Very new old boy

Nigel H-J · Post by **Nigel H-J** » 18 May 2007, 19:36

Ralph, many thanks indeed, a very interesting read.

You stated that you had an Auster, when in the RAF during the 1970s' I was with a gliding club at RAF Swinderby and often flew the Auster as P2 with Al Cree who I think was a Canberra pilot and Chas Morgan our CFI, who was a navigator on Phantoms at Conningsby.

This was the first powered aircraft I flew and spent many happy hours practising take offs and landings as well as flying cross country in it.

One most remembered feature of the Auster was the noise from the engine, made speaking very difficult at times.

Also had the pleasure of flying two other taildraggers, the Tiger Moth at RAF Cranwell and the of course the Supercub.

Regards Nigel.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 18 May 2007, 20:07

A great read Ralph

Always nice to know about folks

Garry

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 18 May 2007, 20:51

Yes indeed, please continue Ralph.

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 18 May 2007, 21:17

Yes Please Ralph...Let's hear some more from "Ull on't Umber" :dance:

...and welcome to this Merry Band

Post by **TSR2** » 18 May 2007, 21:34

You can't stop there Sir, that would be impolite

auster · Post by **auster** » 18 May 2007, 23:04

Nigel,

Thank you for your reply. Swinderby, eh? That was one of the stations that I used to cycle out to from Lincoln. I do remember there being at least one squadron of Short Stirlings there. They looked magnificent in bright sunlight. Pity about its service ceiling. More of this later.

You are quite right about Auster noise. Mine had a 180 hp Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier fuel injected engine. I always said I could get it to go twice as fast but I wouldn't be able to stand the noise. No wonder the crews needed bone domes.

To all you other respondents, many thanks for your encouragement. If you don't get bored it could be a bit long because it includes the war in Hull, Liverpool and Lincoln, my time at Hawker Aircraft in the workshops at the time of the Sea Fury then into the design office. This was followed by 2 years in the RAF where I learned Russian. Demobbed and back to Hawker's design working on the Sea Hawk, P1052, P1081 and the Hunter. Then on to Napier design and the Eland and Gazelle engines followed by design work on the Fairey Rotodyne, Gannet 3 and the Westland Westminster (What?). Started flying in 1975 and stopped a couple of years ago. Believe me, if you fly old bangers, they are very interesting from a number of points of view!

Ralph

Post by **Garry Russell** » 18 May 2007, 23:18

Hi Ralph

Westland Westminster.....yep I mentioned that a couple of days ago.......two built one just a frame.

G-APLH was one can't think of the other

Still no doubt you will be able to fill us in with some details when you get there

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 19 May 2007, 00:00

Napier Eland - we've been there as well not so long ago with the Convair 540

Westminsters:

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... dereg=true

G-APLH didn't sound right - close though - I guessed at a Bristol 170 (correctly from GINFO)

Post by **Garry Russell** » 19 May 2007, 00:41

Cheers Ian

It's been a long day

Garry

Keith Jones · Post by **Keith Jones** » 19 May 2007, 09:14

Hello, Ralph. A warm, albeit belated, welcome from me as well.
You don't say if you are interested in simming or not (I know not everyone here is), but if you are you may be interested in the Auster Mk9 available at all-nodes by Kazunori Ito, if you haven't already got it. I've just downloaded it and it includes G-BDFH (XR240)!