WINDSOR CASTLE & HEATHROW AIRCRAFT JULY 2024

 

The air crackled with a different kind of royalty today. Yes, Windsor Castle loomed ahead, a majestic testament to centuries of history, but for me, the real drama was unfolding overhead. Every few minutes, a steel bird would fly across the sky, its belly gleaming in the sun. My wife, ever the diplomat, nudged me with a smile, "Enjoying the airshow, are we?"

My two daughters, bless their curious hearts, caught on first. "Daddy's plane-spotting again!" they chorused, smiling. They knew this dance – the tug-of-war between history buff and aviation enthusiast raging within me. Today, however, they were my willing accomplices.

As we explored the opulent State Apartments, each room dripping with grandeur, my ears perked up at the faint hum of distant engines. With a theatrical whisper, I'd announce, "Looks like a Boeing 777, heading for America!" My wife, feigning exasperation, would roll her eyes. My two daughters fully understood this is just dad at his best.

Later, amidst the many paths and walkways, I whipped out my phone the moment a sleek Air Canada jet roared overhead. "There she goes! An Boeing 787 Dreamliner, beauty on a mission to Canada!" My wife, pretending to be engrossed in a guidebook, couldn't help but steal a glance at the disappearing speck in the sky. The girls, meanwhile, were full-fledged co-pilots, narrating the plane's imaginary ascent, their voices rising with each imaginary altitude gain.

By the end of the day, Windsor Castle had woven its magic, its stories whispering through the ages.

 But etched alongside those memories were the fleeting glimpses of those airborne giants, each one a promise of adventure, of faraway lands, and the boundless human spirit that dared to take flight.

As we walked back to the car, my wife nudged me again, this time with a playful wink. "So, which one was your favourite, love – the Kings castle or the one with wings overhead?"

It was a truly remarkable day at Windsor Castle! A delightful mixture of the past and present unfolded before our very eyes. One can't help but wonder what Henry VIII, who rests eternally within St. George's Chapel alongside his beloved Jane Seymour, would make of the modern marvel streaking across the sky.

Windsor Castle truly serves as a magnificent final resting place for so many of England's monarchs. I imagine even the ever-stoic Queen Elizabeth II might raise an eyebrow and remark with a hint of amusement, "These flypasts seem to be a rather frequent occurrence these days, wouldn't you say?"

As we left the castle grounds, the rumble of another jet vibrated in the distance. I pointed my my camera skyward with practiced ease, a familiar comfort in my hands. For nearly six decades, the click of the shutter has been the soundtrack to my life, capturing fleeting moments and sparking a lifelong love affair with the world.

This day, however, held a special resonance. Blending the rich tapestry of history with the modern marvels soaring overhead, it solidified my dual passions. Perhaps Henry VIII never dreamt of metal birds gracing the skies above his final resting place, and Queen Elizabeth's stoicism might be tested by the constant hum of engines. But for me, it was a beautiful symphony – a timeless melody of the past intertwined with the ever-evolving song of human ingenuity.

And who knows, maybe one of those captured planes, frozen in a digital frame, might just carry a spark of inspiration for a future generation, much like that British Caledonian One Eleven landing at Gatwick all those years ago ignited a fire in my own heart. So, with a final satisfied click, I put my camera away, already planning our next adventure – a delightful blend of history, photography, and of course, the irresistible allure of the skies.

For those who share my fascination with aircraft, or want to ignite that spark in a loved one, head over to Airspotters.com. We offer a selection of superb model aircraft, perfect for capturing the essence of these majestic machines.

And if you'd like to see more of my photographic journeys, beyond the world of aviation, visit emptywalls.uk to explore my wider portfolio. Please follow this blog as well as it matures into more stories and photos.

Cheerio for now, as it should never be goodbye

Malcolm 

 

RAF/EAST AFRICAN AIRWAYS VC10 DUNSFOLD OCTOBER 2017 (RETIRED)

RAF/EAST AFRICAN AIRWAYS VC10 DUNSFOLD OCTOBER 2017 (RETIRED) : Bob Cooper gave me permission to go up to Dunsfold for the day to see this magnificent aircraft close up. It was due to do engine test runs which I almost missed.

I did hear these lovely engines wind up and let roar. If I remember rightly we were down to do a quick taxes but for reason i cannot remember this was called of. I managed to get lots of photos and talk to Bob Cooper and a retired East African Airways pilot. I cannot remember his name but sure Bob will put it in the comments below. The pilot was talking about the flights he had on this aircraft including a engine failure out of Nairobi.

I always remember see this at Heathrow as well. I do miss the VC10 and have also been in the cockpit of a BUA/Caledonian VC10 at Gatwick in the 1960's. At Duxford been on that one too, albeit in a pretty poor state last time I saw it.

This VC10 at Dunsfold was 5H-MOG of East African Airways from 1970 to 1977. It went back to BAC and then onto the RAF. This aircraft is not open to the public as far as I am aware.

I have shared this on facebook "MY LONDON GATWICK" as well as it not to far away.

Malcolm

Airspotters.com

LONDON HEATHROW : TWO LANDOR BA B747-400, EGYPT AIR A300 & A VERY SMALL PIECE OF AN AER LINGUS AIRCRAFT

LONDON HEATHROW : TWO LANDOR BA B747-400, EGYPT AIR A300 & A VERY SMALL PIECE OF AN AER LINGUS AIRCRAFT :

Can anyone tell me the name of the church where the spier is on the right of the photo. Reminds me of Lowfield Heath at Gatwick. This photo is around the early 1990's but the exact date eludes me. I will find it once I find the correct logbook with. PLEASE COMMENT BELOW I LOVE READING THE COMMENTS Malcolm Airspotters.com . As always please like and follow us.

LOOK BACK AT PLANE SPOTTING AND HOW IT USED TO BE AT HEATHROW

I was old enough to actually see the Pan Am 747-100 at Heathrow many times. Pan Am and TWA did use a lot of 707’s but eventually got the 747 and 747SP on the routes. This was because it was the 1970’s and like today, airlines are waiting on the newer aircraft to be built. The date for this photo was August 1977, taken on my Kodak Box Brownie. I was 18 years old. I took the 727 bus up from Crawley. Had to get out at epsom as I was travel sick and then catch the next one. No M25 in those days up through Tadworth and Epsom. Just 12 photos per reel of film I had. If I was lucky my dad would give me money to buy another reel in the shop on top of the Queens building spectators. So a max of 24 photos per visit and then a long wait to see if they developed ok. Could be a few weeks as money to pay for that had to be earned in Sainsbury where I worked. I was on about £28 a week then full time. These days take as many as you like and then download them when you get home. No flight radar so you had to spot the aircraft and read the registration manually. Missed a lot of aircraft back then. Used to try and get the registration as the bus went past the hangers by hatton cross. Not easy, you had one chance in a few seconds. Only ever remember one bus driver slowed and stopped. He must have been a plane spotter himself.