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| Thursday, 21-Sep-2006 12:00 |
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Sandra, relaxing at La Glycine. Super little hotel in Normandy.
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| Sunday, 4-Jun-2006 09:20 |
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Another deserted field - Troyes
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The Alps
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Flight Level 85
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Albenga, first airfield in Italy
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Capri slides past the window
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The airfield on Elba
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Once we'd managed to get some fuel after a backtrack to Troyes, we spent the night in Lyon, then set off the next morning for Italy. This involved crossing the Alps at something like 9,000 ft, by far the highest I've ever taken the aircraft and, considering we were up to maximum all-up weight or a little bit more, quite an achievement for the little aircraft.
We arrived in Albenga and took the afternoon off, mostly spent in beach bars and restaurants. Lobster pasta - scrummy!
Next morning for the final leg we departed East across the Med aiming for Elba. I wish we hadn't! The landing fees were low, but the fuel was almost £1.80 per litre, as against £1.20 over in the UK.
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| Monday, 29-May-2006 10:35 |
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Aerial Safari 2006 - UK to Aprilia (Italy)
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Early Saturday at the strip in Suffolk, England.
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A couple of hours later - Calais
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The weather improved to let us through
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The idea came up for an aerial Safari down to visit our friend Riccardo (African Eagle) in Latina, Italy.
He organised a landing strip at nearby Aprilia, marked out with white-painted wine containers, to which we flew in a day and a half. My other pilot outbound was Nigel. Sandra opted to fly with Ryan Air 
(Not a comment on my flying I'm assured. More to do with her having done a similar trip in out 80knot aircraft before. You have to love small aircraft flying to spend that long in one)
Here's an initial batch of images.
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| Tuesday, 27-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Venice, Late Summer 2005
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The classic Venice gondola shot
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Window shopping - the masks are a Venice signature
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The start of the Grand Canal
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I'd never been to Venice before, Sandra has.
I had preconceptions of what it would be like. They were wrong, it was better.
Three days, not nearly long enough.
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| Sunday, 5-Dec-2004 00:00 |
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A december day over Norfolk
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Just a couple of shots from a superb winter flying day
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| Wednesday, 18-Aug-2004 00:00 |
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The heroes of Normandy
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The pilot of a P47 Thunderbolt attack aircraft
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Para's don't walk to visit their dead. They march
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He made it back. It must have been important to him
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These are just some of the guys, most of them making probably their last trip back to the battlefields, who fought for the freedom of Europe some sixty years ago.
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| Monday, 16-Aug-2004 00:00 |
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First attempt at a panorama
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Thought I'd give assembling a panorama a try. As you can see, not perfect,. The second frame in from the left is definitely darker than the rest. But fun, none the less.
Apologies if the troll that leaves repetitive and badly spelt messages here annoys you. He's a bit sad and hasn't anything to do with his life that's actually constructive. 
UPDATE: I've withdrawn the message facility, which is a pity. I'll miss the community comments
Rob
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| Wednesday, 4-Aug-2004 00:00 |
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An end to Neil's confusion
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This is 'a' Maggie
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This is 'the' Maggie
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| Monday, 2-Aug-2004 00:00 |
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Thanks Maggie
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Sandra reckons our birthday pressie from Maggie isn't half bad
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| Friday, 30-Jul-2004 00:00 |
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The answer
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The pub sign on Bene't Street
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It was a coaching Inn. The yard is now used for more tables
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The sign outside the RAF Bar
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Well since Neil has arrived with the answer - here it is. A pub in Cambridge was used by both RAF and 8th Airforce pilots during WW2.
It became a tradition for them to inscribe their names, or those of their units or aircraft on the ceiling of the bar using candle or lighter soot. It was this that features in the original image.
Thankfully, after nearly being 'redeveloped' this unique historical artefact has now been preserved for posterity.
The beer is good too.
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