PPRuNe Forums - Last night I met Neil Armstrong

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Well said What Limits. :ok:

http://www.elsindical.com.ar/notas/v...rmstrong-2.jpg

There are people it’s enjoyable to meet, people who are interesting to meet, and a very small number whom it’s an honour to meet. Only very rarely does someone fall into all three categories: Neil Armstrong is one of the few. Even to shake the hand of the first man to walk on the moon is truly an honour IMHO.

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A privilege I won't forgetDave Singleton, Tudor Owen, Neil Armstrong

What a delightful, charming and unassuming man. A genuine celebrity in an age when so many nobodies are regarded, for reasons beyond my comprehension, as 'celebrities'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ng_1_proof.jpg............http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/...pstyow4lvc.jpg
Captain Dave Singleton & Tudor Owen with Neil Armstrong

The Guild of Air Pilots has numerous distinguished members who are ‘household names’ in different spheres of aviation but, even by those high standards, the presence of Neil Armstrong made the always magnificent Trophies and Awards Banquet even more special than usual.

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ShyTorque says "I found it quite incredible that the man on the moon we schoolboys dreamed to emulate back in the 1960s was actually there, talking to us about it."

That sums up very well how I, and clearly everyone else, felt.
The respect and awe in which Neil Armstrong is held was obvious not only from the enthusiasm of the longest standing ovation of the evening but throughout the entire event.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...strong3_ps.jpg _ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...strong2_ps.jpg

Neil Armstrong and Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown both received the Guild Award of Honour – awarded on rare occasions "to individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../Winkle_ps.jpg
Lord Stevens, Eric 'Winkle' Brown, Capt Jock Lowe (this year's Master of the Guild)

I felt a little sorry for ‘Winkle’ Brown. In normal circumstances, one of the few remaining aviation legends who was regarded by many as the ‘best of the best’ in an era of outstanding test pilots, and who contributed so much to the development of British Naval aviation, would have been the star attraction. But, even his outstanding achievements couldn’t compete with the everyone’s obvious excitement at the presence of the first man to walk on the moon.

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‘Where else could you meet these type of people but at the GAPAN Trophies and Awards Banquet?'

What limits sums it up perfectly.
So many aviation legends in the same place at the same time?
And the opportunity to chat with them?
Probably nowhere else in the world.

Link: Guild of Air Pilots

All pictures copyright Gerald Sharp Photography.

Hi MightyGem!

Yes, but we did have a great time, didn't we? I don't think either of us would have missed that Tuesday afternoon for anything! A fantastic day!

bondu :ok: :ok:

Is there a web site? I tried to google but the sites weren't working :confused:

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I felt a little sorry for ‘Winkle’. In normal circumstances, one of the few remaining aviation legends who was regarded by many as the ‘best of the best’ in an era of outstanding test pilots

Flying Lawyer - great photos.

I'm betting just maybe, just maybe, Neil Armstrong grew up with "Winkle" Brown as one of his heros. If I were given the choice as to who's career I would liked to have lived I would probably come down on the side of "Winkle" - hard choice tho. Had "First Man" on the book shelf as soon as it came off the press and only wish that all humanity was imbued with Neils personal qualities.

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A genuine celebrity in an age when so many nobodies are regarded, for reasons beyond my comprehension, as 'celebrities'

Aint that the truth. Madonna, et al what price?

GR8 Pics well done:ok:

Must have been a fantastic evening!
(is green with envy)

It was! :ok:

Be green! :}

One now has the "Loving Cup" ritual sussed as well!

Cheers

Whirls

On 29th September 1985 (yes in the last century!) I flew Neil Armstrong and his wife plus others from the Turnberry Hotel to Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran (Scotland for those who might not know). I was flying a Twin Squirrel (Twin Star) and although it was a (rare) warm day with a clear sky, the visibility was appauling with a typical high pressure haze. As a result and as we launched accros the Firth of Clyde, there was suddenly very little to see. However I had put the weather radar into search mode and there in front about 10 miles away was a magenta object which we flew towards. I had already seen the same object for real as I passed on my way to Turnberry and so I was able to tell Neil that it was in fact an American aircraft carrier that was on exercise in the Firth. He was absolutely fascinated and even more amazed when the carrier suddenly came into view in front of us and we passed close by. I was more amazed by his amazement because there was a man who had walked on the moon and here he was in awe of some fairly old earthly technology. Then perhaps he only did the walking - it was the boys on the ground who arranged and controlled the unbelieveable.

I am glad that those of you who attended the dinner enjoyed meeting Neil Armstrong as much as I did (my gosh was it 21 years ago!).
ANOrak

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Originally Posted by IrishSarBoy (Post 2938195)

Is there a web site? I tried to google but the sites weren't working :confused:

The site appeared to be down yesterday, but you will find it at GAPAN. :ok:

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Then perhaps he only did the walking - it was the boys on the ground who arranged and controlled the unbelieveable

ANOrak - not only did he do the walking but also the flying. Get a copy of "First Man" and read about the landing. Absolutly gripping stuff - emergency (computer, and they had not trained for these particular alarms) on short final, and unknown to ground control
"Once I got below fifty feet, even though we were running out of fuel, I thought we would be alright. I felt the lander could stand the impact (freefall from fifty feet) because of the collapsible foam inside of the landing legs. I didn't want to drop from that height, but once I got below fifty feet I felt pretty confident we would be alright."
Post flight analysis found they had fifty seconds (670 lbs) worth of hovering flight left.

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I was more amazed by his amazement because there was a man who had walked on the moon and here he was in awe of some fairly old earthly technology

Some of their gear was very low tech. How about determining altitude on the approach to landing with a line on the window and a stopwatch and referring to a chart. You'll have to read the book.

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Originally Posted by ShyTorque (Post 2934516)

I was also privileged to listen to Neil Armstrong's speech on Thursday (at least two other PPRuNe members were also present). I found it quite incredible that the man on the moon we schoolboys dreamed to emulate back in the 1960s was actually there, talking to us about it.
Most amazing thing for me and a measure of his great modesty was that he made it sound as if anyone could have done what he did.
On my return home my daughter, aged 9, asked me who else went along. As soon as I mentioned his name she exclaimed: "Wow! Neil Armstrong - the first man on the moon - cool!" She knew.
So, Captain Neil Armstrong - even the girls of today think you are cool! :ok:

That's an event I would have been proud to attend (a little envy there) and more honor to you ShyTQ for keeping your daughter well educated.
Unfortunately for all of us, I doubt that most nine year olds of today would even know we were on the moon back in '69 and even less they may know who Neil Armstrong is.

Thanks for the compliment - but it was actually mainly taught to her at her school! They did a project on "space" a while back, so the most credit is due to her teachers.

Mind you, she and I often look up into the night sky together as she has a real natural interest. I taught her to find the Great Bear and the Pole star and a few others, although she still prefers to call Ursa Major "the saucepan", LOL.

Shame there is nothing comparable to the "space race" for today's youngsters to follow. Today's so-called rolemodels are mainly just "fly by night" popsingers with not much to recommend them. :bored:

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Originally Posted by Shytorque

Shame there is nothing comparable to the "space race" for today's youngsters to follow.

ISS, Mars missions, Return to Moon. Besides all the STS missions are on live webcast now - makes fascinating viewing.

Spacerace was about USA vs USSR. True the stakes are different, but the void still beckons... ;)

Mart

Red Button before Engine Flameout

I was told,they had boxes of the finest Biscuits loaded in the oxegen bays bottom cavity of the hydrulic bays,should the module have crash landed on the moon as they(the Americans) had never ruled out that the moon was indeed made of cheese. :ugh:

The Guild Of Air Pilots

Absoluty fantastic. To be in the company of such men,is not only a priviledge but a Blessing.:ok:

DARREN999

William (Bill) Anders was never on a Gemini flight.
He flew only once as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8 in Decenber 1968 with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.
Lovell credits him with taking the famous 'Earthrise' photo that you see so often.

Not sure why he never flew again as Deke Slaytons rotation would have had Anders on Apollo 11. Usually they were dropped for motion sickness (Borman, Rusty Swieckart suffered so) or for political reasons (Dave Scott suffered this fate).:ok:

DARREN999

Bill Anders was never on a Gemini flight.

He flew as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8 in December 1968, with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.

Lovell credits Anders with taking the famous 'Earthrise' photograph of the Earth over the Moon.

Not sure why he did not fly again as Deke Slayton's rotation should have seen him on Apollo 11.

Usually crew were dropped from the programme due to motion sickness (Rusty Sweickart on Apollo 9 and Borman on Apollo 8 suffered so) or political reasons (Dave Scott suffered this fate).

MY hero to meet would be John Young. Check out what he managed to do whilst maintaing a very low profile:
Pilot Gemini 3. Commander Gemini 10. CMP Apollo 10. CDR Apollo 16 (8th man on the Moon). CDR STS-1 (first Shuttle flight). CDR STS-9 (first Spacelab flight) & Chief of the Astronaut Office.....:D

Gridnorth.
Thank you for correcting me..
I remember that picture..
A very nice man....:ok:

Photos of the great man's burial at sea ceremony.
(Authorized by the Armstrong family.)

BARNSTORMERS.COM eFLYER - Neil Armstrong Buried at Sea