by captjeff | Jun 20, 2020 | Plane Tales
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When the gentlemen aviators of the First World War were looking for protective clothing to wear whilst doing battle over the trenches of the Somme, they visited establishments such as Alfred Dunhill’s where they were invited to alight for the best equipment. This is the story of such wonderful flying garb as the Sidcot Suit, the Irving jacket and the classic American flight and bomber jackets.
A 1930 ‘Sidcot’ suit.
The G1 Navy Flight Jacket.
Steve McQueen in his A2.
Chuck Yeager in his B10.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the FAST Archive, the Imperial War Museum, Solicitr, USAF, Dunhill’s and Robinson and Cleaver.
by captjeff | Jun 13, 2020 | Plane Tales
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Necessity is the mother of invention so it’s often during war that the most amazing contrivances are developed… and some of the most ridiculous. This is a look at a few of the less successful wartime inventions!
The Bat Bomb.
During testing, a few bats escaped and disaster followed!
A slab of Pykrete with a bullet mark.
The proposed Pykrete aircraft carrier.
The Bat guided bomb used in Project Pigeon.
The Fu-Go hydrogen balloon bomb.
A Fu-Go balloon found near Bigelow, Kansas on February 23, 1945.
A rendition of the proposed Nazi Sun Gun.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to US Army, US Gov, USAF, CyranoDeWikipedia, Teramatt, US National Archives, and the US Navy Archives.
by captjeff | Jun 4, 2020 | Plane Tales
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In this, the final part of the Ian Palmer interviews we find out about another life threatening concern that Ian had to deal with and how it led to a wonderful relationship.
After my many years in the world of aviation there aren’t many people I have met who would be willing to open up their lives in the way that Ian has done. In doing so my regard and respect for him has done nothing but grow. Should anybody listening feel that they want to seek Ian out to ask for his help or advice then please contact him at Ian@ianpalmer.com
Brain surgery isn’t for the faint hearted but Ian, with typical understatement, tackled it head on!
Ian, back on the flight deck of his beloved Airbus A330.
Images with thanks to Ian Palmer.
by captjeff | May 30, 2020 | Plane Tales
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The third Ian Palmer interview deals with Ian’s attempts to overcome his condition of alcohol dependance and how his life moved on.
Ian rehearsing with his friend and mentor, Steve Gadd.
Images with thanks to Ian Palmer.
by captjeff | May 24, 2020 | Plane Tales
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In this, the second of the Ian Palmer interviews we continue with Ian’s story and he describes his move from a career in music to one in aviation. We also find out how his condition of alcohol dependance starts to affect him.
Ian doing aerobatics in an Extra 300.
The unusual Piaggio P-180.
Ian meets the Iron Maiden drummer, Nicko McBrain.
Images with thanks to Ian Palmer and, under Creative Commons licence,Tibboh.
by captjeff | May 18, 2020 | Plane Tales
Podcast (pt): Download
My father was beacon that led me into the world of aviation and steered me unerringly through my flying life more accurately than any gauge or needle on my instrument panel. He grew up on the white sand beaches of Western Australia, fought in the Second World War on the Sunderland Flying boats of No 10 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force and continued to fly in peacetime, plying his way around the world on firstly the DC2 and finally the B747. He became a restaurateur, avocado farmer and eventually learned to rest with an occasional game of lawn bowls. He even agreed to let me record some interviews about his life.
Sadly, he is no longer with us.
A No 10 Sqn RAAF Sunderland flying-boat of Coastal Command sets out on patrol.
Flt Lt Andy Anderson with his Sunderland crew.
An Airwork Vickers Viking.
A Kuwait Airways Boeing 747.
His final years.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to RuthAS and Adrian Pingstone.
