Talking of wings.....

.... I thought I would acknowledge the death last week, of Wing Commander Ken Wallis.....

As a kid watching You only live twice, I was somewhat mesmerised by the sight of little nellie.....and no that ain't no euphemism..... 

this was/is little nellie

James Bond flew it in you only live twice.... but as a young kid seeing it for the first time.... the reaction was simple...... wow a plane suitable for a kid.

Of course the reality is they are not for kids, and seems they are not really for everyone either, otherwise by now we'd be using them as our standard means of commuting....... Gyrocopters have a straight forward approach to flight, but somehow they have never been harnessed for the man in the street......

The original little nellie, was provided for and flown in You only live twice by non other than Wing Commander Ken Wallis. Little did I realise all those years back, admiring his little nellie [that's not a euphemism either], in my grown up life, I'd be watching it's creator on my local news program. A couple of years back they ran an article on him and his development of gyrocopters.

What a character Ken Wallis appeared to be. You see and interact with a lot of people through your life, many you do not meet and some you do..... and there are some people who leave a mark on your thoughts. Ken Wallis was one of those people. He was just so endearing to listen to.

We live in a modern world of crap and stupidity and yet every now and then something/one shines through. Ken Wallis came across as one of those people. Everyone who has commented on his death, has ascribed to the wonder of his life. His grand daughter on Look East last week, describing his last few years [still flying these Gyrocopters into his 90's !] gosh in her sadness at his death, she must have also been so overwhelmed at the out pouring for the wonder that is her grand father.

Wing Commander Ken Wallis

we salute you

and my SoD

the choice was easy...