London in Freedom Cargo Kilt

[cessna152towser]

I've done kilted 'plane trips on light aircraft from our local airport at Carlisle to some of the smaller Scottish regional airports, but today was my first experience of negotiating major English airports kilted. The Freedom Cargo Kilt was the obvious choice as it is not worn with a kilt pin, with the Freelander sporran to hold all my days needs; keys, money, tickets, camera, passport etc. No problem with security at Newcastle - unfastened the sporran and put it through the x-ray machine - though the security guy then tried to pass it off to the lady ahead of me - must have thought it was some sort of handbag, despite the belt and chain attached. Once through security, I met another kiltie in the departure lounge, who had solved the kilt pin problem by sewing a motor bike club badge/patch onto a traditional tartan kilt in the position where normally one would have expected to see a kilt pin.

After landing at Stansted, I made my way by train to Harlow then a taxi to North Weald, a World War II fighter station in Essex, where Douglas Bader flew from, to pay my respects to the World War II airmen of the RAF.

An ex USAF warbird from the cold war era, which is now on display.

A USAF C-54 transport aircraft, dating from World War II, one of a pair parked at North Weald.

I had a fry up for lunch (sausage, egg and chips) in the Squadron Club, which is decorated and furnished in 1940's style.

Just an hour's run on the train into London from here, so spent a few hours sightseeing in London later in the afternoon; this is Buckingham Palace

St. James Park, with Buckingham Palace in background.