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I think I’ve been the victim of a massive Con.  There I was, in studio – on air and reading out the coming events, when what should I read.  That a Avro Vulcan V-bomber no less was going to do a fly past over the Mountnessing C of E school fate.

Ah that took me back in time to RAF Scampton,  home of the then 617 Sq (Dam Busters) with an assignment to record the last scramble of their flight of Vulcans.  I have to tell you that the sound of three of the little darlings thundering down a runway a full throttle bent every needle on my trusty Uhur tape recorder.

A short time later and having joined the rest of the press pack, I’m high over the North Sea in the back of an RAF Hercules, this time to see them being refuelled by a Victor K2 air tanker.  Very boring, but one of my press chums came up with the idea to shoot some shots of the beast nose on.   Now in order to get this show, our Hercules had to climb then go into a shallow dive to build up some extra speed, the Vulcan in the meantime was forced to slow down to almost stall speed.    In the event, we all stood on the aircrafts tail gate, webbing separating us for several thousand feet of air and a waterery end.

Then slowly creeping into view was a Vulcan... nose on, delta wing behind... what a wonderful never to be forgotten sight.   Only one regret... I had a bloody tape recorder over the shoulder. And no sodding camera. Isn’t that always the way..

Oh yes and that fly past...  stood outside the studio look heavenwards and no fly past... like I say... I got coned... bet all they had were a few kids with airfix kits running round the field.