h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Peakdistrict and welcome to the Guide!
Do you originally hail form the Peak District or is your name just a reflection of nostalgic longings for Englishness? I live on the edge of the Peak District and on a sunny Summer day like today I feel a bursting of pride in my heart for the natural wonders all around me.

How did you get into running aviation shows? Are you a pilot yourself or just someone with organisational genius and an interest in watching things fly?

Indeed so! I hail from Codnor, worked at EMIA, and lived at various Derbyhire addresses for nearly 20 years.

Pilot? No, an engineer of sorts, then Assistant Keeper, Aviation, Leicestershire Museum Service, then the Science Museum, then with the RAF (Deputy Air Show Co-ordinator). Then lots of other posts!! See My Space for some more details.

I assume you fly from Great Hucklow? Are you off metal chickens and onto GRP 23mt stuff? Enjoy the slope soaring, and watch out for standing waves!!

Well I am impressed! You're the first person I've met in my 2 years here who knew about my gliding club, and unprompted as well. Yes, I do fly from Great Hucklow - although I've actually flown very little recently. You probably realise what an obsessive hobby flying can be and I just don't seem to have the time I'd like to devote to it.
This week we're having our annual Vintage Glider rally with all sorts of elderly wooden aircraft converging on our little field. It was quite a shock to visit the Museum of Flight on Boeing Field in Seattle and see aircraft hanging from the ceiling that I'd first seen attempting to fly in Derbyshire.

Well, I thought EVERYONE knew about the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club!? I've enjoyed my flying also, with the odd nasty bit. I was actually commentating at the Middle Wallop International Air Show when some idiot broke the main wing spar on the Museum's genuine WW2 Kirby Kite, by landing into the rotor wash of a helicopter.

If you ever want to see how much I've enjoyed it, get hold of a copy of the standard work on the Spitfire by Key Publishing. The cover photograph is of the late, lamented, RR MkXIV and the PRXI at c. 5,000ft over Derby. Where was I during this? In the right hand seat of the Piper Aztec photo aircraft (with the port door off) having the time of my life!

I'm starting a consultancy over here, although I may be coming back to the UK for a special request commentary job next year.

Take care, and safe landings

Now that sounds like true job fulfilment! (Except for the bit about watching a poor Kirby Kite meet its grisly end )
Hope the consultancy business works out for you.
MC