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Plane Tales — Aviation
Plane Tales

The View from Our Side of the Cockpit Door

Copyright: © Airline Pilot Guy Podcast by Captain Jeff is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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You Couldn’t Give These Away Either! Nov 22, 2020
Show notes

Having recently talked about of couple of embarrassingly awful US World War 2 aircraft it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention some from my side of the Atlantic that were knocked together in the jolly old British Isles! Sadly, there are way too many to cover so I’ll just take a deep breath and mention a few!

Adverts for Boulton and Paul garden sunrooms.

The Wonderful Airfix Defiant model.

The ungainly Rhino parachute that the Defiant gunners wore.

The Sopwith Camel that Boulton Paul built under licence.

Boulton Paul had become well known as a turret manufacturer.

The ungainly Rhino parachute that the Defiant gunners had to cope with.

Boulton Paul Defiants lined up on the ground.

Taken out of front line operations the Defiant found a place as a target tug aircraft.

The large and slow Fairey Battle.

The Battle’s bomb aimer’s position.

Bombing up a Battle.

How many apprentices does it take to push a Fairey Battle?

The Fairey Swordfish.

The aircraft due to replace the Swordfish, the Fairey Albacore.

An Albacore departs from HMS Victorious.

The damaged and sunk capital ships of the Italian Navy after the Battle of Taranto.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Boulton & Paul Ltd, Airfix, the RAF, Air Historic Branch RAF, RN, and The Australian War Memorial Collection,

You Couldn’t Give These Away Either! Nov 22, 2020
Show notes

Having recently talked about of couple of embarrassingly awful US World War 2 aircraft it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention some from my side of the Atlantic that were knocked together in the jolly old British Isles! Sadly, there are way too many to cover so I’ll just take a deep breath and mention a few!

Adverts for Boulton and Paul garden sunrooms.

The Wonderful Airfix Defiant model.

The ungainly Rhino parachute that the Defiant gunners wore.

The Sopwith Camel that Boulton Paul built under licence.

Boulton Paul had become well known as a turret manufacturer.

The ungainly Rhino parachute that the Defiant gunners had to cope with.

Boulton Paul Defiants lined up on the ground.

Taken out of front line operations the Defiant found a place as a target tug aircraft.

The large and slow Fairey Battle.

The Battle’s bomb aimer’s position.

Bombing up a Battle.

How many apprentices does it take to push a Fairey Battle?

The Fairey Swordfish.

The aircraft due to replace the Swordfish, the Fairey Albacore.

An Albacore departs from HMS Victorious.

The damaged and sunk capital ships of the Italian Navy after the Battle of Taranto.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Boulton & Paul Ltd, Airfix, the RAF, Air Historic Branch RAF, RN, and The Australian War Memorial Collection,

Lest We Forget Nov 13, 2020
Show notes

It was in the early predawn that Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes crashed his aircraft on the heathland a little less than 500 yards from where I live. That was 78 years ago and I was yet to be born and where my house is was still a pine covered heathland. A marker has been erected to show the location of the crash and as we approach the 11th of the 11th my wife or I place a cross on the small monument in remembrance, lest we forget.

The heathland upon which Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes crashed.

RCAF recruitment poster.

The Handley Page Halifax.

A painting depicting a 1,000 bomber raid.

The 10 Squadron winged arrow – approved by King George VI in September 1937.

The Bomber Command memorial depicting a typical crew.

A Halifax during a raid.

The fate of a heavy bomber hit by flak.

The Bristol Blenheim.

The De Havilland Mosquito.

The graves of the two brave Hughes cousins.

The Canadian memorial to their bomber crews at Nanton.

The marker placed in memory of Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes.

Each year as we approach the 11th of the 11th my wife or I place a cross on the marker in remembrance… lest we forget.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the Royal Air Force, the Ministry of Defence, Google Maps, the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Lest We Forget Nov 13, 2020
Show notes

It was in the early predawn that Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes crashed his aircraft on the heathland a little less than 500 yards from where I live. That was 78 years ago and I was yet to be born and where my house is was still a pine covered heathland. A marker has been erected to show the location of the crash and as we approach the 11th of the 11th my wife or I place a cross on the small monument in remembrance, lest we forget.

The heathland upon which Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes crashed.

RCAF recruitment poster.

The Handley Page Halifax.

A painting depicting a 1,000 bomber raid.

The 10 Squadron winged arrow – approved by King George VI in September 1937.

The Bomber Command memorial depicting a typical crew.

A Halifax during a raid.

The fate of a heavy bomber hit by flak.

The Bristol Blenheim.

The De Havilland Mosquito.

The graves of the two brave Hughes cousins.

The Canadian memorial to their bomber crews at Nanton.

The marker placed in memory of Pilot Officer Richard Pryce Hughes.

Each year as we approach the 11th of the 11th my wife or I place a cross on the marker in remembrance… lest we forget.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the Royal Air Force, the Ministry of Defence, Google Maps, the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Orford Ness Nov 08, 2020
Show notes

Orford Ness is a remote spit of marsh and shingle covered land that sticks out into the North Sea. Part of the chilly, windswept Suffolk coast of East England it became the secret location for a place where boffins could work on the latest experiments in aviation and nuclear weapons. It was also the place where one of the very last pilots to die in WW I would meet his end.

In ancient times, Orford Ness was home to smugglers!

Orford Ness in modern times, not far from Bungay!

The village of Orford with its medieval castle and Norman church.

The RFC version of interrupter gear.

A Martello tower.

A Heath Robinson cartoon.

The Bristol Fighter.

Beacon tower.

The Blue Plaque.

The Orford Ness Pagodas.

The experimental Over The Horizon radar codenamed Cobra.

The grave of Lieutenant Oliver Byerley Walters Wills, R.F.C. who was killed at Orford Ness a few hours before the end of WW1.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Ananias Appleton, Google Maps, the RAF, Alesey Komarov, Andrew Helme, Peter Norman, George Wolfe and Chris Gunns.

Orford Ness Nov 08, 2020
Show notes

Orford Ness is a remote spit of marsh and shingle covered land that sticks out into the North Sea. Part of the chilly, windswept Suffolk coast of East England it became the secret location for a place where boffins could work on the latest experiments in aviation and nuclear weapons. It was also the place where one of the very last pilots to die in WW I would meet his end.

In ancient times, Orford Ness was home to smugglers!

Orford Ness in modern times, not far from Bungay!

The village of Orford with its medieval castle and Norman church.

The RFC version of interrupter gear.

A Martello tower.

A Heath Robinson cartoon.

The Bristol Fighter.

Beacon tower.

The Blue Plaque.

The Orford Ness Pagodas.

The experimental Over The Horizon radar codenamed Cobra.

The grave of Lieutenant Oliver Byerley Walters Wills, R.F.C. who was killed at Orford Ness a few hours before the end of WW1.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Ananias Appleton, Google Maps, the RAF, Alesey Komarov, Andrew Helme, Peter Norman, George Wolfe and Chris Gunns.

You Couldn’t Give ‘Em Away! Oct 09, 2020
Show notes

I’ve done plenty of Tales about the triumphant aircraft of World War 2 that fought in the skies over Europe, Africa Russia and the Far East. Quite naturally, I guess, not so much is known about the horrible failures. Not all of the aircraft we will look at were quite that bad… many were just misguided ideas, old designs or put into the wrong role!

Vultee P-66 Vanguard.

The Vanguard with its original cowling design which gave insufficient cooling to the big radial engine.

The Vanguards at Karachi during their ill fated transit to China.

The Bell P39Q Airacobra.

The Airacobra with the big supercharger cooling vents that created so much drag.

The rather unusual, for a fighter that is, Airacobra cockpit door.

Guns blazing, the Airacobra was indeed quite well armed.

The RAF 601 Sqn with their renamed Caribou (Airacobra)… not much admired, the soon requipped with Spitfires.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to SADSM, USAF, Bill Larkins, WMFerguson, National Museum of the Air Force and the RAF.

You Couldn’t Give ‘Em Away! Oct 09, 2020
Show notes

I’ve done plenty of Tales about the triumphant aircraft of World War 2 that fought in the skies over Europe, Africa Russia and the Far East. Quite naturally, I guess, not so much is known about the horrible failures. Not all of the aircraft we will look at were quite that bad… many were just misguided ideas, old designs or put into the wrong role!

Vultee P-66 Vanguard.

The Vanguard with its original cowling design which gave insufficient cooling to the big radial engine.

The Vanguards at Karachi during their ill fated transit to China.

The Bell P39Q Airacobra.

The Airacobra with the big supercharger cooling vents that created so much drag.

The rather unusual, for a fighter that is, Airacobra cockpit door.

Guns blazing, the Airacobra was indeed quite well armed.

The RAF 601 Sqn with their renamed Caribou (Airacobra)… not much admired, the soon requipped with Spitfires.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to SADSM, USAF, Bill Larkins, WMFerguson, National Museum of the Air Force and the RAF.

The Wonderful Life of Brien Oct 03, 2020
Show notes

Any of Brien Wygle’s achievements would be enough for most of us to dine-out on for the rest of our lives. A World War 2 pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. A man who flew Hump missions in a vulnerable C-47s and who saw three of his comrades go down in a single day. A pilot who volunteered to fly bombing missions for the fledgling Israeli Air Force, who taught Howard Hughes to fly jet aircraft and who became a notable test pilot and yet was one of the most unassuming people you would want to meet.

Much of Brien’s love of flying came from magazines and building model aircraft.

As a young man Brien saw a formation of Hurricanes which lit the flame of his desire to become a pilot.

Brien’s flying training started in the Tiger Moth.

Brien’s first operational type was the Douglas Dakota.

Brien spend much time in the Far East flying dangerous mump missions and supply drops to the Chindits.

Back in Canada, Brien got some rare jet time on the De Havilland Vampire.

Joining Boeing, Brein started work flying the B47.

Famously, Brien was the project test pilot for the Boeing 737.

Posing with Lew Wallick after a successful maiden flight of the B737.

Brien was also part of the crew that flew the maiden flight of the B747.

Brien Wygle passed away on the 15th of September 2929.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Phil Major, MOD, RAF, RCAF, Bill Barnes Magazines, USAF, RAF, Boeing Corporation.

The Wonderful Life of Brien Oct 03, 2020
Show notes

Any of Brien Wygle’s achievements would be enough for most of us to dine-out on for the rest of our lives. A World War 2 pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. A man who flew Hump missions in a vulnerable C-47s and who saw three of his comrades go down in a single day. A pilot who volunteered to fly bombing missions for the fledgling Israeli Air Force, who taught Howard Hughes to fly jet aircraft and who became a notable test pilot and yet was one of the most unassuming people you would want to meet.

Much of Brien’s love of flying came from magazines and building model aircraft.

As a young man Brien saw a formation of Hurricanes which lit the flame of his desire to become a pilot.

Brien’s flying training started in the Tiger Moth.

Brien’s first operational type was the Douglas Dakota.

Brien spend much time in the Far East flying dangerous mump missions and supply drops to the Chindits.

Back in Canada, Brien got some rare jet time on the De Havilland Vampire.

Joining Boeing, Brein started work flying the B47.

Famously, Brien was the project test pilot for the Boeing 737.

Posing with Lew Wallick after a successful maiden flight of the B737.

Brien was also part of the crew that flew the maiden flight of the B747.

Brien Wygle passed away on the 15th of September 2929.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Phil Major, MOD, RAF, RCAF, Bill Barnes Magazines, USAF, RAF, Boeing Corporation.

Holmes and the Battle of Britain Sep 25, 2020
Show notes

On the 18th of June 1940, Churchill stood in Parliament and gave a speech in which he stated that what General Weyland had called the Battle of France was over and that the Battle of Britain was about to begin. In the middle of this remarkable conflict was one Raymond Towers Holmes…

Sir Winston Churchill

Hermann Göring

Preparations being made for the invasion of Britain

Joseph Kennedy, the US Ambassador to Great Britain

Adolf Hitler

The Me 110

The Supermarine Spitfire

The Hawker Hurricane

The Me 109

Battle of Britain pilots

The coverage of Chain Home

Chain Home operators

Arty Holmes in his fighter

Dog fights over London during the Battle of Britain

Dornier Do 17s

The secret weapon flamethrower

The Do17 without its tail plunges down towards Victoria Station

Wreckage of the Do17 that Arty brought down

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to BiblioArchives, Bundesarchiv, the RAF, Wide World Photos, ROC, Adrian Pingstone, Imperial War Museum and the British Official Histories.

Holmes and the Battle of Britain Sep 25, 2020
Show notes

On the 18th of June 1940, Churchill stood in Parliament and gave a speech in which he stated that what General Weyland had called the Battle of France was over and that the Battle of Britain was about to begin. In the middle of this remarkable conflict was one Raymond Towers Holmes…

Sir Winston Churchill

Hermann Göring

Preparations being made for the invasion of Britain

Joseph Kennedy, the US Ambassador to Great Britain

Adolf Hitler

The Me 110

The Supermarine Spitfire

The Hawker Hurricane

The Me 109

Battle of Britain pilots

The coverage of Chain Home

Chain Home operators

Arty Holmes in his fighter

Dog fights over London during the Battle of Britain

Dornier Do 17s

The secret weapon flamethrower

The Do17 without its tail plunges down towards Victoria Station

Wreckage of the Do17 that Arty brought down

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to BiblioArchives, Bundesarchiv, the RAF, Wide World Photos, ROC, Adrian Pingstone, Imperial War Museum and the British Official Histories.

It’s Not What You Say! Sep 19, 2020
Show notes

I was recently digging through some old airline paperwork and came across a delightful booklet from my old airline entitled Cabin Address from the Flight Deck – briefing notes and suggestions. The booklet is more than 20 years old so the content might, on occasions, fail to reflect current sensitivities but I thought it worth digging into so that I could share some of its suggestions with you.

Images with kind permission of cartoonist Capt John Reed AKA Figment.

It’s Not What You Say! Sep 19, 2020
Show notes

I was recently digging through some old airline paperwork and came across a delightful booklet from my old airline entitled Cabin Address from the Flight Deck – briefing notes and suggestions. The booklet is more than 20 years old so the content might, on occasions, fail to reflect current sensitivities but I thought it worth digging into so that I could share some of its suggestions with you.

Images with kind permission of cartoonist Capt John Reed AKA Figment.

Little Nellie and Her Friends Sep 13, 2020
Show notes

Little Nellie was a rare breed of aviatrix the name of which has its origins in Ancient Greek. In more modern parlance, we have the familiar name autogyro… literally meaning self-turning. The way they work is the same way as a seed from a tree like a Sycamore flies and flying an autogyro is a novel form of taking to the air but one that saved 007!

Juan de la Cierva – the First Count.

The world’s first autogyro, Ciervas’s C1

A replica of the C6

The Cierva C9

The Pitcairn autogyro showing the rotor drive shaft

The RAF’s autogyro

A stamp commemorating the Russian TsAGI 1EA

The Fairy Rotordyne

The Bensen gyrocopter

Mailman Doug’s gyrocopter on the west lawn of the Capitol after he was taken into custody.

The Focke Wulf Fw-61

Little Nellie

A modern autogyro

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to L’Aéronautique magazine, Pascual Marín, Gyromike, Diego Dabrio, Johannes Thinesen, NASA, Post of Soviet Union, NACA, Fair Use, Cheesy Mike and Asterion.

Little Nellie and Her Friends Sep 13, 2020
Show notes

Little Nellie was a rare breed of aviatrix the name of which has its origins in Ancient Greek. In more modern parlance, we have the familiar name autogyro… literally meaning self-turning. The way they work is the same way as a seed from a tree like a Sycamore flies and flying an autogyro is a novel form of taking to the air but one that saved 007!

Juan de la Cierva – the First Count.

The world’s first autogyro, Ciervas’s C1

A replica of the C6

The Cierva C9

The Pitcairn autogyro showing the rotor drive shaft

The RAF’s autogyro

A stamp commemorating the Russian TsAGI 1EA

The Fairy Rotordyne

The Bensen gyrocopter

Mailman Doug’s gyrocopter on the west lawn of the Capitol after he was taken into custody.

The Focke Wulf Fw-61

Little Nellie

A modern autogyro

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to L’Aéronautique magazine, Pascual Marín, Gyromike, Diego Dabrio, Johannes Thinesen, NASA, Post of Soviet Union, NACA, Fair Use, Cheesy Mike and Asterion.

RAF Form 414, Volume 7 Sep 04, 2020
Show notes

A continuation of the stories from Capt Nick’s RAF Form 414… his flying logbook.

BAe Nimrod MR2

The Old Pilot and a Bear

Norwegen F-5A

The Shackleton AEW2

A Canadian CL-28 Argus

The Avro Vulcan

The Skyflash semi active radar guided missile

An AQM37. The Stiletto was an air launched version.

A Skyflash missile firing from the F4 Phantom

Post missile firing treasure

Yours truly

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to The Old Pilot, Dale Coleman, Crown, Rob Schleiffert, USAF and an RAF Photographer.

RAF Form 414, Volume 7 Sep 04, 2020
Show notes

A continuation of the stories from Capt Nick’s RAF Form 414… his flying logbook.

BAe Nimrod MR2

The Old Pilot and a Bear

Norwegen F-5A

The Shackleton AEW2

A Canadian CL-28 Argus

The Avro Vulcan

The Skyflash semi active radar guided missile

An AQM37. The Stiletto was an air launched version.

A Skyflash missile firing from the F4 Phantom

Post missile firing treasure

Yours truly

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to The Old Pilot, Dale Coleman, Crown, Rob Schleiffert, USAF and an RAF Photographer.

The Band Played On Aug 31, 2020
Show notes

Now a story about the US Navy Band may not seem to be my usual fare in Tales but bear with me and I must thank serving Band member and APG listener Tuba Tony for suggesting the topic for this story.

The United States Navy Ceremonial Band

The distant origin of the first Navy musicians.

The USS Macon

Eisenhower as a General and President

A DC3

A US Navy DC6

The Bandsmen lost in the tragic crash

Sugarloaf mountain

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to US Gov, Wiki Commons, US Navy, Library of Congress and the Washington Post.

The Band Played On Aug 31, 2020
Show notes

Now a story about the US Navy Band may not seem to be my usual fare in Tales but bear with me and I must thank serving Band member and APG listener Tuba Tony for suggesting the topic for this story.

The United States Navy Ceremonial Band

The distant origin of the first Navy musicians.

The USS Macon

Eisenhower as a General and President

A DC3

A US Navy DC6

The Bandsmen lost in the tragic crash

Sugarloaf mountain

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to US Gov, Wiki Commons, US Navy, Library of Congress and the Washington Post.

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