Ken Wallis aged 97 died on Sunday 1st September

[ranworthbreeze]

Ken Wallis stunt double and pilot of "little Nellie" in the 1967 Bond film "You Only Live Twice", sadly died on the 1st September aged 97.

Mr Wallis will be laid to rest at a private family funeral. A celebration of his life will be held Old Buckenham Airfield on 29 September.

For more details see:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23961175

Regards

Alan

[ExMemberBobdog]

Always loved watching that man ... one of those true British eccentrics, treading that fine line between genius and lunacy.  RIP ... 97 is a damn good innings!

[Palmtree]

Hi,

 

Lucky enough to have met Ken Wallis a number of years ago and had a tour of his collection of autogyros. His sheds were packed with aircraft he had built himself. At the point I met him he was working on Norton Rotary engines to power an Autogyro for the RAF runway mine clearance as the aircraft has no down draft from the main rotor to disturb the mines. 

 

It's a pity we don't have more people with his drive and ability to make things happen.

 

Ian

[Guest]

.....It's a pity we don't have more people with his drive and ability to make things happen.....

 

Absolutely.

 

Mankind only throws up such naturally gifted people very rarely though.

 

Coincidentally enough, just like his namesake, Barnes Wallis, who conceived and designed far greater things for this country  than just the bouncing bombs, which most people remember him for.

[Hockham Admiral]

What a man!      

 

Here's a link which I think sums him up pretty well:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10286869/Wing-Commander-Kenneth-Wallis.html

[ranworthbreeze]

Thank you John for the interesting article that as you say sums up  this great man of our times.

 

Regards

Alan

[jillR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr-9hr8IGE0

[ranworthbreeze]

Over the weekend over 2000 people turned up on Sunday at the Old Buckenham Airfield to pay tribute to Ken Wallis.

For more information please see:-

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/photo_gallery_thousands_turn_out_to_pay_tribute_to_wing_commander_ken_wallis_at_old_buckenham_airfield_1_2823867

Regards

Alan

[Oddfellow]

Got there rather late in the day, but still in time to look at Little Nelly and see lots of planes and autogyros. Plus a couple of Albatros speed boats - great afternoon.

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Quite appropriate reading this thread, as when we were on the Broads at the weekend, we saw an Autogyro flying overhead. It was the first time i`d ever seen one in real life, and was amazed to see them still flying. I wonder if it was one of his collection being flown in his honour?.

 

 

Regards to all ............................. Neil.