's that live in the UK. Not having a great knowledge of aviation history, can any of you folks recommend some pilot's still alive today who have done some amazing stuff?
Cheers
Mark
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Eric "Winkle" Brown! Flown more types than anybody else, WWII Royal Navy Pilot, test pilot, German aircraft, helicopters, rubber deck landings, and a great raconteur.
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Sub Leutenant John Moffat, the swordfish pilot whose torpedo disabled the steering gear of the Bismark, thus helping the Navy to finish her off.
He is about ninety and still lives in Dunkeld, Perthshire.
He is about ninety and still lives in Dunkeld, Perthshire.
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Theres a member of this board who tested Harriers at the Top Gear test track, in its former life, not for me to announce his name but how about it mr JF?
edit - how bizarre! It must be a good idea then
edit - how bizarre! It must be a good idea then
Geoffrey Wellum. A 18 year old fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. His autobiography 'First Light' is the best personal account of that conflict in print.
Slight Edit Dan:
Slight Edit Dan:
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What about Lt Cdr Ian Stanley who flew the rescue of the twice-crashed Marines in atrocious weather on S Georgia in 1982? (Assuming he's still with us, of course)
John Farley (why can't he be named?)
Eric Brown
Is Lord Strath-?? the Swordfish pilot still around? Author of "Bring back my Stringbag". He'd qualify.
Whichever hero's (sic) appear let's hope the greengrocer's apostrophes dont join them.
John Farley (why can't he be named?)
Eric Brown
Is Lord Strath-?? the Swordfish pilot still around? Author of "Bring back my Stringbag". He'd qualify.
Whichever hero's (sic) appear let's hope the greengrocer's apostrophes dont join them.
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I just thought it might be rude to announce the name of a man I've never met and didn't ask. I was perhaps being over careful, but I thought he might volunteer if interested.
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I suggest Lettice Curtis, who as an Air Transport Auxiliary delivery pilot flew Lancasters, Halifaxes and Stirling bombers to RAF stations in WW2. A remarkable woman.
The real heroes ?
How about a 'typical' flying instructor?
Sitting in the right hand seat whilst I ham handed student like I was throws the aircraft at the ground, just offering words of encouragment must count for something?
Some of those worthy people will also have had an interesting past as well.
Sitting in the right hand seat whilst I ham handed student like I was throws the aircraft at the ground, just offering words of encouragment must count for something?
Some of those worthy people will also have had an interesting past as well.
Last edited by bobward; 17th Aug 2010 at 11:23. Reason: Trouble spelling some of the words....
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I second Bob's reply, but make it a helicopter instructor.
ps.Mark, PPRuNe takes no prisoners, as you've seen! You're going to have to make an unprecedented effort for accuracy on your programmes if you are to come out of this alive and unscalped! Few journalists/media folk have achieved this to date. Bon chance!
ps.Mark, PPRuNe takes no prisoners, as you've seen! You're going to have to make an unprecedented effort for accuracy on your programmes if you are to come out of this alive and unscalped! Few journalists/media folk have achieved this to date. Bon chance!
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thompsonmarkp
John Farley (ex Harrier Chief Test Pilot) posts under his real name on PPRuNe so you could contact him by Private Message on this site.
I believe that Geoffrey Wellum (author of First Light) is still available for media work.
Dave
John Farley (ex Harrier Chief Test Pilot) posts under his real name on PPRuNe so you could contact him by Private Message on this site.
I believe that Geoffrey Wellum (author of First Light) is still available for media work.
Dave
I'd like to see something on the Glider Pilot regiment before they all go. They were soldiers who were taught to fly into battle and then expected to fight as soldiers once they had landed. The glider pilots who landed at the Orne canal and river bridges (Pegasus and Horsa Bridges) on D Day were acknowledged as having achieved the most superb piece of flying of the whole second world war.
Mark
Further to various comments (quite rightly) about the greengrocer's apostrophes, could I suggest that you do not further contribute to the BBC journalists'/presenters' campaign to debase the English language by automatically referring to pilots as heroes just because they have flown a few aircraft, albeit with great distinction?
2 s
Further to various comments (quite rightly) about the greengrocer's apostrophes, could I suggest that you do not further contribute to the BBC journalists'/presenters' campaign to debase the English language by automatically referring to pilots as heroes just because they have flown a few aircraft, albeit with great distinction?
2 s