Flying The Westland Lysander

Helmet-cam with narration by Dave Hadfield, of a flight from Gatineau in July 2020 in a Lysander IIIa. see www.hadfield.ca Song: "Requiem/High Flight" (c)2018 by Dave Hadfield
Built by National Steel Car in 1942, this Bristol Mercury-powered aircraft is now privately owned, and is supported by The Lysander Funds and The Canso Funds.
Also visit www.vintagewings.ca

[@jarvbox]

Wow, what a fantastic experience you have captured for us all! My father flew in these as an R/T operator and was shot down over Dieppe in 1942. He survived but spent the rest of the war in POW camp. He never spoke too much about his experiences, understandably I suppose. Your filming of this flight is the closest thing I've seen to "being there" ever and I suspect many aviation enthusiasts around the world have marvelled at your honest "first person" footage of this extraordinary aeroplane. Many thanks again for sharing this with the world. ;-)

[@DarrenWalley]

What an occupation & your dad was a very brave man. And to think, I used to moan about my factory job. 🤔

[@marklelohe3754]

My Father worked at Westland from 1939 until his retirement in 1985, I too worked there from 1973. We were aircraft nuts! I remember him telling me that as he left work to go for lunch one day, a Lysander was hovering into the wind at about 50 ft over the airfield at Yeovil, the engine at barely tick over speed. When he returned from lunch it was still just hovering in the same place as before. It had most remarkable low speed handling characteristics

[@DarrenWalley]

That is brilliant. 😁

[@janelmann1030]

My grandpa, RCAF F/O Norman Folkersen flew 416 twice while stationed with 122 Squadron, Patricia Bay. Although paint job was not this factory paint. Coded TM-A while at Pat Bay! He logged time in a few Lysanders. New appreciation for he small, loud and hot that cockpit is! Great video. Thanks.

[@phph1731]

Brilliant film of a firm favourite that captured this small lad’s imagination with tales of daring pilots and SOE agents. Like others, I remember the Airfix kit. I coveted the one my friend built, but I always managed to make a smeary mess of canopies and windows so steered clear of the Lysander, Anson and most bombers. Made a good job of a Hawker Typhoon though!

[@stranraerwal]

phph: I've built about 80 models some 20 years ago-I had the same problem with the canopies and windows-it was frustrating.

[@chriscarter5720]

Wonderful to get a pilots eye view of this iconic aircraft. Most of the comments concern the Lizzie's famous role as a spy taxi. But after getting chopped up badly during the Battle of France (nearly 70% of the Lysanders sent to France were lost!) the aircraft was also relegated to more prosaic roles. My dad, F/Sgt Nick Carter, flew around 400 hours on ASR and target Towing duties in the south west of England. After 18 months he finally got to where he really wanted to be - in the seat of a Spit Vb. He rarely talked about his experiences and I only got to see his log book after he'd passed away. He was one of the many unsung heroes of the RAF who just 'did his bit' for five long years. Never forget them.

[@JeanMarcWilvers]

In 2000, I've been convited to made a flight on a Lysander by the Sabena Old Tilers in Belgium. I'll never forget it.

[@andsalomoni]

Very beautiful airplane. Very, very beautiful.

[@MARTINA-gc3tq]

very well done...very informative without being boring at any point. I visited a flying day at the Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, England two years ago and their black SOE Lysander was flown to the delight of the crowd.

[@antiussentiment]

What a fabulously insightful journey you have carried us on. Plus what a cool old plane.

[@conservativemike3768]

One of my favorite designs, but it’s such a quirky rattle box I’ll just enjoy at a distance.

[@angelreading5098]

What a fascinating aircraft Dave ! to think these flew night sorties across the channel dropping spies off in fields in France,thats a workmanlike cockpit with a lot going on,great explanation of a fine Westland product.

[@ducatijohn-1422]

These flew extensively unarmed into occupied France dropping off resistance operators and picking up American flyers. They were on the ground for minutes and rarely shut down their engines. This flying aircraft represents a lot of devotion and hard work making it air worthy again. Thank you.

[@malcolmn.pearson6103]

Maybe the odd RAF lad too don't you think?

[@ducatijohn-1422]

@@malcolmn.pearson6103 Yes, I am sure RAF bomber pilots were rescued and spirited out. Good point. Well said.

[@beegee22]

Great video. I had never realized what a complex airplane the Lysander is.

[@carlosc7411]

My grandfather was pickt up twice during war by it, as he was working for the resistence in Belgium.

[@bahoonies]

@Carlos C What an incredibly brave man your grandad was. I hope he came through the war ok.

[@bonnytrippler2966]

Respect to your grandfather sir.

[@tommyfred6180]

my grandfather bumbed a lift from one back to base in 1943. its scared him witless. or so he said. he used to operate on the Shetland Bus and did several drops and pick ups on the Belgium cost. everyone talks about the French resistance and forgets the massif importance of the Belgium, Dutch and Norwegians resistance. the risks taken by people like your grandfather makes my blood run cold.

[@Page-Hendryx]

@@tommyfred6180 What I want to know is what those communists *would* have wanted to befall Europe, in the absence of any German invasion. They would have wanted a communist Europe.

[@Page-Hendryx]

Your grandfather was a Red.

[@sportstrader2175]

THX Dave for the insight, heard plenty references to this small aircraft in books about SOE operations in WW2

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

Now that's an plane you strap on! Plane today are so refined they fly them self's almost, glade to see that this one is old school. Great video, thanks.

[@DVolvoguy777-x7o]

This one of my favorite airplanes. Nice video!

THAT WAS AMAZING! Thank you for the very detailed flight.

[@tinaboy99]

Many years ago there was a Lysander kept at Blackbushe airfield, not far from Farnborough. I was a mad keen aircraft spotter and it was always worth a visit when I had the chance, particularly Franborough airshow week as it was the overflow airfield. Great video.

[@Firebrand55]

Sir Laurence Olivier , of the Royal Navy Reserve, was trained on the Lysander in WW2. He was taken off active duty as it was considered his status as an actor was more important for British moral than flying aeroplanes. Before he left, he did manage to bend three Lysanders!

[@donaldholman9070]

Marvellous plane. Thank you!

[@ton1911]

What a beautiful airplane.

[@martinalbion9554]

Nice video, it's wonderful to learn so much rare information about flying the Lizzie.

[@seniorelzappo9919]

what a great job you have !

[@barnstormingbandit2611]

The things we would do to get stick time in an aircraft like that, i was in awe at just how big it was when i first stood next to one

[@leonscheepers5350]

Good talk through - thanks, much greater appreciation of the aircraft

[@stejacjam660]

Thanks Dave great video, very informative and a few surprises especially the flap/slat mechanism that was news to me.

[@johnmurrell3175]

Its described in detail in Teddy Petters biography. I think the first prototype crashed when the port & starboard slats got out of sync. The design was modified to prevent this.

[@555skipper]

This magnificent airplane brings to mind a book I read about Madame Fourcade.

[@andre-dx4yw]

very nice thankyou for sharing

[@frosty3693]

The odd, to many, brake system was used on several RAF aircraft including the Spitfire and Hurricane. But it did have an advantge for some. Since it did not use toe, or heel, brake pedals pilots with artifical legs could fly them. There were at least two RAF Spitfire pilots with artificial legs, Douglas Bader was one.

[@SuperJellicoe]

Thankyou Dave, Your descriptions and details are extraordinarily clear. I have been an aircraft nut since I was about 4 years old and now 72! Did not fly till I was in my mid teens but was always more interested in the mechanics. I travelled back east from Vancouver Island in 2018 and absorbed Nanton, AB, Sault St Marie, Trenton, Hamilton, and Ottawa. In Hamilton, I was able to see the Lysander for the first time. It had a big crunch on landing and was in the process of being put back together but the real question was; would it be flown again. Is this the same airplane that you flew? There cannot be too many left! Thanks for sharing.

[@davehadfield5906]

The one I fly is a different aircraft than the accident one. I don't know what it's repair-plans are -- different outfit. Glad you liked the video!

[@williamross2579]

My Father said they could land, turn and take off in about 50yrds, in two minutes, and you’d hear them landing, or flying over Rural Devon during the night, seeing ‘suited’ men in fast cars (Riley’s, Daimlers etc) hanging about large open fields, ready to charge out of the villages to the A303 (Stonehenge road) to get to Whitehall as fast as possible or drive to the nearest train station with direct trains to Paddington (Barnstaple, Exeter St David’s, Taunton) Iirc Dad learned to drive on one of the bases in an Austin 7 (Winkleigh…) it’s runways were very short… and it was a (wink wink) ‘Training base’.

[@michaelsaayman2802]

Sounds and shakes like a old diesel truck. Great vid thanks

[@josephking6515]

Wow, did not know this aeroplane had a moving stab. Incredible. The slats appearing when climbing into the cockpit were also another surprise as I can't remember ever reading about them but memory is an issue now days. The slats weren't made by Robertson? 🤭 (A pilot joke for non pilots reading this)

[@rob737700]

Have always been fond of this plane, first time seeing a cockpit video. Great job. INOP attitude indicator drove me nuts even as a viewer. I probably would have covered it up.

[@ZedsDeadOK]

Would be a great addition to MSFS 2020?

[@jjmcrosbie]

Damn good video. Congratulations.

[@Halli50]

You recall the old adage - if it looks right, is will fly right! Well, the British (as well as the Germans) managed to create some incredibly ugly and wrong-looking aircraft that still flew quite well. The Westland Lysander is one of them. With 870hp it only had 2 seats - no wonder it had amazing performance! It was designed to operate in WW2 North Europe, no wonder it is overheating during a typical sweltering 'Murican summer! We have a 295hp aircraft, designed by a German but built in the US on either side of 1960. It seats 6 and will comfortably operate out of and into 200m (6-700') unprepared fields with 4 adults and all their hiking gear. It is a H295 Helio Super Courier, and is really a simplified Lysander/Storch, built on a shoestring. The short-field performance is amazing!

[@davehadfield5906]

Indeed. Although I'm in Canada.

[@stratopastor_uk]

Lovely vdeo, thank you.

[@Redgolf2]

Class 👍🏻

[@Flightstar]

We have one of these at our museum in BC. one day we would like to get it operational, if we could learn the magic of raising money.

[@rickdeckard7549]

Ah ha! So this is what strapping one on and flying it versus hmmmm...system management looks like.....👍🏻

[@akula6098]

Great stuff Dave, thank you. I take it the the aircraft fitted compass, between your legs, and the vacuum driven (I'm guessing) heading indicator, are not in use. Using the E2C type compass?

[@davehadfield5906]

We can't get anyone to work on radium-marked instruments anymore, and they can't be shipped across borders.

[@akula6098]

@@davehadfield5906 , thanks for that Dave. Hope that 2021 is a good year for you all, you seem to be taking good care of her.

[@alanhutchins5916]

When they took off from SOE missions on the return leg from France they skipped a lot of that......

[@johnmurrell3175]

I believe they left the engine running in case it did not start.

[@fw1421]

How many Lysander’s are there still airworthy today?

[@davehadfield5906]

3, I believe. Ours, 1 at Duxford, and 1 at Shuttleworth. There's another project in Belgium, but I'm not sure of it's status.

[@fw1421]

@@davehadfield5906 thanks for the info. The Lysander is one of my favorite WWII planes. 👍🏻

[@Retroscoop]

Where is the original ladder ?

[@davehadfield5906]

Ours is a Canadian one, and none of them had ladders of course.

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

Great video - now all you have to do is fly it at tree height on a moonless night and land on a rough strip in France and pick up the agents and get them back to England, ^oo^

[@davehadfield5906]

Nope, sorry, those guys were way more courageous than me.

[@sean_d]

Lot of comments about the operations with agents, which is what this aircraft is known for, but let's not forget the pilots who flew it in combat during the defence of France and Belgium in 1940, when it was used for reconnaissance, army co-operation and even as a light bomber, suffering horrendous losses, 118 lost out of 175. Not as celebrated as Battle of Britain pilots, but surely as brave.

[@patricktaylor5981]

My uncle died flying one during that period.

[@stefanrouyer3431]

they were audacious pilots to parachute or tke back resistants in France thoses guys have been awesome considering flying over occupied countries

[@welshlyn9097]

You are not wrong my friend.

[@DarrenWalley]

I didn't even know about its other roles Sean. I will look them up & thank you for pointing them out.

[@davehadfield5906]

Very true. When you look at the Pathe films promoting the aeroplane (as per 1936 Air Ministry thinking), you see it being presented as a miracle-machine. In 1940, it wasn't.

[@CaptainSwoop]

Imagine a moonless, stormy night in 1941, heading over the English Channel at 2am in your trusty Lysander. No nav aids, just the faint red glow of your panel showing your heading. After a couple of years finally crossing the French coast, to then start looking for an Aldis lamplight signalling your destination, while all the time trying to stay the right way up using that panel. What an incredibly brave generation of people. The whole lot of 'em.

[@robinharwood5044]

No nav aids? You’ve got a compass and a map. Admittedly, it’s too dark to see your map or the ground properly, but your map shows a bridge over a small river, and down there you can see what looks like a bridge over a small river, so that must be it. There can’t be many small rivers and bridges in France, can there?

[@guaporeturns9472]

🤦‍♂️No braver than any other generation , before or since.

[@DarrenWalley]

I'll now have to look up an Aldis lamp. 😁

[@nunyabidness3075]

@@guaporeturns9472Nah, every generation is softer than the last. It’s not a bad thing, until it is.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@nunyabidness3075 Speak for yourself. Me and my offspring are hard af.

[@Ropetangler]

Back in the early 1980s I was going for my private pilots licence here in Tasmania, Australia. An old chap of seventy years or so, (I was then in my mid 30s) who had let his licence lapse, came in for some flight checks in order to renew it. It turned out that he had been a WW2 pilot, and had in fact been sent out to Australia to command the flight training school at that very airport. I asked him if he had been in fighters or bombers, and he replied that he had flown pretty well everything, to which I asked, had he been a ferry pilot? He replied, no, he'd been an operational pilot, and in fact he had completed his second tour on bombers, and as a reward was given command of the training base in order to pass on his skills to new pilot trainees, as well as recognition that he and his crew had done their share with 2 complete tours. I really didn't know what to think as I was aware that it would be highly unusual for a pilot to fly lots of completely different aircraft types, but I said nothing and perhaps he noticed the look on my face or something because in the days following he came in with his stack of log books, about 500mm high from memory and indeed he had flown nearly everything with wings. He had flown to Norway to either drop off an agent or pick one up, I can't remember which. The ground party had UHF radios with highly directional antennas which they pointed skyward when the aircraft approached, so that the enemy would only get a very weak signal to track, and similar with torches to signal the pilot. With his passenger either picked up or dropped off into the hands of the local Resistance, he took off again straight away, but as he did so, a patrol came out of the woods firing on him, so he responded with machine gun fire while on his take off run. Fortunately he made it home unscathed in his Lysander. He ended the war as a Pathfinder, firstly in Lancasters, but eventually in Mosquitos. They would come in and drop a flare pattern over the target, and then climb up high to wait as the flares on parachutes would drift in the wind, or following flights of bombers would be some minutes later, so the pattern would have to be relaid as time passed. The first pattern was dropped and an aerial photograph was taken simultaneously, and the flight speed and direction recorded for analysis by the cartographers when they returned. The photos were often pasted into the log book together with the accuracy of the release, and as I recall, his first drop was about 500 yards off target, but with each subsequent mission, the accuracy rapidly improved, and on his second or third last mission he was only 2 and a quarter yards out, and was travelling at over 300kt at release. After the war he came out to Australia, and at the time was living about 45 minutes from his old command, now a civilian airport. Needless to say I was really gobsmacked, not just by his achievements, but also with the amazing skills with which he carried out his work, It was all documented there in his pile of log books. I nearly forgot, In 2012 I think my wife and I were in the U.K. and I visited Old Warden in Bedfordshire on a flying day, and indeed saw their Lysander make several flights on the day, together with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and lots of other amazing aircraft that I never imagined that I would ever see flying, very fond memories.

[@raywhitehead730]

Great story, and in the day some pilots got to fly many types. Aviation is still in my old eyes a young endeavor

[@Jigaboo123456]

@@raywhitehead730 Terrific tale, thanks. Can you remember the old pilots name, I ws thinking it may have been Eric " Winkle" Brown, RN?

[@Tramullador1]

Great story: You could write some books with your adventures ...

[@gordonmcgregor6431]

@@Jigaboo123456 Winkle never left Europe in his career, he spent most of his time testing naval aircraft in South England then near the end of the war he went to occupied Europe to test fly German aircraft, mainly jets as he had been a German student at university pre-war and spoke German fluently. He was one of very few allied pilots to fly the Me163 on rocket power from take off, I'm sure a quick google search will find him talking about that adventure

[@Jigaboo123456]

@@gordonmcgregor6431 Thank you for replying, but I suggested Winkle Brown may have been the pilot Rope Tangler met in Australia post war. A pilot on any covert ops would have have been very cautious not to talk of ANY covert op he has been assigned to during WW2, and for many years after if it might cause problems of various kinds, and the RAF wouldn't shout it out either, so the possibility remains -who knows. I saw the excellent documentary of his life a few times, and remember his comment on the" terrifying to fly" Me 163. I also remember that during his time in Germany pre-war, he had watched Jesse Owens win his gold medal for the 100 yds, and contrary to the MSM claim that Hitler had thrown a tantrum, Brown said that he had been cordial towards Mr. Owens.

[@Parawingdelta2]

Love that aircraft. My first 'Airfix' model kit as a kid. Obviously a few pitfalls for a Cessna pilot who imagines he could just jump out of a 182 and straight into a Lysander.

[@danielcarlson800]

I want to build that 1/32 Matchbox kit.

[@southerncross86]

I had a Matchbox 1:72, my second aicraft. First was a Hawker Fury

[@nialldoyle8206]

Respect to the Ww2 aviators and agents who flew in them.

[@brentsummers7377]

Amazing video thanks! Imagine the skill it took to fly this into a field in France in darkness considering all the Lysander quirks.

[@adambrickley1119]

Yeah, and imagine the skill it took to even find the landing field with no gps a few hundred miles away at night while you are flying.

[@punapirate]

I probably have never said that word for 55-60 years, but as soon as I saw this thumbnail I said “Lysander”. Yet I can’t remember what I want from the fridge sometimes.

[@trainsontuesday]

As a child 60 years ago I lived near Tempsford Airfield where the SOE flew out of. Friends and I used to sneak onto the airfield and play. The ghosts of the men and machines were very much there. If I could own and fly one aircraft in my life It would be a Lysander.

[@thethirdman225]

One of my Dad’s friends flew SOE operations in the Lysander. Probably out of that field or Tangmere.

[@trainsontuesday]

@@thethirdman225 Hi The Third Man, I have a copy of an excellent account of the war time activities at RAF Tempsford. It is titled; RAF Tempsford Churchill's most secret airfield. It was written by Bernard O'Conner. The book number is; ISBN 978-1-4456-0071-0. My copy was signed by the author in 2010. It may still be in print but if not it would be worth tracking down a copy. The book details how crews often used both Tempsford and Tangmere as well as other alternative fields. The secrecy surrounding Tempsford was so tight that even in the 1960's when I grew up in the area, the locals still referred to it as a bomber base. As an even more interesting side note, here in Canada I was introduced to a man that I was told had been in the RCAF during the war. I asked where he had been posted. He told me the name of a field in Yorkshire. I told him that I had lived near Tempsford and his eyes lit up and he said, "Is the pub still at the top of the hill." Such was the secrecy of that base that even in 1995 the men that served there would not voluntarily divulge that they had served there. They all have my undying admiration as do the aircraft they flew. Regards, David.

[@thethirdman225]

@@trainsontuesday Thanks for very much the tip. I'll have a look for the book. My Dad's friend didn't seem to mind talking about it. He eventually had to stop flying because he was shot down by a marauding Focke-Wulf 190 and hurt his back but he gave us a very detailed description of what happened to him in that incident. He didn't say that much about the other flights though. Sadly, neither of them is around any more so I'm still at a bit of a loss to know where he was even based but he was definitely a "Black Lysander" pilot and did the SOE ops. I've always wanted to know more but he died before I could do any further research. I was extremely lucky to know this man. It was because of him that I got to meet Adolph Galland, no less. I will definitely see if I can find that book. Cheers. :)

[@thethirdman225]

@@trainsontuesday By the way, the reason I mentioned Tangmere is that there was definitely an SOE establishment at that field. From my fading memory is was to the east of the field in a country house. I was there in 1991 and they pointed it out. I know nothing about Tempsford at all.

[@Brian-om2hh]

Yes, been to Tempsford Dave. Very creepy in that big barn place. You feel you're not alone, even though the place is completely empty...... no longer the easiest of places to find.

[@Stupot2]

Amazing video.The people who flew these in ww2 had balls .Imagine trying to find a small field in France at night landing and taking off again

[@gitfoad8032]

The bit about a pilot being armed with a pistol to shoot anyone approaching on the right side always struck me as an awkward thing to have to do - passengers were to approach on the left, as procedure; anyone on the right was taken to the enemy.

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@gitfoad8032 The ladder (permanetly fixed) was on the left, so it made sense.

[@gitfoad8032]

@@allenwilliams1306 - Message received & understood. Cheers.

[@maxflight777]

Stu, agreed. Lest we forget.

[@rogerwhittle2078]

I've always loved the Lysander, ever since one of my first Airfix kits and the photographs in one of my dad's books - he was a navigator. Although I am a Brit and I still live here, I've never seen a real Lysander flying (I'm over seventy) and I think I've only ever seen one model flying. The first thing one notices is; just how big they are, compared to its German counterpart, the Feisler Storch. That whole wing, slats, flaps thing is extraordinary and, not surprisingly, very similar to the Storch. I wonder if theirs was automatic like the Lizzie? It obviously has a great enthusiasm for flying - it does it with little apparent effort and appears to be smooth and stable. It has some quirky little gotcha's though. That thing about the flare and elevator authority and the auto slats hoisting the thing back in the air if you lift the nose very much. Some of these things must make it a very quirky aeroplane to fly. But I still love it. I believe they have one at the Shuttleworth Trust, I must check it out and maybe visit when our present - endless - lockdown ends. Great vlog guys, thank you.

[@edball4906]

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED

[@TheFlytechguy]

Shuttleworth do have one, I saw it fly last July at their first drive in airshow. It is a wonderful beast of an aircraft and a lot larger than I had imagined. Shuttleworth are hopefully holding more airshows this year...

[@rogerwhittle2078]

@@TheFlytechguy Ahh, that's encouraging, I'll have to keep my eyes and ears open for that. Thank you. A 'drive in' airshow? I even have three glass roof panels in my Land Rover, so it could be a perfect air show watching platform!

[@thephilpott2194]

Yes, shuttleworth has a Lysander, with a dummy long range fuel tank slung underneath. See you there this year --or possibly next year the way things are going! As a kid i was lucky enough to visit when there was a magically steady 35kt headwind. We were very close to a Storch (Stork), and saw it lift it's tail, roll 2yds forward then lift off vertically and hover.

[@Channel-os4uk]

Admire your grandfather, Frank's work..

[@jerrybootneck1736]

I live a stone throw away from where this was built, I can see the airfield from my window it originally took off from. We also have a road named here in my town named after this plane.

[@pierrebuffiere5923]

Yeovil?

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Another Yeovilian here. My route to school and back included Lysander road, I spent half my time at secondary school gazing out over the airfield at the helicopters.

[@pierrebuffiere5923]

@@Matt_The_Hugenot I'm not really a Yeovillian (nice term). I used to work at Westlands in the mid 70s, mainly on the Lynx.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@pierrebuffiere5923 That was when I was staring out of my schoolroom window watching the Lynxes and Sea Kings. I know so many people that worked there, unsurprising when each year a third of boys from my school became apprentices there.

[@paulkirkland3263]

I've been lucky enough to see two Lysanders flying together here in the UK. An aircraft with so much history behind it. Great video - really enjoyed it. :)

[@JammyDodger45]

35yrs ago when I was a teenager I met a guy who'd flown these in WW2. In his words he'd 'lost his bottle' after being shot down in his Hurricane and so ended up flying these. He made 13 return flights into France and 1 single trip which ended with him being downed and captured. I wish I'd known then what I know now so I could have talked with him much longer. His stories must have been incredible if only I'd known enough to ask!

[@trooperdgb9722]

Hard to imagine it taking less "Bottle" to fly a Lysander into unprepared fields in enemy territory at night...than to fly a day fighter! Respect..utter respect.

[@davidelliott5843]

My aunt was a nurse on Malta throughout the siege (dies 1982). I also feel aggrieved that my zero comprehension of what she did meant I never got to record her stories. There must be so many lost to history.

[@robwilde855]

It's so often the same - as teenagers we have the chance to learn incredible interesting and tremendously historically-valuable stuff from our parents' and grandparents' generations - but only understand that when it's too late and they've gone. My sisters and I did actually have the idea to hide a small tape recorder [though they weren't all that small in those days!] and get the old folks talking - but we just never got round to it! So many regrets now about that...

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@robwilde855 If it makes you feel any better an old RAAF friend of mine was travelling the country here a year or so ago (on paid Reserve time - its an official project) getting "oral histories" from surviving WW2 veterans...

[@jaywalker3087]

My old man was a radio expert with SOE . He deployed in Lysanders as well as submarines. The plane has always been one of my favourites and this video has shown me some of the brilliant engineering the Brits came up with. Thankyou so much , I can now imagine my father flying out to France at night. I'd love to see her in the air myself now. Are there any thoughts about bringing her over to the UK ? You would receive a big welcome from many of us. Happy flying to you all. H8135900

[@Inkling777]

That great ground visibility must have been a major plus when landing in French pastures at night during WWII.

[@semiprofessional8470]

No kidding. Those auto slats are we probably a big help too.

[@pbgd3]

Eh think about your comment landing in darkness in wartime has never been an adventure of great visibility. Always a matter of navigation.

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Great looking old ‘Tin Lizzie’. Fantastic flight and well explained the quirks and eccentricities of the amazing aircraft. I would imagine in the depths of winter dropping into enemy occupied France as was commonplace for the Lysander, you’d be grateful for the toasty oil tank pipe work!

[@danielkoerner7127]

“You can pull the chocks, please...”. God bless 🇨🇦! Great video!

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Of course - this is a British aircraft so you have to speak British to the ground crew ;-)

[@neilhellings2525]

Great video and very informative - thanks for posting. Like many of the less glamorous airframes, the Lysander nonetheless had a vital role in helping to win the war, in particular its use by the RAF Special Operations squadrons that supported the SOE. Long may this particular example fill the skies.

[@johncrispin2118]

Just read the bio of the work of Teddy Petter, the very clever man who designed this aeroplane well worth it and thanks Dave for the insightful commentary I feel I have experienced one of these enigmatic aircraft which carved itself such a unique war service history. Interesting to compare the Talk given by the pilots who fly shuttle worth’s Lizzie, lots in common. The word ‘gotcha’ being one

[@SuperEdge67]

The wheel spats are where the pilot stored his balls. They had to be big to land in Occupied France in WW2.

[@esquad5406]

If there was ever a OSS air plane it was this one. My pal growing up was a OSS pilot Glen Browles. He would tell hair razing story's of sneaking in and out of France and Belgium in a plane as big and noisy as the Lysander. He told one story about landing in a field in France and the Germans showed up. But the underground had set security a ambushed them. He was dropping off and picking up while a fire fight raged all around. When he got back to England they counted 32 bullet holes in the plane. That's running a airline.

[@patrickmorrissey8754]

Dave Short of flying in the Lysander, you have given this single engine pilot and student of WWII clandestine operations a special insight into the Tempsford gang’s flights to Europe. I am amazed at the pilots’ flying skills and navigation abilities to fly with pinpoint accuracy on moonlit nights to airfields identified with a 1930s Michelin road map. Your running commentary about all the little “bits and pieces” of the flight characteristics was truly appreciated. I will watch this video many time more.

[@patrickmorrissey8754]

Based on the viewer comments, I think more of this type of Lysander videos are warranted. Patrick from Albuquerque

[@patrickmorrissey8754]

If any of the viewers are interested in the RAF Tempsford Squadron 161Lysander operations and stories of actual wartime flights, you could read “We Landed By Moonlight” by Hugh Verity.

[@kevinmottram9491]

It's really great to see these old warbirds being maintained and flown still. A 'living' memorial to the brave aircrews and SOE agents (men and women) who flew to and from war in them. Great work.

[@Farweasel]

Just so you know if you're in the UK .......... Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden in Bedfordshire have a Lysander flying regularly at their regular old aeroplane air shows. Search engines will find their website but Shuttleworth have a number of Vids posted on You Tube too.

[@kevinmottram9491]

@@Farweasel Many thanks for that info. The Shuttleworth collection has been on my 'to do' list for a while now. Post pandemic I will definitely check it out.

[@Farweasel]

@@kevinmottram9491 You won't be disappointed. As events are 'themed', if your travelling any distance it would be wise to check the planned displays which their website shows ..... And closer to the time check the Met forcast because some of the really early stuff needs virtually still air. You had probably better add Duxford to the list, just to be on the safeside. Book in advance and you can buy a flight in a Tiger Moth or a Dragon Rapide at Duxford too ~ 'Though not on display days. And combine it with a tour of the huge museum.

[@mkivhvd2478]

Great and very informative video! It's so cool to see this airplane flying, as back in the early 70s on a trip to the Moose Jaw Airshow with my Dad in his Harvard and we landed at their home strip across the gravel road from the Assiniboia airstrip and overnighted at Anne & Harry's place. Along with his Hurricane, we saw this airplane in a very large number of pieces in one of the farm shop buildings. As I recall, it was first on Harry's list for restoration after he finished the in-progress Tiger Moth...the wings for which were in their dining room, much to Anne's displeasure hahaha.

[@rapturebound197]

Beautiful plane...very cool old school design but it sounds like a flying corn binder. With all that racket it would just make me think something must be wrong somewhere?!?!... Yikes! Haha.

[@TheSoundsage]

That's funny. I finally made it to Cole Palen's Flying Circus in Old Rhinebeck, NY (an experience on every aviation buff's bucket list) and watched a Fokker D VIII "Flying Razor" with a female cousin. What an amazing beast (the D VIII, that is) The racket was incredible. She said "Well, they certainly weren't making any sneak attacks in that one," and years later, watching the Lysander I could only wonder "How on earth did they think they could sneak into some French field at night without waking every German within 20 miles?"

[@woooster17]

Amazing to be able to watch this with POV... My grandad worked for Westland in Yeovil for 40 years, and my other grandad worked a similar time for Martin Baker in Denham.. They both passed 20 years ago.. I would dearly love to talk again with both about their experiences..

[@sandgroper1970]

I bet those hot parts were welcomed by pilots in the winter.

[@trevor311264]

A school friend's uncle was picked up by a Lysander during the war, and I was lucky enough to meet him. As I was building Airfix Lizzies when everyone else was making Spitfires or Lancasters as I was fascinated by them, so I asked him what he remembered about it, he said they were waiting hours in a freezing cold field for the aircraft to arrive, and what he remembered the most was how lovely and warm it was inside!

[@bonnytrippler2966]

Thank you mate for keeping this fantastic historic aircraft flying. As other commenters have said just imagine the bravery that went into supporting SOE operations in enemy occupied Europe during WWII from both the pilots and the secret agents they transported. Respect to them.

[@raywilkie8587]

My Dad and a Sergeant found a Lysander that had been abandoned in the N. African Desert, neither of them had flying experience but decided to see if they could fly it? Off they went, the Sergeant took it off and my Dad landed it after a little trip over the desert!!

[@maxflight777]

Doubtful

[@davidthelander1299]

Sure.... why not. I’m sure not a beautiful, perfect flight, but the fact that they could start it, they were probably A & P personnel.

[@markjames8603]

My grandfather built these planes during the war, he regretted not actually serving in the military but his contribution to the war effort was massive, so his field was specialized engineering, he was involved in the Spitfire, the Lysander and the X-Class midget submarines. Even after the war he was uncomfortable talking about what could still be potentially secret.He started as an apprentice in the Cardiff docks along with his cousin, you might have heard Neil Williams? He had a stunt trophy named after him, the trophy is his Zlinn stunt aircraft scraping the field of wheat that he passed over just before landing after his wing folded during a rehearsal for a stunt competition, Google him for more info

[@josephking6515]

I remember when I read about that and since I was training for my commercial licence I was extremely impressed by the actions of the pilot. I guess his _Bag of Experience_ got quite full that day and the _Bag of Luck_ leaked like a sieve until WOW. An incredible piece of airmanship. His _bag of luck_ was well and truly empty by December 1977 though.

[@markjames8603]

@@josephking6515 yes I have all the original press cuttings from these times, many years later I had a flight in a tiger moth ( I had booked previously with another company who flew a Stampe but was let down) the company I eventually went with flew from Redhill and as I talked about my grandfather's cousin the pilot Chris interjected explaining he was also part of the team flying the private collection of war-birds from Spain to the uk when Neil crashed his plane, he also said that Neil's unbounded enthusiasm for the aviation industry meant that he could have done almost anything in that field

[@oat138]

Very interesting. Never knew much about the Lysander. The air sounds like a bus!

[@toomanyuserids]

"You're number four, behind three 737s and a Cessna" "Oh crap, there go the head temps..."

[@johnmurrell3175]

Just put it down on the grass next to the runway or really annoy ATC by landing across the taxiway !

[@thedustofages]

This is a very good video, really well done and absolutely fascinating to watch. Another great and iconic aircraft, immortalised by war. Evidently in knowledgeable and competent hands.✌️

[@RobWhittlestone]

One of my all-time favourite aircraft. Great video - I felt like it was my own maiden flight in her! What a beautiful plane, such elegant lines and refined slat/flap mechanism designed to be safe doing STOL work. Had exactly the same thoughts as @stu marsh in the comments. Some courageous airmen and agents flew in them.

[@Horizon344]

British Empire's WW2 night stealth plane. Nice film.

[@bludden]

Thanks for this extremely well made and informational video. I am a great fan of the Lysander, even went from the US to Duxford in the early 2000s when it was the airshows featured marque. It was interesting to see all the quirks involved in getting it up into the air and back down correctly.

[@DavidCurryFilms]

My grandfather was stationed with the Royal Artillery in North Africa during WW2, the artillery troops would practice their aim on a friendly Lysander. Unfortunately one occasion saw a pilot fly past too low and sever the wings on a tree, think he died. Risky game. Had no idea there were still flying examples of this plane 👍.

[@Perkelenaattori]

I was at the Shuttleworth Collection in 2018 and saw one of these fly in black livery and it was a great sight. A beautiful plane especially the dorsal view.

[@dr.gudmundssonaircraftdesign]

Aircraft enthusiasts viewing this video may be interested to know that the design of the Lysander was led by the well known aircraft designer William "Teddy" Petter (1908-1968), who also led the design of other famous aircraft such as the Westland Whirlwind, English Electric Canberra, English Electric Lightning, and Folland Gnat. The Lysander slats are called the "Airload Actuated Slat" or the "Automated Handley-Page Slat." It was patented by the British Industrialist Handley-Page (another famous aircraft manufacturer). As stated in the video, they are air-pressure actuated. The high angle-of-attack develops a strong low-pressure region on the leading edge that, for a lack of a better adjective, "sucks" the slats out. Lowering the AOA increases the pressure enough for them to be driven back into the recesses. Cheers.

[@stormywindmill]

The whole clandestine operation is one of unimaginable bravery and skill. The resistance men and women bringing the shot down air crew and S O E agents to the rendesvouse , The steel nerved pilots not really knowing who was waiting for them down below in the darkness.It gives you goosbumps thinking about it. Im sure we all give our sincer and humble thanks to that band of remarkabley brave people.

[@petercrosland5502]

The main problem with the Lysander, was that army could not decide what it wanted. In the end .taking into account that the biggest requirement was to be able to fly slowly, and the Lysander was designed to fly at less than 70 mph without falling out of the sky. it was presumed that the army would always be winning, maybe the first mistake.. A remarkable aircraft which in the end even undertook an offensive role in the Western desert apart from it's covert role of flying agents into Europe..

[@thejetbloke4509]

That looks like bags of fun! I Love an aeroplane that challenges from time to time.

[@martinsmith5752]

Was it ( ILL met by moonlight ) I watched in the early 60 ? BBC drama about SOE , loved it but the memory is fading

[@robwilde855]

You probably mean the 1957 Powell and Pressburger film, 'Ill Met by Moonlight', with Dirk Bogarde. I hope I'm right, so that you can watch it again, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5LLp3aqbtdniJY

[@306champion]

Many times it's been said that when you stop learning you're dead. Thanks Dave for the education.

[@MrKenny777]

A three-page preflight checklist? In the movies they turn the ignition and zoom off into the sky.

[@smiffy1947]

I also had the Airfix kit but despite living between a couple of active small airfields with manufacturers (Handley Page at Woodley and Fairey Aviation at White Waltham) in the 1950’s and 1960’s where there were plenty of Ansons, Chipmunks, Provosts etc I never saw a Lysander -I imagine they were mostly gone even then. (I did see a Fieseler Storch in German colours landing at Shobdon near Leominster a few years ago and that was a treat!) However there is no experience like having the prototype Fairey Rotodyne fly low overhead.....All great those British aeroplanes - we really have lost something.

[@deltavee2]

I live about 20 mins from that field on the Ottawa side. Worked for the feds in Gatineau for years. My father was a career R.C.A.F. man and at his request I read "High Flight" at his funeral. Thanks, Dave for a nice piece on the Lysander. Hard to believe they actually sneaked in and out of occupied France in something that loud but they did, often!

[@davehadfield5906]

It's loud on the inside, but actually not so loud from the ground. to the exhaust. Thanks!

[@camseverance7768]

Really enjoying these videos! Please keep them coming!

[@barbarybar]

Thank for letting us see what flying in this rare war bird is like. Think what it was like landing in a French field at night. Hoping the Nazis hadn't seen you.

[@richardcooke5792]

An excellent tutorial Dave, thank you. I particularly appreciated the talk-over when engine noise drowned out normal comms. It brings the book of SOE flying, 'We landed by Moonlight' completely to life. What brave men and women. And they did the same ops using Hudsons, too!

[@davehadfield5906]

Yes, doing that work in Hudsons blew me away!

[@prof.heinous191]

Great to see another Lysander being kept airworthy. Interesting to hear how noisy they are, not so useful (one would think) for dropping SOE agents in and out of France, but still they had a great track record at that job!

[@johnandrewnaylor5121]

Really enjoyed this, it was as if I were flying it with you, thanks for explaining things so well 😀

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

I remember finding an unassembled Matchbox 1/32 scale Lysander in November 1980 which was dumped in a wasteland! An unwanted birthday present I bet!