Sloping Off - June 2005
The Diary of a Flyer
by B. Leonard Wise, 1st March
I've found it, I've found it. Today I found a lovely new hobby. I have decided to fly Radio Controlled Model Aircraft. Ever since I was forced to take voluntary retirement, Clarrissa my wife had been on to me to find something to do. She says I can have the car on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings when she is not playing Bridge.
We were passing the local Heath and there they were some people were trundling around the sky flying high wing trainers but what really caught my eye was the Spitfire, which looped and rolled all over the sky. I prevailed upon Clarissa to drive off the road and along the track to the flying field. (Since I ran into the police car, Clarrissa refuses to travel with me unless she is driving.) On arrival I strolled out to talk to the person flying the Spitfire. His plane was just at the top of a loop.
“How to you do” I said, rather loudly to overcome the noise of the engine. This made him jump and the plane started to perform some unusual manoeuvres, some of which were very close to the ground. What he said to me is not fit to print. I saw that he was dressed in greasy overalls and a peaked cap. I did what he had rudely indicated and retired to the flight line, where I observed that everyone was in somewhat scruffy clothing. When I get into the swing of things I shall set an example by wearing smarter clothes. I shall wear my lemon trousers and sweater.
The Spitfire landed. It was obviously an easy thing to do: I could see that by watching. I attempted to be friendly, despite his earlier rudeness, and asked him cheerfully if he would sell me the Spitfire as I wished to take up the hobby and fly like him. To my surprise he was not a yobbo, and I subsequently discovered that he was a research engineer. He asked me if I had any flying experience and when I said that I had not he suggested that I should start with a high wing trainer because I would never get the Spitfire off the ground. I found this most insulting. Who does he think he is? Some of the Flyers were as young as 16 or 17. In my job as Deputy Assistant Credit Controller I had overcome many problems. If they can fly a Spitfire, so can I. After all, I can see that is easy. Training aircraft indeed. I resolved to buy myself a Spitfire and fly it myself.
I will show them.
(More from B. Leonard Wise next time - Ed)
