A local crop duster of some renown, and not adverse to giving the authorities stick, was taken to court for flying under a bridge on the highway. Not me your honour, as you can see from the evidence that the wing span of the alleged aircraft is greater than the distance between the bridge spans. Charge thrown out of court. What the good judge didn't know was he had side slipped it through. Wonder if it would have side slipped past FL had he been presiding?

Have flown under the Sydney Harbour bridge as part of a formation of many (opening of the Opera House). No great skill required in that case, akin to riding the scooter in through the open hangar doors.

Brian Abraham,

Nice story Brian, which underscores the vital fact in Al's feat. It took skill and judgement (particularly as Tim McLelland said, it was carried out on impulse). Those who dismiss his manoeuvre as not worth a candle, should perhaps think back to Ray Hanna's near decapitation of Alain de Cadenet in that wonderful Spitfire Low Flying Pass.
The difference between the ordinary and the exceptional, when flying is involved, is quite narrow, and so when we are presented with a bit of special flying, we should applaud and wish that we had the same ability.

X767

Of course tomorrow is the 42nd Anniversary of the great event. I wonder if someone is this moment contemplating having a bash at it with a Harrier or something?:E

FB

I really, really, really hope not!!

43rd Anniversary Tower Bridge Hunter
 

I met the perpetrator of the outrage a couple of months ago at a pub near Duxford to retrieve his 1976 painting and give it a clean and repair. There were loads of mistakes that needed correction - too many to list - but short of a complete repaint with numbers 4, 7 and 11 from my PBN outfit, it has now been returned in a state less painful to the eye than it was when I collected it. A nose-job and the roadway received most attention.

The bus that he remembers trundling across the bridge as he approached was represented at his suggestion as a No1. Very appropriate, given that the motto of No1 Squadron "In omnibus princeps", roughly translates in my schoolboy Latin as "First in Number One Bus"

Here is the picture:

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...illy/TBH-1.jpg

I am willing to waive my fee to paint one of our few remaining front-line aircraft repeating the feat if anyone would care to oblige next Friday......

Mike R

Mike,

Someone did a rehearsal today - can I claim a prize?:cool:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b.../TBH-1-3-1.jpg

Yes, give yourself a sweetie from the jar and a special prize for updating the bus to a modern shape. That is very clever photoshopping.

Looks like a No 9 bus,and he`s got the stbd gear door flapping !

Door done - good spot!

Nice work Jindabyne!

sycamore - No78, not 9

Aah, but I now see what you mean - bit slow these days!!

Would the wonder-bomber's fin even fit through the gap ?! :E

141' from the road to the upper walkways, so plenty of room for The Mighty Fin, even with the bus there.