SEARCHING FOR THE SECRETS OF A WARTIME AERODROME

Welcome to Gull Perch Flyer. I am a private pilot based at the former RAF Bolt Head near Salcombe in South Devon. We have a small flying club here and our grass runway of 600 metres runs alongside the old wartime runway. I own and fly a Luscombe 8A which was built in 1946 and from this aircraft I often film the local area. My main interest is the local history of which is very evident here even after 80 years. I look at many wartime flights that took place here between 1941 and 1946.
Close by we also have a Cold War R6 Bunker which was built in 1951 for the RAF Radar and the became a Regional Seat of Government before closing in 1994. The Salcombe area of the UK has a stunning coastline which I show in my films.
• SEARCHING FOR THE SE...

[@johndavey72]

Hello Chris . Always a pleasure to see you sharing your stories with us . And even better to know your're still flying your lovely aircraft from this most historic airfield . Cheers !

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks John always good to here from you. Chris.

[@mothmagic1]

Love your videos and await new offerings with keen interest as I know I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Moth Magic sadly you tube have suspended me for three months due to my use of re used historical content which means I cannot earn any money for that period. I am having to delete many of my channel films to comply with their policies. I will still upload new films with my own film footage and audio, hope you find it interesting. Cheers Chris.

[@b212hp]

That Luscombe is a beauty! My best friend had a 1948 Taylorcraft for years. It was a joy to fly, though a headwind could tax the poor thing!

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Interesting, I had a friend also that had a Taylorcraft same era as the Luscombe. Chris.

[@Nickmedium]

Hi Chris, thank you

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

You are very welcome Nick. Chris.

[@daviddjerassi]

Thank you a great day out.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed. Cheers Chris.

[@kevchilton908]

Always good taking a look around your airstrip, Chris. I don’t mind your looks, we are of a similar vintage!😆 It was great to see that beautiful old bird flying again 👌🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Very kind Kevin appreciate you watching along. You tube have suspended me from earning for three months, they said my content was not original enough and using documentary film clips is not allowed unless I overlay my own audio. I plan to continue uploading regularly but the content and presentation will need to change. Chris.

[@kevchilton908]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER Sorry to hear that Chris! As you know, I enjoy your videos as do many others. I guess you have to play to their rules. Is it a copyright issue?

[@kenh3344]

Salcomb a beautiful place, been a few times. Remember going to the butcher there a few years ago now , and had some pasty s off him meal and a half it was a whopper of a thing . So nice as well probably better than the cornish. So nice to see you in the flesh as it were to put a face to your voice. You probably know the butcher but going back 10 years on the pasty front . But been since then byt not visited the butcher. Let me know if he still in business or change hands . If he still there I bet you would know and have you ever had one. One of them will feed 2 . But I never shared mine . GOD BLESS YOU CHRIS.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Coleman the butcher still there but I am unsure if Paul Coleman has retired. Chris.

[@ianbell5611]

Thank you. Another Great video. And Mate... your obviously a modest guy, I mean none of us look like a young Dave Beckham or Brad Pit when he was in his Twenties not even Dave Beckham or Brad Pit... Cheers

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Very kind Ian appreciate you watching along. Chris.

[@maxwellfan55]

Just as a matter of interest, we called one of my school chums "Bolt-Head" back in the early 1970's. Not to his face though, because he was bigger than us, and touchy. So if you ever read this Mike Petra, how's it going mate?

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Hmm I can appreciate your caution. Chris.

[@maxwellfan55]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER Cheers Chris. Loving your videos BTW. Are there any more WW2 buildings/infrastructure in and around Bolt Head? I see you still fly from there, is the area open to visitors/flights etc? Thanks.

[@gra99]

Hi Chris. The video from the 360 camera is fantastic. Where was it mounted, out of interest? One of our Chipmunk group members has been to Bolt Head in his Condor - I must make a plan to bring the Chipmunk in some time! All the best, Graham

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Graham the camera was mounted on the wing strut, I will show you when you fly in to Bolt Head. Please do subscribe. Cheers Chris.

[@kenh3344]

Would that brick building be a magazine arsenal for 303s shells grenades?? For small arms for the RAF. Security. Chris.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

That building was built as a radar control bunker, then later a Regional Seat of Government had the big bomb gone off, now sold off and in private ownership. Chris.

[@mickdavid4857]

Apologies but the pilot had previously' buzzed' a crowded Seatown beach in Dorset at an illegal height, I was there he was at 150-200 ft Had he suffered engine problems there his showing off could have had catastrophic results.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Interesting feedback many thanks. Hopefully you may consider subscribing to my channel. Chris.

[@user-ot7fc8jo8x]

😂no need for avatar or emoji 😂👍👏👌

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

You are very kind Ian. Cheers Chris.

[@gitfoad8032]

>snigger< 'toliet', for when you remember the drill, just not in the right sequence.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Right on. Chris.