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This month I really have been walking in the footsteps of giants and I’ve met some truly remarkable individuals. In mid October Richard Hale (our proof reader) and I attended the Historic Aircraft Association’s annual symposium at the RAF Museum at Hendon, where I was lucky to meet a number of Jets Monthly readers. I’m sure those of you who were there will attest to the standard of the speakers at this year’s event – ranging from Captain Terence Henderson, who spoke about flying both the Comet and Concorde, to Nigel Walpole offering a firsthand account of flying the Supermarine Swift, through to Ian Whittle speaking about his father, Sir Frank Whittle’s, career and life. Jet Pioneer The theme of this year’s HAA symposium was the early years of the jet age so it was fitting (no, exciting!) to hear keynote lecturer Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown speak candidly about his experiences flying the pioneering aircraft. To sit for more than an hour and hear his vivid memories of flying the Gloster E.28/39 and Messerschmitt Me262 was an absolute joy. I spoke to Captain Brown at lunch and I have to admit to being awestruck. It was one of the most memorable ten minute conversations I think I shall ever enjoy and I was impressed with both his power of recollection and dry sense of humour. As we parted I had to ask one final, perhaps obvious, question… If he could go back and fly any one of the 487 distinct aircraft types in his log book one final time, which would it be? A f ter a short moment of contemplation he looked me in the eye, smiled widely and said “I’m terribly sorry Steve but it’s not a jet. Without a doubt it’s the de Havilland Hornet, it had so much power. You can never have enough power in an aeroplane!” It’s not an aeroplane I’ve ever studied in any detail, but I shall now. If Eric Brown says it tops his wish list after 92 years and nearly 500 aeroplanes then it’s good enough for me!