Top Landing Gear

Battle of Britain FULL FLAPS Interview with Battle of Britain historian and expert Dilip Sarkar

As we continue to mark the 80^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we have the perfect guest for our Top Landing Gear ‘Battle of Britain Special’Full Flaps podcast. It’s aviation historian and BoB specialist Dilip Sarkar MBE.

Having been fascinated by the Second World War for a lifetime, Dilip Sarkar has been prolific in writing works focused on the Battle of Britain - particularly the human element of the stories. He has become one of the world's authorities on this moment of history. 

Having written over 40 books on the subject and being honoured with an MBE for services to Aviation History it was said by Battle of Britain fighter ‘ace’ Wg Cdr George Unwin DSO DFM, ‘If you want to know anything about the Battle of Britain and the Few, don’t ask us, ask Dilip!’

You can order his books at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk. Also check out his YouTube channel: Dilip Sarkar MBE: Sharing History. 

The Battle of Britain

Top Landing Gear is back with series 2, kicking off with a momentous moment in history – The Battle of Britain.

2020 marks its 80^th anniversary - the Battle of Britain not Top Landing Gear - and if there are any gaps in your BoB knowledge, then Jez’s ‘quick’ facts will fill in every detail.

We’re delighted the aviation historian and Battle of Britain specialist Dilip Sarkar MBE has agreed to be our special guest; he’s written more about the Battle of Britain than any other person through first-hand accounts forged by his own friendships with ‘The Few’. We will also hear from some of those heroic pilots in person, including a Luftwaffe ME109 pilot, from interviews Rob did twenty years ago during the 60^th anniversary.

In other news Roy is fascinated by the noise aircraft toilets make, and James sniffs an opportunity to open up and dump a load of toilet-based facts on us. Yes Top Landing Gear is back, washed and sanitized with a freshness we hope you’ll find… er, refreshing. Enjoy.

Top Landing Gear - Summer Special

What can we say? We missed you... And just couldn't wait for the start of Series Two before we talked again. So we got together to discuss recent aviation events including Virgin Galactic's plans for a new Mach 3 supersonic aircraft, the horrific 737-800 crash in Kerala and what we have planned for the Autumn... AND... No quiz! 

Huge thanks to everyone who has listened and supported us this year. We have been astonished at the numbers of downloads this summer. See you in September for our Battle of Britain special. 

Episode Five [Full Flaps] Interview with Hunter Pilot Flt Lt Alan Pollock

This week's special guest created his own legendary moment in April 1968, when he flew his Hawker Hunter fighter jet through Tower Bridge in London. Flt Lt Alan Pollock of No1 Sqn RAF, was incensed that as defence cuts bit ever harder, the RAF was denied a flypast to mark its 50^th anniversary. So Pollock decided to let the Government of the day know just how he, and many others felt, by buzzing Westminster before heading off down the Thames at zero feet and about 400 miles an hour. It’s an extraordinary story, and his various capers during his time with the RAF are the stuff of legend. Needless to say Alan is a most engaging character.

 

Episode Five - Aviation's Most Audacious Feats and the Hawker Hunter

Every so often our imaginations are fired by someone doing something extraordinary, something so audacious that it’s cemented into folklore. Our latest podcast, ‘Aviation’s Most Audacious Feats’ touches on some of the most outrageous escapades ever to unfold, from the fearless wingwalker of the 1920s who changed an aircraft’s wheel in mid-air, to the brilliant and heroic life-saving exploits of a Royal Navy helicopter crew in the Falklands Conflict. Some of the stories had us spellbound, while others had us rolling around with laughter.

 

Our special guest managed to do both those things, by telling us how he created his own legendary moment in April 1968, when he flew his Hawker Hunter fighter jet through Tower Bridge in London. Flt Lt Alan Pollock of No1 Sqn RAF, was incensed that as defence cuts bit ever harder, the RAF was denied a flypast to mark its 50^th anniversary. So Pollock decided to let the Government of the day know just how he, and many others felt, by buzzing Westminster before heading off down the Thames at zero feet and about 400 miles an hour. It’s an extraordinary story, and his various capers during his time with the RAF are the stuff of legend. Needless to say Alan is a most engaging character.

 

This episode runs a little longer than usual, but we hope you’ll forgive us, it’s just that the stories were too good to cut. So be amazed and be amused in equal measure. And remember Alan Pollock’s full interview will be available a week after our main episode drops.

Episode Four [Full Flaps - PART DEUX!] - Part Deux of our interview with Ex Red Arrow, Sqn Ldr Dave 'DT' Thomas.

Last week we left you on a cliffhanger! This week Sqn Ldr Dave Thomas reveals all! 

After joining the Royal Air Force in 1988 as an Airman - Dave progressed to Pilot and joined the Reds from the Harrier Force – where he had excelled as a Qualified Weapons Instructor. Dave joined the Red Arrows in 2001 as Red 2 (The easy side!) and then progressed to Synchro Pair (Red 7) and then finally Synchro Lead – Red 6 – in the 2004 Season. 

In our interview he chats to the whole Top Landing Gear team all about a tour with the Red Arrows - including selection, the work up, displays, World tours, what happens when things go off plan and finally leaving the team after his final display.

This is the second part of our interview from last week. Please like, share, subsume and rate if you have enjoyed it. We would love to hear from you. 

Episode Four [Full Flaps - PART ONE] – Red Arrows - Interview with Sqn Ldr Dave “DT” Thomas - Ex Red Arrow Synchro Lead

On this extended Full Flaps edition we are absolutely thrilled to be chatting to Ex Red Arrow, Sqn Ldr Dave Thomas.  Dave joined the Red Arrows in 2001 as Red 2 (The easy side!) and then progressed to Synchro Pair (Red 7) and then finally Synchro Lead – Red 6 – in the 2004 Season!

After joining the Royal Air Force in 1988 as an Airman - Dave progressed to Pilot and joined the Reds from the Harrier Force – where he had excelled as a Qualified Weapons Instructor – undertaking Reds selection in 2001.  In our interview he chats to the whole Top Landing Gear team all about a tour with the Red Arrows - including selection, the work up, displays, World tours, what happens when things go off plan and finally leaving the team after his final display.

The interview is so compelling we have split it into two parts.

Episode Four - The Red Arrows

Welcome to episode four of Top Landing Gear where we are featuring the top national aerobatic team in the world (well we think so anyway...) The Red Arrows. We'll be joined by former synchro pair leader Squadron Leader Dave Thomas who talks about his time with the Reds and explains what it takes to become a member of this elite squad and how they fly some of those jaw dropping stunts. Look out for his full (flaps) interview next week. 

Episode Three [Full Flaps] - Interview with Major George 'Smokey" Bacon MBE - Display pilot and Airshow organiser & commentator,

We are delighted to have with us this week a man who certainly knows his way around an airshow. Not only is he a display pilot with the Army Air Corp Historic Flight and Chairman of the Historic Aircraft Flight he is also CEO of the British Airshow Display Association AND The Voice of numerous airshows up and down the county. With over 4000 hours on more than 20 different aircraft the Top Landing Team chat with airshow legend George 'Smokey' Bacon.

 

 

Episode Three - The Great British Airshow

Millions of us are bemoaning the inevitable cancellation of airshows large and small up and down the country. So how are we going to get our airshow fix this summer? Well thankfully there are some very innovative people out there who, since we haven’t got any airshows to go to, will do the next best thing, and bring them to us. One such person is this week’s special guest George ‘Smokey’ Bacon, CEO of the British Air Display Association, and an airshow commentator and display pilot, amongst many other things.

He explains how we can get involved in ‘virtual’ airshows this summer, and talks about how the UK airshow scene looks going forward. Meanwhile the rest of us reminisce about our favourite airshow memories, and Top Landing Gear’s very own aviation expert, pilot James Cartner answers the only question, again, sent in for his much ignored ‘Ask James’ segment. And don’t forget a week after this episode drops on 16th June, you’ll be able to hear George’s full interview. He has a plethora of amazing stories from his time as a front line pilot in the RAF and the Army Air Corps, and from his not insignificant involvement throughout aviation over the years, including the Historic Aircraft Flight and Aerobility. That’s Top Landing Gear Full Flaps, available from 23rd June.