In the summer of 2020, we had the great honour of meeting Alan Pollock and interviewed him for our podcast about his legendary flight through Tower Bridge on April 4th 1968. You can listen to his wonderful story here:

The @toplandinggear team is deeply saddened to hear of the death on July 1st of Flt Lt Alan Pollock, who, in 1968 famously flew his Hawker Hunter through Tower Bridge in protest at defence cuts. In 2020 we were lucky enough to interview him. A gentleman and a legend. RIP Alan.

The fabulous BN Islander first flew 60 years ago today! This is the military Defender variant on display @armyflying. It had been flown operationally by TLG chum and renowned Beaver pilot George ‘Smokey’ Bacon, who I was delighted to meet up with the other day at Middle Wallop.

Flt Lt Alan Pollock performed one of aviation’s most audacious feats #OTD 5th April 1968, when he flew his RAF Hawker Hunter through London’s Tower Bridge in protest at defence cuts. In July 2020 Alan told the whole incredible story to Top Landing Gear: https://t.co/RNXTA00pa1

Well… couldn’t believe my eyes👀! Had the flight number been AF0104 I might have twigged a bit sooner…🙄🫣. Nice one @flightradar24 😆👍👏

Test pilot Peter Twiss set a new airspeed record #OTD 10th March 1956, exceeding 1,000mph in the Fairey Delta FD2. The story of this achievement is fascinating, as is the fact the Fairey were developing this futuristic aircraft at the same time they were producing the Gannet!

A while since we’ve posted, but TLG followers will get the significance here. The magnificent De Havilland Mosquito, the “Wooden Wonder” flew its final RAF sortie #OTD 15th December 1955, with a PR34. As with the Spitfire’s final RAF sortie, it was during the Malayan Emergency.

The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod entered service with the @RoyalAirForce #OTD 2nd Oct 1969 @RAFStMawgan with 38 & 42Sqns, replacing the long-serving Avro Shackleton. These aircraft would have been familiar sights to Cornwall holiday makers like me during that time. I miss them.

Just managed to snap a shot of the @CWHM 🇨🇦Avro Lancaster overhead as I was commentating live on a race at the #WRChamps @WorldRowing near Niagara Falls. Last saw it in 2014 when it teamed up with the @RAFBBMF Lanc in the UK🇬🇧. Sadly I’ll miss the @rafredarrows here next week.

They used a fair bit of CGI for the film apparently. Here’s how she looked during @TopLandingGear’s visit to Dunsfold last year to interview Mike Woodley who owns the collection of 3 747s based there as part of @AviationFilming’s impressive and diverse fleet.

I love everything about this, including the wonderful Shorts flying boat. What I would have given to see these fabulous craft fly, or just see them at all. 😍

Air Hotel (1936) The first flying boat for Imperial Airways takes to the air on The Medway next to Short’s Rochester factory. These made enormous sense when few aerodromes that could take large aircraft. Wartime aviation expansion meant they were an anachronism after 1945.

The hugely successful Vickers Viscount first flew #OTD 16th July 1948, from the then grass runway at Wisley in Surrey, entering service with BEA in 1953. Sir George Edwards, of VC10 fame, took over the Viscount programme following the death of Vickers chief designer Rex Pierson.

Bryce, here flanked by Cairns & Trubshaw after landing at Wisley, wrote a fascinating article about that first flight which you can find on the excellent @TrueVC10derness website https://t.co/X0N85NxVCL, who I must acknowledge for the photo below (along with BAE Systems).

The most beautiful (subsonic) airliner ever built, the Vickers VC10 first flew #OTD 29th June 1962. Designed by Sir George Edwards, G-ARTA took off from the factory at Brooklands for the short flight to Wisley with Jock Bryce, Brian Trubshaw and Bill Cairns on the flight deck.

2/2: Head of @AviationFilming Mike Woodley spoke to us about G-DAKS’s incredible history, both in military service and as a ‘film star’, among a host of other fascinating stories about his own very colourful life in films and aviation.Listen here: https://t.co/JnghreRTnj

1/2: The Soviet Union’s blockade of Berlin, which led to the Berlin Airlift, began #OTD 24th June 1948. Dunsfold aerodrome in Surrey played a key role in the airlift as did @AviationFilming’s Dakota (G-DAKS) here seen at Dunsfold’s Wings & Wheels in 2016.

I really have no idea I’m afraid Paul. Is it anywhere in particular in fact? A glorious illustration nonetheless. @CroydonAirport

I used to see these target-towing (TT) Canberras when on holidays in North Cornwall, operating out of @RAFStMawgan. I think the @RoyalNavy also operated FRADU Canberras out of @RNASCuldrose. The RAF retired its Canberras #OTD 23rd June 2006 after 55 years service. @RAF_Luton 😉

This is thoroughly recommended to anyone with an interest in aviation history and much more. We were recently given our own private tour by Ian Walker, which you can listen to here for some inspiration, should you need it: