Wg Cdr Ken Wallis
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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
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
Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis
26th April 1916 ~ 1st September 2013
RIP
On of the several 'famous' images of Ken.
A 97-year-old record-breaking autogyro pilot, who flew as a James Bond stunt double, has died.
Retired Wing Cdr Ken Wallis, who lived near Dereham, Norfolk, died on Sunday, his daughter confirmed.
Born in Ely, his first solo flight was in 1937. Thirty years later he doubled as Sean Connery's Bond for an explosive aerial sequence in You Only Live Twice.
His daughter Vicky said her father passed away after "a long and successful life doing what he wanted".
A keen photographer, he combined his passion for images and flight to help police in aerial reconnaissance, the search for Lord Lucan and the Loch Ness monster.
Honoured with an MBE in 1996, he piloted 24 wartime missions over northern Europe in Wellington bombers, before spending 20 years engaged in weapons research in the Royal Air Force.
In October, he was honoured by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) for his lifetime contribution to aerospace.
Speaking at the time, he said he was "privileged to be recognised by an organisation which celebrates professionalism and dedication in flying".
"This award is a great honour, but at only 96 I'm just a beginner," he said.
Retired Wing Cdr Ken Wallis, who lived near Dereham, Norfolk, died on Sunday, his daughter confirmed.
Born in Ely, his first solo flight was in 1937. Thirty years later he doubled as Sean Connery's Bond for an explosive aerial sequence in You Only Live Twice.
His daughter Vicky said her father passed away after "a long and successful life doing what he wanted".
A keen photographer, he combined his passion for images and flight to help police in aerial reconnaissance, the search for Lord Lucan and the Loch Ness monster.
Honoured with an MBE in 1996, he piloted 24 wartime missions over northern Europe in Wellington bombers, before spending 20 years engaged in weapons research in the Royal Air Force.
In October, he was honoured by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) for his lifetime contribution to aerospace.
Speaking at the time, he said he was "privileged to be recognised by an organisation which celebrates professionalism and dedication in flying".
"This award is a great honour, but at only 96 I'm just a beginner," he said.
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perfect life...
Beautiful man - I used to drop in on him whenever passing his house - took him for a spin just a few months ago - to live that well and die so efficiently after an active life to that age is just perfect - his stories about arriving in North America with his Rolls Royce and Curtis Le May (Peter Sellers) befriending him then going on to fly the (10 engined)nuclear armed B36 on the polar route along the N Russian border were fascinating. Happy for a wonderful life led. Well done.
(just regrettable he had his medical withdrawn on false grounds for a bout 15yrs - you know who you are)
(just regrettable he had his medical withdrawn on false grounds for a bout 15yrs - you know who you are)
I shared his company a few times around Redhill Aerodrome....what an absolutely amazing Man!
Those like him are rare and few!
He lived life to the fullest measure.
Those like him are rare and few!
He lived life to the fullest measure.
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Sad news indeed.
A reminder of the man and some of his work (click on image to run 360 panorama; Java required):
I/C
A reminder of the man and some of his work (click on image to run 360 panorama; Java required):
I/C
Last edited by Ian Corrigible; 27th Aug 2014 at 18:30.
Stood in Ken's hangar a few years ago as we introduced him to Frank Robinson. The 2 went into an engineering huddle with much displaying of hands - they had never met before, but admired each other across the Atlantic.
Ken deserves a rotary flypast for his funeral - who can organise that??
Ken deserves a rotary flypast for his funeral - who can organise that??
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Old Buck celebrate the life & work of Ken Wallis
It appears that Old Buck airfield are hosting an event in September 29th
A Celebration of the Life of Wing Commander Ken Wallis MBE - Buck
A Celebration of the Life of Wing Commander Ken Wallis MBE - Buck
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Tribute on BBC One News
BBC iPlayer - Look East - East: 04/09/2013
The ink expires at 1900 on 5th September.
H.
BBC iPlayer - Look East - East: 04/09/2013
The ink expires at 1900 on 5th September.
H.
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Ken Wallis
Such very sad news ... and can I share a few personal experiences of the great man.
Being tasked by the LOOP group aviation newspaper to run a profile story, I flew in to Ken's home at Reymerston accompanied by the specialist photographer, Dave Spurdens. The date was 22nd November 2007 and the plan was to fly Schweizer 300, G-BWAV with Ken commencing at 09.00hrs and have him off solo by lunch time! Ken Wallis had just passed his 91st birthday. As I expected, the great man made mincemeat of the different rotary handling of the pure helicopter and was holding a more accurate hover than I could achieve in his first hour!
Lunch at his local Golf Club was spent discussing his many inventions and exploits. Later Ken showed me the seventeen Gyroplanes he had built in his home hangar. I believe the Wallis name currently holds around a dozen FAI world records for the Gyroplane.
I have a picture of a 25lb practice bomb I discovered tucked away. Ken explained it was a type he had worked on for the Canberra B2 bomber release system, including the EMRU (release gear.) How many times had I dropped a batch of his designs on the ship targets based at Wainfleet. Otmoor in Oxfordshire and Luce Bay and Sandbanks were also regular targets for his practice bomb.
Ken Wallis' home was a veritable museum covering his work. He showed me an electric model car race track he had designed before WW2. It was still working and would have been 25 years ahead of the later 'Scalextric' system. I spotted a single shot 9mm target pistol ... being yet another of his unique designs. Then his wide angle camera he used for aerial photography.
More intriguingly and hanging on the wall, was a complete, albeit well damaged rudder fin removed from the Wellington Bomber in which Ken had become obliged to make a forced landing following an operation over Hamburg.
Post war, Ken Wallis also designed a unique sports car .... given the name "Long Dog" due to its extreme length and Rolls Royce chassis and engine. At the Fort Worth 'Autorama' event the car gained half a dozen trophies. Ken also raced boats taking part in the 56 mile 'Missouri Marathon' in August 1957, He took a first place on six occasions.
On an exchange posting with USA's SAC, (Strategic Air Command) Ken Wallis was invited to fly the mighty ten-engine, 400 knot Convair B36 out of Offutt AFB on Polar Flights. He also flew the T-33 Shooting Star, the B-25 and the C-47 Dakota among many other interesting types.
So where do I stop? Ken Wallis was also the man who became '007' James Bond when his Gyroplane design was used for "You Only Live Twice" and in such short time I can only touch on just one of the man's many films.
I must of course mention Ken Wallis' building a replica of the Wallbro monoplane originally built by his Uncle in 1910. The work was completed in 1978 and Ken made the first flight from RAF Swanton Morley the same year. The aircraft now sits at the Flixton museum in Bedfordshire.
My apologies to those who knew much more of such a truly great man since I can only touch on the highlights of my 2007 visit. There is so much else I could cover. But I just knew, I had spent priceless time with a unique person ... a great inventer, gentleman and supreme aviator.
Ken ... May you continue to fly high for evermore. I do hope today's aviation manages to salute you with a 'flypast.' I just have to repeat the phrase ... they don't come like that any more!
Dennis Kenyon.
PS. I have a dozen Hi-Res pictures of Ken Wallis on that day and a PM will be returned with the photographer's details on request.
.
Being tasked by the LOOP group aviation newspaper to run a profile story, I flew in to Ken's home at Reymerston accompanied by the specialist photographer, Dave Spurdens. The date was 22nd November 2007 and the plan was to fly Schweizer 300, G-BWAV with Ken commencing at 09.00hrs and have him off solo by lunch time! Ken Wallis had just passed his 91st birthday. As I expected, the great man made mincemeat of the different rotary handling of the pure helicopter and was holding a more accurate hover than I could achieve in his first hour!
Lunch at his local Golf Club was spent discussing his many inventions and exploits. Later Ken showed me the seventeen Gyroplanes he had built in his home hangar. I believe the Wallis name currently holds around a dozen FAI world records for the Gyroplane.
I have a picture of a 25lb practice bomb I discovered tucked away. Ken explained it was a type he had worked on for the Canberra B2 bomber release system, including the EMRU (release gear.) How many times had I dropped a batch of his designs on the ship targets based at Wainfleet. Otmoor in Oxfordshire and Luce Bay and Sandbanks were also regular targets for his practice bomb.
Ken Wallis' home was a veritable museum covering his work. He showed me an electric model car race track he had designed before WW2. It was still working and would have been 25 years ahead of the later 'Scalextric' system. I spotted a single shot 9mm target pistol ... being yet another of his unique designs. Then his wide angle camera he used for aerial photography.
More intriguingly and hanging on the wall, was a complete, albeit well damaged rudder fin removed from the Wellington Bomber in which Ken had become obliged to make a forced landing following an operation over Hamburg.
Post war, Ken Wallis also designed a unique sports car .... given the name "Long Dog" due to its extreme length and Rolls Royce chassis and engine. At the Fort Worth 'Autorama' event the car gained half a dozen trophies. Ken also raced boats taking part in the 56 mile 'Missouri Marathon' in August 1957, He took a first place on six occasions.
On an exchange posting with USA's SAC, (Strategic Air Command) Ken Wallis was invited to fly the mighty ten-engine, 400 knot Convair B36 out of Offutt AFB on Polar Flights. He also flew the T-33 Shooting Star, the B-25 and the C-47 Dakota among many other interesting types.
So where do I stop? Ken Wallis was also the man who became '007' James Bond when his Gyroplane design was used for "You Only Live Twice" and in such short time I can only touch on just one of the man's many films.
I must of course mention Ken Wallis' building a replica of the Wallbro monoplane originally built by his Uncle in 1910. The work was completed in 1978 and Ken made the first flight from RAF Swanton Morley the same year. The aircraft now sits at the Flixton museum in Bedfordshire.
My apologies to those who knew much more of such a truly great man since I can only touch on the highlights of my 2007 visit. There is so much else I could cover. But I just knew, I had spent priceless time with a unique person ... a great inventer, gentleman and supreme aviator.
Ken ... May you continue to fly high for evermore. I do hope today's aviation manages to salute you with a 'flypast.' I just have to repeat the phrase ... they don't come like that any more!
Dennis Kenyon.
PS. I have a dozen Hi-Res pictures of Ken Wallis on that day and a PM will be returned with the photographer's details on request.
.
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Due to the recent death of Wing Commander Ken Wallis, the 360 degree panoramic image of Ken and his gyros has been given quite of a viewing over the past week.
Unfortunately, the link published in a previous thread by Ian Corrigible was quite old and led to a Java based image on the elevation360 website which quite a few people could not access due to the new 'knee jerk' security restrictions imposed by ALL the current web browsers on Java content after a major US company was hacked allegedly through a Java based application.
Consequently, all the websites carrying the Java based images are being upgraded to different presentations of the 360 degree content.
There is a new version of the Ken Wallis image on the flight360 website here:- Wing Commander Ken Wallis 360 Panoramic Hangar View !
The new version is published in different versions (HTML5 and Flash) and your web browser will now automatically chose the best type of viewer to enable the image to display on your computer or device. The tiny minority of web users with Apple devices will now also be able to view the 360 degree images although due to the usual lack of compatibility with iOS, the full range of controls may not be available.
I have also placed a 're-direct' on the old link so it will now also display the proper version of the image.
Click the image to view the 360 degree interactive panorama!
Unfortunately, the link published in a previous thread by Ian Corrigible was quite old and led to a Java based image on the elevation360 website which quite a few people could not access due to the new 'knee jerk' security restrictions imposed by ALL the current web browsers on Java content after a major US company was hacked allegedly through a Java based application.
Consequently, all the websites carrying the Java based images are being upgraded to different presentations of the 360 degree content.
There is a new version of the Ken Wallis image on the flight360 website here:- Wing Commander Ken Wallis 360 Panoramic Hangar View !
The new version is published in different versions (HTML5 and Flash) and your web browser will now automatically chose the best type of viewer to enable the image to display on your computer or device. The tiny minority of web users with Apple devices will now also be able to view the 360 degree images although due to the usual lack of compatibility with iOS, the full range of controls may not be available.
I have also placed a 're-direct' on the old link so it will now also display the proper version of the image.
Click the image to view the 360 degree interactive panorama!
Last edited by billyh42; 23rd May 2020 at 18:14. Reason: Updated links
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Thanks for posting up that video, HOGE. Wing Commander Wallis was certainly one of the greats of rotary-wing aviation. He and "Little Nellie" were the true stars of "You only live twice"!
500 Fan.
500 Fan.
Last edited by 500 Fan; 10th Sep 2013 at 17:13.
billy
Thank you so much for the 360, it made me sad that I'd never stand there with him again but incredibly pleased about the times I did.
I really hope that a great deal of his collection (autogyros and much else besides) can stay together in tribute to an incredible gentleman.
Thank you so much for the 360, it made me sad that I'd never stand there with him again but incredibly pleased about the times I did.
I really hope that a great deal of his collection (autogyros and much else besides) can stay together in tribute to an incredible gentleman.
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FAO Dennis Kenyon.
Hi Dennis, just read your post up above and made me cry..... a little bit. So well written and beautifully portraying your obvious admiration and affection for a fellow aviator. Well done sir and I hope his family get to read your words.
I was never lucky enough to meet him but during my Apprenticeship at Arborfield learning to be an Army Aircraft Technician, I studied his autogyro designs as a course project.
A great man who led a great life.
DB
Hi Dennis, just read your post up above and made me cry..... a little bit. So well written and beautifully portraying your obvious admiration and affection for a fellow aviator. Well done sir and I hope his family get to read your words.
I was never lucky enough to meet him but during my Apprenticeship at Arborfield learning to be an Army Aircraft Technician, I studied his autogyro designs as a course project.
A great man who led a great life.
DB
Last edited by DOUBLE BOGEY; 10th Sep 2013 at 20:41.
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Ken with the prototype e360APIS aerial 360 degree camera that he was helping develop over the last couple of years.
I've just added an image gallery with some more of the shots taken that day to the flight360 website at:- Wing Commander Ken Wallis - 23rd April 2012
Last edited by billyh42; 23rd May 2020 at 18:12. Reason: updated links