Mike Holden asks if anyone else has as much respect for RAF pilots as he does? I do.

Perhaps Mr. Holden isn't quite up to speed on the history of the moans and groans people in and around the York area have always indulged in regarding the RAF and its flying activities. It has gone on for many a year.

Pre-Berlin Wall demolition (November 1989) I wrote a letter to the Evening Press condemning some moaner who had been droning on about the noise from low-flying aircraft because he felt it was high-time they did their low flying over the sea (sound familiar?) "so the noise didn't disturb people".

My final paragraph read: "So whenever a low-flying jet aircraft flies over, a bit low, a bit noisy and a bit fast be thankful it isn't a Mig, Sukhoi or an Ilyushin because I doubt very much if they'd be too concerned about your feelings on low-flying!"

No doubt John Reed will say something like: "But there's no longer a threat from the Soviet Union so that argument doesn't hold water"

Possibly true, but think back to 1938, Mr. Reed. We were fortunate to get a year's grace, before the Second World War started to build up our fighter aircraft and start training pilots. A position we never want to be in again.

Just look up whenever you hear a Tucano, Mr Reed, and thank your lucky stars we still have young men, and women seeking a career in the RAF who are prepared to lay down their lives, should the time ever come, for the likes of us.

Philip Roe,

Roman Avenue South,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 09:42 Friday, January 07, 2005