Second
to None by Michael Rondot
The
unofficial motto of Number 2 Squadron Royal Air Force. It
features, in typical Rondot style (and typical British weather!).
Two No II (AC) Sqn Tornado GR-1A's landing on a rain soaked
runway on a typically filthy and wet Friday afternoon just
minutes before the bar opens, and their home base at RAF Marham
in Norfolk, closes in cross winds and driving rain. (Just
in time to get to the mess for a quick one!)
The
main aircraft illustrated, is ZA400 (T) which was the personal
aircraft of Wg Cdr R F Garwood DFC during the Gulf War in
which he flew 19 low level night reconnaissance missions over
Iraq.
Personally, I am quite inspired by Michael's print, and following
close examination a few months ago after the first print runs,
the detail is quite incredible and very impressive.
Notice the spray shooting off the main and nose wheel undercarriage
legs, the distorted
reflections of red and green bouncing up from the runway from
the Port and Starboard navigation lights, you can almost feel
the pressure and the whole weight of the awesome
Tornado bearing down on that nose wheel as the aircraft decelerates
down from its initial
150kts landing speed to the subtle gentle momentum of taxi.
But what makes it for me is the second ship just behind and
to the left of 'Zulu Alpha 400' bringing up the rear, braking
hard, landing lights full on in an naive attempt to try to carve
out a tunnel of vision for the Pilot in an absolute impossible
wall of spray behind the leader. (Try this one, Michael Schumacher?)
So, what's so special or unique with our No II (AC) Sqn
Tornado GR-1A Limited Edition Print you ask?
Well, firstly,
There are only 100 prints instead of the usual 500 available
and they are ALL AP's (Artist Proofs).
Secondly,
They only come with a full remarque (see below) which features
Wg Cdr Garwood's
Tornado, ZA400 (T) in which he flew his 19 low level night missions
over Iraq during the Gulf War
Thirdly,
Each print is signed by 8 ex Commanding Officers of No II (AC)
Sqn
going right back to 1950 to the present day with current CO,
Wg Cdr R F Garwood DFC.
Taken
from a single limited edition of 100 Airtist Proofs,
Each print is artist-signed, dated and numbered, and is countersigned
by 8 ex Commanding Officers of No II (AC) Sqn
going right back to 1950 to the present day
with current CO, Wg Cdr R F Garwood DFC.
A numbered and signed Certificate of authentication,
with details of the edition and signatories, accompanies every
print.
Priority will be given to collectors of other prints in the
series
who wish to obtain matching numbers.
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The
Signatories
Sqn Ldr R M Pugh AFC - CO 1950-1953 Spitfire PR19, Meteor
PR9 - 10
AC R H G Weighill CBE DFC - CO 1953-1955 Mustang 1944
- Meteor PR-10
Gp Cpt N R J Walpole OBE - CO 1964-67 Hunter FR-10,
Swift 1957-1959
Wg Cdr D C Ferguson AFC - CO 1975-1976 Phantom
Gp Cpt R Fowler AFC - CO 1978-1980 Jaguar
AC T G Thorn AFC - CO 1980-1983 Jaguar
AVM G C Stirrup AFC - CO 1985-1987 Jaguar
Wg Cdr R F Garwood DFC - CO 1996-present Tornado
NB Dick Garwood not only flew 19 low level missions
during the Gulf War and was awarded the DFC,
but has since flown over 70 'similar recce' sorties
over Iraq since the War!
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Second
to None by Michael Rondot
Print size: 26x 20ins
| Remarque |
Edition
size: |
Price: £235.00 |
PRINT
TERMINOLOGY
- see below |
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