Memories of the Meteor
One of the great pleasures of recent years has been to research, write, design and edit The Meteor for Classic Air Force. Sadly, this project is now at an end with the retirement of CAF's founder, Mike Collett, and the sale of the magnificent collection he built.
The links below will take you to a selection of articles from the magazines. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them.
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Five Bob Flip
How one of aviation's legendary figures brought flying to a public who still saw it as science fiction
Sand Blasting
Doug Johns recalls the feeling of truncating a sand dune with a Gloster Meteor's belly tank
Czech Flight
The first episode of an epic trilogy of derring-don't featuring daring aviator Trevor Bailey. (Ghost written)
Annie's Song
Faithful as a spaniel and as sweet-tempered as the Dalai Llama, the Avro Anson is a timeless classic
Desperately Seeking Struts
The quest continues to source or re-manufacture wing braces for the world's on flyable Twin Pioneer
Calling Alvis
Exploring aviation history just across the airfield, guided by an old-school engineer with avgas for blood
Flying University
The Vickers Varsity was developed from Viking, which in turn had its roots in the wartiime Wellington
Gently Going Vertical
Martin Shaw hovers menacingly in his turning trousers. Ghost written because I write better than him ☺
Inverted Thinking
How do you fit a 1940s engine into a WW1 fighter? Easy, just turn it the other way up
Slow Burner
The design for the Alvis Leonides was laid down before WW2, but it took 11 years for production to begin
Homeward Bound
In episode two, an ancient contraption drones across Europe. In a Dragon Rapide (Ghost written)
Growling Again
Dave Woods shows us around the Shackleton he and his team are returning to airworthiness
Miles to Go
The final instalment of the adventure in which Trevor Bailey somehow gets home (Ghost written)
Twin Pioneer
Spotlight article from the museum visitors' guide, detailing the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
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