Wonderful video, Nick. Draper certainly led an interesting life. One of my students, in my absence, flew under the Deception Pass bridge in Washington State in a Piper PA-11. He escaped the law but the FBO owner found out and banished him from the airport. I later asked my former student how he got through the maze of power lines hanging under the bridge. He answered, "What power lines?"
Thank you for a really interesting and entertaining biography. I enjoyed the photos too, you have some really good ones of aircraft types that you don't often see.
I last saw his Auster 'YD hanging in the roof of a barn 15 mins from my house. I doubt now if it will be restored by the current owner, but it will probably have a future in the years to come.
Thanks for another fascinating biography. Astronaut Pete Conrad had the motto "If you can't be good, be colourful" , and it looks like a lot of these pilots had the same philosophy! Interesting too, that motorcycles often played a significant part in the lives of these colourful characters. The Mad Major was born in Bebington, 2 miles from my birthplace in Birkenhead, and Biggin Hill was even closer to our house in Berry's Hill, when we lived in the UK for a year I never spotted Draper though. 👍🇦🇺
What a man, what a life! Thanks as always for sharing these stories with us Nick! One very small point: 02:34 Eastchurch is not on the Isle of Grain, but on the Isle of Sheppey where I was born and brought up. I only raise it because Eastchurch has played its part in the development of British aviation and I thought you might like to consider it as the subject of a future film on your channel.
Thank you; I was made aware of that minor faux pas a while ago🤔🤣 Eastchurch would be very suitable for a film in the future; like Pike’s name, I shall add it to ze list!
Loved the vid. How about a video on Maurice Kirk the flying vet with crazy things from the 80's to 5 years ago. Or the washed up Hunter pilot who did the bridges.
Al Pollock only flew through Tower Bridge. He claimed it was his protest at the lack of official celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the RAF. I don’t think Draper would have celebrated that anniversary either, being a dyed-in-the-wool Navy man😂 As for Maurice Kirk, he’s a bit of a legend for sure…….
Really interesting man. As far as I know, there are many legendary bridge flyers around the world. Unfortunately there aren't proof for some of them. That biography cover photo I've seen few times already.
He was my great uncle. Thanks for the great video.
That’s amazing! He was a splendid chap 👍
Deffinitely a Colourful Character ... lived for the feeling of Flight !!!!
Flying certainly produces some really interesting colourful characters ,thanks for your work
Wonderful video, Nick. Draper certainly led an interesting life. One of my students, in my absence, flew under the Deception Pass bridge in Washington State in a Piper PA-11. He escaped the law but the FBO owner found out and banished him from the airport. I later asked my former student how he got through the maze of power lines hanging under the bridge. He answered, "What power lines?"
Ignorance is bliss 😂
I like this guy! Bureaucracy has a stranglehold on flying, even back then!
Thank you for a really interesting and entertaining biography. I enjoyed the photos too, you have some really good ones of aircraft types that you don't often see.
Amazing life....we need more like him.
A wonderful video of a wonderful character. Thank-you. I have been a fan of his for so many years.
Thank you for the kind comment; he certainly was quite a character.
I have heard of pilots in the fifties flying for the RAF in Germany flying under bridges .
Hilarious, he was a very naughty boy.
He was, and there are more naughty boys in the next film!
Enjoyed that - very interesting. Thanks for uploading.
I last saw his Auster 'YD hanging in the roof of a barn 15 mins from my house. I doubt now if it will be restored by the current owner, but it will probably have a future in the years to come.
Eastchurch lis on the Isle of Sheppey not Grain. Eastchurch was the original base of the Royal Aero Club before they moved to Brooklands.
I stand erected, no, corrected.
Thanks for another fascinating biography. Astronaut Pete Conrad had the motto "If you can't be good, be colourful" , and it looks like a lot of these pilots had the same philosophy! Interesting too, that motorcycles often played a significant part in the lives of these colourful characters. The Mad Major was born in Bebington, 2 miles from my birthplace in Birkenhead, and Biggin Hill was even closer to our house in Berry's Hill, when we lived in the UK for a year I never spotted Draper though. 👍🇦🇺
Proper motorcycles with beaded edge tyres, no brakes and no namby-pamby crash helmets.
What a man, what a life! Thanks as always for sharing these stories with us Nick!
One very small point: 02:34 Eastchurch is not on the Isle of Grain, but on the Isle of Sheppey where I was born and brought up. I only raise it because Eastchurch has played its part in the development of British aviation and I thought you might like to consider it as the subject of a future film on your channel.
Thank you; I was made aware of that minor faux pas a while ago🤔🤣 Eastchurch would be very suitable for a film in the future; like Pike’s name, I shall add it to ze list!
Loved the vid. How about a video on Maurice Kirk the flying vet with crazy things from the 80's to 5 years ago.
Or the washed up Hunter pilot who did the bridges.
Al Pollock only flew through Tower Bridge. He claimed it was his protest at the lack of official celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the RAF. I don’t think Draper would have celebrated that anniversary either, being a dyed-in-the-wool Navy man😂 As for Maurice Kirk, he’s a bit of a legend for sure…….
Thanks you for sharing , amazing this could be a script for a movie .
Indeed it could
Theres surely a decent TV series or film to be made about "The Mad Major" ?
Imagine the fun to had in making the film? All those bridges - no models or CGI allowed 🤣
Super! Keep them coming.
Thank you, more on the way. It's just a hobby so no particular timetable.
Fascinating 👍
Good stuff
Really interesting man. As far as I know, there are many legendary bridge flyers around the world. Unfortunately there aren't proof for some of them. That biography cover photo I've seen few times already.
Draper was different to most bridge flyers in that he wanted to get caught in the act.
My career path is chequered, should I shoot some bridges Nick? Great film AGAIN!
You might think that; I couldn't possibly comment (head south from Tinnel!).
Good old boy.
This is what makes Britain British, a few crazies in the mix just to keep it interesting.
Chrstopher draper
@@ilariobuzzoni6614 yes, it says so on the film title but without the spelling mistakes 😂😂