RIP Squadron Leader Mark Long https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-69065857 And sadly I must agree with the RAF's decision to ground the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It should probably be grounded permanently now. To see those wonderful old aircraft in the skies of this era is truly inspiring. But the plain fact is that by modern standards they are incredibly dangerous to fly. I'm sure many of them crashed and pilots were killed during WW2 because of mechanical failures as well as damage inflicted by the Luftwaffe. We can still remember and commemorate the brave Few, without today's brave pilots having to risk their lives.
We need to get those magnificent machines back in the air as soon as they are passed fit. There are too few reasons to feel proud these days, and losing the sight of the Spitfire and Lancaster in the air would be a loss too much to bear. If the pilots are willing to take to the skies in our WW2 planes, let them fly and entertain us.
The Spitfires quite often fly over Whitstable- the sound is quite distinctive and always makes me feel very proud to be English
Our entertainment and pride are not worth the life of an RAF pilot. During Wartime our pilots had no choice but to brave the skies to defend our liberty in Spitfires and Hurricanes. They were truly wonderful aircraft. But they were never 'safe' to fly, by today's standards. In peacetime now I cannot believe s pilot's life is a justifiable price to pay simply in order to see any of these aircraft flying again. We do not celebrate the RAF during World War One by having today's pilots fly Sopwith Camels. Chiefly because those biplanes were incredibly dangerous to fly - even without an enemy aircraft trying to shoot them down. Even a replica one in top condition would be little better than a death trap. And even post-War jets such as the Hawker Hunter are simply too dangerous to fly. One crashed at an air show in Shoreham in 2015, killing 11 people on the ground. Not pilots who chose to risk their lives. Civilian spectators. When does our sense of pride cross the line to becoming more important than a Human life that need not be lost? We can continue to honour the Battle of Britain and the bravery of the Few. Of course we should - for all time. But we could do that with flights of our very latest fighter jets. Which are also beautiful machines and are much safer to fly. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ I know the RIP thread is not the one for disputes. So I've created a new thread just for this topic. This will allow members if they wish to, to debate this emotive question without disturbing the RIP thread. In the future I just don't want to be marking the passing of another brave Pilot who will never be coming home to his/her family again in these circumstances.
Many years ago I teamed up with a father and son to play a round of golf at Lullingstone. Dad was a nice chap but the worst golfer I've ever played with, plenty of air shots, probably took about 250 to get round. Around the 10th hole a Lancaster flew overhead, and I passed comment, having always been interested in aircraft, and in the ATC as a teenager. Dad replied that he had been a rear gunner during the war in the Lancaster, and spoke a little about it. I felt deeply awed by this modest unassuming man, because rear gunners had the most dangerous job and highest casualty rate of all. It was a lesson I've never forgotten.
Tail end Charlie. Shortest life expectancy of any air crew if I'm not mistaken. Manning that post took supreme courage. I think I read once that the Handley Page Halifax was favoured by air crew among our four engine bombers, because the fuselage doors were two inches wider than on the Lancaster or the Stirling. When your bomber was shot to pieces, on fire and hurtling towards the ground, those two inches might make the difference as to whether you could bail out in time to save your life.
No If we had today's lot to defend us back in 1940 we'd all be speaking German right now. It's a pity National Service wouldn't work in these times. Granted I ridiculed it in the election thread, but It's a kind of interesting idea.
