The author and Chuck Thompson discuss the run-in for the water-jump in the first World Parachuting Championships at Lake Bled in August 1951. The Yugoslav Aero Club provided a Polikarpov Po-2 for the event, affording Fricker a rare opportunity to experience the aviation scene behind the Iron Curtain. Chuck unfortunately released his harness too soon on the way down. He went into the lake like a bomb, from about 60ft, but luckily survived with nothing worse than a couple of black eyes.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Поликарпов У-2 / По-2 - РоссияRussia - 1928

John Fricker was one of two or three other "guinea-pig" reporters in an RAF Waco CG-4A Hadrian glider taking part in a 4g snatch take-off during a press visit to Brize Norton in January 1949.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain/С-53 Skytrooper / Dakota - СШАUSA - 1935WACO CG-4A Hadrian - СШАUSA - 1942

In October 1958 the author was given the opportunity to fly off HMS Victorious in the back seat of a Royal Navy Douglas AD-4W AEW Skyraider. Illustrated here is a Skyraider of No 849 Sgn with its tail up, well down the deck of HMS Eagle in 1955.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas AD-3W - СШАUSA - 1949

One of the last aircraft flight-tested by John Fricker for The Aeroplane was this 450 h.p. Stearman 75 cropsprayer in September 1961. Seconds after this picture was taken, the cloth-covered visor of the borrowed bonedome slammed down in the slipstream, resulting in instant IFR a half-span from the photographic Piper Tri-Pacer!

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 Kaydet / Model 73 (Boeing-Stearman) - СШАUSA - 1934

Ercoupe G-AKFC was hired by The Aeroplane from Freddie Laker at Southend for the first time in 1952, and the author frequently used it to cover various air events up and down the country. This elegant portrait was taken over the Essex marshes, and used in an article by Fricker on the type in the May 9, 1952 issue.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: ERCO 415 Ercoupe - СШАUSA - 1937

From 1949 John Fricker's pilot reports for The Aeroplane dealt with helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft. In this picture John is hovering a Sikorsky S-51 - with some confidence - on an early solo flight at Yeovil in 1954.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky R-5 / HO2S / HO3S / S-51 - СШАUSA - 1943

Originally registered G-AHHE in April 1946 and appropriately reregistered a month later as G-AERO, this Auster J/1 Autocrat was purchased by The Aeroplane's publishers Temple Press for “the speedy transportation of staff". It is seen here at Larkhill in July 1946.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Auster J/1 - J/5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1945

The author checks out one of the 15 Avro Athena T.2s delivered to the RAF, at the Flying College at Manby in Lincolnshire in January 1954.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Athena / Type 701 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

Having made his first solo cross-country flight in the Brunswick Zaunkoenig V2 high-lift research aircraft with just over three hours' solo flying time, John flew the type at several air displays around the UK, including Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, where this picture was taken in 1950.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Brunswick LF-1 Zaunkonig - ГерманияGermany - 1939