by Nick Anderson | Nov 3, 2021 | Plane Tales
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About this time of the year, I like to do a tale that turns our minds to those who gave their lives for their countries in the many conflicts that have plagued the world. In the past in tales such as, “In Flanders Fields and Lest We Forget” I’ve talked about the poppy, used as a symbol of remembrance in many countries, and the poem penned by the Canadian doctor, Lt Col John McCrae. There was a gap in my story, however, that I would now like to close. The gap that transformed the sad words of John McCrae’s poem into the adoption of the poppy as a representation of remembrance for the fallen, amongst such a large part of the English speaking world… and beyond.
Lt Col John McCrae
The Escadrille Lafayette in July 1917
Moina Belle Michael
Desk and poppy
The YWCA
In Flanders Fields written by John McCrae
An original remembrance poppy
The Poppy Factory in London
Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in the Albert Hall
The Poppy Lady’s historic road marker
Images under Creative Commons licence under Public Domain and with thanks to the National Museum of the Air Force, the Poppy Project, Neysa McMein, Heatherannej, Nickeaglesfield, the MOD and Ember390.
by Nick Anderson | Oct 29, 2021 | Plane Tales
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Within a few days of detonating their first nuclear bomb, to the dismay of the Soviets, President Truman announced that they had the evidence to prove that within recent weeks an atomic explosion had occurred in the USSR. How the United States had obtained that knowledge was highly classified but we now know the story of the secret snoopers who sniffed the stratosphere and their spooky sorties!
The Castle Bravo test blast
The Tsar Bomba
American concerns over nuclear fallout
The WB-29
The RB-47H at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
Balloon debris
The RC-135
The long thin island of Novaya Zemlay
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to TravelingOtter, the US Department of Energy, Croquant, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Ruth AS, the USAF, the University of Texas, the SDASM Archives and NASA.
by Nick Anderson | Oct 22, 2021 | Plane Tales
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This is the concluding part of my interview with Mike Wildman, an amputee pilot who has had a fascinating career in aviation. The first part covered Mike’s life in the Royal Air Force flying, the second concerned his life changing decision to have part of his left leg removed and his fight to lead the world’s first disabled formation display team. In this final section Mike tells us about creating Team Phoenix Air and flying the stunning Yak 50.
Mike leading the Bader Bus Company team
The Ultimate High Flying Experience
The interview with Mike, filmed by Nevil Bounds
Team Phoenix Air formation display
Sherill from Team Phoenix
The Yaks
The Yaks
The proposed 2022 air show highlights
The Yakovlevs in the air
The home of the Yakovlevs
How to get in touch with Mike Wildman
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Mike Wildman, Nevil Bounds, The Bader Bus Company, Ultimate High, Team Phoenix Air and the Yakovlevs.
by Nick Anderson | Oct 15, 2021 | Plane Tales
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This is the second part of my interview with Mike Wildman, an amputee pilot who has had a fascinating career in aviation. The first part covered Mike’s life in the Royal Air Force flying, amongst other aircraft, the C130 Hercules. In this part we hear about his life changing decision to have part of his left leg removed and his fight, not only to get back into the cockpit of an aircraft but to lead the world’s first disabled formation display team.
Recording the interview with Mike in front of a Yak 52
Mike, a Captain with Virgin Atlantic Airways
Mike after his life changing decision to have part of his left leg removed
Aerobility, the organisation that got Mike back into the air as an amputee pilot
Sir Douglas Bader, a double amputee WWII Battle of Britain fighter pilot
The pilots of the world’s first amputee formation team
The Bader Bus Company Still Running formation team
Mike climbing out of his Yakovlevs Yak 52
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the RAF, Aerobility, the Yakovlevs, the Bader Bus Company and Mike Wildman.
by Nick Anderson | Oct 7, 2021 | Plane Tales
Podcast (pt): Download
Mike Wildman is an amputee pilot who has had a fascinating career in aviation. This tale is about his time in the Royal Air Force flying the C130 Hercules in some very challenging theatres. His story will both amaze and inspire, particularly in the later parts when we will cover his work as the leader of the world’s only fully aerobatic amputee formation team… TeamPhoenixAir.com
Mike, learning to fly
Mike during his RAF basic flying training
Mike was posted to fly the C130 Hercules
Low flying over the desert
Mike, the captain of a Belgium Air Force C130 during his exchange tour
The EPTS Andover that Mike flew
The Boscome Down Comet 4 named Canopus that Mike flew to the North Pole
The day at RIAT when a Mig 29 crashed onto Mike’s aircraft nearly killing him and the others who were watching the show from the top of the fuselage!
Contact details for Mike and Team Phoenix, the world’s only disabled aerobatic formation team
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Mike Freer, RuthAS and the RAF.
by Nick Anderson | Sep 28, 2021 | Plane Tales
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The Old Pilot ventures back to the little airport where his career in aviation began nearly half a century previously, meets the young lady now doing his old job and recalls some adventures from his early days.
Many thanks to Nev of Plane Talking UK for providing the audio visual equipment
Grace talks about Synergy Flight Training
The Old Pilot does his thing!
Thanks to those who came
