THE SHEPHERD THE GREATEST STORY IN AVIATION? Cia ano Pre aa Gere ed iui? areata yas Another Spliai Rms from Biggin Hill Ba eC Rac i | A | | SE Pepa nun ua isg Shattered dreams ne reer ia ee UU LdCONTACT Ina aI CL ACHIM MEIER +491755216889 ier Lea kal @ tinaflygmbh G tinafly_gmbh DOUGLAS A-26B INVADER "ON MARK" ae eee Cy Poe eae eee ea Dona acca a ene Re eae Tani ney COO ecto ce (neal eer aa eared aeWELCOME In September 1955 Roly Falk rolled the second productionValean 8. (XABS0) at Faborough, ‘Our wibute to Falk starting on page 30, opens ‘his month's test plot features Fer Cabcion urning back the clocks’ 8 I write these words the UK's those in these pages, too, airshow ‘season’ is receding into Do you know the difference between a ‘Circus’ memory and many of our favourite and a ‘Ramrod’? If not, the meaning of these aircraft are safely tucked away for __ wartime RAF code names ~ and the motivation ‘winter maintenance. I won't pretend for such operations - are revealed in the first of a 1 like this time of year; roll on next summer! four-part series about RAF Fighter Command’s ‘Thankfully FlyPast is stocked up on stirring offensive over occupied Europe, Air Cdre Graham warbird themes to keep us going through the Pitchfork sets the scene in this sequence opener. colder months. Our cover story features Biggin We also take a rare step into the commercial Hill-based Supermarine Spitfire MK.IXLZ842, __ world as our ‘Classics’ section focuses on another the only currently airworthy example powered by of those great British ‘what might have been’ a Merlin 63 engine. I'm sure you'll agree that it stories, the BAC One-Eleven. Although the ‘pocket looks glorious having been returned to its wartime rocket’ was a financial success for BAC, I cannot Mediterranean scheme. You can read about its help but think that more timely development could remarkable revival in our feature which begins on have made ita global bestseller. Stephen Skinner page 8. provides a type history. ‘We all admire such historic aircraft, don't we? Finally, as Christmas approaches, seasonal One thing's for sure though - the success of any tradition demands a haunting tale. Robin Evans such aircraft is down to the people who developed explores aviation’s greatest ghost story, Fredrick them, and I've long admired the courage of Forsyth’s novella The Shepherd. Ifyou haven't test pilots, individuals who risked their lives read it (where have you been!?) don't worry, you to advance the aviation world. 'm delighted to ‘won't find any ‘spoilers’ here! While the radio highlight the stories of several in this issue. version has long been a BBC festive regular, Some of them became ‘stars’ while others the book is about to be reissued, and the remain almost anonymous, but all played tale is particularly topical as it's also been their part in developing cutting-edge ‘made into a Disney+ ‘short’ (film) in machines. Their task led many to ‘pay the partnership with John Travolta no less, ultimate price’ and we remember some of set for a December release. Enjoy! Feivor Tom Allett tomaleti@heypublshingcom December 2023 FLYPAST 3CONTENTS / No.509 Hite 5 =e T% e MAGIC = Supermarine Spitfire Mix LZ842 fying tom Biggin Hil. See page 8 8 Desert Dream Wearing a distinctive desert scheme, LZ842 is one of the world’s oldest surviving Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXs, as Darren Harbar discovers 16 News and letters ‘The latest historic aircraft and restoration news, plus your letters. This month We include news about a Hawker Tempest that’s been returned to flight 30 Pinstripes and Deltas 36 Four of the best 44 Mach Buster 50 BAC One-Eleven Valean pioneer Roland ‘Roly’ Falk is remembered for wearing a business suit in his ‘office’. Ken Ellis reflects cn the debonair aviator’s remarkable life 4) FLYPAST / December 2023 ‘The courage and skill of test plots pushed. the envelope of British aviation across the 1940s and 1950s. Tony Buttler honours some unsung heroes ‘Was Bell’s remarkable Mach 3-capable X-2 a shattered dream or “The Right Stuff”? Jamie Ewan details its extraordinary story FLYPAST CLA While the BAC One-Eleven entered the market at an ‘opportune moment, a lack of timely development stunted sales. Stephen Skinner reveals the type's historyAdebt owed ‘The BAC One-Eleven’s journey into service was ‘marred by the loss of the prototype and its crew ‘on October 22, 1963. Stephen Skinner recounts that dark day ‘Tom Spencer remembers some of Brian Moloney’s experiences as he helped pave the way testing early jets while commanding the RAE’s secretive T Flight Circus offensive Opening a new series, Graham Pitchfork assesses Fighter Command’s Rhubarb, Circus and Ramrod missions “Butcher Bi Chris Goss shares rarely seen photographs of Focke Wilf’s most iconic and feared fighter, the potent Fw 190 Magnil icent Manching Tom Allet steps inside the Messerschmitt Foundation Museum and discovers a treasure trove of cassie German aircraft RAF folklore We reveal the background to anew short film based on Frederick Forsyth’s novella The Shepherd PT trod ot} Sound and vision Robin Evans examines a movie about UK test pilots from the golden age of British cinema: Sir David Lean’s 1952 drama The Sound Barrier December 2023 / FLYPASTSUBSCRIBE TODAY! He From the Editor Tom Allett 40 years, FlyPast has been at the h of the world of liv (Our team of de: ig in-depth features on historical subjects covering the men, tion offer!THE HEART OF AVIATION HERITAGE SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE This book examines the history ’ on py Ars) Sl ind dd DELIVERED DIRECT ONLY £46.99 ea by annual Direct Debit EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS on the Key Publishing Shop Please quote: BE THE FIRST when ordering to read the latest features Foal costs of 12 issues, Mustang: the untold story £20, and a FlyPast binder worth £10.95 SCAN THE QR CODETO ORDER DIRECT FROM OUR SHOP... at or call (Lines open 9.00-5.30, Monday-Friday GMT)i DS Aha SHORWearing a distinctive desert sand camouflage scheme, Supermarine Spitfire LZ842 is one of the world’s oldest Mk.IXs. Darren Harbar met up with this newly restored classic’s owner to learn Roce ea ae cr tare cee cae es Reeves eaten Bee Pen Aare kee eer eereertns ate ronan pect ee ee consequently built as the latter Pere ee ears Peoria cor eae eed Pereperreeretr beara This Spitfire was not to Pee ete ees Creat accordingly painted in desert eterno re Renee! MU at Lichfield, Staffordshire on April 29, where it was dismantled Pon Reet oe ree it set sail for Casablanca in ‘Moroceo aboard the SS Fort Jersey. eee a ca OEY ees ee nc car) Sens eetness PetCo tee eset? Poa ec Anaad Sea c eine ete? air combat sorties during the invasion of Sicily, notably being flown by the Battle of Britain See EASE nL Wilfred Sizer, among others. OMe ee aay Poa eet POC Moe ed over West Augusta in this err Dyes renee) 1 FLvPAsTNEDITERRANEAN RIGHT: Desert cream: 2842 high above che Cambridgeshire countryside ‘ring one of phoco sorties for FyPast \ “Although he landed skilfully on a short taxiway, LZ842 suffered Cat B damage when it ran into a bomb crater and ended up on its back” BeLow:The and was operating from Lentini rams of East on Sicily. It flew regular \Z942 were operations in support ofthe Rare Allied invasion of tay. The Compound er beachhead being protected was several ynrs ets at Salerno, which required 400 Amoscciecion niles of flying over the sea, for 7 which 90-gallon drop tanks BOTTOM og, were used. During September, (zee was 232 Squadron moved first to incall rebut by —_illazzo East on Sicily, then to Ross Campbelas ASA Aerodrome (near Salerno, aa ce aa Italy) and finally to Serretella Cotecon {also near Salerno), Poe Later in 1943, it was transferred to 253 Squadron, and by April 1944 the Spitfire was again on regular operations, this time from Borgo, Corsica. It flew near daily sorties, mostly escort missions protecting B-26 bombers on raids over central Italy, but interspersed with providing air cover for search and rescue missions and the occasional ‘scramble’. At the end of April, 253 Squadron moved to Foggia Via Naples arriving on April 25, 1944, L2842 was transferred to Groupe de Chasse 1/3 Free French Forces, known as 327 (Free French) Squadron Royal Air Force, which was based at Borgo. It is likely 12842 transferred to 327 Squadron when No.253 left Borgo for Foggia and thereafter will have followed the former from Corsica up into France during September 1944. ‘While being flown in northern France by 327 Free French pilot Henri Suisse on February 15, 1945, the Spitfire was running very low on fuel and foggy conditions meant he needed to make a forced landing at Mourmelon-le-Grand, where he knew the runway was unserviceable. Although he landed skilfully on a short taxiway, 12842 suffered Cat B damage when it ran into @ bomb crater and ended up on its back. ‘Thankfully Suisse was uninjured The fighter was dismantled by C.R.D. 81 (Compagnie de Réparations et de Dépannage) and sent to Belgian Repair Unit 3 at Lokeren. At the end of hostilities, L842 was returned to the UK and placed into storage at Exeter in Devon, South Africa bound ‘A nnew life loomed for LZ842 ~ it was among 135 Spitfires passed to the South African Air Force (GAAP). The aircraft was packed up by 47 MU at Birkenhead, Merseyside to be loaded on board 5 Clan Forbes on April 5, 1948, before setting sail four days later. LZ842 arrived at Cape Town on the 28th but unfortunately there are no known records ofits time with the SAF. ‘We do know that its tenure in service was ended rather unceremoniously, with the fighter being sold to Harold Barnett's South African Metal & Machinery Company at Salt River, Cape Town, for scrap in 1952, L2842 (atthe time unidentified) was broken up, buta significant length of front fuselage survived and was recovered by Larry Barnett, along with two other partial fuselages,to Brakpan-Benoni airfield near Johannesburg in 1970. Larry later transferred LZ842 to Atlas Aviation along with MA793 and the later was restored to flight. Historian and Spitfire expert Peter Arnold took an interest, investigating the identities of these three partial fuselages, during the 1970s and 1980s. Following some superb detective work tracking data plates and spar cover plates (one of which had a unique jagged piercing), coupled with his vast historical photo library, he was able to identify them all with 100% certainty. Without his efforts, 12842’s identity would have been lost forever. Resurrection In the late 1970s, 12842 probably passed from Atlas Aviation to the SAAF Museum, where along with parts from other Spitfires, it was placed into outdoor storage at Lanseria Air Force Base at Snake Valley. It surfaced again in 1989, when Steve W Atkins acquired what remained of L2842 and had it shipped to his storage facilities at Rye, Sussex. It was initially moved to Oxfordshire with Tony Chung at Fyfield who, along with Chris Warrilow and others, had plans for a mass Spitfire building programme that sadly never happened. In 1991, the Spitfire was again offon its travels, but this time it was despatched by Chris Warrilow to Ross Campbell in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. By this time the identity ofthe remains seems to have been forgotten. Peter Arnold explained how he came to identify it once again: "In 1992, I started to visit Australia oon a regular basis. On one occasion I visited Ross Campbell at Toowoomba whose Spitfire project had started out as an exchange with Chris Warrilow for the unidentified fuselage section, On closer examination, Twas able to confirm that features on the fuselage Ross had acquired exactly matched those in my photos of L2842 from its time in South Africa.” Ross went on to get the fuselage restored to static condition, and by 1998 it was painted in a grey/green camouflage scheme, sporting the 232 Squadron codes EF-D’ The project progressed little further hefore Ross decided to sell LZ842 to UK warbird specialist Peter Monk. It departed Australia on July 15, 2003 and was then stored in a garage in Kent until it was bought by current owner, Mark Bennett, in January 2005. An engineering project Ws fair to say that Mark has achieved a highly detailed restoration on his Spitfire. He explained: "Iam a professional engineer ~ actually, electronics and signal processing, but aircraft, especially historic ones have always been a passion for me. The idea started as an engineering project ~ I wanted to puta historie Spitfire back into the air. t's taken me a very long time, and the engineering has indeed been fascinating, but to my surprise the history around the aireraft and pilots who Flew i has been, if anything, even more interesting. ‘Tve had contact with the families of several ofthe pilots who flew 'LZ” during the war, but the absolute high point was being taken to lunch at the RAF Club in London by Peter Holmes who flew L2842 with 232 Squadron in Sicily during Ler As parcoof the fora deciled and sccurate (842 cocepie isan close to orignal as possible Rebulling and ying L232 has fom ourver of decovery nd calenges for over Mark Benne December 2023 / FLYPAST / 11—@ PF MepiTERRANEAN the Seraes Brih-| ‘made propelior caching the late skernoon sun 1943, | feel so lucky that Peter was able to visit Biggin Hill with ime to see ‘his’ Spitfire and Tam delighted that he has even signed the cockpit door.” Mark explained the restoration in detail, adding that the ‘work began in April 2005, “I contracted Airframe Assemblies {AA}, on the Isle of Wight as the restoration shop for the airframe. ‘AA started on the fuselage, removing permanently every last original part of LZ842 from Ross Campbell’ static reconstruction. Fortunately, many of those were deemed stil airworthy and are of course now at the heart of the flying aircraft. In October 2006, [contracted AA to start work con the wings and the tail unit. 1 Jooked at several engine builders for the powerplant and placed the contract with Retro Track and Air in December 2010." Progress continued steadily until 2014 when other life 12./ FLYPAST / December 2023, pressures meant the project effectively had to be paused for nearly five years. During this time, Peter Monk, who by now had established the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, had agreed to complete the restoration. His highly regarded organisation had all the approvals required to fit out the systems and finish a flying aircraft. Mark continued: Tam enormously grateful to Peter and his team for all their help and patience daring this, protracted delay. But happily for ime, by 2019 Peter had the project well in hand and all the major aircraft components had finally been delivered to Biggin Hill”. 12842 finally flew again on June 22, 2021, with Pete Kynsey at the controls Detailed restoration The restoration has been completed to a level that’s as accurate as possible. L2842 is an early Mk.IX and was fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 ~ an original unit has been used in the restoration. As far as Mark knows, there are very few and possibly no other examples of this engine extant, and there's certainly none flying, Likewise, 12842 is the only Spitfire flying today that originally flew operations painted in desert camouflage. ‘The air intake for the early MK.IXsis different from the usual IX intake, as itis smaller and without a filter box. Again, this is now unique. The intake was designed by Rolls-Royce, and while Mark had found a part ‘number for it, he sadly found no construction drawings. Standing in front ofthe aircraft and looking at the intake, Mark recalled: “Peter Arnold helped me again by identifying that a MKVII (EN474) in the Smithsonian NASM, Washington DC might have a similar intake ‘The Smithsonian was very helpful, and after a few months of dialogue, they agreed to let me Visit their workshops fora day. ‘To my delight their intake was stamped with exactly the Rolls- Royce part number I was looking for. was then able to photograph and record all the construction details so [could reproduce the intake system exactly. Once back hhome, I produced an accurate 3D CAD model and was able to get the parts made by Mark Cole for delivery to Biggin Hill.” There are numerous details in the cockpit and on the airframe, such as the early undercarriage legs and the emergency water tank forthe pilot, that was unique to Spitfires operating in desert climates. The squadron markings depict L2842 as it was when flown on September 3,1943 by Bill Olmsted. Mark obtained a copy of Bill’s logbook from a museum in his home city of Toronto, Canada. Bll had recorded the aircraft for this operation as being a "Spitfire Mk TX” coded “F”. Mark said: "It was exciting to have tracked down clear proof of the squadron code letter for myself, and also the day in question was the start of theinvasion of Italy, so I settled for _also now sports a British-made EFF propeller. Mark discovered that ‘The restoration has not been the only available new blades without setbacks, even recently. __ were a relatively modern redesign The aircraft had completed several with a different construction test flights, and all seemed well. from the original Rotol examples, Mark revealed that an untoward and also came with restrictions and hard to locate engine or on permitted engine power. propeller vibration seemed to be “I was keen to see whether we increasingly apparent and the could remanufacture original team felt this needed investigating. blades here in the UK,” he said. Frustratingly, the engine had to T contacted Rupert Wasey be removed and stripped. Some _ at [Stroud-based] Hercules ‘minor corrosion was found on a Propellers - we met up and prop shaft bearing, presumably _decided to give ita go. It was caused by the long delay from proper engineering project. between its test running at Retro It took us about four years, and the first flight, ut it wasn't requiring over S00 pages of thought likely to be the culprit detailed technical reports for During reassembly the bearing _review by the CAA and Dowty. was changed, the propeller gear At least 20 material samples were ratio was also corrected at the tested by Hercules to verify that same time and the engine calendar available modern Hydulignum is life was reset. The engine was the same as the original. Several refitted in July last year and all __-80-tonne blade root pull tests has been wel sine. con a custom-built test rig were To complement the original required, followed by two flight model of engine, this S trials fon TA80S], using a fully “was keen to see whether we could remanufacture original propeller blades here in the UK. I contacted Hercules Propellers and decided to give it a go” Positioned behind the plots seats the Emergency water tank fted co Spires operating in hotter climates Adorning the cockpit door isthe signature of Fic Le Peter Holmes who faw 2 with 232 Squadron in ily during 1943 Peeling say for bare, this view of 12042 evens her distinctive Ble tnderside December 2023 / FLYPAST / 13e NEDITERRANEAN 128 a pdream come Passing over he Whice Crs, the squadron markangs depict Cpa2 a ie was wien flown by ‘Canadian Bi! imstead on Sepeember 3, 1940 in support ofthe firs dy of the Aled vation of aly instrumented propeller with 14 strain gauges on the blades. This required a custom data recorder (that 1 was able to design and build), installed in the spinner. “I spent several more weeks writing software and processing trials data to analyse prop blade vibrations to eventually produce a final test report. In all, the project comprehensively re-tested the original Rotol design to modern engineering standards. ‘The Hercules blades are now approved for use and, as with the original ones, without any power restrictions. The main contributors were Hercules, myself, Acro Aeronautical, Dowty, Peter Monk [TA80S] and the CAA, who all deserve credit for a great job well done.” Mark adds that his Spitfire is now about 5-7mph faster in the eruise with the Hercules prop. Mission accomplished For its proud owner, LZ842 was primarily an engineering project ~ he wanted to put a Spitfire back in the air. “That I might fly it myself one day was a long shot; a dream perhaps,” he said with a smile, "But now it has happened = wow it is absolutely amazing, Everything that everyone says about flying a Spitfire is true Thad been flying Harvards for about seven years, steadily gaining experience and a Display Authorisation, When I started, 14 / FLYPAST / December 2023, the Harvard was bigger and heavier than the Pitts and Extras Thad been flying and it took me a while to adjust. Likewise with the Spitfire; I did enough two-seater trips to get comfortable. “And then, gloriously, my first solo Spitfire flight was in 12842 ~ a short 15-minute trip from Biggin Hill over to Brands Hatch that all went smoothly, even the landing! What a joy, and what a sense of achievement. Since then it has just got better. Flying aerobatics over the Kent countryside, flying past the White Cliffs on Beachy Head in blazing sunshine. Doing that in a Spitfire looking at those stunning and iconic wings, in desert camouflage of course, scything past the Kent countryside ~ simply perfect. ‘There seems to be considerable interest in the aircraft and Marke would very much like it to be displayed so that more people can enjoy seeing it. Ithas already been on static display at 2023's RAF Cosford Airshow marking 80 years since the invasion of Sicily. Mark would like to fly ithimself at a display at some point, of course, but he'd also be very happy to watch it from the crowd, ‘Asan engineer, Mark should be incredibly proud of what he has achieved in not just putting LZ842 back into the air, but also the work he has done to reverse engineer parts, maintain originality and work. with Hercules Propellers to put « British-produced prop back on a Spitfire. Working closely with Peter Monk and his brilliant team at the Biggin Hill Heritage ‘Hangar, Mark now has a superbly restored Spitfire to enjoy.a . OVER 2000 HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AIRCRAFT, GROUND VEHICLES AND PLAY NOW FOR FREE Te COM/FLY ray Hawedon Qs MOG “ie Boo Mee estNEWS / The latest in aviation heritage Flanker on its way to major US museum Sea Vixen and One-Eleven airframes on the move Former Navy Wings Hallett said: “This is @ resident at the sadly de Havilland Sea fantastic opportunity defunct Cornwall Vixen FAW.2XP924—tosave XP924and_——_Aviation Heritage (G-CVIX), the last __bringher home to be on Centre, has also, example of the type to permanent display changed hands. The fy, has been acquired _Ttishoped that many front 6OR of the fuselage by Hurn-based ofthe aircraft's systems has been saved and will Bournemouth Aviation will be kept operational, be transported to Solent Museum, including the wing fold Sky in Southampton. ‘The atraction’s displays.” For more about the type | ae 32 hasbeen aquired by the NHUSAF NHS chairman and Sea Vixen 1980-built BAC One- see our ‘Classics’ section project leader Neil Eleven 500 ZH763,a _beginningon page 50. | The National was the first example of ‘Museum of the the type to go on display USAF (NMUSAF) _ in North America, The inOhio announced —_1988-built jet arrived its latest acquisition in the USin 2009 after fon September 26- being purchased by former Ukrainian Air Pride Aircraft, Force Sukhoi Su-27UB After being Flanker ‘Blue 32° demilitarized it was (13280). acquired by Delaware Previously on strength company Meridican. withthe 83ist Fighter Flements ofits usage jation Regiment _have been secretive based at Myrhorod It should join the in Ukraine's Poltava- NMUSAF before the (One: Elven 500 21763 a Newauay in September Nett Oblastas ‘Blue 6Y, it end of 2023. Hawker Tempest makes debut flight from Sywell Just hours before tis edton wene to press, Fighter Aviaion’s Hawker Tempest IVPRS33/SR-V" (MWT63/G-TEMT) made ts fst postrestoration igh from Spall Northamptonshire, inthe hands of Pete Kysey on October 10. the rst time an example ofthe Brisol Centaurus-powered fighter has flown in almost 70 years Following a conmendable and exhaustive restoration the 1945-bult machine completed is debut by landing a Duxford, Cambridgeshire Fate Sven Coe 16 / FLYPAST / December 2023MiG formation blazes through Texan skies {Aso of MIG-175 actualy former Polish Lim variants, pu on 3 rarely sen dey atthe Mind Ai Show in Texas on September 9.The three Sovit= mare jets, elstared in the US as N2ITSH, NTI ‘mthralled rowd Poo Ros se SP and NITE were own by Randy al, Michael Terfee and Bal Culberson respectively in font ofan New owner sought for Canadian Vampire Anairworthy example of the de Havilland classic has recently ‘come up for sale. De Havilland 7.55 Vampire C-FJRH is available for purchase via US broker Courtesy Aircraft. ‘The 1958-built Vampire, currently on the Canadian civil reister, is a dual control version that formerly served the Swiss Air Force as U-1213. Since being restored it has floven for some 50 hours and is painted in an eye- catching RCAF scheme. The restored jet boasts Garmin package in a new panel, and has large drop tanks (as used by the Vampire's sister, the Venom). A complete overhaul of the wooden. forward fuselage section was carried out between 2017 and 2019. www. courtesyaircraft.com De HavilandT35 Vampire C-FIRH is forsale Cours vot Major progress for student Meteor project A group of students, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, have successfully returned both Rolls-Royce Derwent V engines of Gloster Meteor F.4 €-010 to working order. ‘The 1945-built Meteor, originally with the RAF as RA393, was among those purchased by ‘Argentina in 1948, and flew until May 1970, accumulating 1,353 flight hours, Successive year groups have ‘worked on the project, their endeavours sadly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic after completing work on the first engine. ‘Meteor F4.C-010 has ran both engines in Argentina Both restored engines Corrosion has been ran for the first time removed and they're last year and now a —_ preparing the jet for new intake ofstudents a return to the three = supported by former tone colour scheme students - is carrying it wore during its out work on the Argentine FAA service. hhydraulies and other With thanks fo Andrés aspects ofthe airframe. Widmer Herr December 2023 / FLYPAST / 17| The latest in aviation heritage Stieglitz and Spartan Exciting year ahead Executive shine at Goodwood | for Manston museum Albatross (see October_| RAF Manston History simulators, engines, and issue). Museum has refreshed weapons. The contest is open _| and added more exhibits ‘The airport played an toany aircraft built | toits collection over the active role in both world before 1966. Given past few years, as well as wars and the Cold War, the very high quality | addinga new reception plus the museum has of this year’s turn area and NAAFI café. It many items relating oot, the judging must | also recently launched to social history from have been particularly | an interactive app that all eras. The site and. First place | tells the stories behind taxiway are regularly challes veent to the 1936-built | the main exhibits used for car shows, Focke-Wulf Stieglitz | "The Kent attraction _military re-enactments, owned by Richard includes numerous fairs, paramotor SrEs HERALEN gag oS BEER Menage, which just | static aircraft, including championships - and cecil epee pipped Sebastien Jaguar, Buccaneer, even paranormal Mazzuchettis 1939 | Lightning, Chipmunk, investigations. In ‘Asis traditional, a at September's Spartan Executive and Jet Provost. talso 2024, events include fine display of vintage Goodwood Revival Navy Wi 1 | features cockpits from Skirmish on July 13-14, aircraft lined up at The in West Sussex, built Fairey Swordfish | a Canberra, Buccaneer and Open Cockpits Freddie March Spirit including a magnificent came acommendable | and Victor, among many September 14-15. www. ‘of Aviation competition Grumman HU=16 third. Dave Unwin | others, plas ejector seats, rafmanston.co.uk Cougar is spruced up at Texan museum Work to repaint Pate Museum of that itwore during its when it became a traditionally mild Grumman F-9F8 Transport in Cresson, operational life. This ‘prototype’ for the winters will enable Cougar 131063 is now Texas, the jet has ‘example ofthe swept reconnaissance version _staffto complete the under way at Slaton's been displayed inthe wing Cougar hasan _and was duly branded project over the next Texas Air Museum. overall blue finish with elongated nose that an F-FBP.Itis few months. Previously atthe grey and orange livery housed the camera __hoped the state's Rod Weale rer Pat = aes co a aerromne orient} Titian ve 18 / FLYPAST / December 202391538 kwasbecoming obvious that twenty yrs of poll Inept meant that the tnd wars was anything but ie Siew generation would have MANSTON payee pie a HISTORY ‘among tht new generation is MUSEUM Pir Oca George knight who by September 1939, becomes ‘wo move with 685 Squadron to Bosh ove and danger ait hin Before the shooting war even Sern leonigia ener Game france qu sand after Spend of tour acon in whch 2nsaebecanber Camara of toa wa for the fst tine he ‘swept upinthe esi cane leaving behind more than Sorat toes en G0 449.98 eaisomSSITS | cmnstena tne scons 9 lo sales BY £11.99 9781520935173 sencstnscunieourca etiam ssinacoan sonny | | tmmenanmaninasccoin GQ) £3.50 9701525550157 2th ages amcor wa change soon cong ito confit with anew CO over relant on outdated dea From Ay through to Sptembethe tle of rain grows in intent a he few sek 10 ‘um bak the tua tie and within that este conf, George hae to ble Parton ports wth acpi an he grsergoou, Even when the ale Neanwhle in France the fest stings of esstance are taking pace. To order your copy please contact Austin Macauley Publishers 110207038 212. F:0207 0388100, Corderseaustinmacauley.com www.austinmacauley.com Ba lelar. a ay Superintendent of Flying instead of deputy CTP. ‘A second mini-delta, 707B VX790, had been built to investigate the low-speed envelope. It featured many design changes, including an ejection seat. Roly took this for its first flight on September 6, 1950, from Boscombe Down. The further- refined 707A WD280 also made its debut in Falk's hands, on June 14, 1951. This was to recommence high-speed trials and dispensed with the single upper-fuselage intake of the first two examples, adopting wing root intakes that would soon become familiar on the Valean. ‘Two more 707s followed, before the debut of the prototype Vulean, 707A W2Z736, on February 20, 1953, and the two- seater 707C WZ744 on July 1 1953. WD280 now resides in Australia, while WZ736 is part of the Boscombe Down Aireraft Collection in Old Sarum and W2744 is held at the Avro Heritage Museum in Woodford. Wow factor Working closely with Stuaet ‘Cock’ Davies, Avro's chiefdesigner following the tragic death of Roy Chadwick in 1947, Roly got to know the Type 698 intimately long before it flew. He is credited with the choice ofthe fighter-like ‘grip’ for the ‘Vulean’s helm ins conventional bomber ‘yoke’ As the intended Bristol Olympus turbojets were not ready, Rolls-Royce Avons were fitted to VX770, the interim prototype. Roly was to fly it solo for its maiden outing, but a reflection of Avro's concerns about its safety. It was simply because a co-pilot’s seat would not be available in time for the prestigious Society of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) display at Farnborough on September 1 The huge delta soared skyward from Woodford on August 30, 1952, and the 36-minute sortie was a great jecess. The only ‘wobble occurred on landing, when two e doors fll ad of more main undercarria off. Operating out of Boscombe Down, Roly and VX770 anned the audience at the Farnborough show; flying in formation with 707A WD280 rT and 707B VX790. ieee ‘The definitive prototype, by RaisRoyee the Olympus 100-fitted Reon X77, was intended for 7 the bull ofthe development work ancl had made its debut with Roly on September 3, 1953, with that year’s SBAC display commencing just 48 hosts later Avro wanted to i mM further, especially as the rival prototype Handley Page Victor was also in attendance. Flying VX777, Roly was ‘escorted’ by VX790, WD280, WZ736 and W274 before he stated his solo display, which included slow-rolling the big delta crease the ‘wow factor’ s As ciel test plot ofthe AE Fak few taptured onkers Jw 89R-1 7676 during 1943, Today fei on show atthe RAF Sharp dresser By this point, Falk had become national figure and much was made in the press of him flying in a sharp business suit and trendy aviator ‘shades. The implication was that a Vulean’s Pte Boba e Doc UD eee nd learned to fy there in 1932. He brie joined Air Commerce at Croydon in June eee eer ee Cerin pene rot heen epee rier ren ae eee charter ead 3) during the alan iva Santa arenas eee P ee eee eed eee eee ore than a match fr is text pilot forthe Air Registration Board (forerunner ofthe Civil Eee eaten sted oa eee a Ison. During his time there, Roly piloted a staggering 300 diferent types and amassed around er ered Ree : a piloted a wide range ory 108, BF 10, 4 Y and junkers Ju 88, Roly handed poets December 2023 / FLYPAST / 33TEST PILOT ROLY’ FALK een “Roly was ‘escorted’ by VX790, WD280, WZ736 Eeniaaey and WZ744 before he started his solo display, ‘office’ did not require flying overall, but it was suggested that an oxygen mask, a Mae West lfejacket and a G-suit ‘would have cramped Roly’s style. Another school of thought was that Roly was never comfortable wearing military garb, ‘While showing an RAE crew the Vulcan's slow flight characteristics in VX777 at Farnborough on July 27, 1954 a control spring in the rudder jammed and Roly found MASAMI himself with full deflection ts! while the pedals were centred. With a monumental effort, Falk managed to return to Farnborough, made a fast approach and over-ran the runway. The delta ending up on its belly, thankfully with only ‘minor injuries to the occupants. Following the retirement of Jimmy Orrell in 1955, Roly eventually became Avro's CTP in August 1957. On the last day of that month, he took a repaired and much- modified VX777 into the air with the distinctive ‘kinked’ leading edge to serve as the aerodynamic prototype for the B.2 version. His time as the Avro CTP was short. He retired from flying in January 1958, aged neni 43, accepting a role as a sales oye representative for the Americas y with Hawker Siddeley, his place at Woodford being taken by Sqn Lar James ‘Jimmy’ Harrison, In 1963, Roly set up Aerospace Associates, working asa freelance consultant. He settled in Jersey in 1967 24-/ FLYPAST | December 2023 which included slow-rolling the big delta” and went back to his aviation This article has been adapted roots, running his own charter from the author's Testing to the business Limits, Volume One, which is ‘Wg Cdr Roland John Falk available now from www.erecy. OBE AFC® died on the island on couuk@® February 23, 1985, aged 69, «jx ~~Oe eR Rees mTOR Aa LL aE ea em eC RC Re Se ec TO RTRs ee aT) VII FIGHTER COMMAND AGAINST THE LUFTWAFFE, 1942-45 — ‘s Unsere mT ay THOMAS McKELVEY Ware "numerous first-hand accounts from lots over the past 50 years; this VIII Fighter Command. ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THOMAS MCKELVEY CLEAVER PaAAAAS NVvato™ OseeevBRITISH TEST PILOTS FOUR Were it not for the courage and skill of test pilots, British aviation could not have taken such vast and rapid strides in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of these airmen are rightly famous, others unfairly less so. profiles four of the latter 26 | FLYPAST | December 2023ver the decades that the British aircraft industry has been supplying aeroplanes to its national air arms and airlines, and others around the world, the various manufacturers and test establishments have employed many outstanding test pilots, During the late 19408 and 1950s, many British test pilots were household names, as famous as their equivalents in the sporting world, due in part to the contribution aviation ‘made to winning the war and the later advances in the jet age. These include names such as Erie ‘Winkle’ Brown from the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, Roland ‘Bee Beamont who flew the English Electric Canberra and Lightning and the BAC TSR.2, and Joseph “Matt” Summers who tooic the first Spitfire into the air. But there are many more who are less familiar to the public, This article shines a spotlight on four of these remarkable people Harry 'Sam' Brown W's hard to believe that the man ‘who made the first flight in the legendary Avro Lancaster is probably one ofthe least known test pilots, The man in question was Capt Harry Albert Brown OBE, known to everyone as ‘Sam Brown was born in 1896 and served in the British Army Pat Filingham thing de Hivilnd Home: Fk PXQIT on June 18,1945 crv December 2023 / FLYPAST / 37BRITISH TEST PILOTS Avro between 1914 and 1916. Having foc LR learned to fly with the Royal Rey Dobron- Naval Air Service, by 1926 he Jom'igins, had become the chief flying fertplocBal instructor at the Lancashire Aero Thom test Cb at Woodford. It was here Biota that he was asked by Avro, also Fredercc Basi based at Woodiord, to flight test Tenis and production examples ofits Avian hie gesaner light aircraft, In 1928, he became Roy Cs o's chil test pilot paren sey Before beginning his work ‘on the Avro heavies, Brown performed the maiden flights of several smaller Avros: the Trainer and Five in 1929, the Mailplane fae in 1931, the Cadet in 1932, the Fiimgham642/4m airliner and Commodore psonwehed in 1934 and the Avro 636 in intiesotis 1935, By the end ofthe 1930s, the Gn November production testing also covered 17, 1942 bak the firm’s Anson maritime patrol Stes Heetee aircraft and some Bristol Blenhei bombers manufactured by Avro. On July 25, 1938, Brown took the Manchester twin-engine heavy bomber prototype, serial L7246, into the air, with Bill Thorn accompanying him as second pilot. On landing, Brown gave a thumbs up ~ in general, the machine had handled wel, but he also reported that it had insufficient fin area Further flying confirmed that on to clear hundreds of examples this area needed to be increased, for service with the RAF. Brown, ‘which resulted in the introduction and Thorn also made the first ofa third tailfin. However, the flight ofthe Bristol Hercules- Manchester's unreliable Rolls- powered Lancaster Mk.lI DT810 Royce Valture engines could not be on November 26, 1941, and the fixed and, afiera short production former even flew a bouncing, run, the type was replaced by the bomb test drop in one of the Lancaster specially adapted Lancaters The story of Avro redesign of prepare forthe famous Dams the Manchester intothe'Lane,—aitof May 1943, is well mown, bt on January 9, "On Jane 5, 1944, Brown and 1941, Brown took the prototype Thorn completed their hat 308 on its maiden Fgh tec of st Highs of Avro accompanied once more By Bill heavy bombers when they Thorn Essentially, BT3O8 was took the prototype Lincoln Pourengined Manchester with W925, farther development extended wings and four Rolls- of the Lancaster with increased Royee Mesinengines replacing the wingspan, on ils maiden ore previous aircraft's two Vultures. Brown stated that he found the Atte end ofthis fight Brown handing ‘every bit as good asthe ” was quoted assaying "Itwas Laneaste Bere that On July 8 Brrr die Lass marvellous —easy tohandle and 1942, he had taken the rst Avro rhode tae light on the controls York aitiner on its fst Fight, deo tl rng Without doubt the Lancaster which essentially had the wings ears wat avast improvement onthe ofa Lancaster marred toa new Manchester and Brown would go fuselage. 28 / FLYPAST | December 2023Browns flying career came to _also took trips to Australia a sudden close inthe spring of _and Canada to help set up de Pr 1945 when, after a medical, he _-Havilland’s associate companies J was grounded permanently due _in those countries. On May 22, to high blood pressure. Published 1946, he performed the maiden sources suggest that ‘Sam! Brown flight of the de Havilland Canada ‘was not a great talker, but he Chipmunk primary trainer out of was clearly an outstanding test _the firm's base at Downsview in pilot who did much to further the Toronto. progress of Avro's aircraft In 1953 and flying in another Chipmunk, Fillingham won William ‘Pat’ Fillingham that year's King’s Cup air race, Born in 1914, William Patrick while his post-war commitments Ingram Fillingham learnt to fly in at Hatfield included test flying 1938 bat, unlike most test pilots Dove, Heron, Comet and Trident of his time, he did not join the airliners and Vampire and armed forces, Instead, in 1939, Venom et fighters, before his flew it wearing a bowler hat.” ABOVE: he graduated as an aeronautical retirement in 1975, Fillingham was also the pilot Lanes in engineer before joining de However, Pat Fillingham is for numerous Hornet and Sea scoot Havilland (DH) at Hatfield as a _perhaps best remembered for Hornet publicity photographs inser production test pilot (PTP). He his work clearing the superb and many ofthese show that began his career testing DH Tiger DH Hornet piston-powered he hardly ever wore a helmet Moth primary trainers, becoming fighter first flown in July 1944. when flying. The Hornet was the company’s chief PTP in Although company test pilots an outstanding performer with September 1942. Geofrey de Havilland Jr and Toads of excess power from its By then, Fillingham was Geoffrey Pike undertook the two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines BELOW: Jo" much involved in clearing the trials flights forthe Hornet and many pilots inthe services nese few production runs of the firm's prototypes t was Fllingham considered ito be thei favourite SaSuncere Mosquito multi-rol aircraft, ‘who looked after much of the aeroplane protoype which was apparently his production testing. An obituary Tort x favourite aircraft. Indeed, he written for him by Mike John ‘Jo Lancaster poe. completed more than 2,200 Ramsden noted that “he so John Oliver 'Jo' Lancaster Show Cont test flights on Mosquitos and admired the Hornet that he once DFC was bora in 1919 and Cooma “As the speed dropped off, he cut the two jet engines and then jumped out onto the port wing to enable his weight to act as ballast!” December 2023 / FLYPAST / 39BRITISH TEST PILOTS The fiese AWS2, T5363.The was the sro From which Jo Laneaster ad to make hie damate departure, wien the Iachine became Unconrolable ‘rough xeon Trevor Sidney Wimpy Wade Heat On June 22,1950 Hawters Secret Swept Wine Fgh was shown to the publ or the first time by Wiade, at Ubndon Airport flew Vickers Wellington and (appropriately) Avro Lancaster bombers while serving with the RAF Volunteer Reserve during the war. In 1945, he graduated as atest pilot and subsequently ‘worked for short periods with Saunders-Roe and Boulton Paul. With the former he undertook some of the test flying of the remarkable SR.A/1 jet- powered flying-boat fighter and demonstrated it at the 1948 SBAC Farnborough Show During this trials programme, Lancaster had to think quickly when, on one occasion, only the starboard retractable wing float came down in readiness to land. To prevent the boat fighter from ‘ground-looping’as it ran across the water, he cut the two jet engines as the speed dropped off and then jumped out onto the port wing to enable his weight to act as ballast! In January 1949, he joined ‘Armstrong Whitworth (AWA) at Baginton, Warwickshire, where he tested production Lincoln bombers, AWA Meteor night- fighters (including on February 21, 1952, the maiden flight of the first NF.-MK.13, W308), Hawker Sea Hawks and Hunter fighters, Gloster Javelin night- fighters and AWA Argosy transports, before entering retirement in 1965. However, Lancaster is probably best remembered for making the first ever emergency departure using a Martin-Baker ejection seat. This was from the frst of two prototypes of Armstrong Whitworth’s extraordinary ‘AW.52 flying wing research aeroplane. This aircraft, TS363, had first flown on November 13, 1948, piloted by AWA\s chief test pilot Eric Franklin, before Lancaster joined the team in 40 / FLYPAST / December 2023, May 1949, One of the objectives of the AW.52 was to perfect laminar flow over the wings to reduce drag (with this in mind the surfaces had been made very smooth), but in the air there were clearly problems with vibration and oscillation (On May 30, with Lancaster in the cockpit, T5363 hit turbulent air at about 5,000ft when flying at around 320mph and a fore and aft oscillation began. This became worse and the pilot was unable to regain control. Since structural failure appeared a strong possibility, Lancaster had no choice but to eject and the aircraft crashed a few miles from Leamington Spa. Lancaster survived with some injuries, but 'TS363 broke up completely on striking the ground. The AW.52 had manual control of the elevons, which had not helped in trying to deal with the oscillations. In an interview with Ken Ellis many years later Lancaster noted that “had powered flying controls] been available for the AW.S2, I believe they might have transformed it into a very different aircraft” ‘Jo! Lancaster died on August 10, 2019, at the age of 100, ‘Trevor ‘Wimpy’ Wade Trevor Sidney Wade DFC AFC, known as Wimpy’, was born in 1920. He flew Supermarine Spitfires in World War Two, recording six vietories, then joined Hawker asa test pilot in 1947, clearing Sea Fury piston fighters for service, A year later, he was promoted to become Hawker's chief test pilot Wade now moved on to testing the new P.1040 straight-wing jet fighter prototype, which had first flown the year before and would lead to the Sea Hawk. On August 1, 1949, flying this aircraft, he won the SBAC Challenge Cup at the Elmdon Air Races at a speed of 510mph.“An object, later identi LEFT: Hawker 1040 prototype VP4O! ‘nth Wimpy Wade in he cod ied as the ejection seat, was seen to fall away. The seat still had Wade strapped in when it hit the ground” Before that, on November 19, 1948, he had taken VX272, the first of two P.1052 prototypes (essentially swept-wing versions of the P1040), on its maiden flight, and followed that with the second (VX279) on April 13, 1949. A month afier its maiden flight, Wade took VX279 to Paris, in the process setting a city- to-city record of 21 minutes 27 seconds to cover the lengthy, 221- rile journey. In due course, VX279 was rebuilt asthe P.1081 with a swept tailplane and all-through jetpipe, in many respects serving as a lead-in design for what would become the famous Hawker Hunter. Wade performed this aircraft's ‘second’ maiden flight on June 19, 1950. Six days later, he demonstrated VX279 at the Brussels Aero Show and at Farnborough in early September. P.1081 flying daring July and August 1950 was shared between Wade and Hawker test pilot Neville Duke. Manufacturer's testing was concluded in February 1951 and Wade, who had just completed a trip to ‘America where he flew the North American F-86A and F-86E Sabre, concluded that the P.1081 was, certainly at altitude, a better all-round fighter than the American machine. It was now time to hand the aircraft over to Farnborough for further trials bt, on April 3, VX279 was destroyed in a flying accident that killed Wade. Witnesses near Lewes in Sussex saw the P.1081 in a near vertical dive at high speed. Approaching the ground, the aircraft appeared to recover and started to climb slightly when an object, later identified as the ML Aviation ejection seat, was seen to fall away. The seat still hhad Wade strapped in when it hit the ground. Losing the canopy made VX279 ‘recover’ and, in fact, i flew on in a wide right hand circuit, performing various uncontrolled manoeuvres, before finally crashing at Ringmer. The cause of the tragedy has never been fully established ‘Wade was the only one of this quartet to be killed flying as a test pilot, but there were ‘many more fatalities among his colleagues during the period LEFT: Another view ofthe Femarkable but fated AWS? T5363 Aeros covered here, In conclusion, this piece illustrates the variety of tasks that tests pilots had to perform during the 1940s and 1950s, as well as the very considerable dangers they faced. But their work was absolutely Vital and itis important that aviation publications today continue to highlight the achievements of Brown, Fillingham, Lancaster, Wade and their many courageous colleagues. With thanks fo Ken Ellis @ December 2023 / FLYPAST | 41