Hawker Hunter through Tower Bridge
My God, has Flypast been going since 1982. No wonder she-who-must-be-obeyed complains about the size of the pile of flying related comics.......Flypast, Aeroplane, Pilot, Flyer, Todays Pilot ........
I remember being told at the time, by a mutual acquaintance of Pollock's, that 
had previously been in trouble for carrying out illegal aerobatic manoeuvres in a Gnat at Valley - something to do with problems with the tailplane as far as I remember.
had previously been in trouble for carrying out illegal aerobatic manoeuvres in a Gnat at Valley - something to do with problems with the tailplane as far as I remember.
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Mike Jenvey
Here's the picture you asked about.
22 Hunter loop
The formation was led by Squadron Leader Roger Topp, then OC 111 Squadron.
By lucky coincidence, I found myself sitting next to him on a flight to Antigua last winter. Now 81 years old, he had a wonderful career, including leading the Black Arrows and, as a test pilot, worked on many aircraft up to the Tornado. One of Roger's students at ETPS went on to become a distinguished test pilot himself - none other than our own John Farley.
Roger enjoyed reminiscing - but probably not half as much as I enjoyed listening. Our respective ladies were very patient - no doubt relieved to discover we weren't staying at the same hotel!
Here's the picture you asked about.
22 Hunter loop
The formation was led by Squadron Leader Roger Topp, then OC 111 Squadron.
By lucky coincidence, I found myself sitting next to him on a flight to Antigua last winter. Now 81 years old, he had a wonderful career, including leading the Black Arrows and, as a test pilot, worked on many aircraft up to the Tornado. One of Roger's students at ETPS went on to become a distinguished test pilot himself - none other than our own John Farley.
Roger enjoyed reminiscing - but probably not half as much as I enjoyed listening. Our respective ladies were very patient - no doubt relieved to discover we weren't staying at the same hotel!
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Flying Lawer
Great shot.
Was that the year when 22 became 21 when one left the formation to show off on his own by banging out.
And in view of Princess Margaret too I recall.
Have forgotten what got into him to go off on his own and misbehave like that.
Had a long walk back from Laffan's Plain!
Great shot.
Was that the year when 22 became 21 when one left the formation to show off on his own by banging out.
And in view of Princess Margaret too I recall.
Have forgotten what got into him to go off on his own and misbehave like that.
Had a long walk back from Laffan's Plain!
Do a Hover - it avoids G
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Milt
The event you are thinking of was when the then new Odiham Hunter wing put up 16 from the Farnborough to celebrate the RAE Jubilee in July 1955 in front of Princess Margaret.
The Hunter had only recently entered service so it was far too early for form aeros. Four sections streamed off for a flyby of four boxes. Number 2 in the third section took off with a false lock and wing-rocked right out of the formation, I don't think he made it but I am not sure about that. The aircraft hit a barn. The missing man type fly-by was fairly poignant given the smoke going up a mile or two away.
JF
The event you are thinking of was when the then new Odiham Hunter wing put up 16 from the Farnborough to celebrate the RAE Jubilee in July 1955 in front of Princess Margaret.
The Hunter had only recently entered service so it was far too early for form aeros. Four sections streamed off for a flyby of four boxes. Number 2 in the third section took off with a false lock and wing-rocked right out of the formation, I don't think he made it but I am not sure about that. The aircraft hit a barn. The missing man type fly-by was fairly poignant given the smoke going up a mile or two away.
JF
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Hawker Hunter-Kingston! Well more like Ham 5th April 1968.
Whilst John Farley was having a 'phone conversation in his office at Dunsfold, I was in Wally Rayner's office (Assistant Works Manager) at Kingston. Just before mid-day, I looked out of the window and saw a Hunter with 4 drop tanks, low(200ft or so) going like the clappers in the distance towards London. At lunch shortly afterwards I mentioned this strange sighting to others, but nobody had seen the a/c. I thought no more of the matter until I got home and listened to the news on the radio.
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I would love a copy of the mentioned incident and picture. I am actually distantly related to Alan Pollock and have been trying to find some information on the subject for some time. I have been in touch with various members of the family but the picture has been misplaced. We would all love to see it.
He was the son of Agnes and John Pollock. They were both Scottish although he and his siblings were born in London where his father was a Police Inspector. Agnes, his mother was my Great Grandfathers sister.
I would be very gratful for any info.
He was the son of Agnes and John Pollock. They were both Scottish although he and his siblings were born in London where his father was a Police Inspector. Agnes, his mother was my Great Grandfathers sister.
I would be very gratful for any info.
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Hawker Hunter London Bridge (II)
Having read this thread some time ago I came across this article:
Jever Steam Laundry - 4 Sqn personnel Pollock 004
I like the letter to the editor at the end (if only he could see the world of 2009!!!)
SIR,-The beating-up of Central London and Tower Bridge by a Hunter signifies to me that the adventurous spirit is not
yet quite dead in the RAF. The apparently timid fashion
in which some RAF aircraft have been flown at air displays during recent
years had led me to believe that pilots who were willing to fly in a
spirited fashion, using fine judgment in the process (and thereby
increasing their efficiency as fighting pilots), no longer existed in
the RAF.
I bet that this flight gave the aircraft knockers and the Neddies in
Whitehall (who don't know what aircraft are, anyway, or so it would
seem) something to think about.
Good luck to the pilot! I would rather trust the defence of this country
to a handful of his type than to a great number of the timids.
Redditch, Worcs
J. G. ROBINSON
Original Thread:
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...tml#post940531
Jever Steam Laundry - 4 Sqn personnel Pollock 004
I like the letter to the editor at the end (if only he could see the world of 2009!!!)
SIR,-The beating-up of Central London and Tower Bridge by a Hunter signifies to me that the adventurous spirit is not
yet quite dead in the RAF. The apparently timid fashion
in which some RAF aircraft have been flown at air displays during recent
years had led me to believe that pilots who were willing to fly in a
spirited fashion, using fine judgment in the process (and thereby
increasing their efficiency as fighting pilots), no longer existed in
the RAF.
I bet that this flight gave the aircraft knockers and the Neddies in
Whitehall (who don't know what aircraft are, anyway, or so it would
seem) something to think about.
Good luck to the pilot! I would rather trust the defence of this country
to a handful of his type than to a great number of the timids.
Redditch, Worcs
J. G. ROBINSONOriginal Thread:
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...tml#post940531
Last edited by JP1; 28th Nov 2009 at 19:32.
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I love this story.
I don't neccessarily condone what Flt Lt Pollock did, but I can certainly understand it.
Looking back now it's all a bit of fun, and an excellent piece of flying. I would have loved to have been standing on the bridge at the time. However, that's all given the fact that he pulled it off....
The stunt was obviously well within the pilot's abilities, but we certainly wouldn't be talking about him with such admiration if something had gone wrong.
Nevertheless, nothing went wrong, and it was frigging awesome.
I don't neccessarily condone what Flt Lt Pollock did, but I can certainly understand it.
Looking back now it's all a bit of fun, and an excellent piece of flying. I would have loved to have been standing on the bridge at the time. However, that's all given the fact that he pulled it off....
The stunt was obviously well within the pilot's abilities, but we certainly wouldn't be talking about him with such admiration if something had gone wrong.
Nevertheless, nothing went wrong, and it was frigging awesome.
"I don't neccessarily condone what Flt Lt Pollock did, but I can certainly understand it.
Looking back now it's all a bit of fun, and an excellent piece of flying. I would have loved to have been standing on the bridge at the time. However, that's all given the fact that he pulled it off....
The stunt was obviously well within the pilot's abilities, but we certainly wouldn't be talking about him with such admiration if something had gone wrong.
Nevertheless, nothing went wrong, and it was frigging awesome."
Flying under the lower half of London Bridge requires absolutely no skill whatsoever.
It requires an absolute idiot with average RAF fighter pilot flying skills.
....and yes, Pillock, sorry Pollack, was my era.
Looking back now it's all a bit of fun, and an excellent piece of flying. I would have loved to have been standing on the bridge at the time. However, that's all given the fact that he pulled it off....
The stunt was obviously well within the pilot's abilities, but we certainly wouldn't be talking about him with such admiration if something had gone wrong.
Nevertheless, nothing went wrong, and it was frigging awesome."
Flying under the lower half of London Bridge requires absolutely no skill whatsoever.
It requires an absolute idiot with average RAF fighter pilot flying skills.
....and yes, Pillock, sorry Pollack, was my era.
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Really? Given the little time he had to get himself sorted?
I imagine that had he planned it it wouldn't be a particularly difficult manouvre for one of you guys, but since it was a spur of the moment thing I guessed there would be an element of difficulty.
I imagine that had he planned it it wouldn't be a particularly difficult manouvre for one of you guys, but since it was a spur of the moment thing I guessed there would be an element of difficulty.
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Flying under the lower half of London Bridge requires absolutely no skill whatsoever.
... as the gentleman can't even name the correct bridge, comment best ignored! Is it too much to expect that all references to London Bridge be changed to Tower Bridge....especially the thread name?
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Mr P is certainly alive and well.
A great guy full of enthusiasm and "can-do" attitude - precisely the sort of chap that the stuffy miseries in Whitehall and elsewhere resent!
A great guy full of enthusiasm and "can-do" attitude - precisely the sort of chap that the stuffy miseries in Whitehall and elsewhere resent!
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With all this talk about Al perhaps sombody can get him to tell of his motorcycle trip from Gutersloh to visit his father in Istanbul with Fred D**** on the pillion.
Or of his adventure crossing from Sylt to Niebul by bicycle.
Or of his trip to raid Group HQ on New Years Day.
An original Good Egg !
Or of his adventure crossing from Sylt to Niebul by bicycle.
Or of his trip to raid Group HQ on New Years Day.
An original Good Egg !