Did you ever know that you're my hero ?

[venta]

Why is it that some vehicles - usually the strange, or ugly ones - can occasionally inspire great affection ? The Routemaster, the Morris Minor, the Mini Cooper, the Gresley A4 Pacific[*]...

I am, in general, completely indifferent to aircraft. Sure, they're useful and all that, but they're functional beasts not likely to be loved for themselves.

Except... except for one, which I took to at a very early age. A friend of my parents flew one, and it was the only silhouette I could ever reliably recognise in the sky. I was sad the day they were decommissioned, and delighted to hear a few years ago that there was a project on to restore one.

Go, go, XH558!

[*] That's a steam loco, of which the most famous example is Mallard.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I remember my mum being alarmed that the plane we were taking to Jersey had props. I wish I'd been as aviation-minded then as I am now.

Modern fighters are all a bit samey, but I do like the Viggen - technically a biplane!

[broadmeadow.livejournal.com]

Used to fly on those regularly. The last people to get their in-flight drinks had to be quick because the flight was so short.

You should try the ones between Jersey/Guernsey/Alderney. I don't know what they're like now but when I used them one of the passengers sat next to the pilot. With a full set of controls in front of them.