TAKING TO THE SKIES

aside our shared interest in diecast models, my other serious interest, and I guess yours also, is aviation. From the photo on page 5, it looks like you are wearing that smile I shared when just about ready to take off and enjoy the thrill of flying. Also, from your photo, it looks like a de Havilland Chipmunk to me. Some time ago, I was an Air Cadet and, with the passage of time, was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and, in due course, as a Flight Lieutenant. Some years ago I got my first aircraft - a three axis microlight, a CFM Shadow - and for many years I would travel from Winchmore Hill, North London to Croughton in Oxfordshire to fly from a farmer’s field, another microlight owner. For many years I would spend every weekend flying over Oxfordshire and beyond, enjoying the very special experience defying gravity creates. My flying opportunities as a result of having been an RAFVRT officer were varied and the variety of aircraft flown always provided opportunities that I would never have had were it not for being in the right place at the right time. These flying opportunities were enhanced by having the opportunity to sign up for a number of special courses, the most memorable being The Maritime Search and Rescue Course at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales. The high point of this was not being abandoned for a few hours in a 12 foot diameter life raft with about ten others. The memorable part of this course was the following day's nine hour sortie in the Maritime Search and Rescue BAC Nimrod of 42 Squadron RAF. Our flight lasted nine hours and extended from the southern part of Sweden right down the North Sea and finally returning to Valley. Our nine-hour long mission was mostly at very low level and incorporated very low level passes to photograph Russian trawlers who, rather than fishing for fish, were known to be listening in on various frequencies garnering whatever information they thought of interest. Another regular task for the Nimrod aircraft was to monitor the Russian submarines transiting from their base in Murmansk to reach the open sea. The method of tracking these vessels was, and may still be restricted, suffice to say that with very sophisticated radar and sonar devices these submarines could be tracked throughout their journey and using some equipment that, having been deployed, could not be recovered, each sortie became a very expensive exercise. At the end of the day we had hundreds of photos for Valleys photographic section and, after a very busy nine hour sortie, the crew were keen to get back to Valley for a special event taking place in the mess that night. Having landed, taken a shower and changed into suitable clothing for a night in the mess, the long day, for a variety of reasons became a very special day to remember. The list of aircraft flown in during my RAF career includes the Westland Helicopter, de Havilland Chipmunk, Avro Anson (the very last Anson being used by the RAF and a few weeks later it crashed in Lincolnshire, killing the people on board), BAC Nimrod and both glider types operated by the ATC. My other, less demanding aviation connection is my membership of The Guild of Aviation Artists, joining this organisation was as a direct result of my son buying me a year’s subscription as a member for a birthday present. Over time, and with a great deal of luck, I have reached the the level of “Associate”, having exhibited work on a number of occasions at the Pall Mall Gallery. My exhibited aviation artwork can be viewed on the Guild's website. Perhaps I may be able to find each of the aircraft flown in at the same scale for me to add to my 500 or so Dinky Toys?

Malcolm Gray, AGaVA, email

ED Wow! That was quite a trip! You are indeed correct with your observations - that is a Chipmunk that I’m sitting in, in the photo you mention. It’s not just any Chipmunk, though, it is one that my father actually flew during his RAF training in 1953 (WG417). It is also the airframe that became the very first Lycoming-powered Super Chipmunk – now registered G-BBNA. The reason for the huge grin was that I was just about to be taken up in it – what a very emotional experience that was (I had my father’s ashes with me). Onto the aircraft models, it would be tricky to get these all at the same scale due to the size of the Nimrod, but I have a cunning plan. Going for 1/72 scale, the Chipmunk (Aviation 72) and Anson (Oxford Diecast) would be easy to find. The Nimrod has been modelled by Corgi at 1/144, but you could, dare I mention it, go for a plastic kit at 1/72 scale? Airfix released one several years ago, but examples can still be found on ebay. As for the Westland helicopter, it depends on the type. Corgi has modelled the Lynx, Puma, Wessex and Sea King, Aviation 72 does the Gazelle and Oxford Diecast is about to release its first example of the newly-tooled Dragonfly – all of these are at 1/72. We might struggle with the gliders though, unfortunately.