A few bits to catch up with from the last couple of weeks, as we continue to travel around the country house sitting and exploring. Over the last week I have returned to Over Wallop and a sit that I undertook at the start of September. The villages of Wallop are charming locations, with good pubs, handy train connections and lots of nearby points of interest.
During this week, I managed to do something I missed at the start of September, which is to visit the Army Flying Museum. I can totally recommend spending a good day here. Along with the collection of helicopters, aircraft and gliders, the exhibits are full of interesting, easy to read displays, contextual models alongside life size dioramas.
Personally I found the information on the early use of balloons and kites as observation posts fascinating, if not a bit nerve wrecking by today’s use of helicopters; respect to the solider who hung in the rigging of the balloon to report where the enemy were!
Stepping inside the Second World War gliders, you can only imagine the courage of the pilots and passengers as they flew to their planned operations.
There are also good displays of the mechanics of flight, and this provides a real insight into the workings of particularly helicopters.
On the same site as the museum is the British Army Flying Remembrance Wall, which I wondered down too. In many ways this should’ve been the starting point, as it is easily overlooked when visiting the main building. With all the names on the wall, especially from WW1, the cost of the peace we enjoy is there for all to see.
