Roger,
Great Photo.
I did notice the Concorde in the background of the Spitfire clip. You have to love all the people standing on the hill to watch the pass. They appreciate history when they see it.
Glad you let us know the photo was taken by a photographer in a helicopter. It it were taken today it could have been some blinking idiot with a drone.
There is something about aviation buffs. I remember the cars lined up on the 401 when the first 747 landed in Toronto*. Then heard reports about the people lined up when the first Airbus A 380 landed and the Antonov 225 took off. I came out of a coffee shop at Bathurst and Wilson when the 225 was supposed top take off. Sure enough it appeared, circled and then disappeared. It looked like a slow flying whale. It was huge.
A bit of trivia: When we had a family reunion in Holland 6 years ago my brother dug up old photographs. One showed the 7 of us getting on board a Pan Am 747 named
Clipper Victor flying from London to New York in 1967. It was the second year since the 747's first commercial flight. The name on the nose next to where we were standing proved it was the very 747 that tangled with the KLM 747 at Tenerife on March 27, 1977. Still the deadliest air accident in history with 583 killed.
A funny incident. About 25 years ago a fellow came up to me and asked me how long it would take to learn to fly a model airplane. I answered "12-15 flights". He said "I fly 747's". I immediately said "30 flights". It was 30 flights. He was the chief pilot of Air Canada and the first pilot in Canada certified to fly 747's. Tom Thesuska, great guy, a great friend and we flew together until he retired to the east coast. The reason for my guess of 30 flights was that experienced pilots have no idea how much information they get from the pressure on their butts and back during a flight. They can sense a plane moving 6" up or down. Flying a model airplane is a total disconnect from their sixth sense. It is completely hand-eye co-ordination and a whole new sensation for them. As well, they over-think the experience.
Frank
* No Bruce, I did not see the Wright Brothers at Kill Devil Hill.
