James May Daily Telegraph article
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 202
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From: vocation
*Engage Pedant mode*
James May writes.....
"Some of you will want to write in and direct me to the sycamore seed, but, strictly speaking, that is an autogiro. So there."
Someone write in and tell him Autogiro was a trademark name. Gyroplane would be more correct.
*Disengage Pedant mode*
James May writes.....
"Some of you will want to write in and direct me to the sycamore seed, but, strictly speaking, that is an autogiro. So there."
Someone write in and tell him Autogiro was a trademark name. Gyroplane would be more correct.
*Disengage Pedant mode*
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I bumped into him on 31st May at Goodwood. He looked like an overgrown student. In fact I'm sure he IS an overgrown student.
And I agree, he is an actor but then, aren't we all?
And I agree, he is an actor but then, aren't we all?
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: UK
I'm sure FLY 7 has a point about jealousy - as someone told me once, anyone can fly a plane (which you just trim out & go to sleep from boredom), but only a few posess enough skill & precision to fly helicopters!
I'm quite happy to stick with that, and the fact that I can normally land much closer to a beer than plank pilot - part of the laziness, I suppose, but I can live with that!
Enjoyed the article though - got to give him credit for good writing!
I'm quite happy to stick with that, and the fact that I can normally land much closer to a beer than plank pilot - part of the laziness, I suppose, but I can live with that!
Enjoyed the article though - got to give him credit for good writing!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: sussex
james may
i think he jealous, even though he got the rolls soft top for beer drinking sessions , its not as satifying as flying a rotary aicraft well, and when your finished you can have that beer , come on james we challenge you to try a few hours see how you get on?? bit like being gay, you never know till you try helispeediii [not gay]
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 23
From: UK and MALTA
Ah, what a fantastic bit of literature!!
The subject is immaterial. I really really enjoyed reading that piece.
For those of you who seem to have taken his point of view at face value...I think you have missed the point completley.
That man May can write...... Reminds me of "Oh my best Beloved"
DB
The subject is immaterial. I really really enjoyed reading that piece.
For those of you who seem to have taken his point of view at face value...I think you have missed the point completley.
That man May can write...... Reminds me of "Oh my best Beloved"
DB
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: A cold country
Ohh bloody <biiip> 
..
Mr. James May. Nice writing, I'll give you that - if you read here on pprune ..
Now, comparing women to helicopters, you are absolutely right, Spot on. But being afraid of nearing a helicopter then, doesn't that say more about you and your skills with women
??
Remember, runways are only for Beauty Queens. Us "chumpa-chumpa"-pilots don't really need them. We don't need to show off on a shiny wooden floor before getting airborn, we just grab flying by its balls and show off when we get airborn ..
Because Mr. May. How fast can you fly sideways and backwards in your little shiny Cessna 172 ?? - How slow do you dare to fly ??
Let me add: Normal airplanes like your Cessna are like American cars, they really don't like to corner, they prefer to go straight ahead if you let them pick. Helicopters on the other hand, they just loooove cornering ..
Best Regards;
madman - an absolute TopGear fan
..
..Mr. James May. Nice writing, I'll give you that
- if you read here on pprune ..Now, comparing women to helicopters, you are absolutely right, Spot on. But being afraid of nearing a helicopter then, doesn't that say more about you and your skills with women
??Remember, runways are only for Beauty Queens. Us "chumpa-chumpa"-pilots don't really need them. We don't need to show off on a shiny wooden floor before getting airborn, we just grab flying by its balls and show off when we get airborn ..
Because Mr. May. How fast can you fly sideways and backwards in your little shiny Cessna 172 ?? - How slow do you dare to fly ??
Let me add: Normal airplanes like your Cessna are like American cars, they really don't like to corner, they prefer to go straight ahead if you let them pick. Helicopters on the other hand, they just loooove cornering
..Best Regards;
madman - an absolute TopGear fan
..
Last edited by madman1145; 9th June 2009 at 21:07.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Guys....Guys....(Ladies too)....lighten up!
That was a very funny article....and he seems to be stepping on some corns as I read the responses!
Shy is right behind him in the humour department and plainly saw the story for what it was.....plain good fun!
That was a very funny article....and he seems to be stepping on some corns as I read the responses!
Shy is right behind him in the humour department and plainly saw the story for what it was.....plain good fun!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: New Zealand
Now just imagine, if they could start a flight version of Top Gear.
"And this week, we put Billie Piper into the Bell 47 to see how she goes around our testing hover taxi course.
Following that, Jeremy, James and the Hampster each have to make an aircraft out of a car and fly across the channel with the winner being first to down a beer at the Brittany pub.
Finally, the Stig puts the latest S76C++ through its paces on the helicopter race course."
In retrospect, I guess it would be better without that Clarkson buffoon.
"And this week, we put Billie Piper into the Bell 47 to see how she goes around our testing hover taxi course.
Following that, Jeremy, James and the Hampster each have to make an aircraft out of a car and fly across the channel with the winner being first to down a beer at the Brittany pub.
Finally, the Stig puts the latest S76C++ through its paces on the helicopter race course."
In retrospect, I guess it would be better without that Clarkson buffoon.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
OK James, if you read Pprune, here's an open offer to you - an hour in a Schweizer for an hour in a Cessna and let's see if you can convince me that fixed wing is more fun.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Cron, consider yourself slapped. By one who slaps.
An hour airborne of course; it's a Schweizer with dual controls. I cannot comfortably comprehend anything else in that aircraft for an hour.
Cheers
Whirls
An hour airborne of course; it's a Schweizer with dual controls. I cannot comfortably comprehend anything else in that aircraft for an hour.
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 17
From: Delta of Venus
I know that piloting a helicopter requires skill, however flying to New York or Hong Kong or wherever in one is not really practical is it? Helicopters have their uses but they are somewhat limited in many respects. As for "anyone can fly a plane (you just trim it out & go to sleep from boredom)" .......that comment is either meant as a wind up or it is a startling display of ignorance/arrogance.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Helicopters have their uses but they are somewhat limited in many respects.
Cheers
Whirls
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
PJ,
You're easily startled, old chap. Are you from the USA?
P.S. this whole thread is a wind-up.
I wouldn't mind giving it a Whirl...
startling display of ignorance/arrogance.
P.S. this whole thread is a wind-up.
or a fun hour
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Joined: Nov 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,753
Likes: 65
From: Alles über die platz
Isn't a sycamore seed nothing more than an object shaped so that it can autorotate? It is neither an autogyro nor a gyroplane.
As Mr May has been fortunate enough to have a whirl in a Harrier, I think we would have to do a lot of convincing in this plank/rotary competition!
As Mr May has been fortunate enough to have a whirl in a Harrier, I think we would have to do a lot of convincing in this plank/rotary competition!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 17
From: Delta of Venus
Whirls,
Also limited in the payload department are they not? as well as the range department, oh and they don't fly very fast so get a bit of a headwind component and its a bit of a bummer. They are pretty maintenance intensive per flying hour too....
Helicopters are uniquely very useful for certain tasks. i have no issue with that. Helicopter pilots more skilled than fixed wing?......well i'd have to take up cudgels with you on that point! Its just a different skill. You are not "sky gods".
ShyTorque,
No, not american.....i just lack your apparent pomposity.
Kind regards.
Also limited in the payload department are they not? as well as the range department, oh and they don't fly very fast so get a bit of a headwind component and its a bit of a bummer. They are pretty maintenance intensive per flying hour too....
Helicopters are uniquely very useful for certain tasks. i have no issue with that. Helicopter pilots more skilled than fixed wing?......well i'd have to take up cudgels with you on that point! Its just a different skill. You are not "sky gods".
ShyTorque,
No, not american.....i just lack your apparent pomposity.
Kind regards.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Looks like it Sassy Dahling 
Still, May get an offer or two
News to me 
Oh, and Private jet - we are Sky Gods; most of us can fly fixed wing as well but took the sensible route.
Cheers
Whirls
Still, May get an offer or two
As Mr May has been fortunate enough to have a whirl in a Harrier,
Oh, and Private jet - we are Sky Gods; most of us can fly fixed wing as well but took the sensible route.
Cheers
Whirls