Grandad's Flight - Husbands Bosworth 2006
Last September, I took grandad & dad Tony to Husbands Bosworth airfield for an introduction to flight. I treated the pair to a tasty Bosworth breakfast, and in the meantime, ran through the pre-flight on ‘Oscar Sierra’. With everything checked out and breakfast digested, I could sense anticipation as I organised the first trip for Tony, who, after a few initial nerves climbed into the aircraft It was his first flight, but all went according to plan and he thoroughly enjoyed his time aloft. Next was grandad, Kenneth Gilbert. Ex Royal Navy, now an 81 year old paraplegic, who had served & sailed on HMS Musketeer, an M class Destroyer of WW2 fame. I’m not sure who was more excited about the prospect of this flight, he or me ! With help, he was extracted from wheelchair to cockpit of Rotax Faulk 25 G-HBOS. A radio check & we taxied to 09, and with grandad smiling, we were away. As we climbed, my passenger remarked on the beautiful scenery and tranquility . As we left the circuit to the East, I asked grandad if he had ever been above the clouds. Laughing he replied: “Only when the mists came in on the Russian convoy”, speaking with recollection ! Looking across the sky for a gap in the clouds, I asked my 'co-pilot' to watch for other aircraft, his reply, “Roger Captain ! " We climbed h through the clouds and into the blue sky with my passenger beaming. Fly above the clouds for the next 15 minutes, I was asked how I knew where I was, my reply being “I haven’t got a clue, I’m lost”, which was met wih obvious disbelief ! Descending back to Husbands Bosworth, grandad broke in with “Captain… Bandits at 4 o’Clock low”, sure enough, another aircraft was passing by below us, ( “nice one grandad”) On finals, he cut in: “you sure we don't have a bandit chasing us, we’re coming in a bit fast ? “ I needed a go-around, politely suggesting he curb the humour on the next run and no, there's bandits around. A three point landing finished off a memorable flight.. Thanks Grandad, my privilege ! Article and picture are the copyright of and are edited from the original information as supplied by, Clive Mason. 2006
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