Dave Hunt

Back in 1968 I took a Hunter as a static exhibit to a display at Teeside and the organisation (or lack of it) was unbelievable. There was little or no security and we had to stay with the aircraft all the time as there was no attempt to keep people away from them. When it came to departure time there were still people milling around the statics and I had to get a band of so-called security individuals to clear them away from my aircraft while I started up - after I had cleared a coke can out of one of the engine intakes - then an escort of four cars took me to the runway threshold keeping the public out of the way. There were people taking photographs from the side of the runway and it wasn't until the same cars drove up and down telling them to stay off the tarmac that I was able to take off. I and several other participants complained bitterly about the whole thing and I believe that the CAA took action over it. Dave

It was axle loading as well as weight per foot run that was used for setting limitations on a locomotive's route availability. Dave

I was asked recently if I’d like to attend the Cosford air show. My reply was along the lines of, “For three years I was involved with the flight safety of that event and I still have nightmares about it. No thanks.” Hope you enjoy it HH. Dave

Like Q we benefitted from the RAF sponsoring a financial advisor, not when I first joined but visiting stations in Germany in 1977 and as a result we took out two endowment policies for £25,000 that covered our first house purchase in Lincolnshire three years later (sounds unbelievable these days doesn’t it?). We still had to find the deposit but my parents helped somewhat. By the time I left the RAF in 2005 we had progressively increased the mortgage but it was still only something like £60,000 and we paid that off when the policies matured with decent profits and I received my RAF gratuity. I hate to think of young people these days having to find the means to buy houses in the £350,000 plus bracket first time of asking. Dave

How about a compromise (in good old British fashion) whereby you let us know on this thread that you have made some more progress and provide a link to your FDM turnout printing thread? Dave

If they're thriving it's because they're thieving. Dave

For the first time in ages it is tippling down at Hunt Towers. This has not come as a real surprise as this afternoon Jill watered her pot plants and I topped up the pond😐. Dave

I had to give them a mid-course correction though. Dave

I like bridies and Scotch pies too. Dave

I'll give you jellied eels and lasagna or pizza with chips but pasties (good ones anyway) and crisp butties? Food fit to be up there with the bacon butty as ambrosia. Dave

We had a combat simulator installed in the late 80s that had a Silicon Graphics running it; the installation required a room of its own. Dave

That could have caused nearly as much damage as an angry hippo. Dave

I'm well aware of the amount of dust that building work can generate. When we went out to our friend's place in Spain a few weeks ago after workmen had been in to find and fix a water leak when a pipe buried in a wall had failed it took three of us nearly four days to clean up; the dust was easily a millimetre thick in places and had got into places where it seemed impossible. A lot of the trouble was that they had left all the doors open while they were working. Dave

Talking of Irish biscuits, Lily O’Brien’s Uglies are quite toothsome if you like chocolate. Dave

We’ve gone (that’s the royal we you understand) for the cheapo option of a £6.50 roll of polythene and masking tape for DH to wrestle with. Dave

At a friend’s wedding a few months ago I was sitting next to a lady who asked if I was the ex-RAF pilot and when I replied in the affirmative she asked if I knew George Aird. I said that I didn’t know him but knew of him and why did she ask. “I’m his sister,” she said. Nice lady. Dave

That’s why tomorrow involves me fixing polythene sheet and taping up every gap whereby dust can get into the rest of the house. I tried telling the management that it was probably a fruitless exercise but my protestations fell on deaf ears. The one bright spot in the whole sorry affair is that we get to eat out or get takeaways for four weeks or so. Dave

Another C word with dreadful connotations is that which is being bandied around at Hunt Towers for the third day in a row. It is clearing, as in moving everything not nailed down from the kitchen ready for the great rebuild due to start on Monday. The garage is full of crates and boxes ready for the event. Deep joy. Dave

At least he’s not angry. If he was I would be able to hear the bellowing; after all, I’m only fifteen miles or so from the Hippodrome. Dave

A friend of ours developed her own tiramisu recipe that starts with a packet of Jaffa Cakes soaked in brandy, rum and coffee then adds cream cheese, cream and more rum..... It's yummy but you can feel your arteries hardening with every spoonful. Dave

A brief visit to wish Flávio a very happy birthday. If the cake needs sorting out, remember that we are always glad to help. Dave

Just popped in to wish our Swiss medical rep a very happy birthday with lots of good grub and cake to follow. Dave

Addition to my last, for plain track I used C&L chairs with the keys already cast in. Dave

Sheesh! I had no idea. Another of those 'how the hell do we get out of this?' things. Dave

AndyID, I assume from the pictures that you will be fitting separate keys in the chairs? That is how I did my pointwork using resin chairs and separate keys cast for me by a friend in dental resin using masters he machined and silicon rubber moulds. Dave