Duke of Edinburgh

[heli1]

So sad to lose HRH....he reformed the Queens Flight after the RAF realised he was flying Navy helicopters out of the Palace gardens,was the first Hon. President of the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, instrumental in encouraging Charles and Andrew ,and undoubtedly influenced William and Harry also to take up helicopter flying with the Services.
Memories? I remember him visiting The Helicopter Museum to open the new Conservation Centre in 2007 when he renewed acquaintance with the Whirlwinf 12 and Wessex 4 from the QF. What do you remember?

[[email protected]]

We took a yellow Sea King to Buckingham Palace for a delayed Emergency Services cocktail party post 7/7.

When we presented to the Queen and Prince Philip, he noticed my CFSH badge and started telling stories about flying the Wessex with CFSH Instructors.

An absolute gentleman and a sad loss.

[nomorehelosforme]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

We took a yellow Sea King to Buckingham Palace for a delayed Emergency Services cocktail party post 7/7.

When we presented to the Queen and Prince Philip, he noticed my CFSH badge and started telling stories about flying the Wessex with CFSH Instructors.

An absolute gentleman and a sad loss.

Crab, that must have been a fine moment, putting down in Buckingham Palace probably doesn’t get much better than that!

[[email protected]]

We had picked up the SAR Force Commander at Chelsea Barracks and flew down the Mall at 300' before making our approach and landing at the back of the Palace where there is a LS.

All the way down the Mall, I was thinking 'I'm sure we shouldn't be doing this' but it was all approved and above board.

Coming back out at night after the cocktail party - we were the only ones not quaffing the Queen's champagne - on NVG was pretty spectacular as well.

[SpyPilot]

In light of the occasion, if not champagne awaiting your arrival back at whence you departed, I hope a quaff of something just as suitable was enjoyed by crew et al.

[nomorehelosforme]

Had the pleasure of meeting him twice, first time on the way to the toilets at Cowoth Park during Sunday Lunch!!! Second time during the construction of the new polo fields at Flemish Farm,(part of Guards Polo Club) he just turned up in his LandRover, no security, had a great conversation with him, he had a full understanding of earth moving equipment and lorries delivering materials to the site.

This happened about 3 weeks before the 109 accident in the Mourne Mountains which resulted in the death of his righthand man at Guards Polo Club Charles Stisted who himself was a true gentleman along with my great friend and mentor Ian Wooldridge and AJ Smith .....

[Boslandew]

I met him once some years ago. I was doing a steam driving course at Minehead with the West Somerset Railway - thoroughly recommend it, beats flying any day..

The Duke was visiting Lynton/Lynmouth on the 50th anniversary of the flood disaster. As part of his tour he came to the railway at Minehead and was offered a foot-plate ride on the engine we were learning on. He got off afterwards and was introduced to us as a group. He said, "my apologies, gentlemen, for delaying your training." To which one of our number, more quick-witted than me said, "Thats OK, sir, there aren't many people who can claim they have had their locomotive warmed up for them by the Duke of Edinburgh."

He roared with laughter and went on his way still chuckling. Great man.

[krypton_john]

There'll never be another like him. They're all too scared to say what they really think these days, sadly.

[Arnie Madsen]

.

He Modified his Land Rover because that is how he wanted to be transported to his funeral.

Gotta love a man like that

[sycamore]

Thought it might have had `air-spring` suspension ,so it could have `backed -up the Cathedral steps today.....

[Georg1na]

Royal Marines 300th anniversary. Two Wessex 5s and a Sioux. Happy days and what a great chap.

[Old jockey]

He is a great loss to the country... R.I.P.