Project Propeller, 3rd July
Thread Starter
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Project Propeller, 3rd July
It is not too late to get involved in this marvellous event, offering you and me, Johnny numptie PPL, the opportunity to fly with veteran airmen of World War Two. If you have participated in previous years, you will know what a pleasure and a privilege it is to fly with these men. On previous outings I've had a Hurricane pilot show me how to improve my barrel rolls, a Typhoon DFC put dodging low cloud into perspective (it's pretty easy when there are no long nose 190s trying to get at the Mosquitoes you are escorting through snowstorms to bomb a Gestapo prison), flown with survivors of thousand-bomber raids, and looped and twirled with men who last looked out of the canopy and saw an elliptical wing 60 years ago.
This year it's at North Weald, a suitably historic venue. Details here
http://www.projectpropeller.co.uk/
Join in.
This year it's at North Weald, a suitably historic venue. Details here
http://www.projectpropeller.co.uk/
Join in.
Last edited by FNG; 5th April 2004 at 10:40.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 292
Likes: 3
From: Ready to Depart
Excellent Response!
Our website statistics have soared in the last few days - I thought we'd got some press somewhere!
We've taken over ten registrations since this thread started - thanks to all of you who have volunteered so far.
Any more for any more?
We've taken over ten registrations since this thread started - thanks to all of you who have volunteered so far.
Any more for any more?
PPruNaholic!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
From: Buckinghamshire
Excellent event: can only agree enthusiastically with FNG's recommendation. Have done it twice so far and look forward to it again this year! Highly recommended and very worthwhile event!
Whilst on the subject of WW2 and "The Few" etc. I would like to recommend a book to everyone with any interest in what is was like for these heroes to gain their wings and fly Spitfires in defense of Britain in 1940: the book is called "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum, out now in paperback, and it is absolutely great!
Whilst on the subject of WW2 and "The Few" etc. I would like to recommend a book to everyone with any interest in what is was like for these heroes to gain their wings and fly Spitfires in defense of Britain in 1940: the book is called "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum, out now in paperback, and it is absolutely great!
Last edited by Aussie Andy; 10th April 2004 at 13:13.
Thread Starter
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
"First Light" is indeed a marvellous book: quite the most human of the British pilot memoirs I have read (perhaps benefitting from being written some time after the experiences described). In my opinion, it is comparable to Pierre Clostermann's "Le Grand Cirque". I wonder if we could persuade Monsieur Clostermann to come to Project Propeller?
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 0
From: UK
Perhaps someone could enlighten me (I hope it is only me) about a "problem" I have enrolled for sveral years and looked forward to meeting some of the extraordinary old timers but in the event NOTHING. An acknoledgement of regitered interest and then nothing. So one gives up trying to help
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 0
From: UK
AA - Bizarre is the correct expression. Not only did I telephone but I volunteered to "fetch & carry" fom/to anywhere. This was just my way of showing my appreciation for what these guys did so very many years ago. Still, perhaps they were simply oversubscribed, at least that is what I shall assume.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 292
Likes: 3
From: Ready to Depart
WorkingHard: Sorry to hear that your offer to participate hasn't been taken up in the past - more so that no one got back to you to let you know why.
I'm not involved with the rostering, but I can tell you that we are generally over-subscribed on two counts:
1) from the 'usual' favorite locations, where we have more seats than bums
2) in landing slots. At Kemble in 2002, we had a physical limit of 125 aircraft - it would be temporally impossible to land any more on a single runway by the start time, refuel them, and get them all off the ground again at the end!
Unfortunately, there are often a few aircrew out in the sticks that end up getting left behind because we haven't got and aircraft near by, whilst there are spare seats available at Waltham, Barton, Elstree, Popham etc.
We always accepts as many registrations as we can, and then roster to get the most aircrew there on the day given the number of aircraft/seats available. Dennis does take care to see that as few as possible are let down, trying not to leave out the regular attenders nor the ones that have never been before!
I'm not involved with the rostering, but I can tell you that we are generally over-subscribed on two counts:
1) from the 'usual' favorite locations, where we have more seats than bums
2) in landing slots. At Kemble in 2002, we had a physical limit of 125 aircraft - it would be temporally impossible to land any more on a single runway by the start time, refuel them, and get them all off the ground again at the end!
Unfortunately, there are often a few aircrew out in the sticks that end up getting left behind because we haven't got and aircraft near by, whilst there are spare seats available at Waltham, Barton, Elstree, Popham etc.
We always accepts as many registrations as we can, and then roster to get the most aircrew there on the day given the number of aircraft/seats available. Dennis does take care to see that as few as possible are let down, trying not to leave out the regular attenders nor the ones that have never been before!
PPruNaholic!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
From: Buckinghamshire
I had an email from the organisers yesterday: they are now starting on the process of matching up aircraft, pilots & veterans its seems, so we should hear more in the next couple of weeks.
Andy
Andy
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: UK
Have volunteered this year for the first time but not quite sure what to expect - can anyone advise?. I'll be flying a bog standard PA28 and I think it'll be a bit of a disappointment to my passenger - no speed, fancy manoeuvres, aerobatics, etc., etc - just A to B and back, with perhaps a landing elsewhere, time permitting. Any tips?
Thread Starter
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Hansard, worry not. These fine blokes are happy to be in a piston powered aeroplane, and to meet old friends at an airfield. Do not be surprised if you find that the bomber chaps are a little taciturn. Their fearful experiences are discussed amongst themselves. Fighter guys tend to be more loquacious. In any event, it is a great privilege to spend a day amongst these men, and it is one of the very best things that you can do with a PPL .
Thread Starter
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Please see the Flyer Forum: two veterans need lifts from Wellesbourne.
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6744
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6744
Thread Starter
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
BRL, if you are questioning Aerbabe's BTTT when this is already stickyfied, you have to remember that she's now moved to Essex, so her huge scientifical brain is but a shadow of its former self.
