Wg Cdr Ken Wallis
 

Ken Wallis passed away on Sunday, 1st September.

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators awarded him the Guild Award of Honour last year in recognition of his outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation.



Link to Full Citation


FL

Wg. Cdr Ken Wallis
 

I gather from another aviation web site that this true legend of British Aviation passed away today. RIP & thank you Sir

Wikipedia states that he died on Sunday but I can't find any other info whatsoever, where did you find this out from?

We have just lost a true great - a one off. RIP Ken Wallis.

Apologies if the date is incorrect, curious why no reports in the media.

Link referred to here.
Absolutely zilch in the Telegraph including a search in Air Force obits.


Ken Wallis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wg. Cdr Ken Wallis
 

Given the doubt & lack of other sources I have withdrawn the rumour of Ken Wallis's death & hope its not true. I note that the stated (other aviation) web site's administrator has now echoed his doubts. Apologies. R2

Rocket2,

I hope it's not true, too. Wg.Cdr. Ken Wallis is one of my heroes. The Gyrocopter was an idea whose time should have come, but didn't.

If I was 60 yrs youger - and Mrs D. would let me - would love to have a go.

Danny.

Sadly ...

Just posted here ...

Norwich Evening News 24

Very sad ...

I'm so glad he lived to see himself and his collegues past and present properly honoured with the Bomber Command clasp and the Bomber Command Memorial.

RIP, a fine man and an example to us all.

http://media1.picsearch.com/is?AnmDu...x48&height=225

RIP Little Nellie's Dad. :sad:

Another legend gone, RIP sir.

RIP Sir!

A true gentleman who I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago. He was an extremely interesting man to speak with. I got the impression, he lived for the love of flying.

God Speed Wg Cdr Wallis

I attended a RAeS talk by him at Boscombe - he's done more stuff than anyone would believe, and a fantastic character too.

Will be very sadly missed, RIP.

Met him several times and an absolute gentleman. RIP Sir.

So very sad this morning to read the news. I met Ken a couple of times & was in awe of him. A great character in the finest sense of the word & a true gentleman. RIP Sir.

Oddly the former Mrs W, who had no interest in aviation whatever, met Ken several times and was totally entranced by the man and his machines.

RIP KW, and so glad his wartime service and that of so many others finally recognised.

In 1976 I was bedbound in RAF Ely hospital, alongside Ken who had broken his ankle in a gyrocopter mishap. What a fascinating three days! A unique and highly memorable privilege to have shared his company.

RIP Wing Commander

Truly a "Magnificent Man"....
His website is worth a look, if only for the brief biography therein. I don't suppose anyone knows just how many things he had done; I certainly didn't realise he had invented slot car racing!!

Ken Wallis

Heard him give a talk once, fascinating man, all sorts of stuff from Wellington vs Barrage Balloon, replica monoplane (made from steel tube and and a few old photographs), the "Long Dog" Rolls Royce tourer he built (from a Silver Ghost that had been converted to a breakdown truck..), let alone racing Little Nellie down an Autobahn against the German Polizei's new Porsche 911.
In case they sound like tall tales, there was a slide show with pictures of all this stuff.
BBC made a programme about him a few years ago, hope they show it again as a tribute.

RIP to a genuine total aviation person.

Agree entirely - except for me it was Headley Court in 1973 or 74 ....!

...... which may say something about the safety of gyrocopters! (IIRC it was his back that time!)

Top bloke - RIP.