Loop-the-loop with wartime fighter ace

There i was, waddling like a duck across a runway to a twoseater Chipmunk trainer aircraft. i say waddling as i was strapped into a parachute that bashed against my bottom as i tried to walk. it was 1964, i was 16 and had signed up to the rAF as an apprentice. this was to be my first flight experience at rAF Cosford near Wolverhampton. My pilot, a jovial, middle-aged fellow, could see i was a nervous first-timer, but after take-off on a beautiful day i relaxed and started to enjoy looking at the scenery. After five minutes, he asked whether i’d like him to perform some gentle aerobatics. ‘Sure,’ i said, trying to sound manly and confident. the Chipmunk is very light and he flipped it over into a barrel roll. We then manoeuvred downwards into a fast spiral descent called a falling leaf. Finally, we soared upwards into a loop-the-loop. ‘how was that?’ he asked. ‘there’s a sick bag to the right of you should you need it.’ true, my stomach was in my mouth, but i still found this to be an enjoyable experience, never to be forgotten. On landing, a ground crew member took me to one side. ‘i was watching the display,’ he said. ‘A lot of first-timers vomit. Your pilot does throw the plane around a lot, but you were in very safe hands. You’re honoured, you know. he’s a former Battle of Britain pilot.’ i hadn’t realised it at the time, but i now know it had definitely been an honour and a privilege.

Howard Thomas, evesham, Worcs.