Fly By

Went with my son to see the airshow at Shuttleworth. Well organised, very popular, lots to see, but somewhat overpriced.
My main objective was to see the Catalina flying boat ‘Plain Sailing’. I have seen one at a distance, many years ago, in Oman. I find it to be the most beautiful of aircraft.
So off we went. The SatNav acted up, something chronic, to start with, and we ended up going via Haverhill and Baldock, instead of the A14 and St Neots. As we made our unplanned trip, we passed by the Imperial War Museum, at Duxford. Clearly on view, only a few yards from the main road, was a magnificent white Catalina. What were the chances of seeing such a two such rare aircraft on the same day? Highly unlikely. When we reached Shuttleworth, we discovered that the Catalina visit had been cancelled. What did our devious Sat Nav know that no-one else bothered to mention? Very strange!
Looks like a visit to Duxford will be coming up in the near future.
The day was cold. The number of camping chairs reached into the thousands. If you wonder where all the old people go, in their final years, it would appear to be Shuttleworth. I have never seen so many walking sticks, or so many people with a leg missing. Is this the effect of flying?
So, didn’t see what I came for, but I did enjoy upsetting an aero enthusiast by describing a Lockheed Electra as ‘mundane’. This was not the one that Amelia and Fred got lost in. This was the budget model that senior officers liked to use as a taxi.
We did get some beautiful photos.