Plane Tales

As a military aviator he was exceptional.  From a starting point that had him at a disadvantage, 40 seconds was how long it took him to get behind you for the kill! His flying skills weren’t the reason we remember Colonel John Boyd as his ideas would change the whole direction of military aviation.  A maverick who would lead a like minded group known as the Fighter Mafia, he was a brilliant as he was controversial.  His lasting legacy would include the concept of fighter manoeuvre diagrams and the OODA loop. This is his story.

Colonel John Boyd.

An illustration of the OODA loop.

An example of an F4 Energy Manoeuvre diagram.

Images under Creative Commons with thanks to the US Gov, P E Moran and John Golan.

Lokichokio, is a dusty, flyblown, Kenyan frontier town that is a long way from the tourist images of African safari lodges.  There’s an airstrip there with a few buildings, offices and compounds, one with a pool and a bar. At 6 o’clock sharp, an attractive blonde could be found there sipping a G&T while the ice tinkled in her glass. With her short, blonde hair, good looks and brilliant smile, she could easily have been mistaken for the hostess of an English garden party.  Meet ‘All Weather Heather’ one of the most capable bush pilots you would ever want know… this is the story of her life.

Loki’s airport as it looks now.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Guido Potters and an ‘orphan image’ photographer.

The loss of his father early in his life led to David Warren’s fascination with electronics.  Although he grew up to be a scientist who specialised in chemistry, particularly aviation fuels and early rocketry, his little invention, a flight data and voice recorder, made a contribution to flight safety that has left a lasting legacy.

David Warren with his original recorder device.

The NTSB recover a Flight Data recorder from a crash site.

A modern Flight Data Recorder.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the Australian Government Department of Defence, YSSYguy, Meggar and the NTSB.

Captain Leul Abate was no stranger to hijackings… this was his third!  An amazing story that ends in tragedy for many when, quietly sitting by the sea sipping cocktails, the residents of the beautiful Galawa Beach Hotel see a huge airliner plough into the water only 500 yards away.

Images under Creative Commons licence and fair use with thanks to JetPix.

This story has graphic references to violence and injury and may not be suitable for all ages.

For the operating crew the flight started just as it had done many times before.  They were departing from Memphis in Tennessee and flying to San Jose in California in their McDonnell Douglas DC10 freighter.  After an uneventful start, taxi and takeoff the crew were settling down to the normal routine of the climb and chatting easily amongst themselves, as pilots do… and then a deadheading crew member reaches into his case and all hell breaks loose!

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Peter Bakema and unattributed media.

Geoff Lee started his career as an apprentice photographer for Hawker Siddeley Aviation and progressed to become the Chief Photographer for British Aerospace Systems.  His specialty was air to air photography, a field that put him in the cockpits of some of the world’s finest fighters.  His photographs have graced the covers of aviation publications and major newspapers throughout the world. I was delighted when he agreed to talk to Plane Tales and tell us about his remarkable career behind the viewfinder.

In this final part of the interview Geoff brings us up to date, relating some of the more interesting situations that he been engaged to photograph. My heartfelt  thanks go to Geoff for sharing his story with us.

Should you wish to look at some of his images, please follow the link that appears below.

Geoff Lee, Master Photographer – Part 3

All images are copyright ©Geoff Lee

Geoff Lee started his career as an apprentice photographer for Hawker Siddeley Aviation and progressed to become the Chief Photographer for British Aerospace Systems.  His specialty was air to air photography, a field that put him in the cockpits of some of the world’s finest fighters.  His photographs have graced the covers of aviation publications and major newspapers throughout the world. I was delighted when he agreed to talk to Plane Tales and tell us about his remarkable career behind the viewfinder.

In this second part of the interview we discuss how his career moved into the cockpit of some fantastic fighter aircraft and into the world’s best formation teams.  Should you wish to look at some of his images, please follow the link that appears below.

Geoff Lee, Master Photographer – Part 2

All images are copyright ©Geoff Lee

Geoff Lee started his career as an apprentice photographer for Hawker Siddeley Aviation and progressed to become the Chief Photographer for British Aerospace Systems.  His specialty was air to air photography, a field that put him in the cockpits of some of the world’s finest fighters.  His photographs have graced the covers of aviation publications and major newspapers throughout the world. I was delighted when he agreed to talk to Plane Tales and tell us about his remarkable career behind the viewfinder.

In this first part of the interview we discuss his early years.  Should you wish to look at some of his images, please follow the link that appears below.

Geoff Lee Photos Part 1

All images are copyright ©Geoff Lee

Towering cumulous clouds can often be harbingers of destruction and for pilots they should be respected and generally avoided by a wide margin.  There is, however, a breed of pilot willing to court the danger present in these meteorological monsters… the violent updrafts and downdrafts, the heavy rain and hail, the turbulence, the freezing temperatures and the lightning!  This is the story of one such pilot.

Derek Piggott

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Ralph F. Kresge, TSRL and Thomas Bresson.

As part of the 75th anniversary of the D Day invasion of Nazi held Europe in 1944, Douglas DC3s, C47s and Dakotas came from around the world to reenact the Airborne troops parachute drops that first put Allied boots on the ground. In this second part of the story, I chat to Sherman Smoot, Betsy’s Chief Pilot and Nick Comacho, a pilot of the C47, Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber.

Nick does some work on Betsy before taking her up on her next flight.

Nick’s father takes a look around Betsy before her next flight.

The reenactment paratroops embark before their flight over Duxford.

Betsy’s cockpit.

Ready to go!