Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Last day in London and guess what?

Yes, it pissed down again and this time I got really really wet. F*&king pommy weather .

Anyway, spent the afternoon in the Imperial War Museum, lots of boy stuff in there. If you're into guns, death and WW1 & WW2 fighters and tanks, here you go...

BTW, the Brits can sure as hell run a museum, every one I have been to has been fantastic. There was a very moving exhibition on the Holocaust, and it was so graphic they don't let anyone under the age of 14 in there. Even mundane items like piles of collected shoes and clothing was displayed, should be compulsory viewing for anyone planning global domination .

Off to Newcastle to catch up with the rellies tomorrow, probably won't get on for a week. Catch up with you all when I get back.

Fantastic Pic's , glad to see your enjoying the weather Stay safe


Cheers

Mick, Mick, Mick. How can you say the Spitty is a beautiful plane? Sure, it did it's job, but it looks like a pile of pus next to the gorgeous 'stang!!

aardvark wrote:Mick, Mick, Mick. How can you say the Spitty is a beautiful plane? Sure, it did it's job, but it looks like a pile of pus next to the gorgeous 'stang!!

Mate, the Mustang is my favourite WW2 fighter, but I have a soft spot for the old Spitfire. Horses for courses though, the Spit was up and running at the beginning of the War, if the Mustang was around at the same time the Battle of Britain might have been a different story. Interestingly I read somewhere that the Hawker Hurricane was the mainstay of the BofB, but the Spit gets the kudos (better PR).

BTW, I had a walk-through of the front part of a Halifax bomber. Not only are they incredibly cramped (I'm not a big lad and I had to duck AND got wedged sideways in it) but they are build of the sheet-metal equivalent of tissue paper. You get better thickness metal in a can of baked beans. I can't imagine what it was like flying in one at night over Germany at 15,000 feet with flak making confetti of the fuselage, scary shit .

I'm in the British Airways Club World Lounge in Heathrow, flying back in 3-4 hours. Caught up with most of my relatives, with the notable exception of my Gran, who I haven't seen since I was seven. She was deemed too frail to accept my presence, and as she's already had a couple of minor strokes and is 82, I guess that's it from me . Pity.

I did catch up with all my cousins (bar one anti-social one) and my mum's brother and sister, so it wasn't all bad. Stayed with mum's older brother and my aunt, they treated me like a long-lost son even though it was 35 years ago since the last time they saw me and I was about 25% of the size I am now .

BTW, the weather up north was fantastic, but when I got back to London this arvo it was STILL fa*£king raining. WTF???

After three weeks still not used to it still being light at 10pm, nor light again at 4am. Looking to seeing Ros and the kids and sleeping in my own bed.

Catch up with you all back in Oz .

Mick

Mick

nice report

having been thru it last time I was o/s, I have to agree
there are some great war birds in that museum
great pics


cheers

Spitfire is just a damned cool name... thats why it gets the cudos...

Apparentlty the P51 was faster but needed more fuel, and the spitfire was more manouverable.... Also parts were easier to create for the spitfires (probably mostly because the origional manufacturers were right there...)...

sweet...so i take it that wasnt frankston??

so why didnt u take all the bloody poms home while ya went!!..hehe

I'm back. Tired and full of a head cold, but in one piece. Sick of airports though, and don't let anyone tell you the Skybeds in the Qantas 747s are comfortable. I'm guessing compared to the normal seats in Economy they probably are though, which is scary . I do recommend the Singapore route to the Hong Kong one, three-four hours shorter and the security staff in Singapore much friendlier than HK.

Ros and the kids were gratifyingly pleased to see me, even after I woke them up at 6am to let me in the house (couldn't find my keys). I did bring presents back, I supposed that helped .

Ratmick wrote:I'm back. Tired and full of a head cold, but in one piece. Sick of airports though, and don't let anyone tell you the Skybeds in the Qantas 747s are comfortable. I'm guessing compared to the normal seats in Economy they probably are though, which is scary

Mick
just be thankful you are not 6'4"
nothing on a plane is comfy when you can't stretch ya legs

oh and welcome back

cya on a ride


cheers

Ratmick wrote:

aardvark wrote:Mick, Mick, Mick. How can you say the Spitty is a beautiful plane? Sure, it did it's job, but it looks like a pile of pus next to the gorgeous 'stang!!

Mate, the Mustang is my favourite WW2 fighter, but I have a soft spot for the old Spitfire. ...snip...
Mick

just to continue this.,....


there is some nutter in a P51 Mustang
doing aerobatics above my house atm

the noise from that Merlin is sweet
and
that Mustang just carves up the sky


awesome