I walked by daughter in the park a few days ago and we watched as the small civil Aeroplanes and gliders circled and landed at the local Air Park. When I was young I caught my father's enthusiasm for aviation. We spent our childhoods sitting on top of the family car at Air Shows. My early life was orientated around this interest.

Then I learnt of what was going to happen to us. Suddenly everything seemed different. God, I will miss aeroplanes. Nothing seems to sum up more the awesome beauty and horror of what mankind can achieve than aviation. The struggle to defeat gravity was one of the noblest achievements of our race. As soon as we struggled into the air we took the first opportunity to start killing people from this new vantage point. Having said that who can fail to marvel at the beauty of the Supermarine Spitfire or not awe in wonder at a Vulcan Bomber standing on its tailpipes whilst making a noise that could wake the dead? For all their overwhelming killing power these machines still mark an odd pinnacle in what we could do if we had the right motivation.

I have this odd thought that one day my grandchildren will wheel me around some musem and we will stop beside a Harrier Jump Jet. They will stop and gasp "What is THAT Grandad?!" I will tell them and then they will ask... "But what was it for..?" I wonder what I would say? It wil sure be quitet though...