Brooklands Centenary.....

[petermcleland]

Thanks for all your pics and the video chaps...Very Nostalgic

[DaveB]

You'd have been in good company yesterday Peter. When we reopened the aircraft after the first run.. at one point we had no less than 3 ex Vanguard pilots on the FD.. 2 BEA and 1 TCA. The BEA pilots spoke of it with some affection.. the TCA pilot prefered the Viscount but complained you were always worried about fuel. On the Vanguard.. he never had that problem ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Rick Piper]

Hi Peter

do any of these faces ring a bell ?

the guy sitting in the RH seat was possibly one of your Co Pilots as he flew Vanguards * Merchentmen for BEA from Launch to replacement.
Sadly i have forgotten his Name but he definately sparked up when i mentioned Captain Mcleland

the other guy sitting behind the RH seat is an EX TCA capatain over just for the day :o

Dave B will know the Left seat guys as i think they are "Brookie Old Boys"

Regards
Rick

[petermcleland]

I'm sure I would have known the BEA chaps Dave ...I'll get there one day :flying:

Still preparing for my Snowdonia "expedition"...Just got a nice compartmented mini rucksack to allow me two hands for myself while getting up to those ledges

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matey

You beat me to it but i did remember to take a shot of said Pilots for PMc

Regards
Rick

[petermcleland]

Hi Peter

do any of these faces ring a bell ?

Hi Rick,

Something familiar about the chap in the right hand seat...Time weathers us all :think: ...A name I could look up in my logbooks. Thanks for the shot Rick :flying:

[DaveB]

The chap sitting in the P1 is Donald who I've mentioned to Peter before. He started his flying career in the twilight of WWII having applied and been told no thanks.. we have enough then dragged into RAF blue in late 44. He was sent to the U.S. to get his wings which he did on Catalina's :o By the time he came back.. the war had ended towit he was sent packing by the RAF so joined BEA flying DC3's. Over a number of years, he moved up to Vanguard's (pax only as I remember) and finally to T2's which is where he stayed.

As Rick pointed out.. the chap directly behind Don is the ex TCA Vanguard pilot who I know little about.

The chap in P2 is the other ex BEA Vanguard pilot (sri.. no name). He left the RAF in the mid 60's (I think) having done his last 4 years in the RAF on Varsity T1's.

The chap crouching behind him is another of the many Brooklands volunteers and one I'm not au fait with (probably because he only goes on Saturday's.. a day I rarely go on) ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Rick Piper]

Hi Peter

When I eventually get my House sold and Emigrate to Bournemouth you will always be welcome to a free seat on any of my Airshow/museum trips.

It will happen (so the estate Agent tells me)

Regards
Rick

[Brian Franklin]

Rick,

Perhaps if you put up one of those nice blue plaques : 'Rick Piper lived here'

Brian

[Rick Piper]

Hi Mate

they will know as the amount of Junk Mail i get will make them remember i lived here.

I still get the bussiness invoices for the last occupier who left 6 years ago!

Regards
Rick