Interview with Tim Thorn on the Recce Hunter & Jaguar

Tim Thorn chats about his time flying the recce Hawker Hunter in Bahrain and Germany plus his time flying the Jaguar GR1 with 41 and II Squadron.
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Filmed at Jet Age Museum - www.jetagemuseum.org

[@timhenwood2704]

Tim, so pleased that my father left you with some great memories of learning to fly.

[@decam5329]

Eject's from a jet, Land's on a pub. Find's a looker. When it's said, 'they don't make them like that anymore', they have a point.

[@winders128]

My station Commander at RAF Cranwell. Excellent boss.

[@teejay7708]

You can see the old boy still has the fire in his belly and a sparkle in his eye for the job. Great interview as always.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@dirtydave2691]

I was thinking the exact same thing. A true warrior spirit still burning inside this gentleman.

[@peterbrown6224]

"I wanted to go to Cranwell - I didn't want to lose my legs" Mr Thorn's interview kept me captivated. He looks as though he could jump into a fighter tomorrow. Thanks to you both.

[@gusgone4527]

His enthusiasm is very much still there.

[@daviddavidson3217]

I’ve flown with the legend Tim! As a cadet at 6AEF. He wrote me the most fantastic recommendation letter which helped me get an Air cadet pilot scholarship. Hope you’re well Sir !

[@louisstopforth5886]

What a character, genuine old school, awesome Tim.

[@davidbaker1069]

The best ejection story ever.... a man whose life’s dream was to be a fighter pilot, takes out two jets in one action, lands on a pub, meets and flirts with a gorgeous girl, father of girl determines he is not going to give an RAF pilot the keys to his daughter, and is sent off to defend Britain in a jet....

[@michaelmoi654]

Excellent interview. Tim has led a full life. And empitomises the best of the RAF.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Michael.

[@davegreenwood1663]

What a bloke .You can tell the guy have great determination and love for flying .Sort of bloke you want as your leader.

[@kranson8514]

What a diverse career in the forces treasure to find someone with such an interesting life and still Sharpe as button, a fine gentleman 👏👏👏👏

[@belong53]

Tim was my Wing Cdr when I was on II(AC) Jags at Laarbruch in 1979

[@steveJ9908]

Mine too. Thanks again Tim for the jolly in Deci 1981.

[@johnhughes1704]

After listening to this man I relalize how boring my life is! Absolute legend!

[@DPDLeighton]

Punished for reserving the right to marry and thus getting ditched by the Queen when they tried to make him her equerry; then cheated out of the Air Vice Marshal rank when posted to head up the Rock Apes, he still has an amazingly positive attitude and ne'er a negative word to say about the service. Quality officer. And I am glad the got a job with De Beers so he could at least retire with some decent cash in his bank account.

[@SimDeck]

What a wonderful gentleman. His passion for aviation still burring brightly. Brilliant.

[@may433]

Tiger's upbeat enthusiasm for flying hasn't changed a bit. Remember him well from 8 Sqn at Muharraq and 41 Sqn at Coltishall. The Singing Postman.

[@mivecsi]

Very interesting interview!! I bet he could jump straight into a jet again today and fly it like perfectly. Had to laugh at the end, 'do you have any Hobbs?' Yes I like O, Orn, (What the hells that word I'm after!!) Birds!! Made me laugh!! 5000hrs, very impressive!

[@nyttag7830]

What a great guy.

[@67tomcat]

Absolutely fascinating individual. The stories and memories are top notch.

[@DR-999]

Very interesting .......One of the most varied RAF careers I have seen in these type of interviews.....

[@-Loki--]

Excellent Mike. Those subtitles for your questions are very helpful.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Loki.

[@Yosemite-George-61]

"a jet spitfire" I agree. I'm an old USAF wrench, never thought much of the Hunter until I saw one in Belgium, painted in red... It is a very nice looking aircraft up close. That goes to the internet experts, like the old timers told me once :" Aircraft (and other vehicles) are like women, we can't choose one by the pictures, one has to go down there and take a close look..."

[@gusgone4527]

I think the older guys were much more aggressively minded than modern fighter pilots. They became systems operators, engaging targets beyond visual range. I'm told that the new Typhoon is a very capable dogfighter in the old sense, with the agility and ease of use to mix it close and dirty.

[@barryhumphries4514]

Fascinating… A top man for sure, and such a varied and interesting career! 😊

[@sabre22b]

Rock Apes lol. Good to see some regimental defence. I think the hanky was...very...crab air like. He makes up for it with his wings and infantry activities. Good catch for an interview. A true pilot with a love for the craft of flying. He was very kind to the Jaguar's erm stability issues. F16. Yep. Amazing thing. Still love the Jaguar more. Grew up with it. Just something special and sleek about it. And the sound of that powerful engine... In my car on the drive home.

[@nervo6321]

What an entertaining guy.....great aviation stories....love em....

[@davidhunt3808]

My father loved the Hunter along with the Sabre . He flew the Hunter in 26 squadron in Germany .

[@willb8684]

classic planes...

[@highlands]

Jet Age Museum In Gloucestershire (Staverton). I was sitting in that Hunter cockpit yesterday! Pretty tight I have to say and he must have done bloody well getting into it! They also have a Vulcan Cockpit you can go in and a HS Trident and all the other stuff you can see, Meteors, Javelin etc. It's a very nice small museum, well worth a look.

[@craigmcewan3277]

The vulture story is a great one! Nice interview

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Craig

[@bobherron4573]

Aware Thanks Tim what wonderful life you have "Airborne all the Way" thankyou

[@kevinhoughton9134]

Fantastic interview, what a great and interesting man.

[@Stimpy49]

Fantastic!! Enjoyed every minute of this interview. Thanks for posting.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Great interview. Thanks Mike.

[@mrmoser]

Terrific, once again (as always!) I am filled with proud supporting this Channel!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Marcel! As you know your support is very much appreciated.

[@MattThornton87]

Yet another great interview! Thanks Mike & Tim

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Matt.

[@malcolm9994]

Yet another great interview ! This is an excellent channel.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much!

[@thefrecklepuny]

Another fab interview. Looks and sounds every bit the archetypal fighter pilot! pretty humorous to boot.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers buddy.

[@matharris6224]

Great interview, many thanks!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@widescreennavel]

Plane crashes, but the engineers managed to design it so well that no one even got a scratch...IT WAS A MIRACLE THANK GOD!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@simonrichardson5077]

Super video and a super pilot,thanks Mike

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Simon.

[@maxflight777]

Fascinating man ! We like Tim !

[@cg7025]

Superb interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers.

[@BuchoRULES]

Brilliant work Mike, this guy Tim Thorn is a champion.

[@MreViewer]

Great video, many thanks

[@willb8684]

still remembers the heading when he ejected lol awesome

[@xx6489]

What a career...

[@bobherron4573]

Correction , first word meant to "Awaresome "

[@ottohonkala6861]

Solid. All around.

[@martin.B777]

What a legend! Will be the last Q&A livestream archived here on KZbin?

[@Aircrewinterview]

Next Wednesday buddy.

[@lloydellis5570]

Excellent

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers :)

[@phillipneal9289]

Tim Thorn. Legend!

[@Twirlyhead]

A touch of the Leslie Phillips I detect.

[@xx6489]

Ooh I say

[@ricklehurst]

What's the (excellent) theme music at the end (& sadly replaced by generic jet sound effect at the start)?

[@Aircrewinterview]

We wanted a change and the majority of our viewers preferred that intro. Unfortunately we can’t please everyone, but we may change that in the future. Hope you understand. Cheers.

[@bensmith7536]

31:42 Equerry - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equerry - Similar to an aid-de-camp.

[@terryboyer1342]

Hilarious Martian invasion story!

[@robinhood1577]

Them Vultures at FL330 without oxygen masks on are the ones to look out for ;D Great stories though. Thumbs up.

[@publicmail2]

It would be good to point out the aviator in group photos, thx!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Noted :)

[@davidboardman7827]

good interview can you do one on the f15

[@Aircrewinterview]

We have “Dozer” coming up who was a former F-15 Pilot.

[@davidboardman7827]

thanks i look out for it

[@navnig]

Excellent interview!! Have you ever interviewed any Russian/Eastern bloc pilots? I'd love to hear their viewpoint!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers! Nothing yet as its tough to get in touch with them but you never know.

[@steveh5005]

Excellent interview, very interesting. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Thorn

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Also one on the Intruder, please !

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Absolutely, yes.

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

..but they can contain info that's not in books

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Yes, it's more for entertainment

[@distortedreality4603]

@@deeremeyer1749 Why do you bother watching these videos if you dislike them so much ?

[@hishonoursirdrinksalot1916]

Good job Daddy was connected what what....

[@decam5329]

Eject's from a jet, Land's on a pub. Find's a looker. When it's said, 'they don't make them like that anymore', they have a point.