2015 has seen the launch of Air to Air photography sorties through Timeline Events to accompany the superb evening shoots they already offer, giving special access to aircraft around the UK, in both static and live action events. Earlier last month I was lucky enough to take a space on the latest air to air shoot, with a Hawker Hunter Mk 58 owned and operated by the HHA.

Neil from Timeline Events always puts a lot of time and effort into events he organises, and this one was to be no exception. At the mercy of the ever changing weather we eventually took to the sky in a Beech 99 to make our Rendezvous with the classic Cold War Jet.

As we arrived at altitude and opened the roller shutter to prepare ourselves for the arrival of a British aeronautical design icon the anticipation grew. Within a few minutes everyone on board the camera ship got their first sighting of the Hunter as Jet skipped through the clouds and climbed to altitude to meet the waiting photographers.

The group were treated to a 40 minute flight in the presence of the Hunter, expertly piloted and guided giving all the photographers on board a chance to get shots in different angles and positions getting the most from the superb event.

Once the photo sortie was complete the Hunter pilot came in close and gave a wave before departing off to the horizon, signalling the camera ship to make its decent back to Terra Firma. Back on the ground it was apparent that it would take everyone a little bit of time to come down from the high they received from such a special opportunity.

Timeline Events are hoping to organise many more air to air sorties in 2016, so make a visit to the website a www.timelineevents.org and register for updates.

by Jonathan Wintle

First-hand recollections of former Second World War veterans and civilians have inspired the new drama being produced by East Lindsey District Council and Red Dog Film.

The 20 minute film charts the emotional journey of a seven man Lancaster Bomber crew as they undertake a perilous night time mission across occupied Europe.

Funding from Centrica Energy, as part of its 2012 SO Festival sponsorship, has enabled the District Council to work with Lincoln-based film production company, Red Dog Film, to produce the heritage drama simply entitled ‘Lancaster’.

There is also a strong educational element surrounding the film, which will be taken into schools to show pupils what life was like at that point in history .

Executive producer and also SO Festival Co-ordinate at the Council, Lorrie Stock said: “We wanted to make a drama rather than a documentary, as there are many similar documentaries charting that area of conflict at the time, but there hasn’t been a drama about Bomber Command since The Dambusters in 1955. The film aims to transport the viewers in to the life of the crews of bomber command , I’m sure they will be moved by what they will see.

“We hope to educate youngsters on what life was like during the Second World War for teenagers the same age as them, faced with the prospect of going to war and not knowing whether they will survive. It is a very sobering and thought-provoking realisation.

“We wanted to produce a drama in celebration and commemoration of Lincolnshire’s aviation history – for Bomber County, but also to tie in with the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid this year and as a memorial to those young men who lost their lives in the war.”

‘Lancaster’ is being produced by award-winning director Philip Stevens and producer Tom Walsh for Red Dog Film. The film is being shot using top industry crew and equipment.

Among those whose stories influenced and informed the film is 92-year-old Lancaster Bomb Aimer Les Rutherford and Bob Carter who was a boy at the time living in on a farm next to RAF Scampton and vividly remembers living underneath the busy Lincolnshire skies during the Second World War.

‘Lancaster’ was filmed using the beautiful Just Jane as its main location, the Avro Lancaster Bomber is housed at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, near Spilsby.

Director Philip Stevens said: ‘It is such an honour to film in this iconic plane and to have the opportunity to tell the personal story of these incredibly brave young men, hopefully the film will give an insight to younger generations of the sacrifice made by so many during the Second World War.”

The film will be premièred as part of the SO Festival at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre on June 28. It will be free to attend. But tickets must be booked.

It is hoped that as well as going into schools, the film will also be made available for free to community groups and also online. For more information please contact Lorrie Stock at East Lindsey District Council on 01507 601111.

Tickets for the premiere can be booked via the Aviation Heritage Centre’s website at www.lincsaviation.co.uk/events or by calling 01790 763207.

Stills: https://www.dropbox.com/l/bqzEZM88HsmhqCJgoLFHvb

Sample clip: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6071952/Red%20Dog%20Film/Lancaster/Video/Lancaster%2030sec%20BBC%201080p.mp4.zip

The London RAF Museum yesterday helped launch author Roger Annett’s new book “Borneo Boys”…

Early in 1963 a British-backed military campaign got under way, fighting to save three future South East Asian Tiger Economies from Indonesian expansionist aggression. For nearly four years, British and Commonwealth armed forces were embroiled in conflict on the island of Borneo. For the large part, this remarkable example of British military success was kept in low profile by the governments involved, however Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia are three Commonwealth countries that the Borneo Boys’ exploits helped save in the 60’s.

Borneo’s difficult terrain and lack of adequate road networks proved to be one of the biggest challenges from a military perspective, a challenge met in great part by the mobility of the helicopter.

The helicopters worked in close support of Claret Raids – cross-border clandestine operations carried out by SAS, Paras and Gurkhas. These proved a key to success and the Malaysian Federation came into being 15 September 1963 (though the conflict lasted until 17 August 1966).

What makes this story even more remarkable is that the RAF helicopter pilots were in their early 20’s and low in number. There were 16,000 British & Commonwealth troops at the peak, serviced by no more than 75 helicopters (by comparison, in Vietnam the Americans and their Allies had close on 3,000).

BORNEO BOYS

This unique part of British military history is now uncovered in a new book written by one of its Veterans and featuring contributions from a range of participants. Published by Pen & Sword Books Limited at £25 rrp, it has 300 pages and over 110 illustrations, most in colour.

The book is focused on the new breed of RAF helicopter pilots, recruited straight from the sixth form to officer and pilot training, and sent on their first flying-tour to the action in Borneo – called upon to fly over the confusion of jungle warfare, far away from home. The reader will share their daily adventures, learning trajectories and camaraderie and how, thrown in at the deep end, the ‘Borneo Boys’ quickly became men.

All the excitement of the aviator’s adrenaline ride is translated into elegant prose, strengthened by the kind of confident delivery achievable only by a man who was himself involved in the action. A fascinating book for those with a passion for helicopter flying and general aviation alike.

When asked about his motivation for writing the book, Roger told Airscene “In the summer of 2010 I was giving a presentation to the helicopter crews of RAF Benson on the Borneo Campaign, based on my 2006 book on the air-supply.

As I usually do, I asked whether anyone in the room had heard of the campaign, Indonesian Confrontation having been such a low-profile, clandestine affair. To my surprise, two chaps of about my age in the front row raised their hands – they not only knew about it but also served in it, as very youthful Whirlwind pilots.

It turned out that they were currently holding down jobs as instructors on the rotary simulators at Benson. That made close on 50 years in rotary aviation, and counting! With that angle, the book just had to be written. They, and their ‘Old Rotor’ colleagues came forward with all the material an author could ask for.”

Roger Annett served in the RAF between 1959 – 1967, including two and a half years on supply-dropping action in Borneo. Borneo Boys is available now at Pen & Sword Books: http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Borneo-Boys/p/3735/ (priced at £20)

If you’re searching for that elusive gift which will make their spirits soar once they have ripped open the wrapping paper on Christmas Day morning, why not visit the Royal Air Force Museum’s online shop – www.rafmuseumshop.com?

Here you will find a range of affordable, yet charming, gifts suitable for any member of the family at a price that won’t send your Christmas budget into a tailspin. Any young Amy Johnson will immediately fall in love with our RAF Pilot Teddy Bear. At approximately 8″ (seated), this cute RAF Mascot wears a World War 2 Officer’s uniform with life-jacket and retails at a very reasonable £12.00.

Alternatively, a Red Arrows Replica Flying suit will guarantee a month’s worth of good behaviour from your young dare-devils, in the run up to Christmas, for only £29.99. Money well spent. Suitable for both boys and girls, sizes are available for ages 1 to 13. So why not indulge their fantasies of flight and help them realise their dreams of one day becoming a Red Arrow?

Mothers and Grandmothers will be charmed by our exquisite RAF wings “sweetheart” brooch, which retails at £29.99. Manufactured in Great Britain in solid sterling silver, this charming adornment will perfectly complement any evening ensemble. Alternatively, if either lady is particularly health conscious, then our “Wartime Recipe” cookbook, retailing at £4.99, will provide them with a host of 40 healthy, mouth-watering meals that the entire family will love.

Based on the Ministry of Food’s advice on eating during WWII, dishes such as Scotch Broth, Dumplings, Savoury Onions and Coconut Orange Pudding recall the ingenuity and camaraderie of those wartime days.

Fathers will adore our Leather Flying Jacket which is modelled on the iconic RAF Flying Jackets of the 1940s but with a 21st Century twist. Retailing at £150 and available in sizes up to XXL this classic jacket is stylishly furnished in dark brown leather, with a detachable collar and emblazoned with RAF Wings above the chest pocket.

Our pack of Aircraft Spotter Cards, as used by the Observer Corps during WW2, will enliven any Poker night enabling the players to effectively spot Allied and Axis aircraft from the ground or the air. Retailing at £5.99, this affordable gift is ideal for children to give to their Fathers on Christmas Day – trust us he’ll love them more than a pair of socks or slippers!

If money is no object, the Royal Air Force Museum has available a unique item furniture specially commissioned for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – The Pilot’s Chair. Handmade by British craftsmen to your requirements from either maple, sycamore, oak or beech this limited edition chair boasts a host of refinements and details including a secret compartment containing a verified fragment from a WW2 Hurricane Engine destroyed in the Battle; propeller style under-frame; RAF Brevet and Spitfire carved into the chair; flying jacket leather upholstered seats with hand stitching; a carving of Winston Churchill’s, ‘ Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. ‘; plus a second secret compartment containing a silk flying scarf embroidered with your choice of Squadron Badge or Fighter Command emblem Retailing at £4,950 the Pilot’s Chair is the must have Christmas Gift for the aviation enthusiast that has everything and is delivered with a certificate of authentication signed by a Battle of Britain Veteran.

By purchasing any of the items above you will be helping the Museum maintain its unique collection of aircraft, medals, films and documents – preserving a vital part of our nation’s heritage for future generations. So this Christmas why not give your personal high-flyer a gift that will make their spirits soar and at the same time be confident that you are preserving our nation’s aviation heritage?

www.rafmuseum.org

Airscene 2009 Calendar competition sponsor Anne Millbrooke’s latest publication has now been released.

For more info visit: http://www.airscene.co.uk/Abbreviations%20Acronyms%20and%20Alphabets%20of%20Aviation.htm

The book is now available for purchase from any of the following locations:

http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=38579

www.Amazon.com

www.Borders.com

www.Barnesandnoble.com

or from your local bookstore.

ISBN13 Hardcover: 978-1-4363-1317-9