von Dawson's Express

Ed Mitchell (Apollo 14) is in England in April... von Dawson's Express

Hi Count, Yes, it does look a good list... Good to see so many RAF Chaps! ;o) Regards all von Dawson's Express

Any of these astronauts would be fantastic plus any cosmonauts! You may be interested to note that Aircraft Magazine for December 2009 has a nice article about Capatin Eric 'Winkle' Brown, well worth a read! Plus how about the great man again! Regards all von Dawson's Expess

Excellent Idea Count! and how about the likes of Tim Furness, Reg Turnill, Cliff Michealmore and Peter Fairly? Lots of space fans should be interest von Dawson's Express

You may be sorry to hear that Pavel Popovich has passed away... http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Pioneeri...eports_999.html A true hero from the early days of spaceflight Regards von Dawsons Express

Am not fussed London or Birmingham London is more expensive but thats the nature of the beast. Best thing is take it in turns at each site, seems fair for every one then. Regards all von Dawson's Express

I have heard and am not sure if I can say more but Ed Mirchell is giving a talk next year in the UK. Perhaps Showmasters could discuss this and arrange the timings... Just a thought von Dawson's Express

Ooooo, yes please, personally I would like to meet Walt Cunningham, Rusty Schweickart, Dick Gordon and Ed Mitchell as I don't have there autographs yet. Even if one of them tipped up it would make my day Here's hoping! Bests von Dawson Express

Hi McGill, Am I right in thinking you were told you could not have a unsigned picture, even though you paid for a auto to be signed on a item of your own? Am surprised at that, I have asked and always picked up a unsigned picture when I have had my 'big blue book' signed and some times had a few given. Sounds interesting your drawings, gonna shew them? Bests von Dawson's Express

Hi Swan, After reading this posting and the others I would agree with you 'So does 'no photos' actually mean ....'some photo'?' I noticed the sign (when queuing for Tom Stafford) and well, deep down I can't take no for a answer and chanced my arm and asked the security guy. He was very pleasent and explained it was ok to take a couple of Tom signing but no posing behind the desk as Tom would be up and down like a yo-yo! I thanked him and when it was my turn I took just two pics and he and his minder were A-OK about it. When I left the desk I thanked them and the security guy. They have a tough job and its always best to stay on there side. I would add the signs where a bit pathetic, as if they had been printed out quickly on a computer/printer and stuck up with blu-tak with out a thought for grammer (says me...) and postion. Q. How does one post pictures? I have two of Tom that may be of interest... Regards and bests von Dawson's Express

Calm down Malc, no need to get air-e-atted... It is a hobby if you don't do it professionally, if its a job or trade and you earn a living its a profession. But if you do it in your spare time and use spare cash and its out side your normal work day routine, sorry mate its a hobby... I arrived at 12-ish and got in for a tenner, I got Tom Stafford's auto with in half an hour, I bought a book from Dave Shayler (One of the traders) he wrote the book and signed it for me, I bought another book from another trader and had a mooch about meetings some friends and chatting to the traders. For me it was a good day, nice and relaxed after driving 170+ miles. We left around 2:30-ish and visited the motorcycle museum, then a pub lunch and then home. It would seem a lot of people enjoyed the day and I guess by tommorow there will be a lot more who went today (Sunday) and say they too enjoyed it. But you are right if you felt the day was not good for you, fair do's, you have your opinion. Regards and stuff von Dawson's Express PS by the way 'von Dawson's Express' was a daft name some one gave me when I made a film for a British Army Regiment, I shot it at work and edited it (with some help) at home, I made some cash but it was only a hobby...

I asked the security guy, he said 'no pics or videos posing stood up but certainly take a picture of him (Tom Stafford) signing' I also have a picture (scanned from a book) of Tom Stafford in RAF flying suit stood in front of a PANAVIA Tornado. Am having probs posting a picture so if nowt happens am struggling this end von Dawson's Express

15 quid entrance fee? I paid a tenner to get in... Could not find the rooms the event was in? I asked the desk and was soon helped out... I liked A14, it was quite and there was pleanty of room, no rushing about and been pushed and shoved, I knew Tom Stafford's auto was going to be expensive, it was posted on this forum months ago, but hey, I saved up. With Tom's auto and Helen Sharman's at A13 It cost me £200 for two auto's, I raised that with selling junk on ebay and collecting scrap and weighing it in, in effect the autographs cost me nothing... Its the way you go about these events and other shows, you need to have the correct mind set - if not get another hobby - Too quote another posting - In years to come we will be with out these great people and hero's BUT you will have great memories and autographs... Make the effort, its worth it Regards all von Dawson's Express

I really enjoyed A14. It was a nice quite event and not a 'bun fight' I have experianced in other years. We could park the car up where we wanted (in the shade of a tree...) When I went to the main desk in the hotel I was shewen were the event was. The guys on the Autographica desk were very good and asked if I wanted to pay for my autographs as well as my entrance fee in one go - excellent idea - and was given vouchers. Had a good mooch about with out people pushing and getting in the way. Found every one friendly and professional from A'Hunters to dealers, I guess the majority of the A'Hunters this time were all keen collectors and not just jokers tying to make a quick buck... I only went for Tom Stafford's Auto and his security minder was very freindly and explained were I had to go to swap my vouchers, I was then offered a free inscription with Tom's auto and collected my ticket. While the punter in front was getting Tom's Auto, I chatted with the sercurity man about taking a picture and he said '...just of Tom signing...' which I thought reasonable. (It must get tiring standing up and sitting down all day...) Although he did looked poorley... We had a chat about PANAVIA Tornado's - he said a great aircraft but with 'short-legs''! then we chatted about Omega Speedmaster's. He came over as a very nice chap and although the meeting was soon over it was really nice meeting him. Later, I met Al Wordon out side returning from a fag break and he was full of beans! We had a chat and soon parted. I liked this show, it was a very professionl event from all sides. I sensed there were more genuine collectors who appricated meeting there hero's than 'jokers making a quick buck'. Well done to all involved, will be back next year! Regrds and bests to all von Dawson's Express PS 'Our Lass' met Ursula Andress in the 'Ladies' and Ursula filled her hand bag with water at the 'weird-sinks-that-look-like-shelves', they had a chat saying about what a stupid thing the 'sinks' are!

Funny, I hadn't read this post before but I was just thinking this morning that asking some of the astronauts what their favourite flying machine was might be an interesting line of enquiry! When we met Dave Scott we asked him what his favorite aeroplane is? and he replied 'F-86 Sabre' and I said 'so, you're a North American man?' and he replied 'yes sir!' - remember the Apollo CSM was designed and built by NAA. Jim McDivitt said he was a Lockheed Starfighter fan '...because the 'plane was faster than the bullets it fired!' We laughed at that. See you Satda! Travel carefully... von Dawson's Express

One thought... Don't ask astronauts about spaceflight or there missions. They must be bored by now... Ask something along the lines of what there favorite aircraft is? or something about a subject they are interested in. The two time's I met Bruce McCandless we discussed our teeth! He has the same gap as me and we had a great laugh discussing teeth! It was priceless! Ask Dave Scott what his favorite aircraft is and watch his face light up... Ask Scott Carpenter about his horse riding... Am going to ask Tom Stafford about the PANAVIA Tornado's he evaluated for the USAF... See u all next Saturday! bests to all von Dawson's Express

Ya, I am, ha, ha, ha I meant 'Or is the on the day price far more reasonable???' not... Or is on the day the price for reasonable??? Any ways, when you have there Autographs, in years to come they will be worth a fortune. Esp. if you collect the autographs and have them in one book... ...or will they be worth a fortune? There must be hundreds of collections out there. von Dawson's Express

Can I confirm the price? Is the £175 price for a pre-ordered picture/auto?? Or is on the day the price for reasonable??? I would add 'what price your hobby'? £175 would buy a decent eyepiece for a telescope - I have some 30 eyepieces in my collection and half of them are around the £150 price mark - I visited a large radio controlled model aeroplane ralley this weekend and those folks speand thousands on there hobby... See you all in September? von Dawson's Express

I have heard they are coming over to give talks soon, perhaps a bit of planning could help both events? von Dawson's Express

von Dawson's Express says well done and is very appriciative. He's one of my hero's. I remember the Apollo 10 flight and the problem it had before launch with the CSM. Would be good if you could get John Young and Gene Cernan as well, make it an Apollo 10 reunion... Tell 'em there spacecraft is in the Science Museum... Bests to all von Dawson's Express

Have you good people heard the sad news? Regards all von Dawson's Express

How about one/some/all of the following... Joe Kittinger (Record altitude parachut jumo) Boris Chertok (Cheif Soviet unmanned spacecraft designer) Mikhail Marov, Arnold Selivanov (Worked on Mars Probes) Gerry Soffen (Viking project lead scientist) Alvin Seiff (designed heat sheild on Mercury, Galileo (NASA Ames)) Guess theres some potential? Regards all von Dawson's Express

How about... Francis 'Kitten' Natividad... Pat 'Aunty Jane' Wynne and her friend Shelia Harrison... Regards all von Dawson's Express

... I met Charlie Duke again and we had a laugh, I shewed him some pictures of the Moon I had taken with my Canon EOS450D on my Meade LXD-55 5-in telescope and he said '...I took some like those, they are nearly as good as mine!' Praise indeed! Bruce McCandless and I deiscussed teeth again, he has the same position tooth missig as me! Helen Sharman as gratious and great to meet again See u at A14? von Dawson's Express

I heard two stories on Saturday... One of The Space Foundation girls (Dressed in Blue) said - and I quote - '...he's upstairs throwing up, must be English food or summat...'* then I asked the guys at the main desk and they said he '...missed his train from London, but usually theres another following...' The lad who would have been sat next to him looked fed up and left soon afterwards. A couple of people took some of the pics and who can blame them? I paid £10 (plus petrol from York) to see Rick Searfoss and he never turned up... * may be she said that to see if it is quoted here??? I did meet Helen Sharman (again) and she was fantastic and I hoped every one else liked her esp. after my postings earlier on in the year. I only wanted two Autographs but did noticed every one having a good time even if it was busy and a bit of a bun fight... I'll certainly be at A14 See you there? Regards to all von Dawson's Express