SnapShots

SnapShots Today Archive John: a life of flying

In his own words 'Tomorrow may be too late'.

In 1935, in the United Kingdom, at the Sir Alan Cobham air display, I took a five shilling ride in a Handley Page Hercules air liner called 'Scylla'. It carried about 20 passengers and was a huge biplane that hurtled along at breath-taking speeds of up to 100 mph. Wow! Think of that. Later, it was used by the then, British Imperial Airways for the London-Paris run. From a distance it seemed to be suspended, motionless, on the horizon.

At that age I also saw the huge airship, the R101, fly majestically over our house. Next, I saved up pocket money and, unbeknown to my parents, went to Croydon Airport, the main London airport in the 1930s, and bought a short flight in a De Havilland Dragon, biplane.

At the end of World War II, in Palestine with the Welsh Guards, I was seconded to the 6th Airborne Division and did parachute jumps from Dakotas, (the old DC3), and from Halifaxes. I suppose we can call that flying even though I sort of got out half way!!

In 1951, my darling Louise and I flew to Australia in a four engine Constellation Air Liner, stopping the nights at Karachi and Singapore. This was the usual practice in those days. I had always wanted to fly; to be a pilot in the Royal Air Force in wartime, but the waiting list was so long I transferred to the Brigade of Guards.

Nearly three years ago my lovely wife died. After awful grief I bubbled to the surface and did a number of activities; travel (Greece, United Kingdowm, Paris, California, Canada) with more flying in these boring, modern jets (!) and a helicopter flight low, through the Grand Canyon (no piloting); and another Helicopter, at low level, over the snow-covered mountains at Whistler in Canada.

Recent time flying was spent near Adelaide, last year, in an old biplane Tiger Moth; open cockpit, helmet, goggles, white scarf blowing over the shoulder, just like 'Biggles'. Great fun! I also went with a pilot friend and flew a Cessna 172, but the real fun was going down to Strathalbyn and flying in a Microlight. It looks like a hang glider for two in tandem with the pilot in front, while there is an engine behind. It is completely open, like a flying Go-Kart but dead easy to fly. I also met a 74 year old man who just received his pilots licence!

My message to everyone - 'Let's go for it while we still can.'