Top Landing Gear

Episode Two [Full flaps] - Interview with adventure pilot Amanda J. Harrison

In the May of 1930 Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from London to Darwin. In doing so she inspired generations of women to realise their own dreams. One of those women was Amanda J Harrison, who last year set out to retrace Amy’s epic journey in her De Havilland Tiger Moth. But Amanda’s story is about far more than taking on one of aviation’s greatest challenges. 

She has severe dyslexia, and a couple of years ago following the death of her father, Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer; both life changing events occurring in a cruelly short space of time. She decided that life was there to be lived, and that’s when she planned her epic flight. Amanda’s story will delight, enthral and uplift you. Hear her interview in full on Top Landing Gear, and be truly inspired.  

Episode Two - Amy Johnson

This week’s edition of Top Landing Gear goes back in time 90 years to explore the story of one of the great aviation pioneers.  Join Rob, Roy, James and Jez for a look at the incredible Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo, and we mean solo, to Australia.  We find out about her aircraft the tiny Gipsy Moth, how she got into aviation and the remarkable tale of her journey from Croydon, South London to Darwin, Northern Australia. Discover the Amy Wave and why Roy has one, what Amy did during the war and the story of her mysterious demise.

Don’t forget our regular Ask James feature where we test if Jim really does know what he’s talking about.  And of course the TLG quiz, in which the team are tested on this week’s subject and in which one team member smashes the others after a totally unfair disqualification in the last episode!

Then of course there is our interview, this week with the inspirational Amanda J Harrison and her daring attempt to recreate Amy Johnson’s record in her own Tiger Moth.  If you listen to just two things this month, make sure its Top Landing Gear and the Full Flaps interview with Amanda.

Episode two out 2^nd June and the Full Flaps interview out 9^th June.

 Top Landing Gear? -  Goodness me yes!

Episode One [Full Flaps] - Interview with Jim Schofield, Chief Spitfire pilot for the Boultbee Flight Academy

Welcome to the Full Flaps edition of Top Landing Gear. This week we feature the entire TLG interview with Boultbee Flight Academy Chief Pilot Jim Schofield. 

Jim flies Spitfires for a living - and if that isn't the coolest job in the world, he was also a test pilot for the F-35. 

All four members of the team travelled down to Goodwood Aerodrome (Formerly RAF Westhampnett) just a week before lockdown to enjoy an hour in his delightful and knowledgeable company. 

A huge thank you to Jim and all at the Boultbee Flight Academy for their time and allowing us to dress up like idiots and take photos of ourselves in front of their hanger of beautiful Spitfires.

You too can fly a Spitfire. See their website for details.  

Episode One - Spitfire

On the latest edition of Top Landing Gear we salute the most iconic aircraft of them all… the Spitfire. 80 years ago the Spitfire was instrumental in helping this country through one of the most testing times in its history, and to this day it remains a symbol of hope, courage and fortitude.

Join Rob, Roy, James and Jez as they eulogise about this beautiful machine, and Jez waxes lyrical about his flight in a Spit where he took the controls. Our special guest is Jim Schofield, chief Spitfire pilot at the Boutlbee Academy, who has over 100 types to his name including the RAF’s latest combat aircraft, the F-35 Lightning.  Jim gives us the inside track on flying the Spitfire, and he might just have a surprise or two for you. You’ll be able to listen to his interview in full in our ‘Full Flaps’ episode the week after the magazine programme has dropped. It’s not to be missed.

So please join us for another fun but informative foray into the world of aviation.  You can subscribe free, and if you could also leave a review, that would be fantastic.

The 'Pilot' Episode [Full Flaps] - John Hutchinson Concorde Pilot

Our very first Top Landing Gear Full Flaps episode, featuring the full length interview with Concorde Captain John Hutchinson.  

John talks with Rob about his experiences flying Concorde. They discuss the aircrafts development, his training and how much fun she was to fly in the air. He also reminisces about the joy of keeping an 'open cockpit' and retells some superb stories about the more notable of his passengers.

John also discuses his brush with death in 1968 on BOAC flight 172.

 

 

 

 

The 'Pilot' Episode - Concorde

Welcome to the Pilot episode of Top Landing Gear 

Four friends invite you to join them as they get together to discuss their joint passion – aviation. (It’s the only thing they have in common; one is a pop star, another a TV presenter. There’s also a proper pilot, and … unique amongst probably any podcast anywhere -  a fencer.)

TLG is not just for the converted aviation enthusiast. The tone and fun of TopLandingGear gives it a broad appeal way beyond the avgeek, in much the same way as a popular motoring programme might attract more than just petrol-heads.

And if aviation IS your thing, then our TopLandingGear Full Flaps episode is for you, where the weekly interviews with our special guests will be aired in full.

 So grab your favourite tipple, and enjoy the company of Rob, Roy, James and Jez in this highly sociable half-hour podcast.  

TopLandingGear – ready to roll.

 

Trailer - Episode One landing soon....

Top Landing Gear is an aviation podcast for everyone. Brought to you by a pilot, a presenter, a pop star and a fencer! 

Episode One 'Spitfire' landing soon...