On 25/06/2014 01:35, John Szalay wrote:
> news:jaudnQEm7KB_TzTOnZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@giganews.com:
>
>> various military and other aircraft for an annual event over one of our
>> seaside towns here in the West of England.
>>
>> Amongst the intended participants was a Hawker Hurricane, one of the
>> earliest monoplane fighter aircraft, which first flew in 1935 and
>> entered squadron service in 1937. This particular aircraft, military
>> serial number PZ 685, was the last of 14,533 Hurricanes produced and is
>> Britain Memorial Flight. Whilst the Spitfire, produced in greater
>> greatest ongoing aerial battles, The Battle of Britain, it was the
>> Hawker Hurricane that achieved 60% of all kills.
>>
>> I heard the roar of the Merlin engine and watched the Hurricane make a
>> perfect landing in the hands of Wing Commander Justin Helliwell. All
> was
>> not well, however, in that on lowering the undercarriage something
>> burst, showering the pilot with hydraulic fluid and rendering the
>> aircraft unserviceable for its intended flying display. There is
> picture
>> of Justin this series, picture 15, his flying suit still saturated with
>> hydraulic fluid, yet he still smiled and carried on with the PR work
> for
>> which these people are renowned.
>>
>> As is inevitable with such mishaps, a man with a clipboard appeared,
>> picture 16, to take stock of the situation and, having made his
>> assessment, the lads with the big toolboxes then wielded their hammers
> duty.
>>
>> Enjoy!
>>
>
> From the LIFE photo archives:
>
> British royal family aide, Capt. Peter Townsend, wearing helmet & goggles
> while sitting in cockpit of Princess Margaret's plane (a Hurricane), in
> which he finished 2nd in King's Cup air race.
> Location: Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
> Date taken: May 17, 1950
>
>
>
>
>
To be pedantic (again) it's Group Captain Peter Townsend. He was Equerry
The Hurricane is the familiar PZ865, in its guise as G-AMAU. It (unless
there's another Mk.IIc with cannon fitted) flew a few circuits of our
village here a few days ago. No idea why, as we're more than a hundred
miles from Coningsby.
http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hurricane/Kings-Cup-Air-Race.html
--
Peter
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