Category Archives: Early Flight

January 16, 2012 · 1:45 pm

Frivolous Flying Facts Number 2 – A Pilot in a Bowler Hat 1911

We move on in time now to 1911 and this could possibly be one of the first stunts ever carried out by a pilot. Tommy Sopwith, a young dare devil pilot took off in his Bleriot monoplane, much like the one which was the first to fly the English Channel back in 1909 (see video clip of the oldest plane in the world still capable of flight witnessed at The Shuttleworth Collection.)

The History of Aviation – A personal journey of discovery

 He was already dipping and diving, not only impressing a crowd but stretching his flimsy aircraft to the limit, when he took off one day in a bowler hat; not the most sensible headwear for an open cockpit. Realising this, too late, he flew back over his little hanger at Brooklands and tossed the hat out, to the delight of the crowd watching him from below, pulling immediately into a steep climb. I found this wonderful little story, which I have paraphrased for your delight, in the authorised biography of Sir Thomas Sopwith by Alan Bramston. I am sure you all know that Tommy Sopwith went on to be famous, well known for many great aircraft which bear his name and I will write a more serious account of his accomplishments at a later date.

Meanwhile, I will finish with a short video of a 1916 Sopwith Triplane, of only five years later, also witnessed regularly flying at Old Walden as part of the Shuttlworth Collection.

DIXIE

I do apologize if the links are not working correctly. I’m having technical problems downloading videos, but i’ll try again tomorrow!

Here are some photos instead. One of a 1916 Sopwith Pup. The Dixie is hiding behind it.

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January 12, 2012 · 11:46 am

Frivolous Flying Facts Number 1 – The First Flying Pig!

Whilst researching for my current project I came across several stories of early flight which made me smile, but unfortunately I coudn’t fit them into my story, so I am going to share them with you over the next two weeks:

Did you know that the first man to gain a Pilot’s licence in Britain took a pig up in his bi plane as far back as 1909?

I read this in a book I borrowed from The Shuttleworth Archives but if you want to know more, then visit this amusing blog where you can find a link to Lord Brabazon whose most unusual passenger was a pig:

PORKOPOLIS

Porcoplolis is an excellent site to make you smile, where you will find a plethora of quotes, facts and fantacy clips regarding flying pigs! Enjoy!

Have you any amusing flights of fancy to share? If you have then it would be great if you could post them in a comment or drop me an email and I’ll put it on a blog?

 dianariduna@yahoo.com

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October 21, 2011 · 8:32 am

The Catalina – The oldest airworthy flying boat in the UK

Sunday was another red letter day for me in the flying world. We went to the Duxford Airshow, a first time for me and quite a different experience to an afternoon at Shuttleworth, but yet again we were blessed with a fine, relatively warm day for early October.

The 80% male contingent ooohed and ahhhed at the Gloster Meteor, the first British Jet fighter and the Lockheed Martin F-16, a fighting falcon with a

Sitting inside the Catalina!

maximum flying speed of Mach 2+ (whatever that might mean, but it was certainly Fast with a capital F.) Both of these jets were loud, impressive and certainly captured our undivided attention in their unnerving displays of flying antics at speed.

Then, of course, the Supermarine Spitfire MkIX, built in 1943 in Castle Bromwich rather than at Southampton where my main interest lies, as always gained a well deserved respect from the crowd.

The highlight of my day though was the PBY-5 Catalina; a flying boat built in 1943 in Canada, which is certainly the oldest flying boat still capable of flying at this moment in time in the UK. I had never witnessed a flying boat in the air before and enjoyed the pleasure of going on board before the flight and meeting some of the crew. (not me personally I might add, but it was open to the public at £4 a head)

The Catalina glided over us like a graceful white albatross, then swooped on its prey, the enemy submarines below; its smooth hull ready to land on water if a rescue mission was required.  The scene was easy to picture in your mind’s eye, even though the sea was many miles away and fortunately the Catalina had a tricycle like undercarriage in order to land safely at Duxford. It will be on
display in one of the many hangers there over the winter months; as well as undergoing any maintenance due.

I asked a question which the crew were unable to answer.

Which is the oldest airworthy flying boat in the world? Can anyone help with this one?

If you click on the photo below you’ll find a short video on my Diana Jackson’s Author Facebook page:

PBY-5A Catalina at Duxford Oct 2011

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Filed under Early Flight, Flying Boats and Sea Planes, Supermarine